Viva Dim Sum (東 城 點 心) (Invited Review)
17 Aug
Last Sunday (8.8.10) a pre-opening invited review was extended to us at the ex-Sea Horse food court, beside Penang Chinese Swimming Club. It has now changed its name to Viva Local Food Haven (東 城 饮食中心）.
This Viva Dim Sum (東 城 點 心) serves Hong Kong style dim sum which you can find their varieties as illustrated below.
A graphic illustration showing you the correct way to eat xiao long bao. This will ensure that one will not waste any drops of juice from the xiao long bao.
Each dim sum is listed down in their order list with sizes.
RM 2.80 (S), RM 3.80 (M), RM 4.80 (L). [If it's stated L means it is RM4.80 for that item.]
(L) 特制流沙包 (Steamed Bun With Butter Cream & Salted Egg Yolk)
Ingredients : 咸蛋，奶油，奶粉。 Their version comes with less salted egg therefore it is smoother and less sandy, more comfortable to throat while consuming even after eating two pieces. The inner custard cream liquidity is perfect. Advice : consume while serving hot.
凤眼带子饺 （RM5.80) . This is one of the new items. Each one comes with prawn, scallop and fish roe. Refreshing and teeth-bouncing!
(M) 古法糯米鸡 (Traditional Steamed Glutinous Rice) - Kochabi style of steamed glutinous rice. Their glutinous rice and soya sauce are imported from HK. I love the texture of the glutinous rice as it’s simply moist and I alone could have two servings! It would be better if I can have A PIECE of mushroom in it.
New item. 龙须卷. The outer wrap (made of vermicelli) was very crispy and it didn’t turn starchy during consuming.
Stuffed with avogado + custard cream. Vermicelli is imported from German. Not too sweet.
(M) 蛋皇莲蓉包 (Steamed Bun With Premium Lotus Paste & Egg Yolk).
They maintained the whole unit of egg yolk within the bun.
(M) 香脆升笼卷 (Crispy Dragon Roll) – It came with 3 pcs of prawns hidden within this fried wrap, and served with mayonnaise mixed with mango + lemon + thai sauce.
(M) 蜜汁叉烧包 (Steamed Bun With Supreme Barbecued Pork)
(L) 上海小笼包 (Shanghainese Meat Dumpling (Xiao Long Bao). I believe this item could be regarded as ‘cheap and good’! 3 pcs at RM4.80 only for restaurant standard of xiao long bao.
Each xiao long bao has 22 folds. Viva insisted to use flour from HK.
Soup base is cooked from chicken legs and pig bones. In general the xiao long bao tasted a bit too salty for me.
(L) 上海二奶包 (Shanghainese “Mistress” Bun)
The look was ‘something’ catchy but I did not like the texture of their custard fillings. Too dry for me.
The making of 上海二奶包 (Shanghainese “Mistress” Bun) by chef Ah Cheong (阿昌）& Ah Lun（阿麟).
(M) 香港菠萝包 (Baked Hong Kong Style Polo Bun)
In future you could expect Viva to have more varieties like made-to-order ramen dishes at reasonable price and other 茶餐厅 dishes like noodles.
(This invited review was arranged and coordinated by Gourmet Garden).
東 城 點 心 (Viva Dim Sum Delight)
Add : Lot 303, Jalan Tanjung Tokong, 10470 Pulau Pinang.
Tel: 04-890 2459
Opening Hours : 6am to 2pm daily (will extend business hours in future)
Wah very affordable!
[Reply]
It’s HK dim sum style, will give it a try. I am still looking for good dim sum in Penang.
[Reply]
looks good! will definately try the dim sum someday
[Reply]
Wau, free meal again…siok nya!
[Reply]
Those dim sum really look good, make me drooling~~
[Reply]
oh… i would like to try the 香港菠萝包!!!
[Reply]
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! 特制流沙包!!!!!! Ahhhhh must gooooo!!!!!!
[Reply]
Those who are going, be sure to bear the below in mind:
Although it is an open air restaurant, this is NOT self-service type Dim Sum restaurant.
The operation style is like usual air-conditioned full service restaurants. Which you grab a seat, server comes to take order, then you wait for your order to be delivered by the server.
I went there last Saturday and found that the restaurant was not staffed adequately. Some people might wait for half an hour before their order came. There were also many confused customers went directly to the place where food was prepared trying to do self service. The place was a bit chaotic as many tables were not attended due to the understaffed condition.
So, if you are hungry and expect to get your food immediately, especially during peak hours, this might not be a good choice.
With above said, the dim sum at the restaurant is definitely tasty and worth trying. I give the service thumb down but the food 2 thumbs up!!!
Cheers!
[Reply]
Cariso Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Thanks for your follow up feedback. Appreciate that a lot!
[Reply]
Ah So,
I will convey the problems in areas of service to the owners of Viva. We can’t do much with them because we were only engaged to just provide our photography and menu design services to them for now.
[Reply]