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Dim Sum?

Dim Sum?
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  • Post #91 - March 27th, 2008, 9:58 am
    Post #91 - March 27th, 2008, 9:58 am Post #91 - March 27th, 2008, 9:58 am
    Predating Hong Min was the great Chiam which I was introduced to by my boss (who is chinese-american) when I first moved to Chicago. I'm currently fond of Phoenix myself, its very user friendly if I bring friends who are new to dim sum. I did/do enjoy the carts, I like the atmosphere - I've seen them occasionally appear on Sundays if its really crowded in the last six- nine months, but the key is that you can ask the staff for a paper order chit & use that even when the carts are around. Hot food & what you want promptly (whenever I've done this the food has come from the kitchen, not fished off a cart) & if something looks good on a cart to try you can always snag an extra dish. (plus I suspect that using the paper chits also lets them turn tables more quickly, rather than have folks wait for the carts to circulate in addition to reducing waste).
  • Post #92 - March 27th, 2008, 4:25 pm
    Post #92 - March 27th, 2008, 4:25 pm Post #92 - March 27th, 2008, 4:25 pm
    G Wiv wrote:
    trpt2345 wrote:Yes. No carts.

    The Phoenix hasn't used carts during the week for quite a while, though had been rolling them out for Sunday dim sum, maybe Saturday as well. Were you there on a Sunday between 9-2 with paper only ordering?


    Good point, no, we never go on Sundays, just too bloody crowded for my impatient tastes. Plus I have a somewhat irregular schedule and often work weekends, we do most of our Chinatown dining out weekdays. This thread is making me nostalgic, I miss Hong Min. They used to have another site on Cumberland somewhere, does that still exist?
    trpt2345
  • Post #93 - March 28th, 2008, 8:30 pm
    Post #93 - March 28th, 2008, 8:30 pm Post #93 - March 28th, 2008, 8:30 pm
    So we went to Shui Wah today instead of Phoenix. Even at 1:30 it was pretty crowded and we had to wait maybe ten minutes, not bad. It was paper ordering, no carts-it is so small and crowded carts would be impossible. The service was fast if perfunctory, and the food was very good, better than I remembered. Salt and pepper squid, pot stickers, stuffed green peppers, chicken feet, shu mai, spring rolls, all quite good. But I was shocked to learn when we left that they don't do parking validation. The couple of bucks we saved over Phoenix was wiped out by the six bucks for one hour of parking in the lot instead of two. For that reason alone we won't go back. Even Hong Min did validation. I have never been in a restaurant in Chinatown that doesn't do it-Big TH, Little TH, Emperor's Choice, Moon Palace, Lao Sze Schuan, I can't think of another place that doesn't.
    trpt2345
  • Post #94 - May 11th, 2008, 8:48 am
    Post #94 - May 11th, 2008, 8:48 am Post #94 - May 11th, 2008, 8:48 am
    I second that Sun Shui Wah is the best dim-sum in Chicago, and this is coming from someone born and raised in Hong Kong. While not "top caliber" by any Hong Kong standards, it's about average, which is more than I can say about Phoenix.

    I like the lack of carts, because it means everything is fresh. Good stuff.

    My other favorite place would be Yak Sing in San Francisco.
  • Post #95 - May 12th, 2008, 3:58 pm
    Post #95 - May 12th, 2008, 3:58 pm Post #95 - May 12th, 2008, 3:58 pm
    Went to Shui Wah last week for dim sum on Saturday. It was terrific, as stated throughout this thread, but I was a little disappointed by the offerings. LTH and Phoenix both offer more substantial meat and veggie items in addition to dumplings, crepes, etc. But the the choices they did have all looked great.
  • Post #96 - May 30th, 2008, 3:53 pm
    Post #96 - May 30th, 2008, 3:53 pm Post #96 - May 30th, 2008, 3:53 pm
    edited this comment out, because I now realize I mis-read trpt2345's comment. d'oh! sorry.
    Last edited by sarcon on August 21st, 2009, 12:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
  • Post #97 - May 7th, 2009, 10:01 am
    Post #97 - May 7th, 2009, 10:01 am Post #97 - May 7th, 2009, 10:01 am
    I'm planning on a first-time visit to Phoenix for a birthday dim sum meal on Sunday morning. Can anyone give me an idea of how long of a wait to expect for a party of four? We have tickets to the Sox game at 1:05, so I probably want to be out of there a little after noon.
  • Post #98 - May 7th, 2009, 10:21 am
    Post #98 - May 7th, 2009, 10:21 am Post #98 - May 7th, 2009, 10:21 am
    ndgbucktown wrote:I'm planning on a first-time visit to Phoenix for a birthday dim sum meal on Sunday morning. Can anyone give me an idea of how long of a wait to expect for a party of four? We have tickets to the Sox game at 1:05, so I probably want to be out of there a little after noon.


    If you go when they open, around 10:30, there is usually no wait.
  • Post #99 - May 7th, 2009, 10:37 am
    Post #99 - May 7th, 2009, 10:37 am Post #99 - May 7th, 2009, 10:37 am
    CrazyC wrote:
    ndgbucktown wrote:I'm planning on a first-time visit to Phoenix for a birthday dim sum meal on Sunday morning. Can anyone give me an idea of how long of a wait to expect for a party of four? We have tickets to the Sox game at 1:05, so I probably want to be out of there a little after noon.


    If you go when they open, around 10:30, there is usually no wait.
    And if you're going on Mother's Day, expect extra large crowds. If I were you, I'd take CrazyC's advice and try to be there when they open.

    Ronna
  • Post #100 - August 21st, 2009, 12:27 pm
    Post #100 - August 21st, 2009, 12:27 pm Post #100 - August 21st, 2009, 12:27 pm
    Because I had dim sum newbies with me for lunch today and we didn't have time to wait for a table, I picked Phoenix, thinking they'd have carts and plenty of tables. Plenty of tables yes, but alas, no carts (I should've read this thread before heading out!). Instead, we ordered off of a photo menu.

    In any event, the food was really solid. Thanks to the menu ordering, everything was delivered piping hot. Great pot stickers, shrimp crepes, meat/veggie buns, dumplings, etc. And, the veggie fried rice had super-fresh, still crisp snow peas and carrots. A few dishes were a bit greasy, but I expect that.

    The food was so good that I was only the tiniest bit sad that we hadn't gone to Spring World, instead. This was probably the best lunch I've had at Phoenix in years.

    Ronna
  • Post #101 - August 21st, 2009, 3:22 pm
    Post #101 - August 21st, 2009, 3:22 pm Post #101 - August 21st, 2009, 3:22 pm
    I was at the Phoenix for dinner last Saturday night - following stops at the Turkish World Festival at Navy Pier and the Croation festival in Bridgeport - and my friend and I both had horrible meals at the restaurant - probably the worst "Chinese" style meal I've ever eaten. Dim sum wasn't being served at the hour of our visit. Both of the dishes we did order off of the menu included beef - mine tasted very poor quality meat, the other person had all fatty beef and couldn't finish it. The service was pushy and waitstaff gave every impression they didn't care about what they were doing (and we had probably 4 different people waiting on us, one not knowing what the other had done prior) - and ignored the complaints about the quality of the food. Not only was the food bad tasting, but the decor has deteriorated into an elementary school "lunchroom cafeteria"-like atmosphere (in the room where we were seated).
  • Post #102 - August 21st, 2009, 3:27 pm
    Post #102 - August 21st, 2009, 3:27 pm Post #102 - August 21st, 2009, 3:27 pm
    Bill wrote:nd my friend and I both had horrible meals at the restaurant - probably the worst "Chinese" style meal I've ever eaten.

    How were the portions?
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #103 - August 21st, 2009, 3:38 pm
    Post #103 - August 21st, 2009, 3:38 pm Post #103 - August 21st, 2009, 3:38 pm
    How were the portions?
    I smell a punchline. :lol:

    I still love Phoenix for dim sum but we stopped going for dinner when the Szechuan String Beans hit $12.95.
  • Post #104 - November 27th, 2009, 7:31 pm
    Post #104 - November 27th, 2009, 7:31 pm Post #104 - November 27th, 2009, 7:31 pm
    I came to post on Phoenix not being worth going to outside of dim sum after a bad experience Wednesday night, and I see others have pointed this out. My sister, my kids, and I were waiting for family that we were meeting at LSC who were stuck in traffic, and since we were cold and wet and had completed a run of buying coconut buns, tee shirts, poppers, and Japanese bowls, we thought we’d get a snack at Phoenix. Greasy spring rolls that we couldn’t finish, really off-tasting won ton soup, acceptable vegetable dumplings and decent chicken corn soup. I’ll never go back after 3 pm.
    Have another. It's 9:30, for God's sake. ~Roger Sterling
  • Post #105 - January 3rd, 2010, 9:59 pm
    Post #105 - January 3rd, 2010, 9:59 pm Post #105 - January 3rd, 2010, 9:59 pm
    Steve Dolinsky's recent feature on dim sum at Triple Crown lured me there today for my first ever visit. Overall, pretty damn good and in my opinion on par with Phoenix, although I found the atmosphere and service to be better at Triple Crown.

    Triple Crown has cart service, although you are free to order dim sum items which have not been brought around.

    Some of the items I really enjoyed were: sticky rice in lotus leaf (one of the better versions I've had), steamed shrimp ball, beef short ribs in Korean sauce (a bit fatty but very flavorful), lotus paste bun, pan fried vegetable and pork bun (my favorite item) and a crispy topped sweet bun. I was a little less enamored with the flavor of their bbq'd pork.

    But overall, I really enjoyed my first visit to Triple Crown and I plan on adding it to my Chinatown Dim Sum mix.

    Triple Crown
    2217 S. Wentworth Ave., Chicago,
    Phone: 312.842.0088
  • Post #106 - January 4th, 2010, 5:17 pm
    Post #106 - January 4th, 2010, 5:17 pm Post #106 - January 4th, 2010, 5:17 pm
    Have to say I'm surprised by the comments re: Furama/Bway...I'm a "cart" fan (I love the surprise of "what will they bring me next") although I often order things like pan-fried dumplings to ensure freshness. Gave up on Phoenix years ago--excessive waits, everything fried, no variety from visit to visit. When I discovered Furama I was so happy--lots of veggie dishes (mmmm...pea shoots w/garlic and baby bok choy), something new practically every time, cart kids in soccer uniforms and very reasonable prices. Plus, I can combine my visit with a trip to Bale' to grab a couple of Banh Mi for dinner and to Sun Wah for Soy Sauce chicken the next day....yummmmm. Oh yeah...and they deliver dim sum when I don't feel like going anywhere (like yesterday!)
    "Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad." Miles Kington
  • Post #107 - March 11th, 2010, 11:38 am
    Post #107 - March 11th, 2010, 11:38 am Post #107 - March 11th, 2010, 11:38 am
    I have not been to Chinatown for many, many years. Thinking about taking the kids for their first Dim Sum - is LTH still as good as it used to be? Any other suggestions?
  • Post #108 - March 11th, 2010, 12:48 pm
    Post #108 - March 11th, 2010, 12:48 pm Post #108 - March 11th, 2010, 12:48 pm
    I think GNR Winner Shui Wah is a good choice.
  • Post #109 - March 11th, 2010, 4:33 pm
    Post #109 - March 11th, 2010, 4:33 pm Post #109 - March 11th, 2010, 4:33 pm
    I second Shui Wah, and I've been told that with a 30 minute warning, they can dim sum for dine in or carry out on weekdays too.
  • Post #110 - March 11th, 2010, 6:33 pm
    Post #110 - March 11th, 2010, 6:33 pm Post #110 - March 11th, 2010, 6:33 pm
    pie wrote:I second Shui Wah, and I've been told that with a 30 minute warning, they can dim sum for dine in or carry out on weekdays too.


    Shui Wah has dim Sum every day until 2 or 3 PM. No warning needed. Just show up and order.
    Steve Z.

    “Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.”
    ― Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Post #111 - March 11th, 2010, 7:37 pm
    Post #111 - March 11th, 2010, 7:37 pm Post #111 - March 11th, 2010, 7:37 pm
    Another big fan of Shui Wah here, but if you'd like to experience the fun of cart service, I'd have to recommend Triple Crown which as you can tell by my post above from a few months ago impressed me quite a bit - not sure I'd recommend it above Phoenix, but I really enjoyed it and it was a shorter wait for a table.
  • Post #112 - March 11th, 2010, 9:48 pm
    Post #112 - March 11th, 2010, 9:48 pm Post #112 - March 11th, 2010, 9:48 pm
    LTH is still good, if a tad inconsistent. Mine is apparently a minority opinion here, but to me Phoenix blows Shui Wah out of the water. I gave Shui Wah three tries and on each they failed to reach the level that Phoenix consistently shows. Plus their service has been on my visits at least sub-standard, they don't hustle as hard as Phoenix. And they don't validate parking either.
    trpt2345
  • Post #113 - March 11th, 2010, 10:37 pm
    Post #113 - March 11th, 2010, 10:37 pm Post #113 - March 11th, 2010, 10:37 pm
    I would agree with trpt2345 on the evaluation of LTH/Shui Wah/Phoenix. I've had Dim Sum in Chicago's Chinatown an average of 45 times a year for the last 12 years and I think Phoenix blows the other two away in quality and consistency. I don't really eat any of the fried stuff, so I can't comment on that, but I do eat pretty much everything else. I avoid the crowds by eating pretty early (as I often do at any popular restaurant), usually between 9:30-10:45. Phoenix has a much bigger selection than the other 2, and I find the service to be very efficient.
  • Post #114 - March 12th, 2010, 9:48 am
    Post #114 - March 12th, 2010, 9:48 am Post #114 - March 12th, 2010, 9:48 am
    stevez wrote:
    pie wrote:I second Shui Wah, and I've been told that with a 30 minute warning, they can dim sum for dine in or carry out on weekdays too.


    Shui Wah has dim Sum every day until 2 or 3 PM. No warning needed. Just show up and order.


    oops, I meant at dinner times and as late night snacks.
  • Post #115 - March 12th, 2010, 9:57 am
    Post #115 - March 12th, 2010, 9:57 am Post #115 - March 12th, 2010, 9:57 am
    pie wrote:
    stevez wrote:
    pie wrote:I second Shui Wah, and I've been told that with a 30 minute warning, they can dim sum for dine in or carry out on weekdays too.


    Shui Wah has dim Sum every day until 2 or 3 PM. No warning needed. Just show up and order.


    oops, I meant at dinner times and as late night snacks.


    Shui Wah is under completely different management at night. For the record, the GNR was awarded to the Dim Sum version of Shui Wah only; not the restaurant that operates out of there at night.
    Steve Z.

    “Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.”
    ― Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Post #116 - March 16th, 2010, 12:55 pm
    Post #116 - March 16th, 2010, 12:55 pm Post #116 - March 16th, 2010, 12:55 pm
    I walked by Phoenix yesterday and saw a sign on the window that says they're serving dim sum in the evening now too, IIRC from 4:30 to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Kind of s astrange concept, dim sum at night, but I could get used to it. I wonder if the menu will be the same at night.
    trpt2345
  • Post #117 - March 16th, 2010, 2:48 pm
    Post #117 - March 16th, 2010, 2:48 pm Post #117 - March 16th, 2010, 2:48 pm
    trpt2345 wrote:I walked by Phoenix yesterday and saw a sign on the window that says they're serving dim sum in the evening now too, IIRC from 4:30 to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Kind of s astrange concept, dim sum at night, but I could get used to it. I wonder if the menu will be the same at night.


    I order dim sum for dinner from Furama B'way all the time...mmmm....meat mochi and garlic pea shoots...you may have just determined my dinner this evening :mrgreen:
    "Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad." Miles Kington
  • Post #118 - December 27th, 2010, 8:25 am
    Post #118 - December 27th, 2010, 8:25 am Post #118 - December 27th, 2010, 8:25 am
    I am a long time lurker; really long time :) I do not step into any restaurant without reading everything about it on LTH. After doing this for so long, I decided it is about time, I get the courage to write some of my own.
    Although I love all Asian cuisines, never had the chance to try dim sum until yesterday. We picked Phoenix and thankfully it was not as crowded as I expected it to be at 10am.
    Started with congee which I decided is a perfect soup for breakfast, easy on stomach and pretty tasty with a little chili oil, although probably I wasn't supposed to.. Shrimp filled rice noodles were very good, I could have preferred to eat a big plate of those. I also liked the chicken pot stickers, the filling was just the right balance, surprisingly I did not need to drench them in soy sauce and such as I normally do. I tried the bun part of pork bbq buns( I don't eat pork; I know what am I doing here then :wink: ) , I think the steamed buns at Nhu' Lan are much moister and tastier. I assume pork part of it was not good either since that was the only item we didn't finish. Tried couple more chicken/shrimp dumpling and finished with the best sesame balls ever(crispy/fresh) and a sweet tofu soup(can't remember the name).
    I can easily say my first dim sum experience was a pretty successful one.
  • Post #119 - December 27th, 2010, 8:58 am
    Post #119 - December 27th, 2010, 8:58 am Post #119 - December 27th, 2010, 8:58 am
    afaust-

    Nice to have you delurk. Looking forward to reading more from you.
    -Mary
  • Post #120 - November 6th, 2013, 7:18 pm
    Post #120 - November 6th, 2013, 7:18 pm Post #120 - November 6th, 2013, 7:18 pm
    Has anyone been to Jockey Wok n' Rolls lately? I am looking for a dim sum restaurant in the suburbs.

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