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Jade Garden
Categories: Restaurants Chinese Dim Sum Restaurants Seafood Dim Sum, Seafood [Edit]
424 7th Ave S(between Weller St & James St)
Seattle, WA 98104
Neighborhood: International District
(206) 622-8181
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 2:30 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
540 reviews for Jade Garden
Review Highlights
"The one dish that was awesome: the honey walnut prawns."
(in 25 reviews)
"It's not everyday that someone has 3 plates of Chicken Feet."
(in 53 reviews)
"...can try their lobster or shrimp dumplings (sha jiao) - both..."
(in 38 reviews)
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540 reviews in English
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Review from Mina V.
Auburn, WA
2/4/2012
OPEN UNTIL 2.30AM!? That's wonderful considering I'm such a night owl. So, sadly I've never been to this place in the day time where everyone else gets to experience actual dim sum.
Service.. is okay. Depending on how many people are serving, what time it is, and how many people you have along with you. If it's late, you're not going to get that great of service but they hang around close so when you need anything they'll be right there. But when they're are more customers around, they check up 3 or 4 times on you within the hour or so you're seated, ordered, eating, and boxing left-overs.
Atmosphere.. the green is all you can remember. It's a green that consumes the walls, the ceiling, ahhhh. They need a better interior designer. I get the "Jade" part but it can just be an accent color surrounded by neutral colors. I dig their lobster/crab tank thing when you enter though.
QUIET. Very quiet. My first few times going there, no radio. Anything. You just heard the cooks or others talking and.. any sound coming from your table. The last time I was there though, there was a radio playing.
Food.. I don't like their crab. I think that's all I can remember that I didn't like. It was just very dry. I LOVE THEIR DUCK. It's so juicy and just right in so many ways. It doesn't taste at all like the roasted duck you'll find at Asian deli markets such as.. 99 Great Wall or Hong Kong Market in Kent. All their other food are okay. I haven't tried any of their fish dishes. Their fried rice is normal = pretty plain, peas &carrots, your side. I haven't tried their steamed rice yet. Or soups.
I like this place. Free parking after 8PM. -
Review from Ben C.
2/1/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I love me some dimsum! This review is for Jade Gardens Dimsum, I've never been there for anything else but dimsum. You have been warned =P. Also the waitresses can smell a noobie! So be confident when you order or you'll end up with a "special plate" and you won't even know what hit ya!
Surprisingly for me great dimsum is actually pretty hard to come by. In the International District there's only a handful of places I eat dimsum at and Jade Garden is more or less our go to. It's good dimsum, it's not amazing but it's pretty consistent and that's important as well. Located right in the heart of the ID, Jade Garden on the weekends and even some of the weekdays for lunch can get slammed with a huge line of people waiting to be seated. It's primarily because there's not much else to choose from around the area. My recommendation is to get there early and put your name down. Don't ever show up later, that goes for ANY dimsum restaurant. Because towards the end of dimsum they don't make anything fresh anymore and they just cycle the old stuff no bueno.
They do a good job cycling people in and out of the restaurant. They always have a large staff to handle the number of people that come. The restaurant itself is actually very large. There is a whole back section that a lot of people don't know about so this is definitely a good location to handle large groups.
Food...they are consistent. I wouldn't say anything is better than somewhere else. Most everything as long as you are there during the peak hrs is fresh and hot when served to you.
Like any good dimsum restaurant the waitresses are always trying to push the large plates on you, Jade Garden is no exception. They see folks that come in that they know aren't familiar with the dimsum process and they will bombard you with plates that are more expensive and aren't really your typical dimsum dishes. This is to those that are just trying dimsum out for the first time. DO NOT HESITATE TO PUSH BACK! You don't want it just say no, don't hesitate cause they will keep asking you because they know you will feel obliged to take it. It's ok your not being rude it's part of the experience. You want something you need to pipe up and ask for it, don't whisper, you see a waiter wave them down you aren't being rude. Also be prepared to share a large table with 1-2 other parties in case you show up with just 2-3 people. Again all part of the experience.
So Jade Garden, does a good job with their dimsum go give them a try just get there early to avoid the lines and to make sure you get the fresh stuff =). -
Review from Stephanie L.
Bellevue, WA
1/27/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I've been here twice now and have to say it has made me love dim sum. I had never had dim sum before coming to Jade Garden and I had no idea what it was.
They don't take time to explain it to you here. Bustling toward you with carts full of food, men and women will stare at you questioningly asking if you want some and it's a risk you have to be willing to take.
I really enjoyed their barbequed pork in dough balls, but most of all the pork in the pastry is the best. Also, their chow mein is not greasy at all and my favorite side dish to order.
The staff is very accomodating when you need something but they certainly don't go out of their way to tend to you.
This place is crazy cheap too. For a ton of food to fill two people, out the door is about $20. That's how much one entree costs at Cheesecake Factory.
You can park at Uwajimaya and make a minimum purchase there because parking is kind of tight around ID. But it's also walking distance from the bus station so that's an option.
Also-there's a bathroom in the back of the restaurant. They say on the door "no public bathrooms" but there is one for guests. -
Review from Justin L.
Bellevue, WA
2/9/2012
Yes yes, this place is known for being one of the best dim sum restaurants in Seattle but MAN!!! the wait is sooo long. I made the mistake one morning to not eat breakfast before getting dim sum at Jade Garden. My wait was 45 minutes and I was sooo hungry I was about ready to punch somebody. But when I sat down, the food was great and the bill was SUPER cheap. So is this place worth the wait? Yeah, sometimes. Not all the time. I have dim sum every weekend (I love it that much) and even though I love Jade Garden, I'm not always patient enough to wait so I only come here every once in a while. You can decide for yourself though if the wait is worth it.
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Review from Lauren B.
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very pleasant Chinese restaurant. Odd but enjoyable decor - yes, those are plastic fruit and vines hanging from the ceiling. Delicious 5-star fried pot stickers. Satisfying #49 (beef with ginger and onion). Plentiful white rice and tasty tea. Pretty empty late Thursday afternoon, but it wasn't exactly meal time, so altho our service was fast dunno what it's normally like. I could not understand our heavily accented server but he obviously understood us - fast accurate service! Would certainly return.
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Review from Kevin W.
1/23/2012 8 photos
I remember Jade Garden being the talk of the town a few years ago. It seems to have declined in popularity recently. I went back a while ago and not even Chinese New Year could restore its former bustling atmosphere. This place reminds me of many Chinese seafood restaurants, like T & T in Edmonds. The individual dishes are quite good, but there are a lot of restaurants out there that boast similar quality food. Because I don't think I could comment on the general experience well, I'll talk individually about each dish I got. Maybe I'll keep updating this review and eventually have something to say for each of the 100+ items on the menu.
House Special Fish Fillet ($10.95) - delicious soft white fish. The name fails to indicate it, but this dish is completely covered in peas! It's kind of surprising to order a bunch of fish and see that a bright green is the dominant color. Also included are carrots, onions, mushrooms, and maybe some other stuff I forgot. Overall a good dish, but owing exclusively to the fish (not really a big fan of vegetables here).
Salted and Pepper Pork Chop ($8.95) - if there's anything you must get here, it's this. This pork chop has just the right amount of seasoning and is very soft. It looks like just an unappealing pile of brown meat at first, but it may just be the best pork chop you've ever had, and at such a low price too! Also, unlike restaurants that serve a similar dish, this one doesn't appear to dump a ton of MSG on it.
House Special Tofu Hot Pot ($9.95) - sizzling hot dish of tofu, mushrooms, squid. Maybe some other stuff. It's covered pretty heavily in sauce, so the food will probably come out more than a little juicy. A bit on the salty side, but the good part is that it stays warm longer than most of the other dishes.
Stir-Fried Pea Vines with Garlic Sauce ($11.95) - also comes with the choice of "supreme broth" in place of the garlic sauce. Whatever that is. I think it's cooked rather well for what it is, but it's pretty much all green, and again, not the biggest fan of vegetables.
Fuzhou Soft Tofu ($9.95) - very soft and yummy tofu floating around in heavy sauce. There's also thinly-sliced mushroom and squid in there, plus this green vegetable that I cannot identify. Hmm, I'm sensing a recurring pattern here...
Beef Brisket with Radish Hot Pot ($8.95) - another small hot pot, so the contents come out sizzling and stay warm for a while. The broth in this one is thick and has a vague taste of alcohol. I like the beef, but the radish is pretty terrible and is easily the worst thing they have here. -
Review from David N.
Seattle, WA
1/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
#DimSum This review is for their dim sum only....Cause their dinner is 3 stars and nothin to spell about. No worries just do dim sum. Also this is Moms favorite spot.
Jade Garden is Seattle's dim sum champ. Freshest, tastiest, warmest, and most extensive dishes. My joints are the hai goh, shu mai, shrimp and scallop dumplings, chinese donut wrapped in how fun, shrimp and crab dumplings, dim sum size chinese brocili, bbq how fun, sticky rice in banana leaf, chicken feet, spare ribs, and any randon intriguin creation.
The joint is hella crowded and waits could be around 30-45 minutes on weekends. However is a pretty large space with seating in the back and upstairs. You will wait at Harbor city as well, so why not wait for something better. Smaller parties maybe sharing tables like NYC chinatown style. Ambiance is typical Chinese restaurant, dont expect too much.
Thank Me Later..Listed in: Asian and U kno it…, Let the Lights Dim Sum
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Review from Katelyn A.
San Jose, CA
2/2/2012
The four stars is strictly for the food. The service and ambiance get one star. If you couldnt tell already...only go here for the food, I would suggest take out. Went here on a Thursdayn night and there was on other table sitting near us. The food came out quick and was some of th best chines I have ever tasted, I had a hard time stopping myself from eating. The portions are huge and deffinately shareablle/take home able. I ordered the Kung Pow chicken extra spicy, I dont think I got the extra spicy but it was still tasty. The sauce was nice and thick, the chicken was all whit meat, and the veggies tasted fresh. My friend ordered th lemon chicken which i had a chance to nibble on. The outer coating is super crispy and the lemon sauce was just the perfect amount of lemon flavor, and super sweet. We also shared some of the gyoza, it could have been crispier but the filling was really sastisfying. The rice was terribly sad for a chineses restaurant...it was still a little crunchy and tatsed like it had been made hours ago.
As for the service...the server was walking away from us taking our order, and we hadnt finished yet. The drinks were never refilled, and the server sat down at a table about a hundred feet from us, fiddling with his phone. We finished our meal and were obviously done, as we had not touched our food in the last twenty minutes or so, we actually had to stand up and put our jackets on to get him to come over, box the food, and get our check. As for the ambiance...the little knat flying around my food for most of the meal was highly annoying.....will be taking out from now on. -
Review from Shelly L.
Seattle, WA
1/1/2012
I've been to Jade Garden many times and would give it a solid 4 stars but on my most recent trip there, an uninvited friend showed up.
While we were enjoying dim sum, my son says "Look mom, a bug". Well, this bug was actually a roach and it was crawling on the table with all the dim sum platters around. I flagged down the waiter and guess what he did? He didn't say one word...he just took a napkin, squished it, and then left. Ugh! -
Review from Laura P.
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of the many reasons why I love the city - late night dining! This place is open til 2:30am every night of the week. Awesome! I've only gone in to order take out, but the wait for the food was decent and not oo crazy long like it can be sometimes at restaurants of this sort.
The generals chicken, steamed veggies & sezchaunt beef were all winners - both that night and the next day for lunch. I don't have much to compare it to for now, but you know good Chinese food when you taste it and I will definitely be frequenting this place a lot. -
Review from Sarah M.
12/25/2011
After an awesome dinner at home with the fam on Christmas Eve and a million dishes later, I convinced my parents to go out for Christmas lunch at a Chinese restaurant...and this is where we ended up.
I've rarely been to the International District with the exception of Green Leaf...but this place seemed pretty solid and was PACKED. There were 6 of us and we managed to get a table in less than 10 minutes despite the fact that the entire restaurant was full.
We had no idea how much food there would be so we each ordered an entree and shared what we got. First off, we didn't do Dim Sum although I know that this is what this place is known for. It looked pretty good though, I'd come back to try it. Secondly, we did not realize that the portions here would be HUGE. Which they were.
We started off with a hot and sour soup which was really good - they gave us a huge bowl and then we shared it. There was more than enough for the 6 of us with seconds all around.
We then ordered a ton of entrees - pork fried rice, honey glazed short ribs, shrimp fried rice, special beef, chicken and broccoli, and moo shu pork. While I didn't care for the honey glazed ribs and didn't try the shrimp fried rice, everything else was EXCELLENT. The chicken and broccoli was by far the best - great quality chicken and super fresh broccoli. The special beef was crispy, fried, sweet beef and really good. While the pork fried rice was "lighter," I really liked it - it was nice to have something to balance out the strong flavors of everything else. Moo shu pork was also great although I wasn't crazy about the pancakes. They were a little thinner than I'm used to and the consistency was...off.
All in all, for 6 soups and 6 entrees, it came to about $75 with tip which really isn't too bad.
Not the nicest restaurant on the inside but a good choice if you're in the International District. (Only in Seattle would we be so PC that we can't call it Chinatown...ridiculous.) -
Review from Marilyn V.
Seattle, WA
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place used to be good...about 10 years ago. It seems like since the secret went out that their food was good...the food has been not so good. The last few times I've been here, the wait was extremely long, they stuck us in the back room (which felt like a fixed up storage room) and the food quality was bad.
It seemed like the main dining room was served first, anything they had leftover would then go to the back room and by then it was cold. Nothing really tasted fresh. I think I had one or two items, before I got the check and left to find somewhere else to eat. What happened to their fresh quality food?! I'm really disappointed to have to look for another location to get my dim sum fix in Seattle. -
Review from Nicole F.
Seattle, WA
1/22/2012
This place was super busy at 8pm on a Saturday night! It was very loud, as a matter of fact, the servers and wait staff we're yelling throughout the restaurant. Odd.
The food was hit and miss.
We ordered Chow Fun and got Chow Mein instead. It was not the best. The General Tao's...eh.
The best dish we had were the salt and pepper friend squid, which is not a dish that we would usually choose, but we were feeling frisky. It was light and flavorful.
That night however, I awoke from a peaceful Saturday sleep with such awful indigestion! I think I'll stick with the Ho Ho... -
Review from Kristine H.
Seattle, WA
A pack of us descended on the ID with empty bellies craving yum cha. We waited about a half hour for our table. The place was packed to the rafters with hungry diners and carts circling the restaurant laden with saucers of savoury treats.
We ordered several varieties of dumplings, bao, crispy salt and pepper calamari, cheong fan stuffed with mushrooms, steamed crisp greens, honey walnut shrimp, turnip cakes and several shrimp dishes.
Every morsel was consumed. Either we were famished or the food was stellar, I cannot rightly recall. I know that afterward all of my friends were impressed with the cost of our meal and we vowed to return to the ID to try out another place for dim sum to see how it stacked up.
Tea flowed freely and every item on the carts was fresh. I found the service to be attentive and the dining area clean. Our used plates were taken away speedily and while I had to ask a couple of times for ice water, a server finally brought us a pitcher of water.
Parking is limited on the streets but there's a pay lot a couple of blocks away. Don't give yourself a headache and just pay the few dollars. -
Review from Chiri E.
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wobble wobble. Wobbly table. My food is sliding back and forth.
It was Thanksgiving day, We saw the open sign lit here at the Jade Garden and I thought it was my chance to check this place out. I knew that this place is always busy on the weekends.
For dimsum, we picked up BBQ pork hum bao, shrimp hakao, shanghai dumplings. They all tasted cheap and bland. The hum bao was super soggy on the bottom, like it was sitting out for a while. Then I tried the other dishes and they were also soggy on the bottom. The hakao and dumplings were both made with really thick skin, that was starchy and tasteless.
We also ordered a hot and sour soup. I thought it was a safe bet, but that too was a huge let down. Soup was also really thick and starchy, all the ingredients tasted and smelled like it came straight from cans and added some old chili oil and vinegar to make it "hot and sour." ugh!! Even my home made instant hot and sour soup tastes better than that.
Honestly, the worst dimsum I've ever had. AND it wasn't THAT cheap, 3 dimsum plates and 1 soup for over 20$. Dim Sum King has cheap and decent dimsum and you will never have to pay over $10 for 2 people.
I don't know why this place is so popular. Not coming back ever. -
Review from Kevin O.
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Jade Garden is one if not the best Dim Sum in the international district. They have all the regular dim sum treats, like shu mai, shrimp balls, hum bow, etc. The only one issue I have with this place is that they get very confused if you don't want to have dim sum and just want the regular menu. I have a co-worker that is kind of picky and tried to order some sweet and sour chicken off the menu and it was a huge debacle. It is definitely a good place to go for good quality not too greasy and reasonably priced dim sum favorites though. I'll be back!
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Review from dub n.
Seattle, WA
11/26/2011
I live within the area, and I can promise you this is very bad restaurant.
Go to New Hong Kong at 900 S. Jackson St. instead..... huge free parking lot, way bigger-NEVER A WAIT TIME, and most importantly just better dim sum.
Even Dim Sum King, which sells dim sum @ 50 cents a piece has better quality food.
I have wanted to try this restaurant for a very long time because it always has a line outside.....but trust me, I live in International District, this place has terrible dim sum. Take my advice, don't waste your time waiting and then sit down in a cramped small restaurant just to waste money on bad food. -
Review from Dena P.
Clearwater, FL
12/10/2011 3 photos
I enjoyed my meal at Jade. I had tons of food and they were able to serve us even though they seem to be having their lunch at the same time. I didn't mind nor did they mind.
We got the honey glazed prawns and walnuts (amazing), sweet and sour pork, and crab in a black bean sauce. The food came out fast and they also served us some yummy soup. It was really fresh and also the rice was not old!
My favorite was those honey glazed prawns that i can't seem to find anywhere else. They were amazing! Crispy and sweet!
Yum! -
Review from Alice C.
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's cheap, its crowded, and the food is constantly coming around. 6 people ate for $50, which is pretty damn good. Lines on the weekend are killer, expect a 20 minute wait at minimum.
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Review from Stephanie G.
Miami, FL
For years this has been a must stop in Seattle! Whether it's 1am and you're starving or if you are willing to fight the crowds for dim sum on a Sunday morning, Jade Garden is fantastic pretty much anytime. From the moment you walk in you can't help but notice the huge fish-tanks filled with fresh seafood. Huge lobsters, geoduck, and massive crabs, you know you're guaranteed to get some pretty fresh seafood. The decor isn't particularly noteworthy, it's basically your standard Chinatown restaurant, with a couple of hanging red lanterns and some festive art on the otherwise plain walls.
If you're going to try the dim sum here I'd recommend calling an hour or so before you arrive to secure a spot, otherwise you might be waiting quite a while. Don't worry if you've missed your spot when you do arrive, they'll go backwards on the list ;) Being stuffed into the lobby when it's cold and a bit chaotic can be frustrating! When you are seated, the servers will come around with their carts offering a tantalizing array of beautifully wrapped buns and dumplings. Pretty comparable in selection to dim sum places in other cities. Quality too is average, I wouldn't say they go above and beyond, but I've definitely had far worse. The steamed shrimp and scallop balls, the classic shumai, the taro balls, the shrimp and crab dumplings, egg tarts, the sticky rice...over the years we've managed to try quite a bit and everything is fresh, delicious and visually stunning. Turnip cakes too are enjoyable, but definitely a bit on the soggy and greasy side at Jade Garden. I've also found better pork buns elsewhere. My friend swears by their chicken feet although I admit I'm too much of a scaredy cat to give them a try. Prices are very reasonable (usually about $10 per person), and as per the usual style you just point or ask for what you want and they just mark it off on a card so you can pay at the end.
As for the non-dim sum meals, the beef chow fun and honey glazed walnut shrimp are some of our favorites. I recommend getting the chow fun dry style (which is still packed with flavor), so that it isn't doused in rivers of unnecessary gravy. Also recently tried the salt and pepper calamari, and thought they were an excellent starter made even better with their addition of lots of minced garlic (not the best date choice though).
Tea flows freely and is piping hot, but be warned it is authentic and not filtered so you may have little leaves floating in your cup. Furthermore, you'll want to expect that water must be requested, and it can take a while to get refills when they're busy. The service might not be the best you've ever had and if you come in for dim sum there is the possibility of an annoyingly long wait. Potential pitfalls aside, it's a great place for lunch and dinner, and to take to go!Listed in: Seattle Sweet Spots
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Review from Monica N.
11/7/2011
If you have patience, then come here. We waited for about 20 min and generally this is the wait time from the time frame of 1030-1230 or so.
There is quite a large variety of dim sum compared to other places. And also compared to other restaurants, they are fairly priced. My family have 4 people in it and generally spend about 80 buckaroos at other dim sum restaurants. We came here with an extra person making it 5 people, and left spending about 55. That's quite a bit of savings! The food is good, the price is good. Can't beat it.
Ask how long's the wait, 20 min plus? Take a walk down the street and get some bubble tea and you'll be back in time! -
Review from Susan D.
Seattle, WA
10/30/2011
I come here pretty much once a week. Yea, it's that good. The dim sum is probably the best in the ID, and it doesn't hurt that their prices are the best either. All the food is very fresh, but you have to make sure you get there early!
Some of my favorites: shumai, taro cakes, taro dumplings, chicken feet, pork buns, beef tendon, tripe, tofu skin rolls, prawn dumplings. Basically, everything.
And the prices are stellar. $20 for 3 people to eat their fill for brunch, how do you even beat that? -
Review from Sara D.
Seattle, WA
10/16/2011
This place is classic, I love coming here for Dim Sum w/ friends on a Sunday or wonton soup and eggrolls for a light dinner. It's typically very busy on the weekends. Love the atmosphere, it's exactly the type of authentic HK experience I crave.
Bonus, it's open super late (3am!) -
Review from Alanna M.
11/2/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This place is always so packed for dim sum. Depending on the size of your party will depend on how quick you'll get a table.
I think the dim sum is fairly good but I'm not sure the wait is worth it.
Don't expect top notch cleanliness. After all it is the I dstrict and you are eating in a Chinese restaurant. The dirtier it is the tastier the food -- I guess. -
Review from nancy c.
Renton, WA
11/14/2011
Drools! WARNING: DONT COME ON A WEEKEND OR HOLIDAY! the wait is horrible!
Moving onto the food critic.. Their stuff is amazing. Everything comes out hot and if you request something special theyll make it. There is definitely no complaints regarding food and service ..
Id say the sucky part is going on a weekend around 11 (they start dim sum as early as 9 , so 10 would be the best time on weekends). Its jammed pack, waiting is a bitch because I hate waiting. On top of that I hate having to share a table with people I dont know.
Its happened a couple of times when its so busy theyll ask if they could squeeze a couple to your larger table.. Im just not fond of having to watch someone elses eating habit when I don't know them. Maybe thats why people say it's not polite to stare when people are eating? Oh well.
Parking sucks too! -
Review from Elizabeth W.
Seattle, WA
10/9/2011
Dimsum is usually a hit or miss. Sometimes the cooking is real fresh, other times it's just reheated over and over until it can't be eaten anymore. I'm generally not a dimsum fan, but honey walnut prawns always impress me. Because it's not Asian, it's Americanized "chinese food". It's still good with enough mayo for several burgers. Outer crunchy crunch, the mayo really smacks you.
The hagau, siumay, are just not so good, the prawn inside is just blah, the skin is not as smooth and breaking. The cart lady also sometimes hangs around only one area, and rarely moves. It's hard to reach you if you are so occupied with someone you know and you keep talking to them in Cantonese. Typical dimsum. They only serve some of the more popular items, if you want something they don't have, you have to wait for them to cook it again in the kitchen. What's good is they have dimsum until around 3pm, and the prices are so cheap, as expected from Chinatown.
The lines are horrendous though, they always have a waiting list (if you're lucky, it would only be for around 10 minutes, it may go up to half an hour). Maybe they're purposely doing this to us to test our hunger and dedication for dimsum. Trust me, I could just walk out the door anytime.
The only good thing I actually like from here is the custard filled sweet buns, oh, when you bite into them, the custard/yellow egg melts out, so be careful not to have it spurt all over your pretty white dress. Eat the whole thing at once if you're a brave soldier, have a few battle scars right (burnt tongue), or have small bites but don't press on the bun or the juice will shoot out everywhere. Beware! If it was up to my choice, I would only go there to order that but I don't want to go through that long line just for that. So I won't go here unless I was forced to. -
Review from Jon L.
9/16/2011
Finally tried Jade Garden for dim sum. Clearly its reputation as the best dim sum restaurant in Seattle precedes it because the restaurant was packed and with a number of groups waiting to be seated.
Rather than wait for a table, which would have been a modest 10 minutes supposedly, my parents and I decided to sit at a large table that was shared by three other groups. If you are dining alone, this is probably the setup you will have to deal with unless you are getting a takeout order.
I found the dim sum menu to have a fair selection, but not extensive or having stuff that I could not find elsewhere. We ordered 7 items which totaled a little over $22. Har gau (shrimp dumplings), chiu chow dumplings (meat mixture), beef tripe, baked BBQ pork buns, bean curd bundle with tofu and enoki mushrooms, fried shrimp & chives dumplings and bean curd rolls.
Nothing was bad, but there were quite a few that were just okay. The BBQ pork buns was fine, but the filling was kind of ho hum. The shrimp dumplings had tasty shrimp, but the wrappers were broken. I like that they give you four pieces here. Do note this is a large item menu here, when most places probably have it as a medium. The meat filling mixture in the chiu chow dumplings were not as finely chopped as I would like.
The beef tripe was good with a little spice. The bean curd dishes were pretty good. Particularly the rolls. The standout for me though was the fried shrimp & chives dumplings. The fact that it was hot is one the key reasons why.
I think Jade Garden is no doubt one of the better dim sum places in town, but not the best. Harbor City at the moment holds that title for me.Listed in: The iDistrict
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Review from Winnie F.
Seattle, WA
9/29/2011
Probably the best dim-sum joint (quality wise) in Seattle. The wait time is chaotic, just like a good dim-sum place should be, especially on the weekends. So always call ahead or be willing to share a table with other groups.
Like many dim-sum places, carts and carts will rush to you as soon as you sit. Staff are usually friendly and if you speak Chinese, it'd be much easier to order and get their attention. -
Review from Patty E.
Kennewick, WA
1/27/2012
I'd give this place no star, if i could. Heard great, fantastic things about this place so we decided to give it a try. I love Dim Sum and have eaten at the best places in Houston, New York, Hong Kong and San Francisco. Patiently waited out in the cold for 45 minutes for our table. No problem, I thought it would be worth it. Big mistake. To make a long story short we didn't like any of the stuff we got. Didn't taste fresh, lacked in flavor, dry, etc. A big let down. Will never go back ever.
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Review from Isabella O.
Seattle, WA
10/11/2011
It's been a while since I've been here (maybe 3 years??) but it is the same as I remember - no, not the fanciest or nicest place ever, but the people who work there have always been nice to me, even though it's always super busy.
To me, busy in a place like this is GREAT - it must mean the food and service is good, right? And YES, they are. I've never had to wait, although sometimes you share a table. In here, so what? The tables are big and round, and usually you get a whole side to yourself with space in between you and others. The food is always hot and fresh - busy = high rate of turnover! - and I've never had anything that was greasy (or any greasier than it should have been, seeing as how fried food is typically cooked in...oh, never mind) and it is CHEAP.
My friend and I ate our fill of hum bao, shu mai, gyoza, crab and shrimp dumplings and I don't even remember what else for less than $20. Oh, and if shrimp dumplings aren't supposed to taste that way, I don't think I want them to be however they are "supposed" to be, because these were pretty damn good.
Didn't see any roaches, although I did find a hair in my food. A dog hair. MY dog's hair. Yeah, I know what my dog's hair looks like, because I am always finding it in my food. SIGH. Otherwise, it was all just good, hot, fresh, delicious, cheap food.
Even though this place is kind of all the way across town from me, I found myself realizing the other day that I really SHOULD go more often - even with cost of the gas to drive and to park for an hour or two, it is still totally worth it. -
Review from Nancy N.
Carol Stream, IL
1/1/2012
Very surprised that we didnt have to wait that long for a table on the weekend. For a place that has dim sum on carts, food was always pleasantly hot.
Definitely a place where you can't be afraid to straight up ask/battle for your food. Dim sum was really good, but I wasn't too happy that half of our chicken feet were too hard. -
Review from Suie C.
A-okay.
A 4 for dim sum as it's usually fresh since it gets packed all the time.
A 2 for normal evening chinese food as it's not really anything spectacular and the oil they used for the fried stuff seemed a bit old. -
Review from E. H.
Enumclaw, WA
1/26/2012
I'm only reviewing Dim Sum - went on a weekday early. The place smelled authentic, took me back to a trip I made to Hong Kong years ago. The food was very, very good. I think since the place wasn't busy yet, the variety of options was a little limited, but the service was good. I'd say 4+ stars. Truly a Seattle treasure.
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Review from Cody P.
Junction City, KS
12/25/2011
Awesome food.
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Review from Angel I.
8/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best dim sum restaurant in Seattle! I also get to exercise my Cantonese skills here, and my friends say that they get faster service with me. :)
Anyway, I've tried other dim sum places, and unfortunately for Seattle, Jade Garden is the best. When my parents were in Seattle, they asked around and everyone said Jade Garden, which they were disappointed since they wanted to try other places but all of the locals in the area said that this was the place. Jade Garden gets extremely busy during lunch hour even during the week, and especially on weekends, so be prepared to wait! There is an upstairs area for more seating.
The best dim sum is in Richmond, British Columbia! Ask me where! :) I have a list! -
Review from Tracy M.
Seattle, WA
11/11/2011
Favorite Dim Sum in the city, for sure! Almost always crowded, so bring a good attitude and willingness to wait. Selection is very large, quality is great, and prices are reasonable.
Only been here for dinner once, and it was pretty good, but not as amazing/mind-blowing as the Dim Sum options.
Really, this is probably 4.5 stars for me, but I averaged it down this time. Yum! -
Review from A L.
Seattle, WA
9/5/2011
There's a reason you need to wait to be seated at Jade Garden during their chaotic dim sum hours. The restaurant is massive, yet it always manages to become filled, although it can get somewhat claustrophobic at times with the staff and food carts rapidly weaving through tables...
That doesn't stop me from coming here every Sunday though! Make sure you try their radish/turnip cake, shrimp and chive dumplings, shrimp rice noodle rolls, lotus leaf rice (delicious rice wrapped in a lotus leaf & steamed). Wash everything down with a nice pot of Oolong tea!
Also: their homemade (and super secret) hot sauce given at every table is too good to be true! -
Review from Carmen K.
9/24/2011
I'm from the bay area and pretty particular when it comes to Dim Sum. I just moved to Seattle and have tried this place and Harbor City and to be honest, I prefer Jade Garden slightly. The restaurant itself is bigger so the wait time is less chaotic.
I actually preferred their Shu Mai, as well as their BBQ Pork Buns. The BBQ Pork Rice Rolls were better over at Harbor City though. I will say that the Glutinous Rice was AMAZING. Like best ever. For that alone I may choose to go with Jade Garden over HC in the future.
The host girl showing us to the table was a bit of a bitch, but I expect a bit of bitchiness with all chinese establishments.
I went at one on a Saturday, agreed to share a table, and was seated in less than 5 minutes.
All in all a good experience and nice to know I can find above average dim sum in the city. -
Review from Jason P.
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
When you want to feast on a whole bunch of little different dishes, dim sum at Jade Garden is the way to go. While the decor can be very tacky with the typical Chinese tableclothed tables and plain walls, this is not one you come for the ambiance, but for food.
Service is quick, as they bring out the push carts fairly frequent, just be sure to get here early on a weekend so you get to eat at your leisure without all the hustle and bustle. Otherwise it can get crowded during the lunch hours. Not all the staff speak good English, but the good thing about dim sum is that you can just point to the dishes that you want, and they will serve and mark your card. Jade Garden serves all your typical dim sum dishes: shrimp dumplings, siu mai, cheong fan (rice noodle rolls), buns, turnip cake, lo mai gai (sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf), xiao long bao (little dragon buns or soup dumplings), chicken feet, egg tarts, congee, and more. You can also order bigger dishes from the menu such as noodles and meat dishes if the little dim sum dishes don't seem to do it for you. All dishes are decent and will please many dim sum cravings, though I definitely found it a step lower than even the worst dim sum places in Flushing/Chinatown/Elmhurst of New York City. But what may be lacking in quality, definitely makes up in the extremely cheap prices. We must've ordered 10-15 dishes and the bill only came out to $37.00 which would normally come out to $50-$60 in New York.Listed in: Hello Seattle
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Review from Perugia N.
Seattle, WA
8/1/2011
Over the years, I have been here 4 to 5 times. Each time is a great disappointment; I only went out of politeness to friends.
The dim sum is not anywhere near where it should be in terms of quality: greasy, incorrect. If a dim sum place cannot do shrimp dumpling (ha cao) nor shanghainese soup dumplings (xiao long bao) well, or even OK, it is a fail. Deflated, overcooked, chewy dumplings and dry soup dumplings, no real sauce..overal a grand and consistent disappointment.
The bad food in addition to utterly poor service.. well, my star rating for this restaurant says it all.
