Birthday dim sum

For my birthday brunch today, my boyfriend and I headed to Chinatown for some dim sum at Phoenix. Visiting Phoenix on Sunday mornings has become a fairly regular thing for us. Phoenix has the traditional dim sum dishes that are served by servers on trolleys (or carts).

So... here's my first review: Phoenix Restaurant (for dim sum)

Location: 2131 S Archer Ave, Chicago (right across the street from Chinatown Square).

Food: The options are endless.... some of my favorites include: turnip cake (see picture 1 below... which although it's called turnip, it's actually made of daikon and it is my favorite dim sum dish - an amazing savory flavor and just the right amount of crispiness), pan fried shrimp and chive dumplings, seasame rolls, lo mai gai (see pictures 2 and 3 below, sticky rice with pork and chicken wrapped and cooked in lotus leaf... yum!), rice noodle rolls (shrimp in a long rice noodle), and the deep fried seaweed roll (see picture 4 below, seaweed filled with shrimp, then deep fried... greasy but oh so good).  The food is good and the variety is awesome!

 Picture 1: Turnip cake

Picture 2 and 3:  lo mai gai

Picture 4: Fried seaweed roll

The food review wouldn't be complete without mentioning the chicken feet, which my boyfriend gets nearly every time we go to Phoenix. I'm not a huge fan but he likes them a lot. They kind of taste like the skin of a vinegar flavored hot wing. Not much meat and lots of bones. I'm not really a fan.

Drinks: The dim sum is served with a mild hot tea. I always finish the pot quickly!
A quick note about the traditions of the tea.... Always pour the tea for others before pouring for yourself. The way to thank someone for pouring the tea is by tapping your index finger (if you're single) or your index and middle finger (if your married) on the table a few times. 

Service: Decent. There are tons of servers. But if you get stuck in the middle of the room, it may take a while for the carts to get around to you.  The only other complaint (about the trolley type of dim sum in general) is that you never know what is going to come around... so if you have a craving for something, you're better off asking for it or you may never see it.

Atmosphere: The atmosphere is fun and it's entertaining getting to pick your meal as you go.

Price: The prices are good. Today we left totally full and our bill was around $32.

Another similar spot: Happy Chef (in chinatown square) - also great but you order off a menu instead of the carts going around. The food is equally as good.


We finished off the day with a bubble tea from Saint's Alp Teahouse (which is right next door to Phoenix). We opted for the green tea with milk and pearls. It hit the spot.

Getting ready to head out for dinner soon... which means... another review to come!