Father's Day Dim Sum at Hong Kong Palace

Mark Lim - Have you ever seen a white guy eat pork blood cubes? I have. Last Father's Day my wife and I took both our parents and sisters to eat at Hong Kong Palace in Rowland Heights CA. It was quite an experience.

Hong Kong Palace is one of my Asian family's favorite restaurants and I've been there many times in my life and I've actually reviewed it on Oh So Fat before so this blog isn't about the food as much as it is about my new family joining us for one of our favorite Asian traditions.

Our family - Father-in-Law Don, My Dad, Me, Sister Bree, Wife Lauren, Mother-in-Law Brenda, Sister Chelsea, and My Mom

Here are the steaming gelatinous Pork Blood Cubes

My Asian family and I have been going to dim sum for many many years and we have never had the courage to try the pork blood cubes. We would watch people order it from across the restaurant and say things like, "I can't believe they're eating that!"

I really didn't want to order a full bowl because if it was disgusting (and it was) I didn't want a pile of it sitting in the middle of our lazy susan. My father talked to the waitress and got us a little sampler plate for all of us to try. The first victim was my Father-in-Law, Don.

We were all very surprised that he didn't vomit. He said it tasted like liver and that boosted our confidence to the point where we all decided to try it too. Bree was second and she said it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. Brenda likes liver so she had a tiny piece and said it wasn't that gross either.

I thought I'd try to out do them and eat the biggest chunk. Boy that was a bad idea.

I don't know exactly why it made me gag. I like liver too but this was like eating liver jello. It was pretty disgusting and I could taste it in my mouth for the rest of the day. There's video of me eating it but it cuts out right after I put it in my mouth.

My nephew, Dean, trying to eat some goodies

Other than my pork blood experience our Dim Sum day was great. We had wonderful variety and the opportunity to be culinary adventurous. Both sides had a great time sharing stories and eating different types of Chinese cuisine. It was good old fashioned family fun.

I really hope you guys get a chance to share in this interesting and exciting style of dining. I highly recommend it!

Be Fat! Be Happy

Hong Kong Palace: Dim Sum ($25) Rating: 8

Mark Lim - Dim Sum is a style of Chinese dinning that brings you the excitement and varieties of eating street food without all that unpleasant walking around stuff.

Here's how it works: There are about a half dozen women pushing around multi leveled carts filled with all sorts of traditional Asian goodies.

Just simply make eye contact with them as they pass your table and they will stop and begin to show you the different kinds of food they have to offer.

(Deep Fried Tarrot)

After you point and choose which little dishes you want, the waitress will mark your ticket with their special stamp and be on her way.

(Fried Radish Cake)

The carts will keep rotating around the entire restaurants with new treats so don't gorge too fast!

(Waiting for goodies!)

There are many treats ranging from fried savory seafood dishes to the strange like chicken feet and duck tongues.

(Some sort of shrimp ball)

The quantity of food usually ranges from 2 to 4 pieces per dish. They're like little appetizers!

(Deep fried shrimp thing)

My favorites always involve some sort of deep frying of seafood served with sweet and sour sauces.

(Shrimp wrapped in rice sheets)

As you eat you begin to combat for the attentions of the waitresses because the other diners are also trying to call them to their table. Sometimes you have to raise your hand in the air and whistle so they know you mean business.

(Chinese Broccoli)

Everyone in the restaurant is always hectically moving around. It really fills you with an invigorating feeling as you dine.

(Deep Fried Squid)

You have to be on your toes and you always have to designate someone as a scout so you know what food is coming to your table next. You don't want to fill up on the mediocre stuff when the good food is just around the corner!

(Red Bean Jello)

There are also many dessert carts that have different items to satisfy your sweet tooth. Red beans, tofu, and almonds are usually the main ingredients of the desserts but they have other interesting things too.

(Almond Jello)

The best part of Dim Sum is that you can try lots and lots of dishes because they come in small quantities. You really get to experience the tastes and cultures of the Chinese.

(Almond Tea Dessert)

If you just can't wait for a cart to come around you can order special foods like this Almond Tea Dessert. I had never had it before but it was by far my favorite of the day.

(The inside)

They bake a sweet almond mixture inside a pastry which you break into and eat with the soupy concoction. It's absolutely amazing!

Hong Kong Palace: Dim SumTaste ------------ (8) I crave their little fried seafood balls
Presentation -----(8) I love the many different plates of food
Price ------------- (7) It all depends on how much you want to gorge
Quantity --------- (7) You can eat till your wallet is empty!
Satisfaction ----- (8) I always leave full but I stereotypically get hungry again in an hour :P

Rating: 8 out of 10

As far as Dim Sum places my favorite is Hong Kong Palace in Rowland Heights California. As soon as you walk in you are transported to a far distant land filled with little 5 foot Asians screaming in different dialects and scurrying around like mice. The restaurant is alive.

Hong Kong Palace
19101 Colima Rd
Rowland Heights, CA 91748

If you haven't gone to Dim Sum and like to experience new things I suggest you go. You'll be happy you did! :)

Be Fat! Be Happy!