Empress Pavilion Runs Out of Dim Sum
Monday, July 11, 2005 0:00I didn’t know it was possible that Chinatown’s Empress Pavilion could run out of dim-sum on Sunday. I thought the managers might plan ahead or something. But Vidalia writes:
Los Angeles is sooooooooo officially overpopulated. You used to be able to show up for dim sum at 1:00 pm and get seated within the hour and not have people tell you that, “Sorry but by the time you get seated there will not be much dim-sum.” We need an earthquake to shake the weak ones loose as I always say.
Still, the shortage of selections doesn’t really affect her party, so Vidalia’s dim sum excursion ends like most binges: sickness from overeating.
If you’re looking to try new dim sum spots, since Empresss Pavilion is clearly maxed out, la.foodblogging’s Pauline has reported on a couple of dumpling houses. The one that most intrigues me most is Dumpling 10053 in El Monte. LA Weekly also published a guide to dumpling houses in our area last week, link.
Hello, sorry!
Originally uploaded by Vidalia.
Vidalia says:
July 11th, 2005 at 12:51 am
Girl, we were headed for some place in El Monte, but called ahead and they told us that we probably couldn’t get seated so we called the place in San Bernadino who said there was a huge wait so we settled on the place close to home. I told them “We used to have the Yaley monthly get together here at 1:00 pm once a month and they were still open”. My posse cursed me.
SoCalorie says:
July 11th, 2005 at 9:45 am
I’m surprised you don’t fly to SF on Sundays for dim sum.
hexodus says:
July 11th, 2005 at 4:01 pm
I had a similar experience the other day at lunch: went to the Ralph’s Service Deli and they were plumb out of Macaroni and Cheese. I flipped over the table holding cakes in retaliation. They asked me to leave, which I did but first I got a couple of pieces of chicken to tide me over.
Pauline says:
July 12th, 2005 at 9:17 am
If not for the photo, I wouldn’t believe Empress Pavilion actually ran out of food. Personally, I never cared for that place much because the food and service don’t measure up to the price I pay to dine there. Granted I’ve been spoiled by the likes of Mission 261, but I just think if I’m going to pay a lot for dim sum, it should be exceptional. Dim sum in Chinatown I can recommend are CBS Seafood (around the corner from Phillipe’s) and Golden Dragon (across the street from Plum Tree Inn). I liked CBS quite a bit, and it’s easy to leave feeling fulfilled on $20. When really short on cash, Golden Dragon is quick and cheap, but the food isn’t quite as good and you have fewer selections. At least neither places run out of food.
By the way, SoCalorie, if you still don’t get yourself to Dumpling 10053 by the time I get back to LA in December, I am going to have to drag you there personally! :)
SoCalorie says:
July 13th, 2005 at 5:24 pm
I may just wait so I can dish and dine with you!