Golden Hong Kong (金城大飯店), Hong Kong- and Cantonese-Style in the Former Canton Cafe Space in Springfield Plaza

[Kibbee Nayee]

As I was foraging through the newly-opened Momo's Nepalese Food in Springfield Plaza, I noticed across the parking lot a large banner declaring "Grand Opening" and many colored pennants flapping in the breeze at what is now called Golden Hong Kong.

[Kibbee Nayee]

I usually try a place a few times before giving it some comments. But I can't resist with Golden Hong Kong. I walked in today on a whim, because I was in Springfield Plaza for other reasons. I opened the door and there were at least 40 people dining in Golden Hong Kong at noon today. Until I walked in, every patron was Asian.

The dim sum carts were rolling around (Dining Guide Dim Sum Alert!), and so I plucked myself down in a booth and started pointing at little pots of goodness. Within 45 seconds of sitting down I had scored pork shu mai, shrimp shu mai, tripe, beef meatballs and pork spare ribs. Every bite, every morsel, was as good as any I've had between here and San Francisco. It would be hard to pick a favorite among this sampling, but those beef meatballs were scrumptious and the pork shu mai was the best version I've had.

Dim Sum is available every day, but off the menu on weekdays and off the rolling carts on weekends. I doubt if I'll be chasing down the dim sum on weekdays, because the menu is enticing me in other directions -- like sea cucumber intestine with chive flower (#ch 16) and sauteed frog w/sausage in casserole (#ca 5) and minced beef, pig's skin and squid w/peanut congee (#co 1) and sliced boneless pig knuckle (#a 8). There are over 200 items on this menu!

Golden Hong Kong calls itself an "Authentic Chinese Restuarant" and if it is, then a little piece of Rockville just landed in Springfield. And if it is, it's going into my very short rotation. More to come on this place in the future....

[Kibbee Nayee]

Golden Hong Kong was its pleasant self today in early afternoon. Dim Sum carts were wheeling all over the dining room, and most of the half-packed dining room was Asian clientele. The food remains in the pretty good and very consistent category. I happen to love the trip -- somehow, they fiogure out how to give it the right kind of clean taste and very subtly spiced flavor that makes this dish approachable. Lady KN is a big fan of the shrimp dumplings and the shrimp shu mai. The one down side of the menu is no alcohol, or at least not yet, according to the wait staff.

In the back of the dining room there, hanging deliciously and glistening almost pornographically, were about four Peking Ducks and a like number of Cantonese Roast Chickens and Roast Porks. I recall Don's recent threads on Peking Duck and Catonese Roast Chicken, and finding them hanging here in the same compartment leads me to believe that Rocks himself should make a pilgrimage here....

[goodeats]

Wow. I think this place is firing on all cylinders for Cantonese and dim sum cooking, so go! Menu and dim sum scan to be added soon.

I don't know if this applies every night, but they offered dim sum from the menu tonight. I would say this place has the best dim sum in this area, based on the places I've tried in both Virginia and Maryland.

Chinese name is 金城大飯店 (Golden City Restaurant).

Little man, myself, his godmother and family tried it out, both Cantonese and dim sum, and everyone gave it a thumbs up on dishes from both menus. We tried:

Three BBQ platter (roast duck, soy sauce chicken, and crispy pig (skin not as crispy, so slightly off, but pork flavor there))

Stir-fry snow pea shoots (very tender)

Steamed ginger-scallion flounder (a little over-steamed but straight from the tank and good flavor)

Steamed shrimp dumpling/har gow (best in this area)

Roast pork bun (didn't try, but little man liked it)

Sesame ball (didn't try, but others said it was their favorite)

Fried taro dumpling (nicely done, not too oily)

Fried glutenous rice dumpling (I liked it, but not as well done as some other places)

Fried turnip cake (very nicely done--it had a crispy touch to it that I liked)

Chicken feet (others liked the flavor)

Shrimp rice noodle (a slight miss only that the rice noodle was a bit flimsy)

Spareribs with black bean sauce (very nicely done without too much bean sauce)

Good variety, with other options I can't wait to try. But hopefully dim sum will stay this way, so I can come often.

[DonRocks]

I don't know if this applies every night, but they offered dim sum from the menu tonight. I would say this place has the best dim sum in this area, based on the places I've tried in both Virginia and Maryland.

Of note: this is a Chinese-American Chowh... foodi... gourm... ROCKWEILER whose parents owned a Chinese restaurant, claiming this may be the best dim sum in the DC area. This comment is significant and I take it seriously.

[goodeats]

I did forget my disclaimer that this is based on one visit, so further visits and tests need to be conducted before definitive conclusion may be made.

That and I'm picky, so ymmv.

[Kibbee Nayee]

I treated myself to an early dinner at Golden Hong Kong today. I consider this restaurant to be the most under-rated in Springfield.

I began my gluttony with the jellied pigs feet -- boneless chunks of pigs feet formed into a roll and chilled with an aspic coating, then sliced and served with pickled daikon and carrots. It was a superb dish, and I devoured it in a few minutes. Next time, I'll add the jelly fish and do the combination.

I chose two mains, not only because I was hungry but also because I wanted to try them. They were marked "spicy" with a star, but were somewhat muted. One was the head-on (and shell on) fried shrimp in salty-pepper, and the other was its cousin, the softshell crab in salty-pepper. I probably should have ordered something different for my second main, but I was very pleased with these two dishes. Yes, I finished them. The shrimp was really good, hot out of the fryer, with flavorful heads and the fried crunchy exterior giving way to soft shrimp in the middle. The crab was almost as good, and I still wish I had ordered a contrasting dish, but the legs were delicious....the body was a little too crabby.

This restaurant has a large menu to navigate, and I look forward to doing so. Most of the dishes I've tried since it opened have been wonderful. The weekend dim sum is heavenly, as goodeats has confirmed. Consider me a big fan.

[ulrath]

Did Dim Sum here on Saturday.  The Shumai were quite good.  Even my 6 year old could not get enough.

[DonRocks]

I usually try a place a few times before giving it some comments. But I can't resist with Golden Hong Kong. I walked in today on a whim, because I was in Springfield Plaza for other reasons. I opened the door and there were at least 40 people dining in Golden Hong Kong at noon today. Until I walked in, every patron was Asian.

Golden Hong Kong has a website now, too, with a menu that reads better than the norm.

[lion]

I can't believe that I missed this thread. In past year, been to that shopping plaza at least twenty times and never knew they did dim sum. Next time will definitely try it out!

We tried it out for Dim Sum and it was very good and enjoyable in a relaxed atmosphere. Staff was friendly and very helpful in getting orders. Will definitely go back.

[TheMatt]

Went by here last weekend and had a very enjoyable Salt Fish Chicken with Chive Flower. Might have to go back for seconds soon.

[Kibbee Nayee]

Closed. Replaced by Hot Peppercorn in the same space.