dim sum without the wait, the crowds, and the smell! it’s pricey, but the shu mai are better than usual, and they have soup dumplings. the turnip cake was good, but there was no taro option. the mom got a giant bowl of chao… enough for a few breakfasts. we ordered enough to take home for annie… which scared the waiter. you want HOW MANY chow fun?

the service wasn’t bad until we wanted to pay and leave… that took about an hour. where’d they go with my credit card?

overall, i think it warrants another visit. after all, they have ample parking, and i was not ONCE shoved by some overzealous asian woman screaming obscenities while waving a numbered ticket.

now that’s progress.

1. seats of honor?, 2. empty, 3. fancy, 4. tea, 5. the checkbox menu, 6. turnip cake, 7. food everywhere, 8. banh cuon!, 9. chao khong?, 10. spooning up the chao

1. sprouts, 2. cha gio, 3. bun cha gio thit nuong, 4. fooood.

william and went out in search of din tai fung-esque dumplings today… and found them in a tiny restaurant in one of the many many mini malls on valley. much of the menu was in chinese, and there were no pictures to help… so we took the advice of our waitress and hoped for the best. it was a good idea. we tried the juicy pork and juicy pork & crab dumpings while the cook stared at us from the kitchen– eyes glazed and mouth agape. creepy, but the food was so good! after the bill came, they brought banana leaf wrapped sticky rice and red bean desserts for us. so happy!

after a dissapointing trip to the hawaii supermarket, we walked over to fossilman’s for another taste of ice cream. it just keeps getting better. lemon custard and lychee… probably the best. ever. we may have to go again after lunch tomorrow to celebrate (or mourn) the end of our rotation.

shabu shabu meets frank sinatra… with boba. it’s better than “the boiling pot” on lake…. but there’s still something missing. i tried the japanese miso this time… meh. i liked the european curry one better.

and… in the mail… there will be…. a fingerose! in pink! from william! woot woot!