Harbor City Tacoma Restaurant

I came solo and wanted to try out a local dim sum place in Tacoma. Let's see how it compares to others. I didn't order much because I was by myself and had to go to a Korean BBQ place in Federal Way for lunch shortly. The BBQ pork buns were ok, nothing bad and nothing outstanding. The deep fried pork crescents could use a bit more filling. The dough was a slight crisp on the outside while chewy inside. The chicken feet was a meh because couple of them had a weird texture and taste to them. The pan fried eggplants with shrimp was ok. All in all, the food quality was average at best. The pricing is comparable to Jade Garden in Seattle. BUT you definitely get better quality of dim sum at Jade Garden. For the size of Harbor City, it does give a very good selection of dim sum. That's kind of a surprise.

Great dimsum. No carts just order from menu. Old converted Mexican restaurant, medium small space. One big round table probably to seat 7. About 8 or 9 4-chair square tables. Love their dimsum, got the pork, fish and tofu pot good too. Salt pepper squid tasty.

Everything was perfect. The food being delicious is one thing, but they also add tons upon tons more amount of food on your plate. You would think the food would be expensive with the quality and quantity of the dish, though it’s super duper cheap for how it is. $100 worth of food was enough to feed me and my family for dinner, tomorrow’s lunch, tomorrow’s dinner, and maybe the next next day’s lunch again. It’s incredible of the amount they give you. It’s such a steal. Customer service was amazing too. They’re super nice, helpful, and even funny lol. The atmosphere just felt as if everyone is enjoying their meal and it’s such a positive feeling being inside the restaurant. Please, give this restaurant a try, and enjoy !!

First time trying this place bcs a family member recommended it. Food times were efficient, customer service was friendly and food was excellent. Amongst many other things, we ordered: Shrimp dim, Pork & shrimp dim, S&P Prawns, Chicken chow mein, Chinese broccoli w oyster, Chicken feet, Soup dumplings, Tofu, Chicken fried rice. Everything was so yummy! My only con during our experience was the S&P Prawns; the batter had delicious seasoning, but its small prawns, so not a lot of meat. It was nice to try, but wouldn’t order again. This place is a tad pricier but that’s normal inflation. We’ll definitely be back!

Don’t be fooled by the exterior. Dim Sum is delicious. Very efficient ordering system. Just scan the QR code at your table and order. No need to wait for the cart to come around. Best part of this is I don’t need to talk to anyone (an introvert’s dream)!

Hands down the best Chinese food I've had in years. It was my first time there. We ordered 5 different things to share between 3 of us, and it was enough food to fill us up and still have some leftover in the end. It seems to be mom and pop owned, and the staff was really nice. There was a good flow of customers that continued to come in while we were there. I'll be back soon for sure.

Wonder HK food and dim sum 😋 👋(　ﾟ_ゝﾟ)🤌 好味 "🍜" The HK Sampan Congee is fantastic. Packed full of shrimp, peanuts, and I believe flounder or some type of fish. Massive portion to share too. Fast service, friendly staff, good amount of parking in the lot.

A family friend spoke about Harbor City, and we hadn't had dim sum in years, so we decided to give this local restaurant a try. The atmosphere was simple with remnants of the previous restaurant still in use. It was relatively clean with an almost ethnic market vibe. The staff was very off hands and not very communicative, which wasn't an issue since you made your food orders via phone app. The demographics of the patrons were all Korean(I'm assuming based on the language they used), so I found that interesting and fun to hear Korean primarily spoken at a Chinese restaurant. The selection of food was good. A nice variety of dishes to choose from, including dim sum, an assortment of appetizers as well as a wide selection of classic Chinese/American cuisine. We tried Xiao Long Bao, Steamed BBQ Pork Bun,  Steamed Pork & Shrimp Dumpling,  Shrimp Dumpling with Chives, as well a their Mushu Duck The quality of the food was above average, and the dumplings were well made with exceptional care. The flavors had more of a subtle, traditional flavor instead of the overly sugary and salty food of most Chinese/American restaurants we've visited. The Mushu Duck was quite nice, although it didn't come with any green onion, but the flavor was still good. Between the two of us, we had the 5 dishes with good portion sizes as we ate till we were full, and we still had some leftover.  The tab was around $50($25 per person), which, with the quality and quantity of food, we thought was very reasonable. All in all,  despite lacking much personality or interaction with staff, Harbor City is highly recommended for those looking for a local option for Dim Sum and possibly the best option for the South Sound area.  It would be best enjoyed with company so you can order a variety of dishes without breaking the bank.

Continue to come when I want some good food. Love the salt and pepper squid...always the first item to be ordered. Tried the crab and green beans the other day. Absolutely fantastic. This is a great restaurant with mighty delicious food!

This dim sum spot has been a longtime favorite of mine--I've followed them faithfully since their days in Chinatown. Whenever we craved quality dim sum, that was our go-to. So naturally, while heading down south, I had to swing by their Tacoma location. It's housed in what was clearly once a Mexican restaurant, but don't let the exterior fool you--the dim sum still delivers. While the menu isn't quite as extensive as their Seattle counterpart, the selection is solid and the flavors hit the mark. Everything we tried was fresh, satisfying, and true to the quality I've come to expect. You order through your phone so not too much interaction with the staff but food came out hot as one would expect. If you're in the area and craving dim sum, this place is absolutely worth a stop--even if the ambiance feels a little unexpected.

This is a review of dinner; their dim sum are probably fine, but almost certainly frozen and steamed. We were excited when they first opened because Tacoma seriously lacks good Chinese food. Sadly, after a few visits, I've come to the conclusion that this place is actually pretty awful. Chewy Orange Beef that taste like all breading and no meat? Check. Chewy Pea Shoots where they left too much thick woody stem on? Check. Dry Peking Duck with old chewy skin? Check. Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings that are somehow 50% fat and 50% bone, yet manage an odd rotten fish flavor? Check. Check? Expensive. Once again Tacoma proves that Chinese food is a dead art, and there is no restaurant here better than the Safeway hot trays, Panda Express, or the frozen food aisle. Save your money, make stir fry at home.

We walked in and were seated right away. We had to scan a QR code to look at menu and order. We didn't wait long for the food to come. Good variety of dim sum on menu.

After the Harbor City located in International District in Seattle closed down, I wanted to support their Tacoma location. I have never been to the Tacoma location before. There isn't any other dim sum restaurants in Tacoma (that I can think of). We came in as a group of 4. It was fairly busy inside the restaurant with people dining in and waiting for to-go orders. It was less than 10 minutes of waiting until a table was ready for us. Ordering the food was made easy. There was a QR code on the table for us to scan and submit what we wanted. However, it took FOREVER for our food to come out. It took around 30-45 minutes for our order to come out. This isn't normal for dim sum, so I hope it was just a one off problem with our table. Every thing we ordered came out at the same time at least.

Visiting from Portland for the weekend and wanted some DimSum. We've eaten at their Seattle location many times and so figured it'd be fine. First, the place looks like a Mexican restaurant from the outside and inside. No carts and order from your phone. Service is as expected, no smile, minimal conversation and drops off food at your table. Food would be a 4 but I'd give it a 3 because as you're eating. You are looking around at the horrible environment and swatting flies. If it looks like this in the dining area, imagine the kitchen. Nope, not recommending this place, the owners need to put some pride into their restaurant.

They've certainly renovated since the last time I reviewed this place. It's no longer the interior of a Mexican restaurant. Their dims sum has remained delicious, especially their chicken feet. My husband and I also ordered the dry chow fun. A good choice as this is the chow fun we are used to and not the saucy chow fun. Dim sum, at this day and age, is definitely not wallet friendly but it hits that craving. Thankfully, these cravings don't come too often.

This is their second location. The parking lot is not that big. It's in an old outdated Mexican restaurant. The menu is through a QR code located on the table. Dim sum menu was limited. For the most part, they had our usual except for bbq flat rice rolls. They offer full dinner items Iike rice, noodles, soup. But we stuck with dim sum. -Chicken feet -Har gaw -Shu mai -Tendon -BBQ bun Service was quick. Out of the above items, the chicken feet and shu mai were on point. Chicken feet just fell off the bones. The tendon was to too tough that we didn't finish the rest and the wrapper on the har gaw was so gelatinous and sticky chewy. I only ate the shrimp inside and discard the wrapper. The bbq bun dough was soft, bouncy and moist. Had a lot of bbq filling.

I come to Tacoma for at least a couple visits each year, and I always make time for a trip to Harbor City when I'm in town. An offshoot of a popular dim sum destination in Seattle's International District, Harbor City opened here in 2022. They've almost all the dim sum staples, and you can order standard fare as well. I especially like the balls of the balls of fried shrimp paste, Har Gow, the pan fried bean curd and shrimp rolls, the salt and pepper squid and sautéed pea vine tips. However, I do miss that they don't have cheong fun rice noodle rolls. The place is not huge, but even on busy Sundays at brunch time, the waits aren't bad. The restaurant's location itself is old (they didn't spend a ton on decoration or modernization), but it's clean and the staff are prompt and efficient. It's not even close to fine dining, but the dining tastes fine. Just as with the Seattle location, ordering here is done over your phone. You lose the fun of cart service, but the advantage is that you can order exactly what you want, when you want it, and the food comes directly to you hot from the kitchen instead of after taking a lap around the dining hall. Also, you needn't order everything at once. Get a few menu items, eat them, order a few more, until your appetite is sated. A printed menu is available for the smartphoneless.

This was not a good experience. No problem with using the QR codes menu, but we had a question about one of the items and nobody to ask. We had shrimp dumplings, which came all stuck together in the container. We had to wrestle them with chopsticks to separate them, and they completely fell apart! I've been eating dim sum for many years and have never experienced that. The shrimp was tasty, but it's not enjoyable to eat gummy rice wrapper by itself. Same thing with eggplant and shrimp-stuck together and fell apart. Very oily and not flavorful. The best dish was the eggrolls, with big chunks of shrimp and the y couldn't stick together! Really delicious!

Drove by this place and thought it looked sad, so we kept driving to Harvest Buffet. While there we read the reviews for Harbor City and realized we screwed up. So drove up from Olympia the next day to take Mom here. Loved the succulent fried shrimp in mayo sauce. My other favorites were the fried mochi balls filled with sweet and savory pork filling and the black bean spareribs is one of the best I've ever had. Can't wait to come back and try some other dishes because this place is legit.

The dim sum is legit. The neighborhood doesn't look great but I promise you the food is fantastic. I loved all the dishes I received. I really loved the deep fried shrimp balls with cheese. It's not really cheese- more like a mayo. And the shrimp balls are generous - they don't skimp here!

I came solo and wanted to try out a local dim sum place in Tacoma. Let's see how it compares to others. I didn't order much because I was by myself and had to go to a Korean BBQ place in Federal Way for lunch shortly. The BBQ pork buns were ok, nothing bad and nothing outstanding. The deep fried pork crescents could use a bit more filling. The dough was a slight crisp on the outside while chewy inside. The chicken feet was a meh because couple of them had a weird texture and taste to them. The pan fried eggplants with shrimp was ok. All in all, the food quality was average at best. The pricing is comparable to Jade Garden in Seattle. BUT you definitely get better quality of dim sum at Jade Garden. For the size of Harbor City, it does give a very good selection of dim sum. That's kind of a surprise.

Great food. My go to restaurant in Tacoma. Loved them when they were in Seattle recently moved to Tacoma found this location and they are my go to Chinese restaurant. Service is great as well.

We arrived for lunch around 2:00pm. Not too busy, not too slow. The young folks in the front were pleasant and doing a great job holding it down. Small parking lot. Would not recommend for a large party. This place is a scan to order so no need to interact with waiters much for ordering food. You'll get tea and water upon arrival. The food came out fast. We ordered: From their main menu: - Peking duck - 4/5 because it didn't come with green onions; wasn't the best we've had but more fresh than other places we've had it - Chow fun - 5/5 fresh noodles, good ratio of noodles to veggies, good flavor, we have this dish enough to know when a restaurant isn't skimping on the noodles and we're happy to report this place was generous - Salt and pepper pork spareribs - 3.5/5 good crunch and flavor but for my preferences it was unexpectedly sweet, husband wasn't a fan of the bone in because some were chipped bones From their dim sum menu: - Beef Tendon - 5/5 our favorite!! Was a great texture and flavor. Great portions and would recommend tendon fans to try.

This place is not clean at all. Floors and table extremely sticky, the walls are so dirty and there were so many FLIES everywhere. I came right when they opened and was disgusted. Do yourself a favor and eat elsewhere. You won't regret it

Came here on a Sunday right before they open at 10am. One of the tables to be seated, not much service involved since you order via the app and they only bring the food out to you. Ordered the usual items such as shrimp dumpling, daikon cake, sesame balls etc and they were pretty good hit the spot especially after an early morning hike! This time, we went for the Seafood Chow Mein (Oriental style). The problem I have is the gravy wasn't enough and it's also not flavorful enough. Can use a little more seafood imo, but at the price, I think it's expected. It has fish, shrimp and squid and some vegetables cooked in the gravy. Obviously this location isn't as crowded as the one in Chinatown @ Seattle, but does the job at the south side of Washington about 30miles away. Recommend it here if you are craving for dimsum or Chinese but in the Tacoma region.

We came here last year and decided to turn it into a Christmas Day tradition. Fairly certain we are not alone in this. It was again packed, with a very diverse crowd, speaking at least three languages. Some changes we noted happily from last year: the front of house staff was even more "on it" and very pleasant; the dishes came a touch faster (we believe the chef still completes one table at a time, more like a line chef, so you will get everything at once, fyi - which is fine!); nice attention to presentation this year, the sesame balls came out looking like a lotus flower, the shrimp and tofu appetizers were very attractive and intriguing. Chef comes out himself sometimes, maybe he had help in the kitchen this year? It was hard to tell. Funny that they still keep all the Mexican themed decorations from the prior business. It's a good spot.

Food is extremely delicious!! Service fast! Ambiance family friendly can't stop eating and trying different dishes. I'm definitely keeping this restaurant in my fav places.

First time here and not disappointed.The place itself looks a bit run down and one dining area is used for storage.Ignoring that,the food was top notch.Steamed dumplings were great.A small bowl of hot and sour with pork was a meal in itself.And then the egg foo young arrived.The two of us couldn't get through this extremely tasty dish.Amazing value and the staff were very helpful,patient and understanding.Will definitely return.

We are excited that we found this place. It's certainly not in the best neighborhood but it's well worth it. Every time we have been there, it has been busy but we usually get seated fairly quickly. Staff are fine and attentive. The food is excellent! We have tried quite a few of the items on the menu and each time we have enjoyed them. There are a few that we won't order again, but I highly suggest you try them all so you can determine if you like them or not.

4 stars because needs major remodeling . This used to be a Mexican restaurant and needs updating for a Chinese restaurant , Food I say depending on the cooks mood. There's times will be salty or bland taste. But sometimes taste like the one in Chinatown. Service , always great and friendly. Ambiance massive renovation to make it looks like your entering a legit Chinese authentic restaurant .

THIS IS A SPOT! Initially saw a lot of people suggesting this on Reddit for a good dim sum spot and had to check it out. Was not disappointed! Tried mostly items from the dim sum menu and also the honey garlic spareribs that were beyond delightful - super tender and flavorful! Love that we automatically received tea upon sitting down. All of the food was so fresh but the egg rolls were really a game changer for me personally - filled with huge pieces of shrimp and the out wrapper was so light and crisp! The only initial challenge was the menu is fully digital but our cell service was spotty at best. They do have public WiFi to help avoid that issue though so as soon as we connected we were all set. You order through the digital menu and food comes out as it's ready. Also this is definitely more of a hole in the wall type of spot. The lack of decor however wasn't really a detriment in my opinion since the food was so good and service was so prompt. Plus the prices were extremely reasonable - easily fed two adults with plenty of leftovers for another full meal for $60. We will definitely be back again!

Omg well it's Friday 5pm not to busy yet. Ordered like 8 items including the Asparagus (small). Soooo delish and crispy. It was loud cause some nice Asian ladies were having a get together behind us lol! They had aoooo much food they took with them. We only had two dim sum dumplings left and a bit of asparagus togo!! Not bad. Now to roll outta here and nap!

Every single dish was delicious! All the dishes were good portion sizes to share and were reasonably priced. It came out to about $100 for 6 people! We loved the variety of dishes as well. The staff were nice and quick with the dishes. The ambiance feels very warm :)

The food was very tasty and served timely. I love the QR code to order food. The dim sum menu was short but very tasty. The honey walnut shrimp is a must, green beans was super tasty, the honey short ribs was recommended on IG, but honestly the Korean BBQ style is better.

This restaurant was once a Mexican restaurant turned DimSum. The outside of the building did not change at all. When we entered, half the place was unused and dark. Lights left off. It's small and not a place that would be pleasing to the eye, honestly. I kept hearing a notification going off saying the freezer door was open. Another QR code ordering system. I am completely fine with that. Work smarter not harder. As the food slowly trickled out, it was very tasty. I love their chili oil on the table. That was amazing! I added it to everything. Presentation was nice. I liked the food, overall. Can't say it's the BEST I've ever tasted but definitely tasty. The Chinese broccoli was steamed to perfection and just the perfect drizzles of oyster sauce. Next time, I'd probably just order take out. There isn't any background music so you have to be mindful of your conversations. I could hear another table's ENTIRE conversation. Not by choice. Looking to pick up some dimsum. This is a nice gem in Tacoma. Just off pacific with decent parking.

This spot hits. I love coming here for dim sum. Service is quick and food always comes out hot. Love their soups! Place seems to be pretty clean.

Best Dim Sum around! We've gone here 3 or 4 times now and travel from Kitsap just for their Dim Sum it's not fancy or Michelin star or anything, just delicious and consistently well done dim sum. It's worth the drive from wherever you are!

Came here for dim sum with my parents. The Hong Kong style noodles were delicious, get them crunchy. The soup dumplings were delicious as well. Love that it is convenient to order via an app.

Food is great just like in Seattle. Service is okay. The ambience is friendly and family oriented. Clean and tidy except the non functional bar, there are boxes on the bar table, but it's still a great place to eat. I like the idea that you use the QR code instead of having menus.

The food here was delicious and served quickly. The soft crab and green bean dish was particularly great and unique. It would have been nice if the dumplings came with sauce. The restaurant uses a system where you order from your phone. Whenever we needed something like extra utensils or napkins it was easy to flag someone down to get them.

Visiting Tacoma and my cousin told me about this quaint little place with delicious homemade dim sum! I'm so glad she brought me! My favorite and new obsession is their honey glazed beef short rib; truly addictive! My all time favorite is classic pork shumai which Harbor City does with amazing quality!

The food was OK, but not what I'm used to at Harbor City in Seattle's China Town, sadly. I miss the dim sum carts rolling past so you can pick what you want. Ordering dim sum off a menu is a little strange, and they didn't offer some of my Harbor City Seattle favorites, so it's one & done for me.

Food quality: Decent temperature went cold quickly and gelatinous appearance was off-setting Service: Quick... perhaps too quick leaving me to question if things were made to order or prepared in advance to quickly deliver Ambiance: Okay.... Last inspection posted was "Needs improvement" so my family & I accepted that it was an eat at your own risk choice. We were feeling adventurous and placing our faith in our immune systems. I give it a 3.5. Price point was not justified. However, still thankful for the experience.

Great dim sum, quality food at a decent price. Parking can be tricky during peak hours, but worth the hassle. Service is prompt and attentive, ambiance is lacking but it's expected from this kind of restaurant.

Used to go here all the time. Especially good shrimp foo yong. Then the chef left and things changed. The shrimp were chopped in microscopic pieces (seriously) and when I complained I was told the chef doesn't know how to make it with whole shrimp. SERIOUSLY? Get a new chef. Also the staff didn't show any concern although they knew I had been a regular and had brought visitors here. Unless I hear there's a new chef or he's learned how to cook, BYE BYE HARBOR CITY

The inside is great it's giving very clean. The food tho was mid af if u want kinda authentic Chinese food that is VERY greasy sure. I will say last time I was here was about 6 months ago the service was fast & friendly especially considering we were a party of 8. they did sit us at a big table with a rotating middle table to make sure everyone got a lil of everything but the food was honestly a 6.5/10 the portions were good but I've had better else where for the same if not cheaper price.

Thankful that this location is open after the closing of the Seattle location. It is very busy but moves quickly and dim sum is great, especially the lotus lead wrapped sticky rice. Peking duck with Bao buns is worth the $$

okay dim sum.. a bit slow service. Small size of family owned restaurant. Pros: If u live in tacoma, short drive instead of going up north to Chinatown.

We loved the Harbor City in Seattle and loved this one as well. The style is the same where you order from your phone and they bring it out to you. We ordered a huge variety, probably too much, and loved it all! My favorite was the friend pot stickers. They might honestly be the best I have ever had. The sticky rice was a close second. The decor is nothing to write home about, it is very clearly a converted Mexican restaurant, but I care more about the food.

The food is so good here. Great portions, very tasty. Well priced. Great service, very efficient.

Best dim sum in area! This restaurant used to be a Mexican restaurant based on the decor. Oh well, at least the owners have brought some really tasty Chinese food to this neighborhood. To place your order, scan the QR code and order away! My favorites were shrimp dumplings with spice, shrimp with bean curd, deep fried ( never tried this but really enjoyed it!) and the beef chow fun. The string beans, har gow and Shui mai were excellent. I was really pleasantly surprised with the flavor of all the entrees. Highly recommend!

Great food! We loved everything. The egg rolls were a surprise. They were filled with shrimp and lots of flavor, super crispy too. The shoyu chow mein and pea shoots with garlic sauce was my favorite! We will be back!

I have lived in Olympia from Texas for 3 months. We discovered this restaurant and have come 5 times in the last two months. We love it so much and will keep coming back at least once a week or every other week. It's a 35 min drive for us, but extremely worth it. Price to food ratio is fantastic. The dim sum, the duck, sechuan chicken, chicken wings, salt and pepper squid....ALL OF IT!!!

Harbor City in Seattle is one of my go-to spots for dim sum. So I was excited to see one pop up in Tacoma which is so close to my work! The dishes tasted consistent with the Seattle location. There's not much of a "service" since you order with the QR code and then they bring you the food. Service is lacking but it's expected. Items we ordered: 5/5 Shrimp Damping in Spicy Sauce - unexpectedly really good! 2/5 Steamed Spareribs with Black Bean Sauce - I've had better at different dim sum places 4/5 Steamed Stick Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf - My personal must at a dim sum! 4/5 Shrimp Dumplings w/ Chives 5/5 Spicy shrimp dumplings

I did an online order of a seafood congee and a small prawns with honeyed pecans. The original email said pickup in 30 minutes, but a second email said it was ready about 10 minutes later. A better estimate would be helpful to ensure warm food. The food itself was well cooked with good flavor and sizes around what I'd expect for the price. Pickup service was good with the food ready as soon as I walked in.

We got a steaming hot pot of green tea to start. A we code we could all scan made ordering as a table easy. The food didn't all come out at the same time, but it didn't matter. Wit was all delicious and we all shared. The atmosphere is interesting and unique, in a good way.

Finally in Tacoma (after Ming Palace for many years), now we have competitive typical Chinese Dim Sum (originally came from Southern China, e.g. Canton/Guangdong), full of variety, fresh and cooked into tasty and presented small dishes. By the way, its chilly sauce is very good. Other than China (including Taiwan), Dim Sum is popular in California and Vancouver BC. In Seattle there has been a few for a long time. But there is mostly Dough Zone like (more Taiwan style) restaurants in the east side, not even in Tacoma/Olympia. Having waited many years in Tacoma to get the best Dim Sum restaurant, Harbor City (Tacoma) serves such mini dishes all day long! Except for Engimono Ramen (in Federal Way), there used to be only 2 good Chinese restaurants here, Tacoma Szechuan and Ming Palace. Now Harbor City came to the top number one. Only complaint was the parking. Limited numbers of spots - probably the owner did not expect the crowd - so do the planning and park carefully in today's environment.