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Without doubt the best dim sum overall that I've ever had. Better than NYC, better than Boston. Hands down.
Good service, nice and clean. My favorites are the custard buns (grab 'em quick bc they sell out), the shrimp wrapped in wide noodles, the crab claws stuffed with shrimp then fried, and the Chinese broccoli.
More expensive than Konchau across the street but more variety, cleaner, cart service, and just better overall.
Red lanterns galore as I walked in for dinner this time around. IYou know what they say about red lanterns, right? *wink* But nope, this place isn't THAT kind of place. Not an ounce of sleaze. It was packed for a late friday night...families, couples, friends. Service was quick and efficient.
Sat at the other side of the restaurant this time facing the open kitchen...random big fires often distracted me. My friend and I ordered roast duck, mixed vegetables and chicken with salted fish fried rice...I LOVED the duck ( may be a little too salty for some), mixed vegetables had bamboo, mushrooms, water chestnut, broccoli, carrots and snow peas. Tasty! The chicken and salted fish fried rice was...DELISH! I am so thrilled that they did it right and great, now I can get it to go on my way home!
Tip-bits:
Restaurant closes about 11pm on Friday night
Good for family-style dinners
Sit by the kitchen if you worry you eat cat by mistake ;p
Strange out of place cushions outside now (they resemble the kind you see outside Splitsville, I think they are for smoking, not for dining)
I walked in and felt like a celebrity, especially after I requested "table for two" in Chinese!! We… Read more »
I have been on a quest to find the best Chinese food in Miami, and I think I finally found it. While this may not be "off the boat from China" Chinese food that you can find in NYC, this is pretty close. My girlfriend and I came here on a Thursday night. The restaurant was in the middle of nowhere--in a strip mall. Gotta love it. First thing I noticed when I walked in was the amazing wine storage wall. Looked very professional for a Chinese restaurant. There were a lot of great wines on the wine list. We ordered a particular pinot noir; however, our waiter came back to us and told us they were out of it. He offered us 2 other bottles of wine, both which were more expensive than the one we ordered, for the price of our original selection. Very good service.
For dinner we ordered Wanton Soup, Salt n Pepper Shrimp, and Sizzling Beef in Black Been Sauce. We asked our waiter for recommendations, and he recommended the beef. I always determine how good a Chinese restaurant is based on their Wanton Soup. Tropical Chinese had delicious Wanton Soup: the perfect mix of saltiness with tender shrimp wantons. Our main dishes were delicious. I asked for the Salt n Pepper Shrimp to be cooked with the shells (you eat the shells and all), the test of a true Chinese chef. These were delicious. Very tasty with the perfect about of jalapeno. The Sizzling Beef in Black Bean Sauce was very tasty and tender. I don't usually order beef, but I really enjoyed this.
For dessert, they bring you half an orange, which was nice.
Overall, our service was great, the food was great, and the wine was great. I definitely will be back. I would like to try their dim sum.
Had a hunkering for Chinese and decided to go for take-out to accomodate my fiance's work schedule. The place looked warm and inviting and service was exceptionally friendly. We had a very large order and they got everything right, which earns bonus points (most take-out is missing at least something).
The potstickers were clearly made in house and were delicious, though the sweet dipping sauce was too sweet without enough tang/sour/spicy to contrast. In fact, everything we ordered tasted good, but because almost everything seemed a bit underseasoned, nothing made it into the great category. We had quite a spread: hot and sour soup (lacked sour), wonton soup, salt and pepper shrimp (needed some kind of sauce or accompaniment), triple salute chicken (best dish we had with great flavor, just not enough flavor), ginger scallion beef in hot pot, shrimp in lobster sauce, and eggplant. Oh wow, and lo mein (tiny vermicelli noodles, interesting, just super bland).
It was pricey, so I expected more. Dollar for dollar, I prefer the taste of the food at New Chinatown over this place.
This place used to be what it is no more- a good if not great restaurant.
I had never had Dim Sum until here so I know I can't really compare it to anything else. But it is so good compared to most Chinese places. It's always packed and they have menu food items also but I've never tried those.
Here's how it works, in case you've never had it either: You get seated at a table, you order your drinks, and they give you a card to place on your table. Then you wait for the waiters/waitresses and they push metal carts filled with small plates of different types of food around. When you see one you like, they mark it off on your card and give it to you.
They have a little menu of all the Dim Sum items, which I would NOT recommend getting because then you look for things you want and wait for them to come and when they dont, you'll get disappointed.
You also need lots of patience to enjoy the meal. Otherwise, you might get frustrated if your favorite shrimp dumpling doesnt come out and you keep waiting for it. They also run out of dessert fast so make sure to get it if you see it (custard or donuts).
Best Chinese I've had, and I don't really like chinese. Had the black bean chicken, orange beef and veggie lo mein. Just excellent.
Jason was our waiter and he was hilarious.
Really want to go for lunch...he really recommended it.
Easily the best Chinese place in Miami. They have inventive dishes (the jellyfish is quite good, if anyone is adventurous enough to try it!), fresh ingredients, and make even the most mundane Chinese food delicious. Their Honey Garlic Chicken is the best I've ever had. (And I can't find it in New York, which drives me insane.)
In Miami, this is a s good as it gets. In New York, it would get 4 stars, but where else can you get dim sum in Miami? The steamed pork buns are GLORIOUS, by the way.
I used to come here a lot in the 90's when this was the only dim sum cart shop in town. It was great back then, not so good now. It has a classic Chinese atmosphere (dark wood chairs, red lanterns, etc.) so it's nice to bring first time dim sum eaters here. The carts make it easy for you to order, and they have peking duck and pricier dishes. Overall taste is above average for South Florida, but below average if you're from LA or NYC. (And if you're from LA or NYC don't expect to find anything comparable in Miami--it doesn't exist).
Tropical would be my 2nd or 3rd choice after South Garden or Kon Chau. It just seems to have lost it's flavor after all the hype. Yes, and after the news reports of having a rat problem, I stopped going there too.
BTW--Bamboo Garden in North Miami was closed down due to a rat problem last year...
Oh yeah, and for dinner, Sushi Ko next door in the same plaza has pretty reasonable sushi!
I come here for the dim sum! 11 AM - 3 PM baby! I discovered today that I have a special affinity for the shrimp and leak dumplings. I'm not a huge fan, however, of the shrimp and parsley dumplings. Weird huh? You gotta try it all and choose your favorites. As far as dumplings go, they're awesome. They have shrimp, scallops, pork, etc. I also enjoy those sticky pork buns, which are doughy and fluffy. I'm also partial to the orange beef. That spicy pepper in the middle is great, especially when mixed with soy sauce to kinda ease the intensity and make more of a sauce out of it. I've always been impressed with Tropical Chinese and would recommend anyone visiting Miami to try it if they feel like top-notch dim sum. Prices are fairly reasonable.
I used to love this place and would eat there often. I stopped eating there over a year ago after I found out there was a rat problem there that was reported in a South Florida consumer report. I was devastated to hear the news because I loved this place and I can't bring myself back there at any cost. It's a damn shame.
I still give the food 5 stars but I shall never step foot there and I'm sorry that I had to spill the beans about this place's dirty little secret.
Went here for the Dim Sum yesterday. This time we took my MIL. She is not really into chinese food, so I made sure to order dumplings, mongolian beef, chicken w/spinach rolls and BBQ pork buns. Sadly the only pork buns they had were the steamed one, they were out of the fried ones and it was only 2 pm. The steamed buns are white and look and feel like raw dough and when she bit into that, it pretty much ruined it for her. Fortunaly we got a kitchen window seat and got to watch the food prep and the ice cream for dessert made up for her. Of course the rest of us will be back. Minus the in law.
We come here for the Dim Sum. I love to see what I am getting before I order it. The carts start… Read more »
4 Stars in general category - 5 stars because it is without a doubt the best Chinese restaurant in Miami. My humble opinion is that Miami doesn't exactly have a good Chinese restaurant scene, so Tropical might stand out more because of that.
However, it has a very good dim sum. Spicy really means spicy and for than I respect them.
Hot and Sour soup is phenomenal !! and the rest is just good grub.
I like this place and their dim sum is good and this is all I have to say about that.
First time visit to Tropical Chinese with friend who has been going his entire life. He loves it at lunchtime, but we went for Sunday dinner.
Another shopping center surprise. Hidden in the corner of a large shopping center across from Tropical Park but the atmosphere inside was great. Fun red paper lanterns hanging everywhere, tablecloths, nice lighting (nothing too stark and scary, you know what I mean!). Entrees were in the $15-25 range. I shared Chicken Lo Mein and Chicken Pot Stickers with a friend, and her husband ordered General Tso's Chicken. We were all very pleased. The food came out very quickly, the service was great, and we shut the place down. We stayed chatting way past official closing time (but we weren't the only ones left!), and they were very courteous.
The friend who suggested it, said it's great at lunch.
Will definitely go back.
Chinese food generally and dim sum in particular have never exactly been a strong suit in Miami, but Tropical probably deserves consideration as the best of breed given the choices available here (though from my one visit to South Garden, I think it could give Tropical a run for its money). The selection of dim sum is pretty broad among the typical traditional items, though you're not likely to find much that's very unusual (though keep in mind, this is coming from someone who sees chicken feet and tripe as being typical dim sum items). Because they're usually very busy, turnover is pretty good (service is from carts), and freshness is often maybe half of the formula to good dim sum.
On my last visit the shrimp har gow were wonderfully fresh. Other favorites include the pork shiu mai, the shark-fin dumpling, turnip cake, leek dumpling (though the fiery onion stank stays in my mouth all day), gai lan (Chinese broccoli), clams w/ black bean sauce. I find their chicken feet a little bland, same is true for the stuffed bean curd skin (though the texture is very good). This is where our kids learned to eat dim sum, and they're big fans of the baked char siu bao (roasted pork bun), spring rolls, egg custard tarts, and another sweet item which I just learned is called a "Mexican bun" (I'd love if someone could tell me why).
"You like flied pohk buhn? Shlimp loll? Vely vely tasty... You tly it!! You like a lot!"
Mmm, dim sum. I can't vouch for the rest of the food, but the dim sum (11AM-3PM) is very good. They have rolling carts (which can act as weapons...watch your extremeties!) and within minutes you can have fresh, steaming dim sum on your plate, even when the place is packed to the gills.
The boy and I load our plates with crushed red pepper sauce and soy, drown our veggies and dumplings, and eat until our lips and bellies are on fire. The best part? We consistently walk out for just over $20. And if you consider how big a handful of those mint chocolate things I snag as I leave, this is quite a deal.
For all you Dim Sum lovers out there - this is the place for you. High quality of ingridients, service is friendly and polite - probably one of the best Chinese restaurants in Miami
I went to Tropical recently with the hopes of having some good dim sum because I have not been there in such a long time and was sadly disappointed. While service was fast enough, the food was cold and tasteless. The shrimp dumpling was cold and tasted stale. The egg tart was nasty because it is supposed to have a lightly crispy crust with a soft center; however, it was soggy, damp and cold. The baked BBQ pork buns tasted old and generally did not look appealing.
I went in hungry and hopeful but left disgusted and disappointed. There are so many other good dim-sum restaurants in Miami that I could mention without pondering.
In my opinion, majority of their clientele is American, Hispanic, 2nd or 3rd generation mixed Asians and tourist who read their reviews on Zagat or other food critics that gave them good ratings.
Not a single Chinese person goes there for the food... seriously, whether it's Chinese, Japanese or Spanish places, when you don't see people of that culture dine there, it's a sign of not so good food.
The only reason they got 2 stars because the servers were good.
ln my opinion the best Chinese in Miami. So far l have not tried anything here that l haven't liked. They have an amazing eggplant dish with juicy eggplant and a delicious sauce that makes my mouth water by just thinking about it!
Their specialty is Dim Sum, and its definitely worth having. Now... l must say that l agree with other yelpers.. the Lychee Martini is OH SO Exquisite..
Yes my reviews usually include some "likker".
You can see inside the kitchen and check out the prep done as well, cute concept.
This is my favorite dim sum in Miami. I enjoy the carts and the selection. The bbq buns are the best. The leek and veggie dumplings as well as the shrimp dumplings are great. I enjoy the black bean chicken or Singapore noodles at dinner. I just feel that they are really overpriced at dinner time. I can get the same dinner for a better price and same quality at New Chinatown.
Tropical is usually highly rated on the various Miami restaurant review sites (because there is really no competition to make anything good -- thus I rarely eat dim sum in Miami). It's ok; plus it has a relatively nicer ambiance compared to its competition that serves traditional chinese entrees. And correspondingly more expensive (entrees). Lots of service staff. Crowded dim sum but no wait. Carts. Aggressive ones... Some items can be a miss depending on the day. I usually get shrimp and leek dumplings, pan fried leak dumplings, etc.
My friend's opinion...
http://www.chowhound.c...
try South Garden
Good Asian food is very hard to find in Miami. This joint is probably one of the better Chinese restaurants in Miami, which probably isn't saying much due to the lack of options. The dim sum is good and fresh off the steamers, but more expensive than other dim sum spots. I absolutely loved the Emperor's Prawns: Deep fried prawns over a bed of broccoli and covered in a creamy sauce and nice garlicky flavor throughout.
Great DIM SUM. Gets super busy! Reservations only if it's for a big party. Their Siu Mai, Chicken Bao, and Dumplings were so good. You can tell the food is fresh. Staff is nice and speak English. Clean and more upscale for most other Chinese restaurants. Pretty inexpensive. They stop serving Dim Sum at about 3-3:30ish. You can also order from the regular menu but Dim Sum is definitely a treat. Highly recommended.
Tropical Chinese has the most aggressive dim sum I've ever experienced. The cart-wielding ladies really want you to eat everything they're carrying in their cart. No, seriously, they're like pushy grandmothers. But maybe this is how dim sum is supposed to be, I'm not entirely sure.
Quality of food is hit or miss. Some of the steamed buns are really chewy, like they've been sitting for a bit. The beef dishes are solid. Duck is always a good bet: tender, not too fatty, flavorful. The chicken feet were pretty awful per my chicken-foot-connoisseur friend. My favorites were the "chinese broccoli" [this is the technical term?] and bok choy. They'll also do special orders on request.
Again, don't be afraid to say no to the aggressive cart ladies lest your bill and table get overly crowded.
This is one of the worst dim sum place I ever went to. I'm from San francisco and I eat dim sum all the time so I have very high expectations. I see a whole wall full of reviews from different magazines and it won awards for the best dim sum.....high over rated. The dim sum was cold and even when they said it just came from the kitchen it was only luke warm.Some of the dim sum was scatter in the cart and they pick it for you if you want it. That is so not sanitary. I do not recommend this place at all. If anyone ever go to San francisco and is looking for a great dim sum place go to the Mayflower Restaurant! Great place, great food, good prices
Chinese food in Miami is bad, I think that's a given. That being said, I think Tropical is a decent spot for dim sum. It's not going to compare to what you can get in SF or LA, but just appreciate it for what it is. It has been insanely crowded of late, so get there early to avoid a wait.
Whenever I go to Miami, I go here for their dim sum. It is served daily from 11:00AM-3:00PM. This is dim sum on cart, so you can see what you are getting. The prices are low and I have never had dim sum this good in my life. My favorite is their roasted chicken, duck, orange beef, gai lan, and stuffed eggplant. If you live anywhere near Miami, I am so jealous that you love close to this amazing place, you must go here! If I lived in Miami, I would be there at least once a week for dim sum.
Best Dim Sum in Miami. Oh, and the Lychee martini is yummy!
The Peking Duck for dinner is nice too with a mixed seafood broth soup to start. I spent almost every Sunday going there for Dim Sum with my toddler (children friendly).
4/8/08 Note- for those who don't know, most dim sum places, the servers are stoic and pushy. Hands down again, best dim sum. My friend who is Chinese living in Cleveland, says it is one of the best ones. I have been to China Pearl in Boston, Happy Chef and Phoenix in Chicago, can't remember the names but one in Cleveland and one in NYC, and Tropical just has a huge selection and delicious. Love it here!!
Love this place and have eaten at it a lot...so much that I needed to take a break. And I'll have to get over the rat comment in below...I'm sure a lot of restaurants have the issue, right? YIKES. Very unique for Miami...my Chinese friends like it so that's a pretty good test to authenticity. I'm sure if located in San Fran it would just be avg but here its the best. I love that I'm staving and can go right in and begin eating immediately. Now to be picky...I hate that they send the dim sum carts w. the not so popular items around and around but the one thing that you want is not out. I've had some experiences but you could tell they were kitchen related. If its not ready its not ready. You can still order things like soup if they don't have it on the carts. And for dinner...Black Bean Chicken ROCKS!!!
The best Dim Sum in all of Miami. Great selection. Very good service. Fresh hot tea. The chicken feet is my favorite dish. Clean restaurant unlike other Chinese joints. Also once tried them for dinner and had for appetizer the crab on top of silver fish, unforgettably delicious.
Awesome dim sum. On par with what you will find in Hong Kong or Alhambra, CA. But no jellyfish dim dum from what I could see. Be warned: those dim sum cart wenches are more pushy than the middle aged hooker who chased after me in Beijing. Don't be afraid to say no to them. Extra brownie points for wheeling the dessert cart over to me when I requested a custard bun.
Great for dim sum,moderate prices,very good service.I recommend it , waiting for a table is usually the norm on weekends.Problably the best chinese restaurant in Miami.
Miami, FL
Category: Dim Sum
South Miami, FL
Category: Restaurants
Miami, FL
Category: Chinese
Miami, FL
Category: Chinese
Miami, FL
Category: Japanese
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