If you enjoy dim sum and a bargain, I highly recommend checking out Monterey Palace next time you’re in the Monterey Park area. With all items priced at $2.09, this was one of the cheapest dim sum experiences I’ve had and the quality of food is pretty good too.
DH and I recently stopped for lunch on our way to see our friends’ adorable new baby. I got the recommendation from my friend KFP, who informed me that the chef is actually the former chef from Elite, which is one of our favorite high end dim sum spots in the area (along with Sea Harbor).
The LA trend for dim sum has been to do away with the cart system and use the menu checklist ordering system, which I prefer. Yes there is a certain charm in seeing the foods pushed around in the carts, but it’s also frustrating waiting for that one cart to come around with the item you want. Through this ordering system, you check off everything you want, pass the sheet to a server, and soon hot, steaming dim sum is delivered to you in a hurry.
I thought the item choices were slightly more limited than some of the other dim sum places I’ve eaten at in LA, but it was still a decent selection, especially priced at $2.09 a plate.
Steamed Shrimp Dumpling
Shrimp and Scallop Dumpling
Steamed Bean Curd Roll
Baked Egg Tart
Braised Beef Tripe
Black Rice Cake with Milk
Sweet Rice Cake
Golden Soft Cake
Congee with Fish Fillet
This was the one item we ordered not on the dim sum menu, but under the lunch specials. You could taste the fish broth throughout the congee with plenty of tender fish fillet pieces. It wasn’t quite as good as the live carp congee from Sea Harbor though.
Overall, we enjoyed the food. The shrimp and scallop dumpling was one of our favorites, but everything was pretty good. There were quite a few other items we want to try on our next visit. Service wasn’t great, but most dim sum places tend to have very abrupt service. We definitely plan on being back more often. As you can imagine, this place is quite packed on weekends, so I would recommend coming early or late. The full menu is below. You can click on the pictures for full size images.
Monterey Palace Restaurant
1001 E Garvey Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91755
Looks yummy! How was the sweet rice cake?
It was good!
Hi Kirbie – We actually like the roast duck from their take-out shop on valley.
Oh I was wondering how it is. I need to try it next time!