China Star

TL/DR version: Legit Dim Sum without having to drive to Chinatown (or maybe China Pearl in Woburn). Parking is a pain when it's busy.

Went around 11AM on a Sunday for dim sum. We had to stalk spaces in the parking lot. Granted it's still winter, but even after the few extra spots melt out, this will still be a busy parking lot. The experience is legit, full-on, dim sum. Ladies pushing carts. I always have a hard time understanding them, that's how you know it's good. Point, they'll put it down on the table, stamp your card and wait for the next cart to come around. They have a pretty decent array of all the dim-sum norms. So if you want dim sum, and want to save yourself a drive to Chinatown, check this place out.

I really like this place for a classic dim sum vibe because they roll the cart around. It may be a little overwhelming since there's a lot of carts moving around at once and they're asking you what you want, even if you don't necessarily know what you want.

When I went with my friend who speaks Mandarin, I was able to find understand more of the options that were available on each cart.

Overall, pretty good dim sum in the Merrimack valley, I would definitely keep going here for my dim sum fix

Alright dim sum place in the countryside. Would I drive there from Boston for dim sum. No! The basics are okay and if I am in the neighborhood, I shall come back.
The pork belly was phantastic. The chicken feet not so much. Shrimp dumplings were as good as Chinatown. The lobster dumplings in contrast had a mushy skin.
It's hard to judge the overall food quality so I recommend to take a close look at the passing cart to determine what looks promising.

We have been to this place more than 5 times in the past year, food was decent that is why we keep coming back but today we have really bad experience.
First, we got charge for 33 items (9 Kitchen specials, 17 Large Dim Sum, and 7 specials) and this is the picture of the " 33 items" they refer to. I like to take pictures of food before we eat so I show the waitress this, she said no it is correct # she had there. Anyway, It was my fault to that I didn't check the stamp paper when they put the food down and didn't check it before that"check lady" took the paper. Every time when we went there, I marked down how many plates we have because one time they triple charge us before, this time I do not have other proof beside pictures to argue with them because they kept saying it's correct, it's correct, you eat more and we took plates.
2. They brought out 1 pot of tea when we arrive, but I don't drink tea, only 1 of my mom friend having 1 cup of it and he said it wasn't taste good so we ask for 4 water, 1 water in plastic cup for kid, and I also order 1 Mai Tai for myself, and 1 soda for my mom's friend. Well, we got charge for 4 pots of tea, so I said this is I know for sure this # is not correct. it is not 4, they just add up # Now that lady cannot try to make her own way of excuse and said she will void the tea out(the check originally was $215) she return with new check after" void the tea out" the check was still $215, and I was like Hey! This is 3rd scam BS.
I cannot believe what happened next, she said ok ok, she put a box in my 3rd years old daughter hand before i can say anything and she said your daughter take 1 more food. and that is the same price with 4 tea
3. I'm getting so annoyed how the scamming rat waitress try to scam and fool me so I wanted to pay and leave because I was embarrassed to invite my mom's friend to this place and told them this place was good.
So, I pay and gave her $25 tips. Guess what!? That same waitress who never sever us came back demanding 15-20%tip, they never fill water for us, never give us straws when we ask, never give my daughter water. I never leave 15% tip in my life(at least I do 25-40%) but this time i don't even want to tip despite the # of dishes is way off from what we order and now she wanted more tips? I asked her " If you are not happy with $25 tips, I can cross it off and leave nothing" there is no such thing as 15% tip law in US isn't it?" she left swearing in Chinese

food fell off, rude workers. Waitress complained the tip wasn't enough even though it was $25 for a $200 bill

went here a few times, but today we went for lunch, the food served was sour and taste horrible. The server's attitude was horrible and did not do anything about the food. Horrible and disappointed by this place.

Pros:
Dim sum is very good. At this time, nothing like it in this area.

Cons:
Not everything on the menu is available. God forbid you try to order it on phone, you will be yelled at.

Restaurant is dingy and could really do with an overhaul.

Dim sum suck. I order 10 regular dim sum dish and bill came up the $83 !!! Wtf and it taste horrible. Waitress be ripping you off.

Food was great al around crab Rangoon and spare ribs were on point and the rice was cooked perfectly not overdone at all like some places ill be going back

I liked this place for quick food and the dim sum was pretty good, but I'm traumatized now. We ordered steam pork bun and had extra to take home, so I took the leftover for work and I opened it up and found a bug! Not sure how they could miss something this big in a mix, but now I can't even bring myself to go back there.

Staff was ok, but they kept trying to get us to get more food than we needed.

I had pretty high hopes coming to visit China Star seeing how its rare to find an authentic Dim Sum place this far out of Boston and probably the only one in the Lowell area that's this big and with plenty of parking spots. Unfortunately the over all dining experience was only decent and it would be hard to pressed for a return visit.

First the good parts as mentioned the restaurant is rather large so no problem seating a big party and the service was actually pretty good for a dim sum restaurant. The food that were available were pretty good and as about what you expected for a good dim sum restaurants.

However, they were missing quite a lot of menu items when we were there 2pm which is understandable seeing how their Dim Sum carts ends at 3 but it was disappointing for sure. Prices definitely on the higher end as well it's probably the most expensive one I've visited in the Greater Boston region.

I suppose in the future if I could visit earlier or call before to confirm if the things I was craving are still available I could give it another chance.