For serious dim sum lovers, Sundays require a map of the San Gabriel Valley and a full tank of gas. But now that the SGV's
Yum Cha Cafe has opened a branch in Chinatown, Downtown dwellers can indulge in the insanely cheap morsels those undaunted drivers have enjoyed for years.
Though the place looks a bit low-rent, the crowds jamming the small space from morning till mid-afternoon don't seem to notice. Yum Cha can indeed get hectic, especially during peak hours, and you'll have to fight extra hard to make yourself known to the counter staff, very few of whom converse in English. Luckily for non-Chinese speakers, all the food is laid out, displayed in glass cases and along counters, making it that much easier to communicate via gesticulation: You point, the server packs it up, then you’re off. And you get a ton a food for practically pennies. Seriously, when was the last time you got an entire plate of fried shrimp for $1.39?
Budget life was never so glorious: At Yum Cha, a meal for two (with likely leftovers) barely sets you back five bucks. Bowls of noodle soup with your choice of meat are $2.99, and the barbecued pork version is a must-try. While the flavor isn’t quite as nuanced as a bowl of pho, its ginormity more than makes up for it. If you’re looking for something even more filling, hefty portions of meat and rice go for $3.99. The Hainan chicken is especially worth checking out; this Singaporean specialty is a world-famous dish that’s relatively unusual in L.A.
Dim sum items are even cheaper, and sometimes more mysterious. A tip: if it’s fried and looks like shrimp, order it. You’ll adore it. Each dim sum order contains at least two items, and dishes such as taro and turnip cakes actually taste better than they look. Hey, for 99 cents, why not experiment?
Finish off the meal with sweets, which can be ordered by visual delectability or awesome name—“peachy pie” and “wife cake” are two of our favorites. Those golden orbs slathered in sesame seeds are called sesame
jin dui. They’re filled with red bean paste, and each serving packs about 250 calories from fat alone. They’re heaven—the diet can start tomorrow. Besides, your sound financial plan has already begun.
Food: Chinese morsels for chump change.
Scene: Everyone and their mom (and their grandma) will be there in the morning. You might want to order to go rather than wait for a table.
Insider tip: If you’re not into pointing and ordering, menu cards are available. Just check the items you want and hand it over to the counter staff.
Katherine Spiers is a contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
