Tai Pan Dim Sum Bakery

Very convenient, and the earliest Dim Sum I know of. The food is good, some things are great, others, not as much, nothing bad though. Solid Dim Sum for a take out place. I’ve been many times, and I’m sure I’ll be back.

We come here a lot for dim sum because it looks clean and dim sum is pretty good. My son only eats their siomai, but I found a few pieces of hair in some of the siomai and a clear plastic as I cut it in small pieces to feed my son. I was so disgusted. I will not come back here again.

My go to place for quick, cheap dim sum since it’s right across the street from my bf’s house. They offer a pretty wide variety of dim sum to go (majority are $ 2.80+ for 3 large pieces) and some bakery items (cocktail buns, pineapple buns, egg tarts, hot dog buns, etc.). My favorite dim sum are the shu mai, har gow, shark dumpling, and pan fried chive dumplings. They also have a BBQ meats section with soy sauce chicken, peking duck (pretty fatty), bbq pork, and pha lau! I love me some good pig ears and stomach. :)
P. S. They have bogo free specials after 7PM (limited items). Cash only.

–cash only–
Go to place for a quick dim sum fix. 1 order is 3 pieces. Typically I go with the shumai (pork, shrimp and mushroom dumpling) and ha gaw (shrimp dumpling) Very generous fillings and good flavor. The BBQ pork buns are delicious too!
The meat part of the bakery has whole roasted duck for $ 19. Very good and not to oily. They also offer BBQ pork, roasted pork and pork intestine.
Not really a dine in place but they do have tables. Try it! You might like it!

I am soooo confused. Is this Tai Pan Dim Sum Bakery or HK Dim Sum. The sign outside says HK, the menu says Tai Pan, but the receipt says HK. What gives?
Anyhoo, special deal here is you can choose 1 dish for about 8 bucks, or 3 for 21. So 6 dishes for 4+toddler cost 42. Nice.
All of the food was ok, but in no way, shape, or form very good, or memorable. Nothing bad or horrible either. Let’s just say solid.

This place does not serve fresh dumplings in the morning! Their hargow skin was all dried out and cracked on the outside and the shrimp filling tasted sour and super dried out like it was old and they microwaved it and sold it the next morning. I seriously felt like this is what got me sick, since it hit me right after I ate one. My stomach was hurting and I kept having the urge to throw up but couldn’t, which is the worse feeling! I even feel a fever coming soon. {not being dramatic at all}. Well here I am, lying on what feels like my death bed regretting decisions in life like eating that hargow that made me sick. hoping nobody else will become their next victim for getting sick off old food that they don’t wanna toss out last night, 5 nights, or however many nights ago, who knows!

Tai Pan Dim Sum Bakery is similar to most dim sum take out places in the south bay. single line in front of register waiting for service. just saying. must be a logical reason why every biz does this.
menu: dim sum (3/2.80+) many kinds, most seen, not priced on board, tarts, bun single pricing.
eats: har gow (shrimp dumpling) 3/2.80 + tax
–huge with single large juicy shrimp inside,
–thin skin, not noticeable, slight aftertaste, msg
3.5 stars
take outs:
–most dim sum items look big
may be a better value than newcomer New Kwong Kok
–lunch special available, jook + dim sum, 6ish
–only a few tables for sitdown available.
–line moved after big take out got out the way.
–chinese bbq meats counter nearby.

I got the two BBQ plate and a order of the shrimp ball. I was going to save the food for two meals, but it was so freaking good, I ate both orders in one setting.
The service is good, it is typical hole in the wall, so don’t expect 5 star service. There are only 6 tables inside, so you might have to take your food to go.
The dimsum selection is outstanding.
Great place to get some BBQ plates and Dim Sum. Yummm

Nothing special even though it’s cheap. Don’t be fooled by the name because it’s also a restaurant with waiter service. It’s on the right of lion market with «hk dimsum» in blue, but I was surprised how big it was when I walked in. Menu was dirt cheap at under $ 10 each with portions enough for 1 or 2 people. Family and I had
1. Salt pepper shrimp– not spicy at all and batter was kinda thicker than it usually is. But I find it to be the best dish out of everything else.
2. Salted fish fried rice– not salty or anything to talk about. You may find this weird of you’ve never seen lettuce cooked with rice. Not much flavor.
3. Black bean beef chow fun– just ok.
4. Black bean clams– I think this was $ 6, but also delicious. One of my favorite chinese dishes.
5. Beef gai lan– salty, gingery and a bit greasy.
6. Mongolian beef– why is it sweet???
7. Soup appetizer– pork, carrots and squash or cucumber. Very little flavor, but acceptable for me.
No problems with service for us. Cash only too. I prefer this over cooking papa not because of the price and food, but the service. The way my family was treated there still infuriates me even though both of us are chinese. Plus I don’t like the food there.
$ 45.65 total after tax for 6 items.

Dimsum to me is like donuts (from an american’s perspective). They’re all pretty much the same. As in donuts for instance, some shops make slightly better glazed donuts and some places throw in a free donut or two when you order a dozen. Regardless of the quality, what is a huge factor, is the service. At TaiPan dim sum, the workers never smile, say hello nor even a thank you — all I get is «next!» When I went today, the young man who helped me had a frown plastered on his face and spoke as if he was pissed off. Maybe it’s just a cultural thing, but the people here are RUDE. I would like to believe that most businesses strive for outstanding customer service. This place on the other hand, would rather treat customers like crap, as well as serve crap (take a look at the burnt coconut buns I posted in the photos section). I mean c’mon people, if you burn a batch of buns, then throw them away and don’t rip people off by selling them.
In the end, the dimsum is mediocre, but would definitely be enhanced if someone would just smile and say thank you. It’s all about the experience.
9÷7÷15 update
Came back 3mos later and the buns are still burnt and for sale. These should be thrown out.
See photo.

This place is good if I’m ever craving for some dim sum when it’s way past noon. The fact that they close in the evening is even better.
However. the people who work there are somewhat rude. Maybe it’s just in their nature, but their cashiers seriously need to work on their manners when taking customer orders.
Other than that, it’s recently priced for dimsum on the go.

False advertisment. Don’t be fooled by Buy 2 Get 1 free offer after 7pm. They put in small font buy 2 «ORDERS», each order is 3 pcs, so it’s actually buy 6 get 3 free.
Food is quite ok, I would probably rate the food here 4 out of 5, but false advertisment, the practice of shorting changes to customers like mentioned in other reviews, makes me doubt the integrity of people working here and start to wonder if they cut corners to save a dime and nickel here and there buy some not fresh meat to make dim sum. not coming back.

I mean like may be I orderd my food at the end of the day around 5pm that’s why they weren’t as good as if I was going to purchase them bright early in the morning ?
All in all, I kept thinking about my food today. Like I’m overly obsessed with anything dimsum. I can eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks mid day snacks late night snacks whatever I just love my dimsum. My favorite dish is the shrimp cake yummmm
Anyway like I have this pot thing where you get to steam all of these dimsum and I guess they taste completely different if you do this or microwave it. At first when I bought them home I microwaved them because I was so hungry I didn’t have time to wait for my steaming pot.
The result was horrible. The food was really bad. The frozen ones at the markets even taste better than these. I’m just really disappointed…
A few years ago I went here and it was really good. What happened? I don’t know :/​
Although the food wasn’t as good as 2011 (the time when I used to go here a lot then I moved away for school till now) the customer service is always the same, really nice, really friendly people who work here. They see you and they offer their help for you right away. Overall, I think I would like go here if like everywhere else has no more dimsum when I’m really hungry and I can’t move anymore then sure I’ll go here.

Good place to go when I’m craving for dim sum. I should’ve read the reviews, because I was overcharged $ 2 for my purchase at this location. I’ve been to the Saratoga location once before and was charged correctly.
From now on though, I’ll heed the advice of other Unilocalers and double check what they give me, ask for a receipt, and check my change.
Sad that these establishments cheat their customers. I really don’t like supporting establishments that lack ethic. Buyer beware, I guess.

I’m super pissed right now.
I love the food here don’t get me wrong, super delicious. But just right now I went here to buy some cocktail buns for my vegetarian mom. The lady at the cash register hangs me my bag along with some shrimp balls and chicken fingers. I set the bag down at one of the tables nearby and I look through my order to make sure I have what I ordered. I take a look at the cocktail buns and they gave my hot dog buns! Why the heck? I clearly said cocktail buns earlier and the lady at the cash register even repeated «cocktail buns?“back at me. So I walk back to the register and i look at her with a dead stare and I say, «you gave me hot dog buns. «she tells me, «sorry they’re still in the oven.»
Ok what the heck! Were they tryna cheap me out? Giving me something else to exchange without my permission? I just wanna give my mom some cocktail buns. Thank god I checked my orders right before I walked out the door. So if you come here I beg you, please check your orders before you leave, and make sure hey charge you for the right things you ordered!

Original Tai Pan Dim Sum Bakery, located next to Lion Supermarket on Capitol. (2^nd branch next to Lion Supermarket on Saratoga and 3^rd branch next to Lion Supermarket on Story)
Cash only venue and they also have an ATM if you’re out of cash.
Two main «sections» — One for BBQ items (BBQ Pork, Roast Duck etc.), and the other section for Dim Sum, baked goods.
There are a few tables if you choose to eat in… and tables are DIY bussing.
Baked BBQ Pork Buns here are decent at $ 1.4.
Dim Sum Lunch Specials are $ 6.75 and include either a Preserved Duck Egg/​Pork or Fish Porridge and a selection of dim sum.
Conditional Pass by Department of Environmental Health as of October and Pass during subsequent visit.
Triple check your total and ask for a receipt… to make sure that all items were correctly charged…

Fast to-​go dim sum served the whole day? Perfect! Usually dim sum is a brunch type thing only served on weekends and it’s usually a sit-​down experience. But there are days when I’m craving dim sum for dinner or days when I don’t have time to sit down in a restaurant. This place solves both those problems! There is usually a line but it moves fast. I got the shu mai, shrimp dumplings, taro balls, and fried shrimp balls. The portions are a good size and the food itself is pretty good. Not the best tasting dim sum, but for a fast to-​go place, it works. Price is also cheap. They also sell some frozen wontons and dumplings you can bring home to make but I’ve never tried those.
Overall, I like the concept a lot since dim sum is not always easy to get and this is super convenient. Food is average, service is pretty non existent but I would come back.

I come here every now and then when I start craving dim sum at weird hours in the day. Their food is pretty average, but the portions are huge.
My mom usually comes here for the frozen wontons when she’s planning on making noodle soups.
It’s a place you go in, grab your things, and head out. No friendly service, but that’s not the point.

Holy moly, dim sum super-​sized! They have some big buns and huge dumplings!
Have you ever thought all those bite-​size dumplings and pastries at dim sum restaurants need to be bigger because they are so delicious? What’s worse is sharing amongst the folks at your table and if you wanted more, you’d have to wait for the lady with the right cart to come back. Well, you can also go Hong Kong style and grab it yourself like folks at busy restaurants in any Chinatown, but forget about all that. Tai Pan gives you an alternative. No more waiting. No more sharing. Get your own here and get ‘em big!
I’ve tried almost every item in this shop. All items range from fair to fairly good, which means they don’t necessarily taste like what you get at dim sum restaurants, but they are definitely not the worst.
The tasty steamed pork bun with boiled egg and lap cheong ($ 2.65 each) is bigger than my face. The filling to bun ratio is balanced in these pork buns. I still think homemade steamed pork buns are tastier and more satisfying with more meat filling, egg, and lap cheong. Then again, who has time to make them? For $ 3.20, you can get 3 decent sized chicken buns. They are my go-​to lunch along with a soy milk.
I usually love eating shrimp dumplings (ha gow/​xiā jio), because they bring great memories. $ 2.80 for three huge dumplings. After eating their shrimp dumplings, I’m not sure if I want them that big. Bigger means thicker wrapper. Tapioca based wrappers can get chewy and dry. I’ll stick with dim sum restaurants for ha gow.
You can’t go wrong with siu mai, the seafood one or the pork and shrimp. They are double the size of typical dim sum siu mai. I always get these with my order of a small jook (rice porridge $ 2.79). Either kind of jook (fish or pork with preserved eggs), you will get a good amount of ingredients inside. They are not sheisty with portions and filling.
Technically, I would only give them 3 stars. The combo rice plates raised them to 4 stars. Come early to get the roasted chicken/​duck/​pork at its best. So fresh, so juicy, and so crunchy, you can’t help but to crack open the box to eat it right then and there – PIG STATUS!
CASH ONLY

This is the best fast food dim sum I’ve ever been to. Every single item ordered here quenched the immediate need for cheap, tasty dim sum without staring impatiently at slow carts and expected table manners.
BBQ pork and wonton noodle soup: Enough to feed two people especially if you want to try other items. The broth was delicious.
Shrimp eggplant: Burnt so badly with the pieces falling apart from each other. Somehow, it made this poorly put-​together item that much better.
Shrimp on tofu: Fat and juicy. This held together surprisingly well. Dip it with their sweet and sour sauce. As weird as that sounds, the combination was great.
Tsu Mai: Slimy, juicy, and soft. Perfect!
The restaurant tables are dirty, grimy, and wet. Save the meal for a table with a dry countertop.