Asia City is the large new Chinese restaurant on Washtenaw next to Hua Xing. We've been watching this massive building go up with some interest, hoping it would be a giant Hong Kong-style place like we've seen in the LA suburbs, fearing it would be Yet Another Nasty Buffet.
Turns out it may be both.
It's got a decent-looking menu, with a lot of genuine Hong Kong dishes on it, as well as the usual Americanized pretenders. It's also got a giant buffet area (it wasn't open when we were there, but the name tags were up, and it definitely looked like the usual stuff, so not very exciting... though they did have an "open kitchen" area where buffet patrons could get things cooked to order, we'll see). We haven't tried either of these.
And it's also got Dim Sum, with service from carts, so it's going directly up against Great Lake (which also has carts on weekends) as well as Lai Lai (which is checklist-only). However, they're set up to do some stuff we previously hadn't seen around here, like frying items tableside directly at the cart. And they have some new items. We're all for this; if it makes all three places step up their game, that means more and better Dim Sum for us!
What we had was good, but on the expensive side. We're going to show you some photos now, and circle back with them in a while to actually review them because there's no point in reviewing a restaurant during its first week. You shouldn't hold off on eating there, though: if you like Chinese food, check it out. Well, the menu and the dim sum anyway.
Egg custard tarts. We both felt they're the best we've had, possibly ever. Hence they lead off the photo set.
Lobster balls. Served with a peanut curry sauce (in background), which is a great addition to the local dim sum scene.
Chinese cruller stuffed with shrimp paste, with the same sauce. Asian Legend's version is here. (Remember to enlarge this photo first.)
Shrimp in rice roll. Generous sauce, but a bit soggy.
Pan-fried cakes with shrimp and scallop. Slightly underdone. Other batches we saw were browned better.
Shrimp paste around sugar cane. Nice addition. We usually think of this as Vietnamese.
Congee with dried scallops, thousand-year eggs, and who knows what else. Assembled tableside.
More photos in the extended post...
Pan-fried turnip cakes. Compare to Great Lake's here (remember to enlarge this photo first).
Pan-fried sticky rice with BBQ pork and peanuts. Nice.
Two varieties of steamed dumplings.
Steamed BBQ pork buns. Compare Great Lake's here.
"Fried Meat Dumplings", sweet dough filled with pork seasoned with five-spice powder.
Green pepper stuffed with shrimp paste.
Shot from the side room we were in into the main room. This place is bigger than it looks in the photo.
Oh my.......must try it.....
Posted by: Julie Saul | February 08, 2010 at 05:21 PM
Wow, what time did you go that you got this much food? We tried the dim sum on Sunday, arriving at 11:30 when they'd just opened at 11:00 for their first service. The people pushing the carts were practically getting mugged every time they came out the door because there wasn't much food coming out. Everything we had (mostly included here, plus a very nice slice of spice sponge cake we've had in some dim sum restaurants but not in A2) was really very good quality, so I'm hoping that when they work out the staffing and quantity details, it'll be great. On the other hand, we went back Monday for the buffet and, while large, was of poor enough quality that I don't think we'll ever bother with that again. Weird how different the dim sum and buffet quality was.
Posted by: Jenny | February 10, 2010 at 09:55 PM
A bit later than you, more like around 11:45 or 12. We had to chase down the carts for most of the time we were there.
I went to the buffet last night, and won't be back for that. I suspect the menu is much better, and we will definitely try it.
Posted by: Joe, Kitchen Chick's husband | February 11, 2010 at 08:48 AM
Great photos. They make me hungry!
Best Dim Sum experience I ever had was in Chinatown (New York) at 8 AM. The place was packed and we were the only caucasians in the place, which was a very good sign. They kept adding to the bill in Chinese writing and I tried to mentally tally what we spent although I really had no idea. The whole bill came to $8.00 and change!
Posted by: Ed Schenk | February 12, 2010 at 11:17 AM
WOW I wish this place had been a good experience for me. Valentines day for dinner. 6 tables walked out before us, and we were number 7. Waited 50 minutes and didn't even get the appetizer. I was so sad. They definitely had the traffic to make a great restaurant. Wait staff all looked very confused, saw one girl come out with a tray of food, walk around, go back to the kitchen, then come out again with the same tray and walk around again. I used to manage a restaurant and I really wanted this to be a good experience, but in my book way way way unacceptable. This restaurant was not even close to being ready to open in my opinion. And talking to my Asian friends only more bad stories..... I hope they get it together. They could make a lot of money from what I saw.
Posted by: Pete | February 15, 2010 at 10:20 AM
Just talked to a friend today that got food poisoning there last week - hit them in the parking lot. Seafood from the buffet, of course. I like dim sum, but I think I'll wait a few weeks for them to get it together, at least for the seafood.
Posted by: Ellen | February 20, 2010 at 06:16 PM
Hmm, food poisoning hitting that quickly? Could be an allergic reaction instead (I speak from experience!)
Posted by: Tricia | February 25, 2010 at 12:35 AM
We went to Asia City for dim sum on Father's Day. Overall, it was excellent -- very tasty, nice variety, and not too expensive. The only disappointment was that they didn't have two of the items pictured above, the Lobster Balls and the Shrimp Paste Around Sugar Cane (and in fact seemed not to have even heard of either dish!). Overall, though, an excellent meal, better than recent times we've been to Great Lake for dim sum.
Posted by: Charles | June 21, 2010 at 10:41 AM