When we lived in Vancouver, we used to go for dim sum all the time. Now that we live in Calgary, we go for dim sum when we visit Vancouver. Can you believe this was our first time having dim sum in Calgary?! We're ashamed to admit it, but glad to finally have rectified the situation. We went with our friends, A and M, to Silver Dragon in Chinatown.
Dim sum is a style of Chinese food, typically served on small plates or steamers. Most recognizable items will be dumplings and pot stickers. You will also see vegetables, desserts and much more! It's usually eaten at breakfast or lunch, with tea. Traditionally the dishes are brought out on a cart. We see that much less frequently now, but Silver Dragon stays true to the dim sum roots. We started our day in one of the best ways possible - with copious amounts of Chinese food!
Reviewing a restaurant based on a dim sum meal is tough because of the sheer number of things we tried. Unlike our other reviews, we won't be spending much time on the individual dishes. Instead we bring to you V&P's do's and don'ts to make the most of your dim sum experience!
DO try to be there before 11am. Dim sum restaurants are notorious for having line ups through the door on weekends. They are the busiest from 11:30am to 1:00pm. We arrived at Silver Dragon just after 11am, and had to wait about 20 minutes for our table. When you arrive at Silver Dragon, make sure you go to the front and sign in, even if you see a line. They will give you a number at the front, and will call out your number when your table is ready.
DON'T eat anything before your dim sum feast. You probably shouldn't eat anything after either - but hey, we're not judging. There are dozens of dishes you can try at dim sum. Don't ruin your appetite on Corn Flakes.
DO go with friends! There is a lot on a dim sum menu, and the more people you bring, the more you can try.
DON'T bother keeping track of how much you're spending - just go with it! Most dim sum places are reasonably priced. We ate significantly more than what would be considered reasonable, and spent $25/person. Especially if you're visiting a restaurant with cart service, constantly doing math is not worth it. The best part about going for dim sum is a steady stream of delicious food to your table - enjoy it!
DO try everything. A and M were fantastic dim sum company because they happily ate everything (and they put up with all the pictures we were taking. M took the one above too)! Different carts have different dishes, and there is a lot to try. At first, just order one of each dish. If you really like something, it'll come around again. Chances are, you'll love everything you try, so keep an open mind.
DON'T be afraid to ask for clarification on the menu. Silver Dragon has cart service. We didn't actually get to see a menu. We just asked for things as the cart came by. If you have food restrictions, don't be afraid to confirm what's in the dishes. We often didn't know what kind of meat we ordered - that's part of the fun! Pro tip: If you make an effort to be nice to the table next to you, they may help translate as well!
DO ask for your dim sum favourites if you don't see them on the cart. P loves his egg tarts. We didn't see them on any of the dessert carts. We asked for them, and sure enough, out came a delicious trio of egg tarts.
DON'T get overwhelmed by the carts. As soon as you sit down, you'll be offered delicious dishes every minute. Say yes to what you want right away. If you're unsure about something, you don't have to decide on the spot. The cart will come back again. Pro tip: If you're in a group, assign one person to do all the ordering. They can keep track of what you have had and liked. It's much easier than trying to get a group consensus as the cart is rolling by!
Overall, Silver Dragon rivaled our favourite spots for dim sum in Vancouver. They had an excellent range of dim sum options that were simply delicious! The desserts were super fresh, perfectly warm and incredibly crispy. Silver Dragon's food wasn't greasy - a common pitfall many dim sum restaurants fall into. Their Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings) was so good we ordered it twice! As we were leaving, we kept eyeing the carts going by wishing we had more room in our bellies. We will be back!
V's Final Word: I am so glad to have found a dim sum spot in Calgary! I don't know what took us so long, but there was a dumpling shaped hole in my heart that has now been filled.
P's Final Word: Earlier in our post we urged you all to throw caution into the wind and try everything on the carts as they rolled by. However, I must confess, there is still one dish that I haven't mustered the courage for - chicken feet. Next time!
Price Range: $100 for a filling dim sum meal for four
Address: 106 3 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0B6
Website: http://www.silverdragoncalgary.com/