My search for the best dim sums outside of Asia continues in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and for this trip I am focusing on the Markham area.
Dragon Boat has almost all of my most favorite signs of a restaurant with superior dim sums.
-- Parking is close to impossible.
-- Lines start forming outside the door about half an hour to an hour before the restaurant opens.
-- A typical wait on a weekday is half an hour to an hour. Be prepared to wait up to two hours on a weekend.
--- The waiting area is always packed and completely chaotic.
But despite of all the chaos and the hour-long waits, numerous customers happily return every day and wait patiently for their tables.
These are all the signs of a great dim sum place.
Basic staples like HAR GOW and SIU MAI were amazing and flavorful. The SIU MAI in particular, was made with top notch ingredients and without even a hint of the after taste of tenderizers that we always find in South Cal.
We particularly liked the FISH FILET IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE which is very hard to find in dim sum places. The fish filet was delicious and without any fishiness smell or taste (great for me!) The black bean sauce was good but a bit too mild in flavor for our palates.
I love GLUTINOUS RICE and the one we tasted here was totally yummy and legit. The filling was lined with a generous layer of authentic mung beans (which are like green peas when they are fresh but turn yellowish when cooked), lean pork, and a salty egg yolk. It was served with a side of sweet soy sauce and white sugar (exactly how it's supposed to be served.)
The RICE ROLL WITH FRIED DOUGHNUT was very good. The rice roll itself was a tad too thick but was nevertheless very soft and smooth. The fried doughnut inside was fresh and crispy.
Another great find that isn't available in many places was the CURRY CHICKEN PIES (or tarts). The curry sauce in the filling was yummy, but a bit mild, and I would compare it with Portuguese curry sauce. You would love it if you like a light curry sauce that is not too spicy.
As we walked past the reception area when we left, it appeared that it was even far more chaotic than when we arrived -- An obvious sign that we were departing from dim sum heaven...