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| - I've gotten hooked on some of the delicious dishes at Li Wah! I have eaten at this restaurant only on the weekends between 10:30 am and noon. I don't like waiting for a table, and this place is packed after noon. Also, the earlier you get there after the restaurant opens, the more chances you have getting the food that you like will be available.
I recommend the tripe, ha gow (shrimp dumpling), shu mai (pork dumplings), ha chun fun (shrimp wrapped in rice noodle with a sauce), pei dan juk / congee (rice porridge with preserved duck egg), sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves, sweet tofu, and pork spare ribs. Sorry for any of the misspellings of the dishes, but I'm going by what the servers call them as they push their carts throughout the restaurant and ask diners at each table if they're interested in what they have. There are a lot more dishes available, but these are my favorites. Most of the time, I can understand what the servers are saying, but sometimes ... (???) If it looks good, I will try it anyway. I always ask for a small dipping bowl of sriracha (hot chili sauce) to spice up the dumplings.
When you are seated at your table, the hostess will ask what you'd like to drink, and leave a piece of paper with Chinese (I assume) characters on it. Whenever you get food dishes off of the carts, the server will place a mark on the piece of paper so that the cashier will know what to charge you at the end. Most of my favorite dishes (see above) are $3 per order, which, in the case of the dumplings, is 4 dumplings per order.
Oh, and don't get the regular hot tea that they bring to the table. Ask for the more flavorful gok po (black tea with chrysanthemum).
LI Wah is located in the Asian Plaza at Payne and East 30th. Although there are lots of spaces in the parking lots around the plaza, they can fill up on the weekends by noon as diners and shoppers head to the restaurants and stores.
I have always experienced great service at Li Wah. Even though there are a lot of tables, the servers move the carts quickly, empty dishes are removed and empty glasses are filled efficiently.
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