Life in the Lower Mainland (BC, Canada)

After renovations, Xu's Wonton House is now Shanghai Dimsum House. Menu looks the same. Went back with a friend today and this time I also tried the pan fried version. 1. Bayulan Steamed Mini Pork Buns ($4.95 for 5) Tasty (and slightly fatty tasting?), flavourful broth inside. 7. Shanghai Style Pan Fried Pork Buns ($5.55 for 5) The golden-brown bottom looks suspiciously deep-fried. In any case, quite crispy in parts and that it can therefore snap and cause the soup to spill out. Basically you get a fried texture and flavour to #1 for just 60 cents more. The modest cost is really good enough that you should consider it, especially for take-out. Steamed buns don't travel very well in my opinion. Depending on your appetite, one or two plates is enough for a meal, so you are looking at a mere $4.95 to $10.50 for lunch. Tasty, and great value! Counter service was pretty crappy toward my non-asian friend. The server managed to avoid eye contact for a long time even...

Following a friend's recommendation, we went this morning to Chef Tony Seafood Restaurant to try, among other things, their intriguing siu mai with truffle! Interesting to note: NO SAUCE for anything! Even though you are charged $2 per person for "tea and condiment". TIP: Dim sum order checklist is only in Chinese, but thankfully the numbers correspond to the menu, which has pictures of most (key) items. Shrimp and Matsutake Dumplings ($5.98 for one steamer of five) Winner! Something about simply putting some truffle on it elevates this juicy siu mai. And also urges you to forgive how rather ugly it is. It is of course highly unlikely that you are seeing large chunks of real black truffle here. Probably Chinese fake truffles but using enough potent truffle oil--otherwise you couldn't get it at $5.98 per tray. Shrimp and Matsutake Dumplings ($5.98 for one steamer of five) Simple, tasty. Firm with prawns, very little filler just to hold it toget...

Although my previous experience at the new Dinesty at Metrotown was disappointing, I was willing to chalk it up to the location being new and give them another try. Mistake. Well over a week ago I made a reservation. When I tried to change it to two smaller tables but more seats in total, it was initially approved, but later they called me and told me they wanted a $100 deposit for the second table. I ask for 2 more seats and they want $100. Really? Anyway, I kept my reservation. They are of course well aware of Chinese New Year, so I was not surprised to find the restaurant of course packed for their 7pm second seating. What I wasn't expecting was the staff shortage--It took very long to just order anything. But even so, floor staff kept their cool with customers and were at least professional though clearly so overworked most basically had to ignore you unless you walked right up and talked to them, in which case they typically asked you to wait a moment. Dishes also ca...

Nice bright and open space at the newest Dinesty Dumpling House near Metrotown . They've jammed as many tables as they could into it without compromising too much on spacing. The result is you could have some substandard spaces like being right next to the server station, the entrance, or the bathroom. Still, decor is nice even if the privacy isn't quite there all the time -- tables near the walls are quite close together. The Xiao Long Bao here come in steamers of 8, and each bao is about the size of a ping pong ball. Luffa and Shrimp Xiao Long Bao ($7.95 for 8) Where's my shrimp? More importantly, where's my soup? Steamed Shrimp, Scallop & Pork Soup Dumplings ($7.95) Delicious soup. Filling tasted fatty but otherwise quite tasty. Where's my shrimp and scallop? Deep Fried Chicken Rolls with Asparagus and Ham ($9.95) Asparagus is token -- one piece slightly bigger than the eraser at the end of your pencil. Meaty portion! It's like a qua...