A Little Dim Sum Place

Note: A Little Dim Sum Place has ceased operations until further notice

February 2011

We know that dim sum are only traditionally served during the day but we’ve always been the type to go against the grain. We showed up this innocuous eatery (shortlisted in our very own Time Out KL Food Awards 2010 in the Best Chinese and Best Independent New Restaurant) – proudly proclaiming its name in huge letters – for a spot of dinner dim sum.

The food doesn’t disappoint and is plentiful, as evidenced by the tall stacks of distinctive bamboo steaming baskets concealing bite-sized morsels of delight. Go for the classics, such as the char siu bao – white cloud-like steamed buns filled with sweet barbecued pork – and har gau – plump prawns wrapped in a translucent flour wrapper. An adorable spin on the siew mai – cutely named ‘king of siew mai’ is indeed king; we can find no fault with them topping the classic with a lovely big prawn.

The classics are merely the tip; there are different in-house-only dim sum that have remained firm favourites with their patrons for years. Not least of which is their scrumptious bacon roll, cradling a fishcake possessively with a dab of mayonnaise for extra pleasure. Crispy yam croquettes are crisp little purses, enclosing a soft centre of minced pork and Chinese mushrooms. Those that don’t view the pairing of sweet and savoury as sinful would do well to grab a plate of banango prawn fritter – this blend of banana, mango and prawns is a welcome respite from the many helpings of pork we seem A Little Dim Sum Place to be having.

If dim sum aren’t enough for you, they also serve hearty plates of Hong Kongstyle wantan noodles, fragrant chicken rice and siew yoke – plates of crispy roast pork that come in helpings of large, medium or small, depending on the size of your appetite.

Embrace thrifty eating here as it would be a chore to spend more than RM50 – seven plates of minor miracles amounted to less than that. Service isn’t a bugbear either; the always lingering wait staff are attentive and the hostess is helpful to a fault. It makes you wonder why so many outstanding Chinese restaurants in KL still damage themselves with the chilling froideur of their service. We’re happy to report that it’s not the case here.

There’s nothing chic or sleek about it but you’d have to be a certified curmudgeon to not like it. Teh Inn Joo

Awards

A Little Dim Sum Place was shortlisted in the Best Chinese Restaurant and Best Independent Restaurant categories of the Time Out KL Food Awards 2010. Our food awards are 100% voted for by the people of KL. This way, we guarantee that popularity and consistent performance is rewarded.