T&S Seafood

Posted by on Jan 1, 2007 in Chinese, North, Reviews
10014 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 339-8434
Mon-Sun: 11am-1am  

 
I love Dim Sum. These delightful little Chinese hors d’oeuvres can be down right addicting. And way up north at 10004 North Lamar, there’s a place called T&S Seafood that makes such good dim sum as to border on the almost irresistible.

Every Saturday and Sunday, from 11am to 2:30pm, T&S Seafood has one of the most elaborate, hectic, and delicious dim sum lunches in Texas. The way dim sum works on the weekends is that they have these carts that go around. You take a look at what’s on the cart, and we’re talking hot and steaming fare here, fresh from the kitchen. You make a decision and the server hands you your choice, checks off what you’ve ordered (and the quantity) on your bill, and so it goes. We must have ordered fifteen or twenty different items last time and they were all delightful.

The pork dumplings, in the traditional pot sticker style, are just great with chili oil and soy sauce. Then I love the little round pork and shrimp dumplings. The texture of these is just about perfect. Another treat is the shrimp rolled in sautéed eggplant. There is a very comforting and enjoyable taste to this dish. Yet another interesting choice is the sesame shrimp rolled in seaweed. This is firm, and a bit chewy, but I found the taste to be very engaging. Another favorite are the shrimp balls done in a gossamer thin coating of rice noodle.

Perhaps my favorite of the bunch is the shrimp and cilantro dumplings. The taste to these is mellow and slightly sharp at the same time. Great taste sensation. If seafood is not your forte, try the braised tofu. You will not regret the choice.

The sesame balls for dessert stuffed with red bean paste are also a treat.

If you miss the weekend dim sum, you can order during weekdays from the menu. There are no rolling carts to add to the fun, but you can still get most items. And if dim sum is not for you, try the amazing Soft Shell Crab. This dish tantalizes and rewards, all in the same bite. And the Salt and Pepper Shrimp are in that same category. And the Sea Bass carves out its own niche of perfection. Tender and firm, in a lovely, light brown sauce, the fish is just delicious.

So go see Jenny and Sonny this weekend. And a really good news item. T&S is open late, till 1am. That’s why this place is so popular with other chefs. You will see them there, late at night. And these guys know a thing or two about food.

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