Portland dining meetup for dim sum
posted February 22, 2014 1:34 AM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Sun March 16 at 11:00 AM, HK Cafe at Eastport Plaza
4410 Southeast 82nd Avenue, Eastport Plaza, Portland, OR, USA (Map & Directions)
It's been a while since we had a food oriented meet up. I think the last one was when we went to Podnah's for BBQ. Is anyone up for dim sum some night next month? Dim sum is usually eaten in a large group so why not!
Portland has a very mixed relationship with Chinese food, with cheap places catering to American tastes placing very high and more authentic restaurants getting bad scores because the food is too salty, the service is too pushy and/or the reviewer not understanding the menu. A former coworker of mine from Hong Kong thought the the HK Cafe in Lents is very good. I haven't been but the reviews are generally positive.
Is anyone up for it? They serve dim sum during the morning and afternoon but don't know about the evening hours. I can easily find out if the interest is there.
Is anyone up for it? They serve dim sum during the morning and afternoon but don't know about the evening hours. I can easily find out if the interest is there.
Ocean City is my usual go-to dim sum place. I also recently went to Pure Spice which was good also. It does not have carts though which has some advantages.
posted by vespabelle at 12:32 PM on February 22, 2014
posted by vespabelle at 12:32 PM on February 22, 2014
The same source told me no one goes to Ocean City anymore. I haven't been to Pure Spice - I'll ask what the general opinion is amongst the HK expats. We have Chinatown and Wongs King over here but the only one I've been to is Chinatown.
posted by fiercekitten at 11:19 PM on February 22, 2014
posted by fiercekitten at 11:19 PM on February 22, 2014
Of course no one goes to Ocean City anymore. It's always so crowded. Plus, the food is terrible and the portions are so small.
Forget it fiercekitten; it's Chinatown.
posted by mimo at 7:46 AM on February 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
Forget it fiercekitten; it's Chinatown.
posted by mimo at 7:46 AM on February 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
First of all, yes. I am a fan of dim sum and would love to do this- I would also love to share the dim sum experience with others who haven't tried it. It is best to go with someone who knows what to expect your first time (note that some of the negative reviews of the HK cafe say there was a woman with a cart of food who wouldn't leave you alone- yes, that's what every dim sum place I've been to is like- that's not a negative, that's how dim sum works. Just tell her you don't want anything from her cart.)
I had heard Wongs King was the best- but my information may be out of date. I've never made it out there. I'm up for trying wherever- the place I used to go closed years ago. It was downtown, and called Wong Kee (perhaps named to purposely be confused with Wongs King?). I need a new place, and there's nothing in my neighborhood!
posted by Secretariat at 8:43 AM on February 23, 2014
I had heard Wongs King was the best- but my information may be out of date. I've never made it out there. I'm up for trying wherever- the place I used to go closed years ago. It was downtown, and called Wong Kee (perhaps named to purposely be confused with Wongs King?). I need a new place, and there's nothing in my neighborhood!
posted by Secretariat at 8:43 AM on February 23, 2014
We could even go ice skating then head over for dim sum.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:38 AM on February 23, 2014
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:38 AM on February 23, 2014
I've been to Fong Chong years ago, and I remember it to be okay but not really fantastic. It's a little sentimental to me because it was the first place I ever had dim sum.
I had dim sum at House of Louie once. I think the quality was comparable to Fong Chong, but the waitresses were way pushier. I kind of like that. I think the titular Louie might be the Jim Louie of Huber's fame?
Wong's King is always fun. I haven't had dim sum there, but I went with some Thai friends one time and ate a lot of new things. I remember the duck chins were good.
All of my info is 6+ years out of date.
It seems like places often only serve dim sum in the morning — or maybe that's just something I've run into by chance?
posted by Renegade Duck at 2:51 PM on February 23, 2014
I had dim sum at House of Louie once. I think the quality was comparable to Fong Chong, but the waitresses were way pushier. I kind of like that. I think the titular Louie might be the Jim Louie of Huber's fame?
Wong's King is always fun. I haven't had dim sum there, but I went with some Thai friends one time and ate a lot of new things. I remember the duck chins were good.
All of my info is 6+ years out of date.
It seems like places often only serve dim sum in the morning — or maybe that's just something I've run into by chance?
posted by Renegade Duck at 2:51 PM on February 23, 2014
I've been to House of Louie for dim sum a couple of times (although yeah, probably about 4-5 years ago)- it really wasn't that good of food. I honestly should have known better than to go back for the second time, I didn't like it that much the first time. Even knowing it wasn't going to be good I was disappointed.
I think of dim sum as a morning or lunch type thing too- maybe about 11 am would be hitting the sweet spot of everything is cooked but they haven't run out of stuff? I defer to others who have eaten at the restaurants we're considering.
Actually, my vote is for anyplace that has these, pronounced similar to hum sai gow.
posted by Secretariat at 7:06 PM on February 23, 2014
I think of dim sum as a morning or lunch type thing too- maybe about 11 am would be hitting the sweet spot of everything is cooked but they haven't run out of stuff? I defer to others who have eaten at the restaurants we're considering.
Actually, my vote is for anyplace that has these, pronounced similar to hum sai gow.
posted by Secretariat at 7:06 PM on February 23, 2014
Are they hom sui gok 鹹水角 ? (per this Essential Guide to Dim Sum - which is on buzzfeed but is from Lucky Peach originally.)
posted by vespabelle at 12:16 PM on February 25, 2014
posted by vespabelle at 12:16 PM on February 25, 2014
Yes- that's them! They have such an interesting texture. Almost everywhere seems to have them, so it's not like we have to research where they're served- just if you happen to see them go by on a cart grab a plate. You won't be sorry.
posted by Secretariat at 4:14 PM on February 26, 2014
posted by Secretariat at 4:14 PM on February 26, 2014
I'm not sure I've ever had dim sum so I am watching to see what is decided upon.
posted by curious nu at 5:58 PM on February 26, 2014
posted by curious nu at 5:58 PM on February 26, 2014
... I am watching to see what is decided upon.
At a guess, I'd say: dim sum.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:05 PM on February 26, 2014
At a guess, I'd say: dim sum.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:05 PM on February 26, 2014
Despite my big long comment, I'd prefer something new. HK Cafe sounds cool.
What's Chinatown? Is that a restaurant or some sort of synecdoche?
posted by Renegade Duck at 1:28 AM on February 27, 2014
What's Chinatown? Is that a restaurant or some sort of synecdoche?
posted by Renegade Duck at 1:28 AM on February 27, 2014
Yeah, I agree, let's try HK Cafe. But I think we'll have to do morning-afternoonish, not evening, to get dim sum.
posted by Secretariat at 12:54 PM on February 27, 2014
posted by Secretariat at 12:54 PM on February 27, 2014
You're right. When you're right, you're right, and you're right.
posted by Renegade Duck at 9:20 PM on February 27, 2014
posted by Renegade Duck at 9:20 PM on February 27, 2014
With the whisky tasting this weekend, would Saturday the 8th or the 16th be better? Or maybe a Sunday?
posted by fiercekitten at 11:02 PM on February 27, 2014
posted by fiercekitten at 11:02 PM on February 27, 2014
Saturday the 8th, Sunday the 9th (ew, daylight saving time starts), and Sunday the 16th work well for me. I have a class downtown at 1:30 on Saturday the 15th.
posted by Renegade Duck at 12:48 AM on February 28, 2014
posted by Renegade Duck at 12:48 AM on February 28, 2014
I have plans for Saturday 3/8, I'm open for the rest of March.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:40 AM on February 28, 2014
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:40 AM on February 28, 2014
I was going to complain that I wasn't available the 16th, but I've checked my calendar and I see that I am available that day, so now I have to find something else to complain about. That annoys me.
posted by mimo at 2:09 PM on February 28, 2014
posted by mimo at 2:09 PM on February 28, 2014
Have you considered "the weather"? I hear that's a popular topic for grievance, if a tad mainstream.
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:39 PM on February 28, 2014
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:39 PM on February 28, 2014
The sun was actually out today. The weather also let me down. I'm really peeved that I have nothing to claim about.
posted by mimo at 8:48 PM on February 28, 2014
posted by mimo at 8:48 PM on February 28, 2014
See what I mean? Do you feel happier, now that you feel legitimately peeved?
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:26 AM on March 1, 2014
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:26 AM on March 1, 2014
I had such a delightful time last meetup. I am in!
posted by munchingzombie at 10:03 AM on March 2, 2014
posted by munchingzombie at 10:03 AM on March 2, 2014
So they only do dim sum until 3pm. I'm going to set this for this Saturday.
posted by fiercekitten at 8:10 PM on March 3, 2014
posted by fiercekitten at 8:10 PM on March 3, 2014
Or rather the Sunday after next.
posted by fiercekitten at 8:14 PM on March 3, 2014
posted by fiercekitten at 8:14 PM on March 3, 2014
I haven't had dim sum in years so I'm into this. Just need to make sure it works with schedule, but it looks alright as of now.
posted by Lutoslawski at 2:25 PM on March 4, 2014
posted by Lutoslawski at 2:25 PM on March 4, 2014
I'll be in town for this! There's never meet ups here in Utah so I'm doubly excited if I can come, plus dim sum.
posted by Marinara at 12:25 AM on March 6, 2014
posted by Marinara at 12:25 AM on March 6, 2014
Yum yum yum. Looking forward to this!
posted by Secretariat at 10:52 AM on March 15, 2014
posted by Secretariat at 10:52 AM on March 15, 2014
We're coming from the west side so if whoever gets there first could put us on the list or whatever. We might have enough to fill a while table ourselves.
posted by fiercekitten at 9:31 PM on March 15, 2014
posted by fiercekitten at 9:31 PM on March 15, 2014
We are on the way, might not get there until 10 after.
posted by Secretariat at 10:49 AM on March 16, 2014
posted by Secretariat at 10:49 AM on March 16, 2014
Vespabelle and are are by the front door. She's on the waiting list.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:05 AM on March 16, 2014
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:05 AM on March 16, 2014
#TIL: The Golden Gate Bridge stretches all the way from Rome to Seattle!
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:14 AM on March 16, 2014
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:14 AM on March 16, 2014
We are seated and eating, fifty feet from the door off to the right side.
posted by cortex at 11:33 AM on March 16, 2014
posted by cortex at 11:33 AM on March 16, 2014
That was delicious. Time for a nap.
posted by Secretariat at 1:46 PM on March 16, 2014
posted by Secretariat at 1:46 PM on March 16, 2014
A++ would eat there again for sure.
Looking at the dim sum guide, the shrimp thing we couldn't identify were probably har gow. The white cake thingies no one took were probably lo bak gow or radishcakes. There was a lot more going around than that chart has on it tho.
posted by fiercekitten at 3:33 PM on March 16, 2014
Looking at the dim sum guide, the shrimp thing we couldn't identify were probably har gow. The white cake thingies no one took were probably lo bak gow or radishcakes. There was a lot more going around than that chart has on it tho.
posted by fiercekitten at 3:33 PM on March 16, 2014
Sorry we missed it! Hopefully we can make the next one.
posted by curious nu at 7:36 PM on March 16, 2014
posted by curious nu at 7:36 PM on March 16, 2014
Yum! That was excellent!
posted by vespabelle at 9:53 AM on March 17, 2014
posted by vespabelle at 9:53 AM on March 17, 2014
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:34 AM on February 22, 2014