What's better than Dim Sum on Sundays? Sunday Dim Sum in a popular local spot of course! A friend suggested this place for its range of tasty offerings at affordable prices. A line was forming at the entrance at 10 am but service was brisk and we're seated in less than 5 minutes. There were three separate sections to order pau, fried dim sum, and steamed dim sum.
Food arrived the same time I got back to my seat after ordering (talk about brisk service, hah). Let's makan!
Siew Mai (4/5)
No Dim Sum outing is complete without Siew Mai. The wrapping was thin and the meaty filling was deliciously juicy! It delivers on taste despite looking plain without the classic orange Tobiko topping.
Har Gao (3/5)
Sadly this didn't turn out as good as I'd hoped. The skin was translucent and smooth but the prawns were not crunchy enough and tasted slightly fishy.
Steamed Spare Ribs (5/5)
The ribs were one of the most tender and succulent that I've had for Dim Sum. The fragrance of the fermented black beans and Shaoxing wine really shines through. So good that I ordered seconds! A standout dish for sure.
Steamed Fish Ball (3/5)
It lacks bounciness and the fish paste seemed to have too much flour in the mixture. Pretty average in my opinion.
Hor Yip Fan (Lotus Leaf Wrapped Rice) (4/5)
The steamed glutinous rice had absorbed all the lovely aroma from the dried shrimp, pork, and mushrooms. The texture was just right (not too sticky, oily, or undercooked) and the addition of corn also gave the dish a nice sweet crunch.
Fried Prawn Roll (4.5/5)
Prawns rolled in tofu skin deep-fried to crispy perfection. Didn't taste oily and goes well with the mayo dip. What's not to like?
Congee with Century Egg, Salted Egg, and Pork (4/5)
While it wasn't the smoothest and thickest of congees, the flavours were good and they were generous with the eggs and pork!
Happy Pau (4/5)
This special pau is filled with crispy chunks of pork slathered in a thick sweet sauce which tasted like a cross between Char Siew sauce and western BBQ sauce. Would have been nice if they included some refreshing crunch (sliced cucumbers perhaps?) to counter the thickness of the sauce. But all in all, worth a try if you want a bite of happiness!
Big Pau (4.5/5)
This has all the components of a good Big Pau - fluffy pau skin, tender pieces of pork and chicken, and a refreshing crunch from the shredded turnip. It also nails that old-school Big Pau taste that modern dim sum outlets can't seem to replicate.
Char Siew Pau (4/5)
The savoury Char Siew filling has a good meat-to-fat ratio and a generous amount of sesame seeds. After trying so many paus, it's safe to say that they really know how to make them soft and fluffy!
Red Bean Paste Pau (4.5/5)
The red bean paste was smooth but not overly processed. It had just enough sweetness to balance the earthiness of red beans. I really enjoyed this.
This is a good spot for delicious Dim Sum and pau. The variety, price, and portion size are also commendable. Despite the neverending stream of customers, service was quick and friendly throughout the meal. Cleanliness could be improved but I can understand why it gets messy amidst all this food-serving chaos on a Sunday morning. I'll definitely be back to try more tasty Dim Sum soon!
Sabbylicious Makan Rating
Food : 4/5
Price : 4.5/5
Environment : 3/5
Service : 4/5
Must order : Steamed Pork Ribs, Fried Prawn Roll, variety of Paus.
Operating Hours Open daily (6.30 am–12.00 pm).
Location Wong Chow Dim Sum (皇座点心酒家)
52 A, Lrg Tembikai 1, Kawasan Perniagaan Sungai Rambai, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang.