Jando S.
Yelp
Ever have that moment where everyone likes a certain movie, but you're the only that didn't like (or even borderline hated) it? That's essentially the story of One Dim Sum (一點心) and I. I've given them numerous chances to win my Dim Sum loving heart over, but alas, I've come away unimpressed almost every time.
I keep asking myself:
-- Is it the wait? There are people lined up to the teeth here almost every day, any hour of the day. They even have a dozen chairs outside, more than I've seen for any establishment. Waiting is never an issue for me for any food worthy of hype. But at least ... there are chairs.
-- Is it the fact it's notorious touristy? I've yet to see a non-Chinese picture menu with as many languages as they have it in. There is Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Thai. No love for the Spanish, but that language might as well not exist in this part of the world.
-- Is it the service? The fact they push people to order even before they sit or how they rush certain patrons because the interior is tiny? Not ever a problem in my book. Inconvenient yes, but certainly not a deal breaker, especially for Chinese cuisine.
It's the Dim Sum.
I don't want to say I take my Dim Sum seriously but if there is one thing I can't do is subpar versions of it. I was okay with the Siu Mai (燒賣), Shrimp Dumplings (蝦餃), Egg Crisps (蛋散) and Lo Mai Gai (糯米雞) but the rest were a bit lackluster despite having them multiple times. They include the BBQ Pork Buns (叉燒包), Spare Ribs (排骨), Pork Puff Pastry (鹹水角), and Rice Noodles (腸粉). There are a few one and done (i.e. so bad I didn't want to try another) dishes, which were the most expensive ones like the Black Pepper Veal Chop (黑椒牛仔骨), Ginger Scallion Tripe (薑蔥牛栢業), and Chicken w/Mushroom + Fish Maw (匕菇棉花雞).
Strangely enough, I'd still tell people to come here even if I didn't enjoy it as much. I'm probably (certainly) missing something, but I'm also not in a hurry to find out.