I don’t like to be pressured into liking something because of stars or diamonds or awards. I don’t let that affect my decision or opinion when tasting food and beverages. Nor do I allow myself to be blinded by the settings in which these dishes and concoctions are served at. I let my taste buds be the judge. For example, Singapore is home two Michelin-awarded hawker stands plus various other Michelin-recognized street food vendors, and there’s nothing glamorous about the Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre. Objectivity is what you need to in order to form a worthy opinion in any situation. The truth is that everyone has a different palate and preference.
1. Tim Ho Wan
It just so happens that Tim Ho Wan lives up to its reputation; the critics got it right. It is the worlds most inexpensive Michelin-stared restaurants for dim sum.
It finds itself on our list just short of opening last month because their dim sum is in fact that good. Enter its “Pan Fried Turnip Cake” for starters and their “Steamed Shrimp Dumplings” but popularly known as “Har gow”.
I ate four of their Har gow at their pre-opening at Palms Las Vegas and I’d do it again damn it. This specific type of dumpling is the original dumpling in dim sum before the latter innovations. Like any traditional recipe, you either do it right or you screw it up. In the case of Tim Ho Wan and Har gow, they honored it perfectly while still doing it their own way.
There are four other locations in the U.S. (or should I say, only four other locations in the entire country) aside from their new Las Vegas location with an additional location underway in Houston opening Winter 2019. The others are located in Hong Kong and Japan.
2. Hakkasan Restaurant
Hakkasan really stood out to me as both a restaurant and dim sum destination this year. Want to know why? Five words: All That and Dim Sum. I love a good soiree, especially one playing oldies but goodies like 2pac’s “I Get Around” over dim sum and boozy artisanal cocktails.
Best known for their nightclub scene (in America anyways) by the American populus (this is a global brand people), Hakkasan’s culinary team brings something innovative, current, and progressive to the world of restauranturing in the 21st-century. I appreciate that they are paying attention to the dining experiences that are driving millennials out to restaurants.
Aside from their All That and Dim Sum dinner party, its spec-tac-ular “Morel Mushroom Dumpling” is a dish even an occasional meat, poultry, and fish eater like myself would want to order again and again.
It is part of the vegetarian option available on the All That and Dim Sum menu (see the rest of the variations here) accompanied by vegetarian duck dumplings, vegetarian chicken dumplings, and crystal vegetable dumplings. And that’s just the dim sum platter; this is a whole prix-fixe experience including dessert.
I can talk your ear off about this interactive dinner party (if you hear the gong, take a sake shot) Hakkasan created. But, why do that when you can read all about our adventure here?
You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find an exclusive and private valet entrance to Hakkasan just past MGM Grand’s own valet if you continue to drive straight and make a quick right to the side of the building just before heading back to the Las Vegas Boulevard.
3. Mott 32
I set the prefix of my disdain towards awards, diamonds, stars, etc., because I wanted to be clear that taste was the deciding factor amongst criteria like service, attentiveness, technique, and many more when determining this list, of course. But, taste is first. I admit it: I am not easily impressed. Very few things surprise me, but Mott 32 did just that.
Their Dim Sum and Drink Sum is not only one of the most outrageously-priced fixed menu in probably the history of fine dining, so much I think it’s a sin and I demand they raise the price (I joke)!
We’re talking trendy eatery prices ($) compared to their usual haute cuisine ($$$$) prices.
Peking duck mushroom spring rolls for (wait for it) only $9, Iberico pork Shanghainese soup dumplings for only $8, cocktails for only $9 and wines for only $8. I mean, what? OUTRAGEOUS.
This Dim Sum and Drink Sum menu works almost like their fancy version of a happy hour: It starts at 5pm to 7pm and starts back up at 9pm to 11pm daily at the restaurants bar and lounge.
But Mott 32 didn’t make it to this list because of their Dim Sum and Drink Sum prices (that’s a story for another day). It made it to our lost because their dim sum is a winner in flavor. Their practice of ethical ingredient sourcing is unmatched and undeniable in every dish we had.
Their chefs incorporate modern and forward-thinking cooking techniques and apply to traditional recipes. This is no surprise since the Mott 32 brand is known for celebrating culture and honoring traditions, so much so that it named itself after 32 Mott Street in New York. This street saw the first-ever Chinese convenience store in 1891.
They dare marry Cantonese, Beijing, and Szechuan influences and I respect them for it because guess what? It works…for them anyways. Mott 32 is a whole other beast. For those looking to follow in their footsteps, tread lightly.
It’s both daring and rebellious in the most respectful way, if you can imagine that.
4. China Tang
If you’ve ever met me in person at least once, you’ll know I am never at a loss for words. Yet one restaurant that I can remember focusing solely to every bite at dim sum was China Tang.
One dish after another had me spellbound to my food, especially their “Pork shumai”. I am not a fan of pork, but it was so flavorful.
I was involved with what was happening in my mouth so much, I could care less about how many “mmmmms” were escaping my mouth. I swear my taste buds were having the time of their lives. It was OR-gasmic.
China Tang in Las Vegas is 100,000% underrated and underappreciated by the foodie community in so many different ways. It deserves your attention and it deserves to be on this list.
What I feel contributes to their culinary success is their dedication and admiration to reintroducing the dining style of the Tang Dynasty in today’s modern world. If you remember World History 101, the Tang Dynasty was considered China’s golden age for cuisine and culture. Much of that applies to the way food was not only served but also prepared at China Tang.
It’s as if the MET Museum in New York decided to turn one of their curated rooms into an epicurean dining experience. It’s a brilliant concept and it’s the cherry on top for a place serving dim sum that shuts me up for once.
