la.foodblogging

Ocean Seafood: DIM SUM - Chinatown
750 N. Hill St.
Los Angeles, CA
8.27.06 - Sunday, 11:00 AM
Moi + 9 other hungry crazies

Dim sum, anyone? A little of this, a gigantic boatload of that? Yes, well, me too!

I already know Ocean Seafood makes a mean baked crab. Their veggies are sub-par, the rice sucks, and every dish comes complete with a fun little surly attitude, ala the wait staff. But this is a sentimental favorite amongst myself and my crew, as we’ve have oh-so-many good times inside the tacky, outdated walls, and this throw-down was no different.

We arrived before the massive Sunday crowds by just a hair, and secured the only remaining banquet-sized table. Lucky for us, too - one of our beloveds speaks Mandarin, so lo and behold, we actually received precisely what we intend on ordering. See how magical this is already?

The beauty of dim sum is that it’s literally instant gratification - the very moment our butts are in the seats, folks are descending with glistening carts full of dumpling goodness. I’ll list the sample treats in just a jiffy, but let me say this, in overview — is it the best dim sum in LA? Gosh, no. But it’s really rather tasty, inexpensive, and crazy-fun. I’m not sure I’d want to take on the task without a companion who speaks the language, however - the raw energy and chaos of the place has a tendency to overwhelm me. But I’m wimpy like that.

Now on to the dims!

* Scallop dumplings
Not too tasty due to a significantly soggy texture. Next, please.

* Shrimp with Spinach dumplings
Much better - not the greatest, snappiest consistency in the world, but I like the flavor oodles

* Eggplant with Shrimp Paste
Woof, no, this is all kinds of wrong - evil texture, and I adore eggplant

* Leek dumpling
A surprisingly lovely combination - garden fresh and super good

* Black mushroom Shiu Mai
I’m a huge fan of these little honeys too, but you have to be butt-ass crazy about mushrooms to appreciate the delicacy

* Sugar cane shrimp
Heavenly fried little morsels with a sugar sweetness kick

* Shrimp rice noodle
My favorite! Huge, pancake-like noodles stuffed with fresh shrimp, and topped with a salty soy-based sauce. This is the must-have for moi.

* Braised vegetable buns
Their buns leave a little to be desired - only so-so in the flavor department.

* Pecan shrimp
Another hug crowd pleaser, albeit a high-calorie one. Shrimp are flash-fried and coated in a sweet mayo sauce, with lots of candied pecans. I gained a pound just writing that.

* Vegetarian egg rolls
Save room for the more stellar offerings - these are rather bland.

There were other goodies being passed around, the like the hundred year old egg soup and bean pies, but I had reached capacity. Next time, my hungry friends, I will serve thee better. And yes, there will most certainly be a next time - it’s a bit of a ritual. See you there?

Say hi any time at PoetKitty.

Blessings,
Kitty

By PoetKitty (see more of her posts). You can find more of PoetKitty's writing at her own website OMG Food!