Why go: This dim sum standard bearer, newly relocated to Wheaton Mall, is still finding its rhythm after a ten-month hiatus. There’s a heavier hand than before, and formerly flawless dumplings and buns have proven merely good. But there are highs, and co-owner Janet Yu’s track record suggests that the area’s best dim sum parlor will again reign triumphant.
What to get: Shark-fin dumplings; crab-and-shrimp balls; chive-and-shrimp dumplings; roast-pork buns; roast-pork-filled sesame pastries; carrot buns.
Best for: A spirited weekend brunch with friends and family.
Insider tip: The regular menu has never been the equal of the dim sum menu, but there are worthy Hong Kong–style dishes, including lingfish with ginger and scallion; a marvelous whole, cleavered chicken under a hailstorm of garlicky, toasted breadcrumbs; Hong Kong–style dumplings in XO sauce; sizzling chicken with Chinese mushrooms.
>> See all 2010 Cheap Eats restaurants here
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
