Golden Ocean: My Favourite Dim Sum

Posted by Jen
Filed in Restaurants
April 23, 2007

I love Dim Sum. Even bad Dim Sum is okay with me. I just enjoy the experience, the way you're never really know what you're going to get, and how you can try a lot of different things because all the portions are small.

So this weekend I headed out for some Sum (yep, I said it) at Golden Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Kerrisdale (near 41st and Arbutus).

It's delicious! I took my parents who are in town for a few days and sort of difficult to entertain, as I wrote about last week. I chose Golden Ocean because I knew they'd enjoy the authenticity of the place (servers bring around stuff like tripe and chicken feet in addition to more North American friendly stuff) and it's almost always packed, mostly with native Chinese speakers, who you'd imagine would know what to look for when it comes to getting good Chinese food.

My dad lamented about the fact that there was a bit too much shrimp on offer when we were there, and I admit he was right. But it was really good shrimp, so it didn't bother me.

We didn't make a reservation, so we had to wait a good fifteen or twenty minutes for a table, but it was worth it. If you plan to go with a bigger group, a reservation is a good idea, but even if you don't make one, you'll still get in. That said, if you're waiting in line, you'd better listen closely for your call. If you miss it, they'll call the next group and you'll be out of luck. It's also wise to go early. The place opens at 8 a.m. on the weekends, but we didn't make it there until about 11 a.m. and by that time, the line was out the door.

Still, it was great. I left absolutely stuffed. I've been to a bunch of different Dim Sum places in this city, but Golden Ocean is my weekend fall back. The only downside for me is that it's a little inconvient considering that I live closer to downtown. Even so I'm willing to say it's my very favorite Dim Sum place in all the city. What's yours?

Golden Ocean
2008 W 41st Ave.
(604) 263-8886

Photo by Katherine de Vera at stock.xchng.

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personally I am a Floata loyalist now, but I do like Sun Sei Wah too. I've never been to this one, but I've heard good things about it, it just seems kind of far for me too.

Posted by: degan at April 23, 2007 1:13 PM | Quote Comment

My Mandarin teacher took a group of her students there for an end-of-class celebration and it was delicious! It was my first time trying Dim Sum, so it was great to have my "laoshi"'s recommendations for trying things I would not have tried on my own. Prices were very reasonable, but I think that they're comparable to just about any dim-sum place in Vancouver. I'd like to go back sometime soon!

Posted by: Anya at April 23, 2007 1:58 PM | Quote Comment

I've been to Golden Ocean a handful of times, and since I live in False Creek, it's a bit of a trip. But it's worth it to go in groups, for sure! Kind of a fun outting.

There's a place right near Burrard on the south side of Broadway that's decent (can't remember the name, too lazy to look it up), and the Maritime building at the foot of Burrard has very expensive, fancy dim sum, but for my money, Golden Ocean's the best because it's fun, the place is full of activity and it's casual.

Posted by: Derelicte at April 23, 2007 3:33 PM | Quote Comment

I've been to that place at Burrard and Broadway, I think. But I found a hair in one of my dumplings and never went back.

Posted by: Jen at April 23, 2007 6:33 PM | Quote Comment