Michael Y.
Yelp
When one typically thinks of finding good dim sum in the Greater Los Angeles area, most would assume the best restaurants are in the San Gabriel Valley. And although this is true for the most part, I was curious about the Chinatown area and how those restaurants compare.
I heard from a family member that Golden Dragon was running a weekday special where items marked A, B, or C were priced at $4.60 each. And of many factors, the price was the main motivator to give them a try. I dropped in on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch and was seated inside immediately. Looking around, about half of the dining room was empty. The other half had mostly elderly Chinese folks having a weekday dim sum lunch. The dining room was well decorated with small wood accents, lantern-like lights, and even custom carved chairs. With a lot of tables for 12-14 people, Golden Dragon is definitely a banquet seafood restaurant in addition to a dim sum place.
**It's worthy to note that they have parking in the back of the restaurant. Definitely check that lot first before putting money into a street meter.
Also keep in mind that Golden Dragon charges for tea. At the time of this review, this was $1.80 per person.
Finally, remember that the $4.60 item special only applies for weekdays (Mon-Fri). On the weekends, the prices are different:
A: $4.60/order
B: $5.50/order
C: $6.50/order
D: $7.50/order
But from what I've heard, this restaurant gets packed on the weekends, meaning it might be better to come on the weekdays for price AND waiting time.
**
Reviewing every single item I had would take a long time. But from the items I had, the quantity was just as good as the best dim sum spots. And at the price of $4.60 for pretty much every item ordered, the price to portion was a steal! If on the more frugal side looking to get some dim sum, definitely check this place out! Dim sum items will start at $6-7 at most places in our high-inflation world, making this place very competitive.
The dim sum was some of the best I've had in the surrounding area. And from everything I tried, there weren't any bad dishes in particular. I personally liked the Spareribs with Black Bean Sauce for the sponginess of the meat, the Beef Tripe for the chewy texture, the Chicken Feet for the rich and sweet flavor, the Shao Mai for the soft pork, and the Beef Noodle Rice Rolls for the flavorful beef and moist rice noodle. The Beef Balls, Shrimp Rice Rolls, and Steamed Tofu Skin Rolls were great as well, but just not the best I've had.
For a Cantonese restaurant in Chinatown serving up dim sum, the food is no question five stars out of five. The weekday special price is by far the BEST in the area when looking from a price to portion perspective. In addition, the food tastes as authentic as you can get it in. And as I always say: If you are questioning if a place is good, look for the amount of older Asian folks in the restaurant. They'll more than likely know where all of the great places for authentic dim sum are. For those who aren't familiar with Cantonese restaurants, come prepared for passive service and not very clean restrooms. But really, you're coming for the social dining experience and great food. In all, I'll definitely be back at Golden Dragon in the near future! Great all around!