22 Jan 19th–Jan 25th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | music | cafe | film | culTuRe | NighT+Day | feaTuRe | NeWs | OPiNiON | feeDBacK | cONTeNTs | four hearty pork and shrimp dumplings that are so stuffed they are more like meat- balls with a soft, yellow wrapping. Plump Shanghai Soup Dumplings and pillowy custard buns are also must-try bites. It’s a good idea to order multiple rounds of the different shapes and sizes of dim sum dishes. Extremely friendly servers are happy to help as you navigate the menu and indulge in the wide selection of offerings at this ideal East Valley lunch cafe. George Yang’s Chinese Cuisine 6048 North 16th Street 602-368-2688 George Yang’s Chinese Cuisine is decidedly more upscale than many of the great Chinese restaurants in town. The lighting is dim and moody, a glass wall displays an impressive wine selection, and customers don their date-night best. Attentive servers walk you through a menu filled with classics, including Mongolian Beef and Moo Shu Pork, and more unusual offerings, such as the Crispy Dried Sauteed Taro that resemble French fries. All of the Cantonese classics are available, but the quality is upped on every single dish. Make sure to order the Shrimp Miona, a hearty portion of soft shrimp fried in a light, crispy batter and doused in a bright orange, slightly spicy, tangy sauce. Great Wall Cuisine 3446 West Camelback Road, #155 602-973-1112 At Great Wall Cuisine, the dim sum spread is impressive, with towering piles of noodles, crispy egg rolls and chicken feet, and dumplings of all varieties. The eatery attracts a pretty large Sunday morning crowd, so definitely be prepared to wait — or go on Saturday when there are fewer people. The restaurant’s regular dinner and lunch services are worthwhile, too, with a giant menu of a la carte dishes, ranging from Americanized favorites to more authentic fare. Happy Bao’s 66 South Dobson Road, #112, Mesa 480-912-1207 Located inside the Mekong Plaza shopping center, Happy Bao’s makes some of the best dumplings in town. This little restaurant is accessed through the mall’s food court and has just a few tables. Servers pass plates of food through a kitchen window to fill takeout orders and please hungry diners. Dishes other than dumplings are available on the menu, including Dan Dan Noodles with spicy minced pork, sprinkled with ground peanuts, and red bean and custard buns. Everything is excellent, but our favorite is one of the simplest items on the menu. Small, soft, savory dumplings — their misshapen nature is a dead giveaway that these bites are handmade — are filled to the brim and satisfying. The dumpling wrappers are thicker than those used to make common pot stickers or soup dump- lings, and they are served with an al dente bite. Get the signature flavor filled with pork, chives, eggs, and shrimp, or dive a little deeper with the rich lamb and squash variety. Mekong Palace 66 South Dobson Road, #120, Mesa 480-962-0493 The full name of this Mesa restaurant is Mekong Palace Dim Sum Chinese Restaurant, but it’s known as Mekong Palace. It’s inside Mekong Plaza and next to Mekong Supermarket. You get the idea. During brunch and lunch rush hour, servers weave throughout the dining room, pushing stainless steel carts brimming with small plates. Some carts are filled with dumplings; others have sweet and savory buns or seafood dishes. Taro cakes are made at the front of the restaurant, and customers eagerly await the freshest batch. Mekong Palace offers a full menu, but dim sum, served daily until 3 p.m., are the real draw. New Hong Kong Restaurant 2328 East Indian School Road 602-954-9118 Drive down Indian School Road, and you can’t miss the giant neon sign that reads “Hong Kong Restaurant” and advertises an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. But don’t let Choice from p 21 Old Town Taste’s chicken Chongqing- rooted special. Jackie Mercandetti
