China Garden Dim Sum

duck

shrimp shumai

broth filled shumai

almond souffle

bbq pork bun

here is a question: where is the best place for dim sum in southern california? I am willing to drive wide and far for good dim sum. My family went to China Garden in Irvine today, which is decent but is nothing compared to the dim sum we've had up in the Bay area.

Also, Chinese food is a mystery. It's so greasy and heavy but I usually don't feel like I'm going to keel over after having eaten it.

Sea Harbor Seafood Dim Sum

whun's tummy saver method--leave out all the carbs

it's a min hee!

whun, mid bite

mama

broth filled dumplings

bbq pork buns

deep fried sweet rice with pork

tofu in abalone sauce

number 90

When my mom gets an idea in her head, there's no stopping her, no matter how inconvenient. Sea Harbor Seafood was recommended to us by a family friend and despite being in Rosemead and a 45 minute drive from her house in Orange County, we had to go.  I'm not complaining.  I love dim sum.  We also went with my cousins Min Hee and Whun. Min Hee is visiting from Korea and her and her brother lived most of their lives in Singapore, where dim sum and Chinese food is pretty extraordinary.  Really.  I still salivate thinking about Singaporean chili crab.  Hopefully Sea Harbor met their high standards for Chinese food.  I thought the food was delicious but the service was just ridiculous.  They don't cater well to non-Chinese patrons.  Their menus are in Chinese and no one seemed willing to speak English to us.  Every time we asked for something they practically rolled their eyes.  And also, because it was a little later in the afternoon, they had run out of a lot of the dishes we wanted.  

Here are the positives:

1. bbq pork buns were fluffy and not too sweet

2. the deep fried sweet rice pork buns were amazing.  min hee commented that they could also work as a dessert

3.  service is fairly fast

4. their baked bbq buns are supposed to be their most popular but they had run out.  well, they sounded good, at least.

Guppy House

Strawberry Peanut Butter Brick Toast

Strawberry Mango Shaved Ice (aftermath)

Ugh.  This place is obnoxious.  Really loud music.  Really loud patrons.  Mediocre service.  That having been said,  I want to shove my face into their brick toast.  

also, note:  portions are large.  a small shaved ice serves 5ish

Guppy House

2730 Alton Pkwy

Irvine, Ca 92614

China Garden Dim Sum

I think the best part of dim sum is how there is no wait time between ordering and eating.  you see what you like, you point at it, and there it is.  also, the metal steaming tins are pretty great.  i like that they're stackable.  

China Garden

14825 Jeffrey Rd

Irvine, CA 92618

(949) 653-9988