Jin Xuan Hong Kong (Dim Sum) @ Damansara Uptown

This dim sum restaurant (with 7 branches), Jin Xuan Hong Kong @ Damansara Uptown is always packed, so much so that they've set up large tents outside the restaurant to cater to the crowd.  The large tents basically obscure the signboard, so the name of the restaurant is not that visible.

There's a queuing system here...inform the lady at the entrance that you need a table for how many pax (also state if you wish for a table inside, where it's air-conditioned, or choose to dine outside under the tents) and she'll give you a number.  Then take a seat and wait for your number to be called up.

Once seated inside, we got down to ordering...they do give you a chit to pre-order (while you're waiting for your number to be called) but it's quite unnecessary as getting what you want directly from the servers is a lot faster.

This is the Bacon Roll @ RM12 (one of the more expensive items on the menu).  It's a fish + meat paste wrapped in bacon and doused with a sweet-sour sauce.  How can anything with bacon be not good.....it's unheard of, right? ;) 

Next came the Fried Beancurd Roll @ RM5 with a plump filling.  It was still good...we did order a 2nd plate....just not as good as the ones we had from Loong Seng with its super crispy thin bean curd skin.

They call this Fish Stuffed Root @ RM6 (I haven't the faintest idea why but that's what is written on the menu).  It resembled large fish balls that have been wrapped in a very thin bean curd sheet and fried...something different from the usual steamed fish balls offered at other dim sum places.  We liked this a lot!

The Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling @ RM5 was a 'miss' for me as I could hardly detect the flavour of chives in it.  I'm not sure why they felt that they needed to serve the dim sum on lettuce as the leaves looked well past their prime...better to just omit it.

The Steamed "Chee Cheong Fun" (rice noodle rolls) with "char siew" (barbecued pork) wasn't as great.  The sambal accompaniment fared better.

As always, I would not miss out on my must-have Deep Fried Brinjal @ RM5 and the ones here were respectable.

And so was the "Siew Mai" (Steamed Pork Dumplings)

But the Porridge (with Minced Pork Century and Salted Egg) which my mother-in-law wanted was not something I would order again.  Although Hong Kong style congee has a high degree of brokenness, the texture of this congee felt like it had been pulsed in a blender.  It was too smooth and thick for my liking + the flavour was bland.

The Fried Turnip Cake @ RM5 was another well received dish by all...if only it was served hot!

Finally, the Fried Sticky (or Glutinous) Rice @ RM5 was excellent.  The well cooked rice with bits of "lap cheong" (Chinese sausage), dried prawns, egg and scallions was truly fragrant and enjoyable. 

But my most favourite dim sum item from this place has to be the Steamed Char Siew Pau that I "tapau" (packed) for my lunch.  The buns were so soft, it literarily fell apart when I tore into the bun and the blackish char siew filling was simply "deliciouso"!!  I'm not sure if I liked this one better or the Loong Seng one more! I may have just found my new favourite char siew pau that trumps all other char siew paus...I'll have to eat it a few more times just to be sure.....kekeke!! :D

Service is fast and furious here....as they just plonk (nicely though) the plates of requested dim sum at your table without the need to write anything down.  The steamed dim sum baskets come with a coloured tape at the rim while others come in different shaped plates.  When it came time to settle the bill, the waitress would base the prices on the rim colours and plate shapes.

On the way out, I passed by the place where they store some of their dim sum and noticed that they serve a lot of fried yam stuff like yam encrusted prawns, yam puffs and yam rings with mixed vegetables.  This must be one of their signature items...and I missed it! :(  I'll be sure to order this the next time I'm here.

Check out a more recent post on the place here.

My Personal Opinion

I think there's a 'forever' crowd because all the dim sum here is decently priced (with most around RM4 - RM5)....plus decent portion sizes too....and decent tasting as well.  My favourites were the steamed char siew pau, fried sticky rice, fish stuffed root and bacon roll (in that particular order)...hee..hee!

It's another dim sum place that you can consider when you want a dim sum breakfast but be forewarned that not all the branches dish out the same tasty dim sums.  The ones that are decent are the Damansara Jaya (some say this is the best of the lot) and Uptown branches...and the ones to avoid are the PJ Oldtown and Kota Damansara ones.  I don't know this for a fact as I've only eaten the one in Uptown but I'm sharing what I've seen on other blogs.  It's a shame to open a branch (or branches) that don't quite live up to the standards and taste....it's like shooting yourself in the foot really! :D

Jin Xuan Hong Kong Restaurant
63G & 65G Jalan SS21/60
Damansara Utama
47400 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Tel: 03-7729 8881