Lousy dim-sum at LTH

I've had meals there that I've enjoyed before but not this time. Not really dim sum - plastic menus. Food indifferently prepared. Everything served at the same time. Steamed buns clearly were made much earlier in the day and kept warm for several hours. Beef dish was fatty and unpleasant so we didn't persist. Shrimp in the shrimp dumpling tasted mostly freezer burnt. Sauce for the rice noodles was bland/tasteless. I'll stick to Phoenix unless you folks have better suggestions.

howard wrote:I'll stick to Phoenix unless you folks have better suggestions.

As much as I love LTH, Shui Wah is my go to place for dim sum.

I agree. LTH has some amazing dishes but the dim sum aint among them. a hearty second for Shui Wah.

Funny, I made my first visit to LTH today. Wonder if I saw you, Howard.

For those (in another thread) wondering about shrimp toast. . .they are on the dim sum menu, not the main menu. They must make them anytime they are ordered.

Shrimp toast - as far as this goes, very good.

Fried taro root - a little thicker consistency than I prefer, but with good things stuffed inside. I've had better, but I've had worse.

Char su bao - not one of my favorites ever, but particularly disagreeable today. The bisquick outside was dry and tough, with an off-taste. I only had one small bite and pushed it away.

Sticky rice - pretty good - I'd say at least average, though I only had a bite. Those I was with kept going back and it was one of the only things we finished, so it certainly met their expectations and both are seasoned Chicago dim sum diners.

I order two things off the lunch menu: Chinese broccoli with pork and the salt and pepper shrimp. The Chinese broccoli was below average, but the last two times I've had it anywhere it's not been very good. Maybe it's out of season. The salt and pepper shrimp were very good and well liked.

Off the regular menu I ordered duck and rice noodles - cooked crispy. That was a hit with everyone. The noodles were very good, but I don't order them often to be able to say better/worse than anywhere else. Last time I had them was when Wing Wah was across the street...it closed years ago.

All in all, we'd go back, but probably not for dim sum. I don't prefer Phoenix's prices, but they do a good job, have a reasonable variety, and I prefer the carts. I still miss the old days when big Three Happiness was truly a destination. My grandfather's business partner - who owns one of the noodle/fortune cookie factories - would meet us there. I still dream of the spicy/sour bright orange cabbage salad I've never seen elsewhere...



We also ordered

Thanks for the suggestion - I'll give Shui Wah a try next time. I've liked Phoenix but I'm always ready to try someplace new for us.
Thanks again.

We visited on Sunday by the way.

Dim sum can be ok at LTH, but most often it isn't-sorta like Russian Roulette with 4 chambers full. After 10-12 tries, I've given up on it. (Guess it takes a brick (dumpling) to fall on my head to get the point.) Phoenix and Shui Wah are both fine.
By the way, has anybody had those big-ass fried oysters at Phoenix that Chicago mag listed in this month's issue?

Our favorite (much preferred over, for example, Phoenix) is Furama -- the North Side location.

I like Furama, except the food is often tepid at best, at least in my 6 or so experiences.