Okay, so I got this real craving the other day, you know? Just really wanted some proper dim sum. Thing is, living in Kelowna, it’s not exactly like Vancouver where you trip over dim sum places on every block. It’s a bit trickier here.
First thing I did, obviously, was hit up the internet. Typed in “dim sum Kelowna” and poked around. Got a few hits, mostly regular Chinese restaurants that had like, maybe spring rolls and potstickers listed somewhere deep in their menu. Not quite the weekend cart experience I was hoping for, you know? Felt a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack.
So, I thought, okay, maybe the internet’s not giving me the full picture. Started asking around a bit. Talked to a couple of folks I know who are into food. Got some mixed signals. One person mentioned a place but wasn’t sure if they did it daily or just weekends. Another just shrugged, said maybe try this buffet or that one, but admitted it probably wasn’t the ‘real deal’. Getting a bit frustrating, I gotta say.
Digging a Bit Deeper
Decided I needed to get more specific. I wasn’t just looking for any Chinese food, I wanted those specific little steamed baskets of goodness. Har Gow, Siu Mai, maybe some Cheong Fun if I was lucky. Started looking at menus online again, when I could find them. Spent a good chunk of time just scrolling, reading descriptions. You know how it is, trying to read between the lines. Does “steamed dumplings” mean actual dim sum style or just something else?
Found one place that seemed a bit more promising. Reviews mentioned dim sum specifically, not just as an afterthought. It wasn’t a huge, dedicated dim sum palace like back in Richmond, but it looked like they actually put some effort into it. Decided, alright, let’s give this one a shot. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
The Actual Visit
Went over there, I think it was a weekday lunch. Place was pretty quiet. No rolling carts, which was a bit of a bummer, not gonna lie. That’s part of the fun for me. But they had a dedicated dim sum menu you could order from. Okay, fair enough.
So, what did I do? Ordered the classics, of course:
- Siu Mai (Pork dumplings)
- Har Gow (Shrimp dumplings)
- Some BBQ Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao)
- Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf (Lo Mai Gai)
Had to wait a bit, which made sense since they were likely making it to order rather than pulling it off a cart. When the food came out, gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised. The Har Gow wrappers were decently thin, shrimp tasted fresh. The Siu Mai were pretty good too, flavourful. Pork buns were nice and fluffy. The sticky rice hit the spot.
Was it the absolute best dim sum I’ve ever had in my life? Probably not. Was it mind-blowing? Nah. But was it actual, proper dim sum, here in Kelowna? Yeah, it was. It definitely scratched that itch I’d been having.
So, the hunt paid off. Took a bit more digging than I expected, and you gotta manage your expectations – don’t expect a massive hall with dozens of carts. But if you look hard enough and know what you’re looking for, you can find some decent dim sum here. Pretty happy about that find, honestly. It’s good to know it’s possible without driving hours away.