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Probably the best dim-sum joint in Dallas but that's really not saying much.
The service can be shotty and wait can be long (especially on Sundays right after people get out of church).
I found that the best time to go in around 11 AM. You'll be seated right away.
Now that there is a dim-sum joint in Plano, I doubt I'll be frequenting Maxim too much.
If you want to eat the 2nd best dimsum in Dallas, come here! :)
(There are only 2 dimsum places in Dallas though. LOL)
The restaurant itself doesn't look great on the outside, and on the inside it's pretty much gross. Their dimsum isn't great and if you aren't pals with some waiters in there, be ready to eat off a dirty plate.
I used to come here all the time for dimsum, mostly because it was the ONLY PLACE THAT HAD DIMSUM until Kirin Court opened up. Once Kirin opened up, I've been a fan ever since.
Maxim's dimsum is nothing compared to Kirin. Everything is made sloppy and their cart pushers are rude. Sometimes they just stand by your table, even when you don't want to order something from them! Talk about awkward and rude.
The only thing that dimsum has, that's probably half spot good is their fried crab and rice. They basically take a crab, fry it, then bake it on top of fried rice. It's pretty decent... and Kirin Court doesn't have anything like that. But that's basically it.
I guess the only reason why people still come here is because Maxim is cheaper than Kirin Court and they have a buffet. Of course that would attract all of the "quantity over quality" food inhalers.
And, if you don't want to wait half an hour for shitty quality food, call beforehand and set up reservations.
The beginner's guide to Dim Sum. I got this idea while observing the white couple next to us. Oh, how I wanted to help the clueless, middle-aged, couple.
We came here for father's day and of course the decor still remains the same. Just expect the traditional/authentic Chinese restaurant. It's pretty spacious with chandeliers and gaudy Chinese decor. Upon arrival you will notice a collage of recently married folks who had their reception at the restaurant.
1). Expect minimal service during Dim Sum (which is from 10-3pm daily). We went on a Sunday and it was packed. For the first 15 minutes, we didn't even know who our server was. We were thirsty.
2). Know that the people with aprons are the ones pushing the carts and the ones with the vest are your servers. It is a no-no to ask the people with the aprons for napkins, utensils, drinks, etc. Their primary job is to show you what they have and push their cart to the next table. DO NOT MESS WITH THIS FLOW.
3). This is how pricing works. You have a pink sheet of paper. You have multiples price categories. The prices range from 2.25 to 5.75 a plate (of course this is an estimate). Once you choose a dish from the al la cart they stamp your sheet in the appropriate price category. Each cart is NOT arranged by price.
4) It's okay if you don't know the names of the dishes. I have been going to dim sum and yum cha since I was a wee kid, and I still don't know all the names. They will lift the lids and point. You look, and if you like what you see, nod your head. Simple, right? Yes. Most of the servers usually speak either in Chinese and/or Vietnamese. English? If you're lucky!
5) Don't ask for dessert. Wait patiently until the dessert cart comes to you. Again, DO NOT MESS WITH THE FLOW!
6). Tip: Food taste better if you get the peppers in the container on your table and mix with soy sauce. Yes, it will mix like oil and water. It is still good.
7) If you saw what you liked, but missed your chance...wait patiently. They will come back again.
8). Sharing is caring. It's family style. That's how it works in our culture. It just means more room to try a different dish. If you like it, wait for the cart to come back and order some more. Just don't hog the steamer container for yourself...unless you want to. It's your prerogative.
9). Yes, it is fine to ask for a to go box. Yes, the food will hold well, and it makes a good leftover.
10). Once you are done with your meal, do not wait for the server. Just go to the front with your pink ticket and pay. There will be a large bowl of fortune cookies next to the register. Get some, you made it this far, and you deserve a cookie.
What I recommend getting?
1) I love the chicken feet here. Yes, that's right, I said it. The meat is very soft, but be forewarned there are multiple bones. The flavor is sweet with a nice touch of spiciness (imagine buffalo wings, but fee).
2). Siu mai- I think this is the dumpling with pork and shrimp. Here, it's not as greasy as other establishments are known for. I think they did a great job on this dish.
3). Shrimp dumpling (ha gao). It has a nice balance of shrimp and rice flour. Eat it with soy sauce and red pepper sauce.
4). Chao- or for you Anglos...rice porridge. In our Vietnamese culture there are two main types of rice porridge. One is more broth base and the other more creamy base. Here, it is the latter. The bread that comes on top of the porridge is what makes this meal complete. It's fluffy, but a hint of crispiness. I would put pepper or soy sauce in the porridge because it was a bit bland for my taste. Anyways, it's a bit of a fresh air from all the other greasy foods.
5). Get hot tea. It is a great complement to your food. Usually, you have an option between Jasmine and Chrysanthemum. I personally love the jasmine and think the smell of chrysanthemum is overpowering. Here, they just brought out jasmine without giving me options.
6). Get the asparagus. It's delicious and healthy for you. Again, a nice complement to your other greasy meat products on your table.
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Dinner.
It is basically your regular dining experience. During dinner time the service is a lot better. Most of the time the manager comes over to make sure you are having a wonderful meal. However, the atmosphere is lacking. It's quite empty with the occasional two or three tables that are being occupied. Hence, the better service.
THE BEST MEAL (very solid)- It's one of the specials on the back of the menu. This is specifically made for two people.
It comes with pickled cabbage, boiled chicken, and my personal favorite: roast duck (the skin is very crispy and the meat is very tender. Mouthwatering.), a sweet brown sauce, flour rolls, and thin cut up scallions. Eat them together and slowly savor the flavors. DELICIOUS!
While I don't think the dim sum is that great here, their lunch buffet is pretty tasty and exceedingly filling. They have fairly authentic chinese food on the buffet (unlike just about every other chinese buffet I've been to). Sure, they do have americanized items like crab rangoon and fried chicken wings but those things are a guilty pleasure for me. There's 3-4 different kinds of noodles (on the right side of the buffet), whole fried fish (bones and all), beef and broccoli, fried rice, various stir fried items, won-ton soup, and the list goes on. There are many different dessert items but my favorite is the soft serve. And the price is about $8. 4-stars for the lunch buffet. 3-stars for the dim-sum. I'm getting hungry...
The Brunch You Never Had.
Choose your heart's desire - the motto and meaning behind the words, "Dim Sum." It commences with a pot of strong tea (chrysanthemum, oolong, or bolei) followed by a quartet of carts dancing by your table awaiting you to choose whatever dish your heart desires.
All dishes are small in size making it possible for you to swim through the assortment of steamed dumplings, buns, Phoenix Talons, spare ribs, lotus leaf wrapped sticky rice, congee, tofu skin rolls, taro cakes, egg tarts, mango puddings and much more. Food goddesses come to your table with their food specific-carts filled with mini steamers; your food is kept warmed and moist though steam within the cart.
You'll quickly recognize which food goddess is your favorite as you'll be canvassing the dining room awaiting for her arrival at your table once again with the tastiness you fancy - "Ahh, where's the shrimp dumpling lady? Where is she???!!!" Each time a cart strolls to the neighboring table, your eyes will experience the "yum-yum-dim-sum-gazing" phenomenon.
Your eyes will be in wonderment peering into the carts deciphering the kaleidoscope of colors and shapes - "pork dumplings? No I think they're shark fin dumplings. *gasp* Does she have steamed, bbq pork buns?" Your eye balls and heart will melt with excitement as the sights and smells stroke the air. No worries of a monotonous brunch, you'll surely be fluttering on the edge of arousal each moment a different food goddess enters the room.
Helpful hints:
HOW TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHECK - with each plate you choose, it'll be marked or stamped on the bill at your table. Although each dish is $3 or so, your tab can build up quick. It's normal for an Asian family of four to rack up a $90 bill.
1.) You'll usually look at the last, marked box of each section.
2.) The number at the top of that small box (i.e., 2) corresponds with the number of plates you've had for that price category.
3.) The number below that, (i.e.,7.00) is the current, total amount in dollars you've eaten. Add up each major section of the check, sometimes it's categorized in Small, Medium, and Large.
Popular terms:
"Cha Seew Bao" - BBQ Pork bun
"Ha Gow" - Shrimp Dumpling (a popular favorite)
"Joke" - Rice Congee (overcooked rice soup, when the warm soup slides down your throat....it feels great for those hangovers)
"Pai Gwhat" - spare ribs
"Yum Cha" - drink tea / tea time (more often the Cantonese say, " yum cha," when they want to do dim sum brunch. Say this and your Chinese friends will be impressed as you're "in the know" of what Asian brunch is called. ^_^
Happy foodgasms,
Ron Yam
Hugs XX
(I appreciated your company. It'll be nice if we happen to meet again.) ...It's the best dim sum in Dallas. Compare taste, uniqueness, and quality with other China Towns in L.A., NYC, Canada, and the real deal in Hong Kong or China, this place is moderate.
I agree with a lot of the past reviewers about the the dim sum here, it's great considering we're in Dallas and there are so few places to get dim sum but on a national level we're talking totally average.
My most recent visit was on Mother's day for dim sum with the in laws. There were people lined outside the door because there was a 45 minute wait but because the bro in law knew some people we were sat immediately. We always get the barbecue and pineapple buns here because they are DELISH! The egg tart was super fresh and warm as well which is usually a rarity. I don't know what a lot of the dishes are called nor do I know what is in them but I just eat whatever is given to me and haven't had anything funky here. The service is fast and the place is packed so scoot as close in to your table as you can to avoid getting hit by a cart or a person trying to get through.The prices are fairly reasonable for the amount of food you get. We were a party of 5 and our tab was about $90 but we also walked away with 2 to go boxes of food and a full tummy.
YUMMMMM!!!
the only place i go for dimsum. a bit pricey but it's all good. foods are great, services are above acceptable. wide range variety of menus and most of them are available, expect when you come 15 minutes before the dimsum over.
This is the place not to go by your self or just the two of you; no this is the place for a very large group of friends and to share.
As the carts pass by grab something and everyone will love. Every type of dim sum you can think of is there. How much better can it get to have a good Sunday afternoon with your friends.
The price can get expensive fast when eating so much when it's split though it's not so bad. Other than the dim sum and the large seating availability there is nothing special about this place.
Multi-course Chinese wedding banquet
3 clothing changes for the bride
Going to each table to say hello
Be blinded by all the cameras going off
Oh yeah the food was good. I've been to Asian receptions and this food was good. The cheese fried lobster.... yes please do read it again... was good. The only place that I've had this CFL.
Did I mention there was karaoke? "We're half way there!..... Livin on a prayer..."
I am getting really good at not cooking for myself on the weekends. So good that I order takeout on Sunday night and it lasts until Wednesday/Thursday-ish. Not too shabby.
I'm going to take a little detour from all of these dim sum reviews and regrettably admit that no, I haven't woken up early enough for dim sum either here or Kirin Court or anywhere else in Dallas. I attribute my deep love of dim sum to my parents who wake me at 10am when I am at home in Chicago. So I won't be able to comment on the shumai or har gow or whatever delightful shrimpy filled morsels that you discuss here. Nay, I shall discuss the other culinary wonders that I have had the pleasure of devouring.
Once in a while, my coworkers and I will decide that a Chinese buffet is in the works for lunch, and I'll try to deter them from Jumbo Super Buffet (which, by all accounts, will be everything you expect solely based on the name) and tell them that I want to go to Maxim's. Here are some reasons why: Baby bok choy, tofu with brown sauce that makes me think I could be a vegetarian (ha! what a joke), all you can eat wonton soup with wontons that have THIN wrappers (this is clutch), sesame chicken, pot stickers, noodley goodness, ridiculous amounts of shrimp (there's one that seems like it has onions and breading that's not really attached to the shrimp). The ice cream (frozen yogurt?) bar also has sprinkles. COLORED sprinkles. That alone is deserving of 5 stars. I can't remember how much it costs.. $7?
Anyways. Obvi I didn't get the buffet for dinner last night. I am in search of egg foo young just the way they make it in Chicago and at Empire Chinese Restaurant in Champaign. I've tried it from other Chinese places and they do it funny, with just eggs scrambled and all the toppings piled on top (hm, I guess that's why they call them toppings) with sauce. It is weeeeird. What is the point of having an omelet if none of the fillings come mixed into the eggs? Here's the fun part. EFY is NOT on the menu at Maxim's. I just asked them out of the blue and the owner admitted that while it was not on the menu, they would totally make it for me. Does this mean that I'm part of a secret club? The Awesome-Not-Crappy Egg Foo Young Club of Dallas? Hmm.. okay! Oh, and if you want dim sum but it's like 6:30pm, they have these deep fried crabmeat and shrimp paste thingies that are on the appetizer menu.. They taste like shrimp toast.
Last night I happened in on a huge Chinese party while I was waiting for my order. They played some really awesome Chinese dance music. And some guy gave a speech that was apparently pretty funny since the whole crowd was uproarious with laughter. That's probably my cue to learn Mandarin.
I don't get what all the Maxim's hate is all about.. Maybe if I do get the dim sum, it will mar my love for Maxim's. Then it's probably best that I sleep in on the weekends.
Absolutely horrible... I wish I could say that I can recommend even one item on their buffet menu but alas.
Not only did they manage to ruin basic items like spring rolls, crab rangoons and pork dumplings, they even managed to mess up fruits for dessert which was complete with rotten pineapples and completely inedible melons.
I went there two weeks ago for dim sum. Any positive reviews of this place? They must be on crack. The good kinda crack they sell in Richardson.
In regards to the last post~~
There is no line because it tastes bad.
Who cares if Chinese people work there if it taste bad? The Chinese people likely just work the front for the "authentic feel."
Heated carts are usually a pretty standard thing.... a bad dim sum joint also HAS TO HAVE them because no one buys the food so they gotta keep the old not fresh dim sum warm.
Dim Sum is supposed to have a large menu that is standard.
THE FOOD ALL TASTES LIKE IT WAS all PREVIOUSLY FROZEN. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THEY WERE SOGGY AND BLAND. THE BLAND FLAVOR DIDNT TASTE GOOD EITHER.
This place sucks, I went on a weekend. I guess good dim sum in Dallas = craptastic actual dim sum anywhere else. Don't tell me to not expect good dim sum in Dallas. Who cares where if it is in the South. I found better dim sum in Durham, North Carolina. OMG worst dim sum ever.
But the pho down the street was bomb.
Less than one star if I could for MAxim's. I've purged much of this place outta my mind, but remember'd it was definitely not worth the money.
GOOD 4 NOTHING
I came to Dallas to visit my friends and we tried the dim sum here. Maxim's is pretty good because:
- It's big! No line to wait, I like that
- operated by majority of Chinese people (that's how I rate the authenticity part)
- variety of menu
- heated cart
- delicious
Although they don't serve several things that I like such as stuffed Jelapeno pepper and roasted quail, and their beef innerd stew wasn't that tasty, I still think that it is pretty good. We had a lot of Shu Mai.
If I were to compare this place to those in SF, Vancouver, and New York, I most surely wouldn't say that I'm a fan. However, we're in Big D where finding good chinese food is not that easy. So, I'm a fan, in Dallas.
I went on a Saturday for brunch, and everything was good. The place was packed with chinese folks. Carts were constantly coming out the kitchen with freshly cooked dishes. The servers were very attentive and responded quite rapidly to any request.
I would recommend it if you are craving some good chinese dim sum, and don't have any plans to go to any of the mayor chinese hubs in the U.S.
Great dim sum here. There are so many offerings to choose from, and everything is solid, but nothing stood out especially. Not much more to say, as I'm sure everyone that reads this is familiar with dim sum. Just traditional, good, and busy. Dim sum is dim sum. Prices can really get to you though, so watch what you eat. In this case you aren't what you eat, but you do pay for what you eat.
So Playboy has a hotel in Vegas and Hustler has a casino in L.A, but we're a shade more modest in Bid D so we'll have to accept Maxim having a restaurant in Richardson as our big thrill. So in addition to the expectation that scantily clad models would bring me dim sum, I read in the Observer that it has been voted the best in town. Wow! So imagine my surprise when none of this was true. Can you say OVER-RATED! Clap! Clap! Clap-Clap-Clap! The only magazine cover our waiter would have graced might be Old Guy Monthly and the dim sum.....well, not even the best in a half-mile radius.
OK, obviously I kidding about the Maxim magazine part but I really was hoping for a lot more food wise. I'm not an expert but I've had this wonderful cuisine in L.A, S.F,Seattle, Vegas, and Austin in addition to Kirin Court and this would finish last. We were so disappointed, we left after the first couple of dishes.
This was my second visit, with the first being for the dinner buffet and i did not enjoy the flavors nor the quality of the food. I do like the idea that they serve dim sum daily but not if it is inferior and overpriced.
To quell, my disappointment I was tempted to head to Bone Daddy's, which is a lot more in line with how Maxim Magazine would run a restaurant. I had to settle for a brownie from Starbucks to get the taste of bean curd out of my mouth.
I actually thought it was pretty good! I had low expectations due to many of y'alls yelp reviews, but the group (mostly Chinese) I was with picked the place and I thought I could finally try it out.
The shao mai, hargow, chicken feet, pai gu (spareribs), egg tart, chang fen were all good, no problems. I liked the jook a lot, something I haven't eaten in awhile and tastes good on a cold day, but a little salty. I liked the leek cake a lot. The youtiao (kind of chinese donut, but not sweet) wrapped in something was not great to me, but it wasn't something I usually order.
Overall I had a good experience there, I haven't been to Kirin in a long time so I really can't compare.
The waitstaff was pretty good, even before I turned around and asked one of the girls didn't she come into my work the day before..haha
It's the best dim sum you can get in Dallas. Doesn't compare to New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Vancouver where the Chinese population is much larger. Definitely pretty darn good by Dallas standards. Nice touch: took my mom & grandma there for Mother's Day and they gave each of them a carnation. I also like their Peking Duck, if you want to order off the menu.
Your average dim sum place. I've had better, I've had worst. The wait here can be quite long. Everything was ok, nothing stood out in my mind.
The only reason I am a fan of this place (hence the 4 Stars) is because this is the only place in the DFW area that serves decent Dim Sums. But when compared to other Dim Sum places in NYC and SFO this is more of a 2 Stars rating.
Came here for the dim sum for lunch on Saturday and there was no wait at all. The restaurant is very spacious, clean, and bright- definitely no hole in the wall. As this was my first dim sum experience in Dallas, I wasn't sure what to expect. The food selection was pretty good. They had all the "classic" dim sum dishes- har gau (shrimp dumplings) , siu mai (shrimp and pork dumplings), cha siu bow (BBQ Pork Bun), cheung fun (rice noodle "crepes"), etc. but also had some that are less commonly found. There was congee (rice porridge) as well as cha leung (rice crepe wrapped around fried bread). The majority of the dishes were decent, though far from the best i've ever had.
Not a bad showing as it will fulfill my dim sum cravings, but it appears that I'll have to fly home to Cali to get my tru dim sum fix.
After I saw similar ratings between Kirin Court and this place, I decided to give it a try. I was hopeful to find something better than Kirin Court which is the best so far that we've found in the area. I stuck with my usuals - sticky rice in lotus leaf, shrimp dumplings, shrimp/pork shumai, hijiki (sp?), pork ribs and eggplant with shrimp filling. It was all off a bit - as if the chef forgot about the details. The shrimp dumplings had some strange glutinous filer, the sticky rice was way overly mushy with not enough meat fillings, the eggplant was bland, etc. etc. We will not go back and will stick with Kirin Court
Mediocre Dim Sum. A lot of the more traditional things from their dumplings to the chicken feet I found lacking flavor. We probably sampled 80% of the dim sum menu and it was ok. They have pretty much every traditional dim sum you would like and they will also prepare any other dim sum dish you dont see. The staff is hit or miss. The people operating the carts some times speak English and others dont, but they are happy to explain to you whatever you want so dont be aftraid. The place is huge and a fun place to go to on Sunday after a long weekend. the carts are fun and the atmosphere is hilarious.
Dim Sum Daily! We dined on a Tuesday with a party of eight. Not a wide variety of dishes, but for a weekday the carts included all the standard dishes. We especially enjoyed the steamed and baked buns, haw gow, and siu mai. The gai lan with oyster sauce was also very good.
The restaurant was not too crowded and the service was good. I appreciated the wait staff promptly removing finished dishes from the table. Also, I liked that tip was already included in the bill. Our bill was $85 which I thought was very reasonable considering all the dishes that we enjoyed.
Our family has large family get togethers at Maxims and the waitors are quite accomadating. We are regulars so we do get excellent service. The dim sim here is delicious, the place is always packed on weekends so be prepared for the crowd.
Highly recommended
Always eat at this greasy place, the dim sum is good and it gets pretty packed during the weekends so dont try and come around 12-1 and expect to be seated right away. I love me some of that mango custard now please.
Service is not all that bad, dont be so snotty and you'll get good service, I have not had any bad experiences here and the food is friggin cheap.
Parking may be a problem on Sunday but just park in the lot across and walk over, no big deal, they accept credit and cash.
Ahhhh, Dim Sum, there is nothing like time spent with friends eating Dim Sum. Granted, my Dim Sum experience is limited to what they have in Dallas and New York so my point of reference is limited. Still, I like what they offer at Maxim's, delicious. The good thing about this place is that they have Dim Sum every day. On weekends, either get there early or late or you'll be waiting. The proficiency of English of the servers can be flaky so be prepared to just point at what you feel like eating.
I don't see the appeal of this place. Maybe it's white people who don't know any better about good dim sum. This place has some of the worst dim sum. They used to be alright, but last time I went, it really was awful. None of the dishes tasted fresh, the same cart came through like 8 times before we saw a cart with different food. I was just really unhappy, and I won't be coming back to this place.
Haven't been since my parents got their divorce but this place was awesome. I use to love the shrimp dumplings and shark fin. Boy do I miss those days.
Pretty good dim sum for the area. There's nothing that really stands out here, they have the usual items such as the congee, shrimp dumplings, sponge cakes, garlicky tripe, pork shui mai, radish/chestnut/taro cakes, chow fun. Quality was okay -- tt would be nice if they could degut the shrimp or make some attempt at least.. Overall, we still had a good time and enjoyed the rest of our dishes.
Well, they are pretty packed during the weekends (Sunday lunchtime, etc.) so there might be a wait. Parking is terrible! But pretty good place for dim sum in this area. Usual items: hargow/shrimp dumplings, chicken feet, taro cakes, xiu mai, etc. Just a warning: mostly high in sodium (soysauce) and oil if it's not steamed.
One of two decent dim sum restaurants in Dallas. Get there before noon on weekends or expect to wait a few minutes for a seat. Good service. Try the Ju Hua Pu-er tea and add a chunk of rock sugar to help wash out the oils from the marinated and steamed chicken feet. Chinese food tastes best when you are with your friends/family. Pay around $10 a head and get really full for about an hour, then go walk around the Chinese market place across the street.
Grab your chopsticks, drop your cowboy boots and step inside a REAL Chinese restaurant just like Mamasan did back in Hong Kong. Do yourself a favor, grab about 5-6 adventerous friends, don't eat for like 12 hours before hand and get to Maxim's on a Saturday about 11:00 am. Then ask for the "Dim Sum" area (Seperate dining rooms) and prepare. The Asian women with hot carts are flying back and forth and you have about 30 seconds to say yes or no to some of the most unique dumplings/shu mai/rice noodle delights you've ever experienced. Notice the lack of American's here. This is the real deal and you must act quick or they will move on. Try the Shrimp Shu Mai, ask for the Stick Rick (It comes from the back, wrapped in a lotus leaf and full of suprises!) then adrenture out: Try the chicken feet, the tripe soaked in garlic, the beef buns, just keep trying and passing to your neighbor. It's a riot and the food is just ridiculously good. YOU MUST GO ON SATURDAY! The rest of the week dim sum is just average, Saturday is a riot...to eat AND to watch!
Richardson, TX
Category: Dim Sum
Carrollton, TX
Category: Dim Sum
Richardson, TX
Category: Chinese
Richardson, TX
Category: Chinese
Plano, TX
Category: Dim Sum
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