Updated Menu at Dim Sum Garden Includes Pork Belly w/ Noodles in Brown Sauce
This weekend, the little Shanghai spot near the Chinatown bus stop updated their menu. Dim Sum Garden is maybe most known for their xiao long bao (soup dumplings) but I have found them not soupy enough for me. Their handmade noodles, on the other hand, are outstanding. You have a choice between noodles in soup or “dry”, and while I am a soup chick, the dry saucy noodles are where its at.
I didn’t recall having seen this dish before- stewed pork in brown sauce noodle- and I was told that it was on the menu over rice before and its now being offered with the noodles. I love the chewiness of handmade Chinese noodles, Dim Sum Garden’s have accomplished that. The dry noodles really aren’t dry at all; the sauce, which I believe is the same kind used on most of their dry noodle dishes, swaddles those noodles giving them the perfect tangy, sweet, salty balance. Umami alert! I was warned that the pork was of the fatty variety, clearly that did not dissuade me in any way. The little pieces of fatty pork belly had enough charred non- pure- fat pieces to munch on and a whole lot of pork fat you can choose to consume, avoid, or stare at longingly. Pork fat for lunch: it feels so good to be bad! Seriously, this is such a satisfying dish and costs only $5.75. They even throw in a few pieces of bok choi, so you can meet your veggie quota. But if fatty pork is not your thing, do yourself a favor and get one of the other noodle options.
THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)
- Handmade noodles are just more fun to chew on
- Charred fatty pork belly is a naughty treat
- A touch of veggies alleviates my guilt
THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)
- Pieces of pure pork fat grosses me out
- I don’t trust teeny Chinese restaurants near bus stations that have pictures of their food on the wall
Dim Sum Garden, 59 N. 11th St. (btw Filbert and Arch St.), 215-627-0218
Posted by Jamie at 10:31 am, February 1st, 2010 under Chinatown.
8 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
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8 Comments
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Ahhh man, more chinese pork. Am I beginning to see a theme here? ;) *drools*
Jamie, how’s the Vietnamese/Pho selection in Philly? I was curious. I saw a place or two in Chinatown but did not get a chance to try them.
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I’ve always wanted to try this place, but was too intimidated! It’s going back on the “to try” list.
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I love noodles! Those looks sooo good.
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Was just in there today! Great place!
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@streetmeas, for Vietnamese in Philly you have to head to Washington Ave, there is a great enclave down there. Stick with Chinese in Chinatown.
@mwinston and sarah- Don’t be scared!!! Its more than worth checking it out, you will not be sorry
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Yes, this place may look sketchy, but I recommend it. I’d also like to note that I’m pretty sure the pictures of the food on the wall are not what they serve, but what was served by the previous restaurant. It is certainly not the place to go for atmosphere, unless you like neon lights, but the food is yummy. I usually get the soup dumplings and then order the brisket noodles to go so I have lunch for the next day.
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No, no, not shady at all! I live a block away, go there all the time and I can tell you these are some of the nicest people you will ever run into. For example, cold day, waiting for take-out, they will brng you a cup of hot tea. Stuff like that. Food is great – soup dumplings, scallion pancake, roast pork & duck, all really good. And that pork belly, of course. Don’t be afraid to go, people.
I’m adventurous, but every time I walk past this place it screams “disaster” at me so I walk another 2-3 blocks into Chinatown to find food.
Interesting that it’s actually a decent place.