My Weekend Dim Sum Hunt
Alright, so let me tell you about my recent quest. Woke up Saturday morning, and bam, the craving hit me hard. You know the one – that need for steamy, delicious dim sum. It just wouldn’t go away. Houston’s got tons of places, but finding the spot, well, that takes some doing.
First, I thought about where I’d been before. Some places were okay, others kinda meh. I didn’t want just okay, I wanted that authentic, bustling, slightly chaotic experience. Remembered someone mentioning the Bellaire area, Asiatown basically. Figured that was my best bet. Didn’t really look anything up specific, just decided to head over there and see what called to me. Sometimes you just gotta go with your gut, right?
So, I drove down Bellaire Boulevard. Man, it was already busy. Cars everywhere. That’s usually a good sign for food spots. Passed a couple of places, peeked in the windows. Some looked too quiet, some too fancy. I wanted that classic cart service vibe. Then I saw this one place, parking lot was jammed, people waiting outside. Bingo. That felt right. Looked like controlled chaos, exactly what I was looking for.
Got inside, and yeah, it was loud. Carts rolling everywhere, ladies calling out dishes in Cantonese, families chatting. Perfect. Had to wait maybe 15 minutes, not too bad. Finally got seated at a big round table, sharing with another small group, which is pretty standard.
Then the fun part started. The carts descended. You gotta be quick! Eyes peeled, pointing fingers ready. We went for the classics first:
- Siu Mai (Pork and Shrimp Dumplings)
- Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings)
- Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Buns – the baked kind!)
- Lo Mai Gai (Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf)
- Fung Jao (Braised Chicken Feet – gotta be brave!)
- Cheung Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls – shrimp filled, of course)
We just kept grabbing stuff as the carts rolled by. Point, nod, get the little card stamped. The Siu Mai were plump, Har Gow skins were nicely translucent, not too thick. That sticky rice? Packed with flavor. Everything tasted fresh, hot right off the cart. It wasn’t fancy dining, napkins might be thin, tea might be basic, but the food? That’s what mattered. It hit the spot, totally satisfied that craving I woke up with.
Paid up at the counter, feeling stuffed and happy. Walked out back into the Houston heat. Yeah, it was a good experience. Not some groundbreaking discovery, just good, solid, classic dim sum done the way it should be. Definitely scratched that itch. Probably gonna end up back there next time the craving hits. It’s reliable, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.