- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Kum-Koon Garden
Categories: Restaurants Chinese Food Specialty Food Ethnic Food Chinese, Ethnic Food [Edit]
257 King StWinnipeg, MB R3B 1J6
(204) 943-4655
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
6 reviews for Kum-Koon Garden
6 reviews in English
-
Review from A.P. B.
MB
12/15/2010
If you've never experienced dim-sum, hell even if you have, Kum-Koon Garden should be your destination one.
It's certainly the restaurant that comes immediately to mind whenever friends or coworkers indicate they're craving this mysterious steamed meat paste wrapped in dough of varying color density and texture.
Hope I didn't ruin it for you, but that's what you're in store for so it's best you're prepared or you're going to be disappointed (and hungry).
Once inside the surprisingly tastefully decorated interior, a veritable freight train of carts crowned with bamboo steamer baskets rolls relentlessly by.
Pork, seafood, vegetarian dim-sum, pork buns, and these curious little chinese hot dogs are a few of the surprises and delights that await. Then there's egg rolls, candied beef strips, and wonderfully aromatic sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf with a shiitake mushroom tucked snug inside.
Allergy alert - I've discovered shrimp hiding at the bottom of a supposedly all pork roll before and the same roll on occasion comes topped with what I was told was shrimp roe.
TIP 1: Make sure you get your hands on a crispy pork egg roll with the sweet chili sauce.
TIP 2: The rib tips don't have enough meat or flavor to make it worth your while so pass if offered those.
TIP 3: Dim sum, especially the more pillowy kind, continues to expand in your stomach. Restrain yourself (if at all poasible). If you've eaten to the point of being full, you're in for some cramps later (but worth every pang). -
Review from DineoutGal A.
Winnipeg, MB
9/5/2011 7 photos
This is probably one of the first Chinese restaurants I remember going to and still patron for dinner and dim sum occasionally.
Weekend dim sum is busy as this is the the place to take newbies to see the dim sum carts being pushed around. The volume and turnover allows for the cart system to work here. As others have mentioned, it is best to arrive earlier, around 11:30-12:30 but dim sum does run till 3 pm here but you will get the freshest and most variety at the earlier time. The servers will tick off one of the small/med/large sections on your bill. This is how you are billed later - I hate how the pricing is very vague here as I have no idea how much each dish actually costs. From experience, it will be about $10-15 but it's best to go with a larger group so you can try more dishes.
My faves: ha gow (shrimp dumplings), shrimp and scallops dumplings, char siu bao (steamed white bun stuffed with BBQ pork), beef spareribs, turnip cake (lau baak gou), tripe (white), lo mai gai (stick rice wrapped in lotus leaves) and Chinese doughnut wrapped with rice noodles.
And for sweets, mango pudding, sweet tofu pudding (Dou fu fa), egg tarts, and Malaysian steamed sponge cake.
Service is very hit and miss here and you kind of have to fend for yourself. That being said, when the service is good, the people are pretty nice. Make sure you request for tea right away - yes, you should have tea because that is what dim sum is all about. Plus, the tea helps to cut the grease of many of the food items. Sometimes the push cart ladies aren't the most knowledgeable or at least they don't communicate clearly about the dishes. You usually have to flag someone down for hot water refills for your tea. And at the end, if you have leftovers, flag someone down for boxes. It's so busy that more often than not, you will have to be proactive in asking for what you want.
Dinner offers better service as it's more calm than dim sum hours. I like the seafood dishes like the garlic and scallion lobster dish served on a bed of noodles, salt and pepper crab, as well as the seafood and gailan stirfry dish. Also like the satay beef dish and the crispy half chicken. Portions are quite large and will run you on average somewhere from $12-$15 a dish.
It is probably the largest Chinese restaurant in the city and holds many wedding/banquet dinners. Decor is updated and clean.
The Impark parking on the Kum Koon lot is $5, but just pay and tear off half (the receipt portion) to take into the restaurant while leaving the other half in your car. You will get your money back after you pay for your meals (lunch or dinner). -
Review from Sergei S.
Winnipeg, MB
Any time I feel like having a *really* good Dim-Sum I go to Kum-Koon Garden, the rest of the food is quite good as well, but you can do better and pay less somewhere else. Kum-Koon's dim-sun is one of the most expensive ones in town, but I find it is worth the price.
Kum-Koon has one of the biggest selections for their dim-sum, I also find it to taste the best compared to other four dim-sum places I've tried in Winnipeg. My favorite dishes and recommendations are:
* har gau (shrimp dumplings)
* siu mai (steamed pork dumplings)
* shark fin dumplings
* bean-curd rolls (with meat inside)
* guotie (potstickers, a.k.a. Chinese pan-fried dumplings) w/ red vinegar
* Vietnamese spring rolls
* char-siu sou (flaky pastry with Chinese BBQ pork)
* char-siu bau (both steamed and backed buns with Chinese BBQ pork)
* lo mai gai (steamed sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf)
* congee (rice porridge) is actually quite good
For dessert I'd suggest sweet coconut and/or pineapple buns. Mango pudding is really good, but I find it's too expensive.
Kum-Koon's dishes are divided into three categories: small, medium and large, priced accordingly. When you order a dish from the cart, the waiter will cross out a corresponding square on your blue bill-chart. Ones you know which dishes you like and what category they belong to, eating there could become more affordable. Have no illusions though, it is one of the most expensive dim-sum in Winnipeg, but you get what you pay for.
Another nice thing about this place is its decor. It feels very classy compared to any other typical Chinese restaurant. You can actually bring you business partners/clients here without a worry. They also rent the place for special events like birthday parties, weddings, etc.
Don't forget to validate your parking ticket on the way out, if you parked in the lot. It is not a common knowledge that parking there is validated. -
Review from Paul W.
Winnipeg, MB
3/17/2009
I've had dim sum here multiple times. I haven't tried anything else.
As far as dim sum goes, this was amongst the best I've had in Winnipeg.
Go during happy hour. Frequent cart visits, and with dishes I actually want like steamed pork, sticky rice, and those bbq buns (I'd rather not even hear the words 'chicken feet'). Everything is tasty. Prices are good. -
Review from Ratboy V.
Winnipeg, MB
9/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
This was where I was first introduced to Dim Sum and since then I've taken several friends ( see dates ) and family and friends out here to introduce them to the dishes.
The dishes are warmer if you arrive M-F between 11 - 12:30 and begin to cool off after then. The selection might not be as good M-F but its not as busy as the weekends.
If you're arriving for Dim Sum on Sat or Sunday, expect the place to be packed and a reservation might be in order to prevent you from having to wait in a little room in the back. Standing room only in the main entrance during this time.
The Dim Sum dishes are generally good. I've even had chicken feet. The Tripe is very good ( white ) but many times the flavors can differ depending on who is preparing it. The seating can be a problem as carts might bypass you and the dish you want may not be back for some time. This is the time to ask one of the cart tenders for the specific dish you want.
Jasmine tea is provided normally but depending on how busy the place is you will not get your tea until 30 minutes after your seating. At this time tell them to knock the tea off the pricing form on your table.
I've also heard from Chinese friends that the prices between caucasians and Chinese patrons varies. This is really concerning as I've seen occasions where my prices vary as there is no clear price list except "small items, medium items and large items" which are tallied at the end. Beware of being ripped off. -
Review from Enrique G.
Winnipeg, MB
8/5/2009
if you're tired of eating at the same burger joint and want to try something a little more upscale without breaking the bank.. then try this place. they provide you with alot of options via a la carte, just watch out for the really pricey dishes that they try to mix in with the regular items during happy hour.. you won't be so happy after if you're not careful.
It's a great place to take that girl out for a first date for lunch, or discuss your next outing with your friends. it does get busy during happy hour, so be ready to wait a bit depending when you arrive.. and parking is a b**** as well sometimes.. but if you do find a spot in the parking lot, don't forget to keep your receipt handy, they do parking validations.. is that the word?hey, that's $4.00 you're getting back.. that's money in your pocket.
