Wong's King Seafood Restaurant

The Pacific Northwest, specifically the Portland/Vancouver area, is not know for exceptional Chinese cuisine. Unlike Vancouver, B.C. and Los Angeles, dim sum and other traditional, 'real' Chinese dishes are hard to find here. However, Wong's King Seafood Restaurant in Portland, Oregon is an exception to this disappointing trend, as it offers some of the finest Cantonese style dim sum in the whole region.

Dim sum is an incredibly popular form of Chinese food, originating in southern China. It is typically served at lunch as a series of small dishes, each very different and unique. Steamed dumplings and tasty noodles along with unique dishes such as chicken feet and tripe make up many dim sum meals. Most real dim sum establishments have waitresses pushing carts loaded with the little pots and plates of various dishes. They go by all of the tables, and inquire as to whether you would like to order some of the tasty delights. This confuses some first-time visitors to dim sum eateries, as they are used to getting a menu and ordering from it. Some also confuse the small dishes that make up dim sum as being 'appetizers' when in reality they are the main course.

Wong's King is set in an area of Portland with a lot of other Asian cuisine establishments. However, it is arguably the most popular one, and for good reason. The dim sum dishes are all very well done, and the service is excellent. Friends I have taken there have said that Wong's is better than anything Seattle has to offer (for dim sum), and one even likes it better than Vancouver, B.C. dim sum! Quite high praise indeed! Several area newspapers have heaped much praise on Wong's King for its superb Chinese food, both for its dim sum and its dinner seafood. The restaurant and its owners, have won several awards from different organizations and in different competitions.

Plan on arriving at least 20 minutes early for lunch at Wong's King. There is almost always a wait, and it can be especially long during peak lunch times. However, it is certainly worth it, as the food is quite excellent. There is several small Asian shops (movies, souvenirs, Hello Kitty gear) in the same center.

If you live in the Portland/Vancouver area, or are visiting the region, strongly consider trying out Wong's King Seafood Restaurant. It is a superb example of Chinese dim sum, sure to please many an audience.