![]() ![]() ![]() Light little crab puffs follow that actually taste like crab, the best I’ve had in Portland. The crisp layers of the egg roll crackle when you bite into them. Lunch specials are inexpensive and include an egg roll and steamed rice. You’ll get a whole plate of little feet, which tastes exactly like I would expect – not my favorite dish.Īt the end, there is a cart full of sweet red bean buns, sweet tofu, mango pudding, sesame seed balls… just point and you’ll be surprised. If you are feeling really brave, try the chicken paws. It is full of pictures and little descriptions, which can help the layman find his way through the process. If you find yourself totally lost, and unable to understand what the servers pushing the carts are saying, ask to see the dim sum menu. Still hungry? The char siu bao, BBQ pork buns and onions, or red bean buns may be just what you need. Moving on, try the congee porridge popular in many parts of Asia, with flavorful bits of pork, rice noodles simply stuffed with shrimp, han sui gok pork in sweet sticky rice that has been thrown into the deep fryer, or the similar wu gok with taro instead of pork. More winners include the vivid steamed pork buns, sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves, and the delicately flavored pot stickers (though they can be a bit doughy at times). I liked the gow: shrimp, pork, or red bean dumplings in light wrappings full of fragrance. Everything I had was good, though you have to allow for variance in personal taste. If you ask about something that is not in their cart, the staff will send the right one to your table. It is fun peeking into all the tantalizing steamers as they pull off lid after lid, giving you a quick glance inside. The variety is large, the carts actually have fresh dishes (I watched them refresh one cart just because the items had been on it too long), the staff is very knowledgeable and doesn’t hesitate to help you with your selections. While not as good as the great places in BC, this is by far, the best I have had in the Northwest. ![]() At this point in my life, I’ve had my fair share of dim sum in San Francisco and Vancouver BC. We’ll start with dim sum, a Cantonese term, literally translated as dot heart or order heart, meaning order to one’s heart’s content. Of course, you can always add some of the hot sauces that are on every table. Instead look for the more subtle layers of flavor that are the foundations of Cantonese food. If you are expecting spicy, you may not find it here. One thing to keep in mind, this is not Szechuan food. Since you can order off the incredibly cheap lunch menu, plus the dim sum carts and the dinner menu, lunch is a great time to go. You can also go for lunch and will usually be seated fairly quickly. Many Asians tend to like eating late, so get there early if possible. There is something about the scene that almost feels military in precision.Ī few things to consider: even though Wong’s is huge, it packs with customers. The wait staff is smartly attired, and always quick to respond, though you may have to wave to get their attention now and then. You’ll feel like you are in a Chinese banquet hall the room seats over 200. Crisp white tablecloths set off the 60 or so tables the larger ones have a Lazy Susan in the middle to make sharing easy. Servers push carts laden with dim sum in every direction. One wall is taken up by large well-maintained fish tanks full of crabs and lobsters. As soon as he picked it up, someone rushed over and began polishing the top. The dining room is huge, modern, and spotlessly clean – on the way out a companion set a to-go container on a counter. The entrance doors in the mini mall don’t prepare you for what is coming. Then I started hearing rumors of a new place named Wong’s King Seafood. Compared to those cities, Portland’s Chinese restaurants usually turned out gelatinous, greasy slop. The problem was I’d had good Chinese in L.A., San Francisco, and Vancouver BC. I have a lot of Asian friends and when it comes to food they know I’m always up for Thai or Japanese, but when they’d suggest Chinese, I was always busy. I used to be embarrassed when out-of-town guests wanted to get Chinese in Portland. Note: Wong’s King Seafood closed in 2020.įood isn’t quite as good as it used to be, but it still attracts crowds, especially for dim sum. Reader Survey: Best Coffeehouses in Portland 2017.A Map of our favorite Portland coffeehouses.Interviews: Honest dialog with people in the Portland food industry.Reader Survey: Best of Portland Food 2017.
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