Dim Sum Friday in PDX

We were not alone at WONG'S KING on December 25.  Cars were ahead and behind us going  toward southeast Division Street. The word has been out for a while that this is THE place for Portland dim sum.  There are others in the same neighborhood but crowds wanting these tasty stuffed goodies tilt toward Wong's King (not a typo on my part).

Williamette Week raves, "...no place in Portland comes close..."   Which explains why dim sum service begins at 9 a.m. on Christmas Day.  Other Chinese restaurants in the area of southeast 82nd put out signs about dim sum; it seems they  take up the slack of the closed doors on other dining establishments around town.  We did drive by a busy Stumptown, keeping the coffee crowd alert.

With all that, our family, arriving at 11 a.m., had a one-hour wait.  Helped that it was a sunny day; some of the time Rachel and the kids walked outdoors; they were very patient as we waited for our number to come up.  They were also distracted by the diverse crowd milling about.

Besides the food, the women servers had striking purple outfits that reminded me of the olden days of airline stewardesses.  How did  Wong's King pick up the idea, I ponder.

Even with the photo-taking, I managed to eat my share.   Ron and I have a history of  Christmas dinners in Chinese restaurants in unexpected places--Paris, Rome, Oaxaca, Mexico.  However, this was the first time we ate with so many Chinese diners.

Mainly a seafood place, there were pork and beef dim sum along with shrimp variations, another held a soft-boiled egg.  Sticky rice in leaves had bits of meat and tangerine in a mix new to us.

I could have enjoyed  more of the pastry-covered sweet bean paste; Zach liked these coconut covered jellied things with pineapple or peanuts inside.  Look kind of furry in this photo.

Chinese desserts usually only intrigue me visually--like a layered coffee gelatin that Scott liked.  But it is everything else that makes this food special for our family. 

Comments

[Hattie]

That's one place I really miss. It's been there forever. I don't rememember the purple costumes, though.
I love your Christmas tradition: Chinese food!
Something about your pictures captures the essence of Portland, its informal character.

[pdxknitterati]

Mmmmm, Wong's King! That's our usual dim sum haunt, too.

Maybe Hattie is thinking of Fong Chong down in Chinatown? It's been there forever, but Wong's King isn't "forever" old.

[Hattie]

You're right, Kinitterati! I was thinking of Fong Chong. But the reviews say Wong's King is better. Hard to beat Fong Chong, so it must be great!

[Kay Dennison]

Looks like you're settling in nicely out west!

I wish we had a dim sum restaurant here!!!!!

I hope you and yours had an excellent holiday!!!!!

[m.e.]

One of the most pleasant Christmas dinners I had was at a kosher Israeli restaurant. That's not exactly Chinese...My hostess told me her family always went to a Chinese restaurant on Christmas day, but that she loved this food, too. And so did I!

[Virginia]

Dim sum on Christmas day is such a wonderful tradition. You're making we want to eat at the local dim sum place.

[Anne Gibert]

This is on my list of places to go when Jerry and I come to Portland again. I hope to see you soon.