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Pine and Bamboo Garden
Category: Restaurants Chinese Dim Sum Dim Sum [Edit]
10915 Shawnee Mission PkwyShawnee, KS 66203
(913) 268-9545
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
44 reviews for Pine and Bamboo Garden
Review Highlights
"...this place has the best hot and sour soup this part of the..."
(in 3 reviews)
"4) sticky rice in leaf- the rice was very flavorful and..."
(in 5 reviews)
"My favorite was the Spicy Won Tons."
(in 2 reviews)
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44 reviews in English
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Review from Karen L.
Manhattan, KS
9/4/2011 10 photos
I have to say that I was SHELL SHOCKED when I saw the dim sum at this restaurant. REAL dim sum in Kansas City, MO?! I was infinitely happy. The dim sum here is legit! All of my favorites were present and actually tasted right. I've been to Bo Ling's in Kansas City in a desperate search for dim sum and it's OK - but not what I'm used to (I'm from socal). Bo Ling's is definitely subpar compared to dim sum here as far as I'm concerned.
Pine and Bamboo Garden even has the spicy chili oil on the table and ready to go. I posted a bunch of pictures of most of the stuff we ordered. I'm Korean so I don't know the real names of everything in Chinese. I usually just point and say "that one!" for my lack of Chinese. So take a look at the photos if you want an idea of what it looks like. :) -
Review from Michael J.
Washington, DC
1/20/2012
I went to the to this restaurant for dim sum based on a previous review (by Tiger W). Seeing how he's got dim sum "street cred" being Chinese and having lived in San Fran, I thought well, why not? Bo Ling has always been my go-to dim sum joint in KC (I go to the Metcalf branch). It's certainly not the best I've had but it's comfort food that I've been eating for years and it's as good as it gets when it comes to dim sum in this city.
Before I start with the review, I want to dish out a little bit of my "street cred": Chinese-American. Been munchin' on dim sum for 24 years all over the world. East Coast (New York City, Boston, DC), West Coast (San Fran, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, BC). Midwest (Chicago and KC), and South (Baton Rouge, Houston, New Orleans). Outside of the US, it's Hong Kong (birthplace of modern dim sum), Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou (where it all originated from).
Best dim sum outside of China has to be Vancouver, BC. Most authentic dim sum experience is Guangzhou. Duh, it was invented there! Best all-around dim sum goes to Hong Kong.
Now, as I've mentioned in my intro, I've been dining at Bo Ling's for years and I've always wondered why nobody has challenged its supremacy in KC. When I found out about Pine and Bamboo and read the reviews here, I thought perhaps this is the challenger I've been waiting for. I dragged my parents along with me but they were hesitant having heard numerous tepid reviews of this place from the Chinese community in KC. Nevertheless, I urged them to give it a try since Yelpers rave about this place. 4 stars!
We went on a Saturday for lunch and the place was packed. There were a few large tables with Asian faces but I was mostly dining in a sea of chalk. Hey, nothing wrong with that :) The waitresses and female cart pushers were very friendly, helpful and cute. There was this one Caucasian waitress who spoke pretty good Chinese or at least the dish names. I thought that was definitely a good sign.
But then, things started to go down hill fast once we ordered our dishes. Out of the 7 or 8 dishes we ordered, only two really stood out (braised chicken feet and tofu wrap). Pine and Bamboo failed the dim sum litmus test by serving us perhaps the most bland tasting shrimp dumpling I've ever had in a restaurant. In fact, I suspect the shrimp dumplings were probably bought frozen at one of those Asian grocery stores. They taste similar. The spare ribs were the worst ever. The meat had a spoiled taste to it. An earlier Yelp post also mentioned the same thing so I guess this wasn't an isolated incident.
So what went wrong? In sum, great dim sum is defined by three qualities: freshness, complexity in taste, and ingredient.
Freshness: Most of the dishes failed on the freshness scale simply because they weren't warm or hot when it arrived at our table. Egg tarts are always supposed to be warm and flaky. Instead, they were served cold and stale. All fried dishes should be at least warm when it's served. Fried food go stale and soggy quickly if you don't warm them. Huge mistake!
Complexity in taste: This is something that separates good dim sum from the best. Sort of like drinking good wine. Good wine has complex flavors and bad wine, well, not so much. When you bite into a shrimp dumpling or shiumai, for instance, you should get multiple flavors flowing out of your mouth due to the various ingredients mixed into these little dumplings. Most of the dishes here gave me the same taste - SALTY. After eating five or six dishes, I can't distinguish one from the other in my mouth as they all ended up tasting the same despite their differing ingredients and textures.
Ingredients: I don't feel like Pine and Bamboo used good ingredients in their dishes. The lack of freshness and flavor are signs that the restaurant is cutting back on quality ingredients. The meat dishes, especially the spare ribs, tasted tough and stale. And where is the juice in the dumplings? Fresh seafood and meat should have juice when it's steamed. Frozen or dried meat don't.
In conclusion, I don't want to knock on Pine and Bamboo simply because I had one bad experience from dim sum. I'm sure a lot of the dishes on their menu are excellent, although I haven't tried them myself. Perhaps the dim sum might have been better if I had gone during a weekday where they bring them out fresh from the kitchen instead of being served off of a cart. But given this one experience, I don't think I would want to come back here again. Bo Ling's has been the "old faithful" for my family and I for years and it still hits the spot for us. It's not the best, but they do offer variety and at least they are warm and fresh when they arrive at your table. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Pine and Bamboo. -
Review from Andy M.
Lincoln, NE
12/9/2011
Stopped in on a Friday afternoon for some dim sum. It is not world-class, but it is pretty decent. I was expecting ladies pushing around carts, but I guess they really don't do that kind of lunch business. Instead, you order off a picture menu of about 24 items. The sheet looked like those pre-printed sushi placemats you find in Japanese restaurants, and what we got was pretty true to the pictures.
Our favorite dim sum item was the fried taro stuffed with pork. It was a prefect blend of textures and flavors. Of the five items we tried, the rest ran the gamut from unappealing (riblets) to tasty with mustard (shrimp dumplings). We also shared a sizzling rice soup, which tasted fine, but I've had better in Lincoln. The rice needed to be crisped a bit more for a true sizzle. We did not try any sweet "dessert" dim sum because they were out of the coconut jelly we tried to order.
Overall, I admire what these guys are trying to do, and it is more authentic Chinese than Chinese-American, unlike most places I end up trying when I travel. Definitely worth it if you are nearby. Very reasonably priced, too. There are no prices on the dim sum menu, but no plate was over $3. Got out of there for under $15/person and had too much food for two people. -
Review from Joi B.
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Seeking a meal of Chinese Delicious Foods, we just so happened to be close enough to finally try Pine and Bamboo Garden, which I've been hearing nothing but great things about.
Let us first venture past its demure strip mall exterior and we'll find a surprisingly pleasant interior that lends itself well to all kinds of occasions. Classic decor. Love all the little Asian tchatchkes (is there a correct spelling for that word?) and Chinese furniture. In addition, they've done the place up so that it's not a bunch of stores put together; rather they section it off with angles so that it seems there are more intimate dining rooms. Clever!
But I suspect you care more about the food. Look at that star rating! Yelpers don't lie. You're not going to get much hype here and that's how it should be. I'll be honest and say there are better vegetarian options elsewhere. I was told that nothing on the "authentic" menu was meatless and then our *extremely friendly* waiter (read on) pointed to the diet menu where everything was steamed. LOL- if I wanted steamed vegetables, I would have made 'em at home, pal.
OK, so that's not really true. I never steam more than one variety of vegetables at a time. I do appreciate going to a Chinese restaurant and getting a steam basket. Which is what I did this evening. I had them add tofu to the mix, white sauce on the side. I made no specifications on the vegetables but was happy to find that bell peppers were not in the mix. Bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, broccoli, summer squash, straw mushrooms, cauliflower, chinese cabbage and snow peas *are* in the mix. Add a bit of sauce, rather than drown it, drizzle on the hot chilis and I'm in heaven (though it would have been nice if the tofu wasn't silken. Not crazy about that texture, which does not hold up to steaming).
Next time, however, I'll push it and get some kind of specialty dish that I just *know* is lurking around back there.
Now, onto our waiter. Not sure if it was intentional, but he made me feel like a rock star. I think he may have wanted to sit down and join our table, because I might have shared just about as much conversation with him as I have with recent dining companions, so... while this isn't always desired, it's a nice change of pace.
Rock on, Pine and Bamboo Garden. Your spring rolls may be a snooze fest and let's be real, steamed veggies isn't what I can really judge you by, but I dig you and hope to return for dim sum (dare I hope that they have something for me on there? Call ahead first? I'll let you know!) -
Review from Adam P.
Shawnee, KS
9/11/2011
I cant tell you how many times I have eaten at this restraunt. I grew up eating at this place, and as I have left kansas city and gone to the west coast for a couple years and the east coast for a couple years, this restraunt beats them all. There chinesse food is the best. I didn't learn about Dim Sum till I lived on the west coast. When I came back to Kansas city, and found they had cart service Dim Sum on the weekends, I was in heaven. There food is just to die for. I love everything here!
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Review from Patrick L.
Independence, MO
3/26/2011
This is, by far, my most favorite Chinese restaurant in the Greater Kansas City area. I have been going there since 2006 and have not looked back. Granted, I now live 25 miles from this establishment, but that does not stop me from driving there at least once or twice per week.
The dim sum is the best in the area, IMHO. They have the standard har gow and siu mai, but they also have some of the more exotic items you might find in Chinatown. I especially like what I call "beef happiness", which is a fairly spicy combination of beef shank, beef tongue, head cheese, beef tripe and beef stomach. They also have chicken feet, beef tripe, and beef stomach as separate dishes. Overall, the selection is fairly slim compared to places in Chicago, New York, or San Francisco, but they do pretty well for Kansas City.
Their dinner menu is also very good. My family and I almost always select our meal from the Authentic Chinese menu toward the back. We love the selection of noodles, both stir fried and in soup, on that menu. The Hong Kong style wonton noodle soup makes an excellent lunch or light supper. They have the ubiquitous (for authentic Chinese menus) chicken and salty fish fried rice (cooked Chinese style - WITHOUT soy sauce). One of my favorites is the eggplant and pork hotpot and the fresh pork belly with preserved vegetable hotpot. Great selections with a bowl of steamed rice.
If you want vegetables, it is always best to ask because they might have more than one selection available. They do a great job with pea shoot tips when they are in season. They almost always have Chinese broccoli (similar to broccoli rabe) or baby bok choy. All are great sauteed with garlic.
If you are looking for something more than the Americanized Chinese food, go to Pine and Bamboo Garden. The owners and staff are super friendly and will help with selections if you ask them for advice. -
Review from Ivan W.
FT LEAVNWRTH, KS
First trip here. Early for dinner, seated by the kitchen. Hot and Sour Soup was dominated by black pepper, spring rolls cold and greasy. Egg plant and pork hotpot was great! Great texture and flavor in the Egg plant.
Staff was nice. Will have to come back for the Dim Sum. -
Review from Lisa L.
Kansas City, KS
This is my favorite Chinese Restaurant!! I have been coming here back in the mid 90's when they used to be a one room little restaurant. The Crab Rangoon is the best I have ever had and the staff are alway nice. I usually get the Beef and Green Pepper....Nom Nom Nom
LOVE IT -
Review from Eliza C.
Kansas City, MO
2/21/2011
Very, very good dim sum!
I only wish they had a few more dishes.
I prefer the quality and price of the dim sum at Pine and Bamboo over Bo Lings, but Bo Lings DOES have more variety in their offerings (they are pricier though).
The other good thing about Pine and Bamboo is that you can order dim sum from a menu any weekday from 11am to 3pm. I have done this several times. (Why wait 'til the weekend?!) -
Review from Jeff P.
Columbus, OH
9/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great egg drop soup. Great orange beef. Good service. Ambiance and decor was not very cozy, but bland. But, I would definitely come back.
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Review from Deana W.
11/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
I am a huge Dim Sum fan. Just like a kid in a candy store, all the choices can be so overwhelming! But, much like the candy store, it is wonderfully overwhelming!
The Chinese have perfected the buffet concept for couch potatoes. The feast comes to you. There is a constant flow of food carts that move from table to table, packed full of shiny, metal serving dishes with delectable treats. Savory and sweet. You are only charged for what you select. Sample away.
In my vast experience with Dim Sum (Bo Lings), Pine and Bamboo prepares the standard options: spring rolls, dumplings, sticky rice, while also offering some exotic delicacies (chicken feet, stomach, tripe). My favorite was the Spicy Won Tons. Make sure to request extra sauce; you will want to dip everything in it. Maybe even your table mate, but maybe that's just me. I'm just sayin', it's divine. Keep my suggestion in mind though. Perhaps "take out" would be a better venue for that adventure. It's a very "family" atmosphere! I also got a kick out of the rock sugar for my hot tea. Fun! That is what Dim Sum is, and Pine and Bamboo sets out a fine feast fit for any Emperor, or just little ol' me.Listed in: Brunch a GO GO, the best part…
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Review from Lawrence N.
Kansas City, MO
10/3/2010
I'm a new resident and was recommended by a friend. I arrived late on a weekday for dinner and the place was pretty quiet. After thumbing through the entire menu and reaching the back, I finally found the more authentic Chinese cuisine items I originally came here for. I ordered the Salt Pepper Pork Loin, my typical go-to dish for authentic Cantonese fair. While not the best I've ever had, it definitely didn't disappoint. The service was excellent, punctual, attentive, but not overbearing.
I've been recommended by two friends to try the Dim Sum on the weekend. -
Review from Albert B.
Kansas City, MO
12/8/2010
Growing up Dim Sum was a monthly, if not weekly, tradition for my family and when I moved to KC finding a great Dim Sum place was high on my food to-do list. Luckily this placed was recommended to me by a friend who had it recommended to him so the first place I tried will likely be the only place.
Pine and Bamboo is a prototypical Dim Sum place. It has the push carts and the dishes that don't look appetizing but will reward you if you're brave enough to try them. Two dishes that really stuck out to me were the sticky rice and the beef tendon. The sticky rice was expertly prepared and wasn't mushy or dried out. The beef tendon was gelatinous goodness that melted in your mouth and tasted great. Everything else my friend and I had was great too and we probably didn't even try a quarter of the menu.
All in all Pine and Bamboo will be a place that I frequent. Suggestions are to bring a big group, try everything and go back to try everything you didn't order the first time. -
Review from Dea L.
Independence, MO
7/13/2010 18 Check-ins Here
OK, so you want dim sum? Then you HAVE TO come here. Just read the reviews below - I agree with 99% of them.
But let's talk about the regular menu. You know, the "back of the menu" Chinese food. Not the Americanized version of what people think is Chinese food. Like Crab Rangoon. Try ordering that in Asia and they'll look at you like you've got 3 eyes.
But order fried marinated pork stomach, and you're good to go. It's an acquired taste, but if you can get past what it IS, then it's really good. It has the consistency of thick crispy chicken skin and comes with a bowl of sweet & sour dipping sauce (but we prefer the hot mustard). The cold jellyfish is awesome, too - "pickled" and crunchy. It's a fun dish, actually.
For main courses, you should try one of the hot pots. We've had the eggplant & pork, which is served in a delicious brown sauce. Hubby has also had the pork belly with preserved vegetable, and the beef brisket hot pot. We've not been disappointed with any of them.
Their crispy tofu in spicy salt is wonderful. Crispy & salty on the outside, and soft & yummy on the inside. We've also ordered the squid - both the crispy with spicy salt, and in black bean sauce. I can't pick a favorite between the two!
Another favorite dish is the chicken and salted fish fried rice. It's salty, but, well... it's supposed to be! The fish is cut up small enough so it's not overpowering but enough to season the whole dish. They also make it with shrimp & salty fish, which is just as good.
And if you get a late night craving, Thursday - Saturday they're open until 1:30am. This is typical in Asia, when most folks crave a good bowl of soup. Make sure you order the Hong Kong won ton noodle soup. It's big enough for two, but go ahead - be greedy! You'll be glad you did! It comes out hot & steamy with a ton of thin noodles, some fresh gai lan (Chinese broccoli), and a half-dozen of the most incredible shrimp won tons. These aren't your "typical" won tons, but are more authentic - so don't expect to see a bunch of perfect little dumplings floating in your bowl. These are light and fresh.
So if you want good Chinese, I urge you to check out Anton & Patty's place. Even if you wind up ordering from the 'front' of the menu, you're going to get a great meal. But I suggest you take a peek at the back - you won't be sorry. -
Review from Stephanie N.
Shawnee, KS
9/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
I admit I have fallen prey to the American-Chinese scandal. However, this is a good place to indulge in my craving for General Tso's chicken and hot and sour soup. My god, this place has the best hot and sour soup this part of the Midwest.
I love that I can go there anytime and order to go and have a chat with the owner about new menu items and the weather. He is so lovely. He will also invite you to have a seat while your food is prepared fresh and piping hot.
The decor is very fitting for this style of restaurant. It is exquisitely clean and tidy with dark wood and crystal chandeliers. I think if the location was different, they would have more business. It is situated next to a ghastly looking bar and a rental center. But don't let that throw you off, give it a whirl. Hey, I've also heard they have some of the best dim sum in this area, but have not tried it yet.
Bring on the greasy Chinese named American chicken. -
Review from Keith K.
Mission, KS
7/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place has been a regular favorite of ours for years. From the courteous staff to the excellent selection of items, this place is tip top.
Its one of the few Chinese dine-ins where the ambiance isn't in your face or overly distracting. The music sounds authentic and is usually soft enough to really relax you.
The dim sum here is great but be warned: some of the choices are definitely not "Americanized" or chosen to appeal to the typical burger and fries crowd. That said, if you like trying new things, the Dim Sum on the weekends is a great thing to experience. It's super busy though, so bring your patience and prepare to queue for a table. -
Review from Shanon C.
Kansas City, MO
5/2/2010
Since moving to KC from San Francisco 2 years ago, I've been on the hunt for a decent dim sum place. Holy cow - this place exceeded my snobby West-coast expectations.
I was impressed by the friendly service, the freshness of the food and the sheer variety of options. The cart pushers were super-informative and had great recommendations (this is important if you've never experienced dim sum). We over-stuffed ourselves and left with a $30 bill. Most people could probably eat well for around $10 a person. I envision many more Saturday's sitting in this jewel of the strip-mall. YUM! -
Review from Mnason M.
Olathe, KS
I was impressed. I'm pretty picky on Asian cuisine. Good service and food.
I ordered the King Crab Rangoon and Peking Scallops. The rangoon didn't have much king crab that's for sure, but I wasn't expecting that for $6 rangoon . It was good though. The scallops were cooked perfect and had a very thin layer on batter that was tasty but not overpowering. I like water chestnuts so I was happy to see a lot of them. Broccoli wasn't bad either. My biggest complaint was the sauce was a bit too sweet for my taste and thought it should have had more of a spicy kick.
My wife and I plan to return for Sunday Dim Sum to see what everyone is raving about.
* Good service! Most Asian restaurants don't focus on good service
* Good food
* The Peking Scallops' sauce was a bit too sweet for me but otherwise enjoyable
* I want to return to experience Dim Sum -
Review from Stephanie P.
Kansas City, KS
7/4/2011 118 Check-ins Here
I have been going here for over 20 years now. I now come (at very least) once a week! The food is outstanding and the service is second to none. Wether you like the Cantonese menu or the more traditional dim-sum, try it all. You won't be disappointed.
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Review from Robin M.
3/8/2009
Visiting from Denver, I wanted to introduce my three friends to dim sum, a meal they had never eaten. Thanks to Yelp, we found the lovely Pine and Bamboo Garden. Rather than sterile rows of seating, the booths and tables are artfully placed, intermixing round and rectangular, using interesting angles, and creating a sense both of community and privacy. The fittings and colors are lovely and tasteful. It was a most pleasant environment for enjoying a meal. The vast majority of the other patrons were Chinese, always a good sign of the restaurant's qualify. And now, to the food:
We had sweet and spicy wontons, stuffed bean curd skin, pork spare ribs (not like the regular Chinese appetizer of sweet red spare ribs but small chunks of meat with bone in a thin black-bean sauce), beef balls with a base of bean curd skin, sticky fried rice, leek dumplings (these leeks are an Asian plant somewhere between leek and chive, about the thickness of scallion tops and absolutely delicious to me), another sort of little wonton-like dumpling served in liquid and filled with a mix of seafood and pork, sticky rice stuffed with sausage and other savory meats and wrapped in bamboo leaves, rice crepes filled with shrimp and topped with a brown sauce, a firm and tasty mango pudding with milk, coconut balls, and egg custard tarts. Whew, quite a feast for four!
Everything was tasty and beautifully presented, as dim sum should be. Of course we had a few leftovers, but not many -- and dim sum is good cold too! We were very glad to discover Pine and Bamboo Garden and hope to try their regular menu in the future. -
Review from David B.
Santa Fe, NM
10/19/2010
Sorry, but all the reviews for this restaurant were provincial. We tried 2 items from the last few pages of the menu, which one reviewer referred as a more authentic Chinese selection and an assortment of appetizers. We finished none. The appetizers were all over fried and oily. The main entrees were not exciting. My Spicy Salted Pork was deep fried for too long and the rice was not fresh. My wife's Chicken and Green vegetables was soaking in a corn starch gravy, vegetables over cooked and old rice. American ingredients alone do not explain how botched our meal was, however we may have been very unlucky in our choices.
The ambiance is nothing but mainstream America stuck in a small strip mall.
Sorry again, because I do not like leaving such a negative review. -
Review from Aimee W.
5/2/2010
So I convinced some friends of mine to join me for the Dim Sum Sunday (why yes I made that up all by myself...got something to say about it?? *wink wink*). We met up about 11:45am and the place was full.
First I want to say that from the outside it looks like it would be a little tiny place. It is in a strip mall on Shawnee Mission Parkway off the access road if that makes sense. But this place is huge - lots of seating and I think a bar area although shockingly Aimee the Lush didn't get there :)
Anyway, back to the dim sum. Divine. I haven't had dim sum in years and Craig and Rosanna hadn't ever had it although Pine and Bamboo Garden is their go-to Chinese restaurant.
So we sit down and wait....and wait...and I keep looking around for the carts and then they start hitting. And they never stop the whole time we are chowing down on our plates of deliciousness.
Rosanna doesn't like shrimp so she was limited a little by that. Craig likes everything so that worked in our favor. We shared 19 plates and our total bill was just under $60 which is about what I estimated it would be before we got there.
we tried and loved:
chicken spring rolls - holy crap those were awesome.
shrimp shu mai - yummmy!
bbq pork buns
steams bbq pork buns
mango pudding
egg tarts
some shrimp thing that looked like a birds nest
shark fin and scallops something or other
beef balls (no, not rocky mtn. oysters...beef meat balls)
some pork noodle thing which was difficult to pick up
and some other things I can't remember. Everything was delicious, hot and the staff was super helpful explaining everything to us.
There were tons of Asian folks there so I always take that to be a good sign in an Asian restaurant - lots of cute kids who engaged in chop stick sword fights and I think have been practicing rock band at home. It was loud and very family friendly and I loved every minute of it. I will be back.
okaybye. -
Review from Julie D.
Mobile, AL
6/14/2009
FINALLY, good Asian food!!! For everybody who reads yelp reviews, this is a review of an Asian restaurant that is written by an Asian person!
I went on a Sunday around 12:30 PM and had to put my name on a list, but I only had to wait about 10-15 minutes. This is definitely not typical for Sunday dim sum. However, it did appear to get busier a bit later.
The food was hot, fresh, and the people pushing the carts were vert attentive. There have been many times that I have gone to dim sum but did not find all of the things that I wanted. This place had everything that I wanted and I did not have to wait a long time to get it because the carts were constantly circling. My friend and I ate BBQ pork buns, egg rolls, scallion cake (It was like a fried wonton that had a scallion mixture in it. I have never seen this before, and neither had my friend, but it was yummy.), pork spare ribs, Chinese sausage, sticky rice, chicken feet, cold jelly fish, shrimp fun roll, shrimp dumplings, and other things that I can't even remember. It was all good and the bill was $40. -
Review from Christina M.
Kansas City, MO
2/28/2011
I really enjoyed my visit here. I went for lunch over the weekend with my boyfriend's out-of-town relatives (One who spent a few years living in China and one who is a native of China). I liked the authenticity of this place. In fact, I think it is the only place in Kansas City where I have seen a Chinese restaurant that offers a section of authentic Chinese fare (Pickled sea cucumber or chicken feet, anyone?). Our two Chinese food aficionados enjoyed it quite a bit. The Dim Sum selections were great, too. The tofu, pork lo mein (the pork was REALLY good), and any of the hot pots are a tasty choice. It isn't exactly near my neck of the woods, but I think it's worth the trip.
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Review from Joe H.
10/22/2009
I've been to Pine and Bamboo garden a few times and haven't been disappointed. Today I had the pleasure of eating Beef & Vegetable Chow Funn, and it was very tasty. I got mine to go, and that container was packed full of wide flat rice noodles, baby corn, gai lan (maybe on that), little mushrooms, and a lot of tender beef. Oftentimes I am reluctant to get beef at restaurants unless it is a steakhouse. I hate to get a tough piece of fatty beef. Luckily this is nothing to fear at Pine and Bamboo Garden. The beef in my dish was tender and delicious with no hint of gristle or fat.
I recommend Pine and Bamboo Garden highly and really can't wait to try the Dim Sum -
Review from Shana S.
2/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
When we want Chinese, this is where we go. I am still anticipating trying the Dim Sum at some point when we have time, but mostly we just get carryout for dinner, and it is by no means the closest option. We have our favorites, but everything I have tried there is good, and not greasy like you sometimes find places, and I'm always a fan of a place which doesn't skimp on the white rice.
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Review from Becky A.
Shawnee, KS
2/28/2011
I went to a weekend Dim Sum affair a few weeks ago. Wow. Fun and yummy. I almost became overwhelmed, but quickly recovered when I just made some quick decisions and dug in.
So much more affordable than I imagined, too. Especially for how many plates our group devoured.
Just go do it. -
Review from Tony P.
9/15/2010
Best chinese food I've found in this area if you order the right things. Sesame chicken, crab rangoon, and hot n sour soup. Mmm...
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Review from Anson P.
Roanoke, VA
5/2/2010
Often times, I play the role of the token Asian friend. Can't say that I mind it and it often gives me the excuse to "jokingly" call people white devils. Since my friend had taken me to 3 days of bbq, I figured I'd school him and his wife on how to do dim sum.
I picked out a bunch of food that I thought they should try. And in no specific order:
1) shrimp dumplings- pretty standard dish, everyone at the table was a fan, good flavor
2) shu mai- another standard dim sum dish, very good, again everyone was a fan
3) steamed buns with Chinese sausage- the buns were very soft and there was a good amount of sausage inside (yes, I'm aware of how dirty that sounds and the innuendo)
4) sticky rice in leaf- the rice was very flavorful and there was a decent amount of savory filling inside. The rice to filling ratio was pretty good.
5) cheong fun (shrimp and pork varieties)- Of the two, I liked the shrimp better. When cut up, each piece was able to contain a shrimp. The pork cheong fun didn't feel like it had the same amount of meat in it.
6) jellyfish- This was a good sized dish of jellyfish. They did not go cheap on us and definitely didn't use a lot of filler i.e. pickled daikon and carrot. I would recommend this dish if you're a jellyfish eater. Surprisingly, my friends liked the dish.
7) taro dumpling- the fried batter on the outside was crispy and the inside was savory. My friends weren't fans of taro. I thought the dish was prepared well and there was a decent amount of savory filling inside the taro layer.
8) egg tarts- These were a little on the small side but they were brought out fresh. The egg custard portion was creamy while the tart shell was flaky and delicious.
9) tofu skin roll- The sauce was not too salty and there was a good amount of filling. Very good, highly recommend.
10) banana crepes- not typical dim sum fare, and I'm pretty sure not Chinese...but very good. The filling was chunks of banana and whipped cream. Everyone was a fan.
11) chicken feet- my friends wanted to be adventurous and this is something that I like but most people don't. They didn't like it, but I thought they were prepared pretty well. The sauce was savory and the feet themselves were pretty large. Would recommend for the chicken feet fan.
12) shrimp stuffed mushrooms- I'm not sure that I would recommend this dish as I didn't think the shrimp stuffing went well with the mushroom. I think it was more personal preference than how the dish was prepared.
13) shrimp and chives dumplings- very good, this was more like a shu mai than a dumpling but I would highly recommend it.
14) duck- I thought the duck was ok but I probably wouldn't order it again. It was an ok amount of meat and tasted ok. For some reason, there was a layer of tofu underneath the duck.
All that food for roughly 60 bucks. Not bad. My two friends were overly stuffed. I was pretty full as well.
Service was excellent. The staff was able to explain what was in each dish and they all spoke English fluently. The restaurant was clean and filled with a diverse crowd. Those of you looking for an Asian restaurant with Asian people in it can find it here. Parking is available both in front and behind the building.
Overall, the dim sum experience here is pretty good. Granted, it won't be the same as say NY or Cali. Even though this is KC, this place can still hold its own. -
Review from Owen U.
Shawnee, KS
2/1/2011
I love the General Tso's chicken it is very good and also pretty hot, But the bowl of rice they give you is bigger than your head so diffidently think about taking some home haha.
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Review from Tim E.
Mission, KS
7/17/2011
One of the better Chinese restaurants in the area. Good prices for good food. I'd recommend it to my friends and family in this area.
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Review from Bob S.
Leawood, KS
7/29/2011
We have enjoyed Pine and Bamboo for more than 25 years. Every meal has been excellent. Love the hot and sour soup. The fine, hard working owners insure the service matches the food.
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Review from Tiger W.
I have been in the Kansas City Area now for 6 years. I have almost given up looking for a good dim sum restaurant. Coming from San Francisco my standards are high. Pine and Bamboo Garden is the closest taste to the ones back home. Their prices are very reasonable, way less than the other Dim Sum place in town (B...L..). For dessert you have to try their Sweet Egg Yolk Steamed Bun (Nai Wong Bao). Get there early, like 11:00am or you may be in for a wait after 12:00 noon. The Dim Sum is only offered on the weekends. They have a regular menu during the week with great $ 6 lunch specials.
Listed in: Thai in Kansas City, Most Authentic Chinese Food in…
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Review from Christina G.
Shawnee, KS
11/18/2010
This is my favorite chinese food restaurant. It always hits the spot! Whenever I come here I can depend on great tasting chinese. I usually do carryout and they are very friendly.
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Review from Jim K.
Newport Beach, CA
5/17/2011
Fortunately, I moved away from Kansas five years ago. Unfortunately, I've yet to find anything here in Southern California that comes close. I'd give my right pinky for the appetizer platter and some wonton soup. I'm now 35 years old and have been going here since I was a wee todler in the early 80s
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Review from Samantha A.
Shawnee Mission, KS
8/17/2008
Nestled in one of Shawnee Mission Parkway's numerous strip malls sits Pine & Bamboo Garden, a Chinese restaurant with really good food. You have to be on your toes to spot the restaurant amid the overload of shops and neon signs along SMPW. Parking is a pain, too, since the restaurant sit on a frontage road that you have to back onto when leaving. But neither should keep you from checking out Pine & Bamboo's menu. You'll have to drive a long way in either direction to get better moo goo gai pan or shrimp with cashews. The restaurant has enough take-out business that there's always plenty of room to eat in.
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Review from Elizabeth P.
Kansas City, KS
2/8/2010
If you're going for the Dim Sum, it's a pretty great experience. There's a lot of variety in the foods that are available. Although, if you're not going with someone that knows what they're doing, it could be pretty daunting. There's a lot to try, and not all of the servers are great at explaining what might be in something.
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Review from Ian Y.
Overland Park, KS
1/27/2009
I lived in KS for 9 years. Bo-ling has dominated the dimsum and not-so-authentic Chinese cuisine market in the KC area so I welcome any competitions when they come out. P&BG definitely wins out as far as dimsum goes.
The restaurant isn't too big but it's good enough for the small KC market. Good quality (could be better on ingredient freshness, but still better than the US average) dimsum serving hot. I'm slightly disappointed by the lack of variety and quality on dessert, however.
I went there for dinner once and the portion was good. I'd like to see more authentic dishes from the menu, but I guess ingredients are lacking in KC. -
Review from Kurt K.
Lenexa, KS
1/9/2008
By those in Shawnee, and I am sure elsewhere, Pine and Bamboo Garden is known as the best Chinese restaurant in town. Sure there are plenty of buffets and take out places, but for a nice sit down Chinese meal, this is a must.
The menu has all the traditional Chinese favorites, plus a few unique choices you don't see everyday. As a sesame chicken fan, I had to try theirs, which was very good, not too heavy on the sauce and the chicken done so it still had some flavor.
And I could go on and on about their crab rangoons. They may be the best I have had. They are creamy and velvety with the perfect amount of crab flavor and served nice and hot.
My one complaint is it is not the most kid friendly place in the world. We have a three year old and there is no kids portioned sizes. However, she did enjoy the fried rice and we had plenty of leftovers for the next few days.
The decor is not garish like some Chinese restaurants. It's classy enough, but also fairly minimalistic. -
Review from Geoff B.
Nederland, CO
2/4/2009
Excellent menu, quiet seating
