- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Urban China
Category: Restaurants Chinese Dim Sum Dim Sum [Edit]
10604 101 StEdmonton, AB T5H 2S1
(780) 758-1888
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
13 reviews for Urban China
13 reviews in English
-
Review from Lauren N.
4/14/2012
Best dim sum in town! This is now our go-to dim sum place -- it's delicious and in a central location. But holy man does it get packed if you don't show up at the right time! Expect to wait anywhere from half an hour or a full hour on weekend mornings, I kid you not. Although, the food will taste even better if you're crazy enough to wait that long. The best time to go is right when they open on weekend mornings, at 10am. Parking is also easier to find then too! Avoid the 11am-1pm rush if you can.
Everything here is good. The dumplings are big and fresh, and have also ruined me for other dumplings elsewhere -- it's just not the same anymore. If you like sweets, try the glutinous rice balls; they are tasty little dessert balls stuffed with sweet green bean. And for the brave or for those who just appreciate good food and don't care what it is, Urban China has the best chicken feet in town, hands down. Seriously, try it ... I'm certain you'll agree. It never used to be a favorite of mine but now I've converted.
We came here during Chinese New Year and they had a few lion dance performances on site during a couple weekends. It was good cultural entertainment to see while enjoying dim sum with family and friends.
Sometimes they give you coupons for your next visit, which comes in handy because more likely than not, you'll be back!Listed in: Best Eats
-
Review from Sarah W.
12/12/2011
I've given Urban China a few fair tries and I can't say that I've been impressed. Each time I've been, the service has been poor and slow, even when the restaurant hasn't been busy (or has been!!!). No matter how many times we tell them that there is a severe peanut allergy at our table, they still bring us that dish of salted peanuts each time. I've only ever had the dim sum and without fail, they've come back from the kitchen saying that they don't have a specific dish in stock.
The food is decent but it's nothing that I haven't experienced at other dim sum restaurants downtown or in the west end of Edmonton. The prices are comparable to any other dim sum restaurant, but it's the poor service of this place that will keep me away. Sorry, there are lots of other options in Edmonton and I hate sitting down and being ignored for 10 minutes at a time. Go elsewhere! The food is ok but not worth it! -
Review from Violet P.
9/9/2011
I met work colleagues at Urban China for dim sum on a weekday. The restaurant was only half full and they seated me right away in the glass area facing 101 Street. As I waited for the others to arrive, I noticed the food carts were coming by pretty consistently.
Once the others arrived, we ordered a few dishes including the staples of shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, and sticky rice. The food was hot and the dumplings were a decent size. My colleague wanted to try a dish she had at dinner and the wait staff were helpful in helping her determine which dish it was. It was a spicy fish served on a hot wok. It was good but I would have preferred it served with rice at dinner.
The food was good and service decent. If I'm craving dim sum and in the area, I would go back. -
Review from Lea A.
5/2/2011
At first, I didn't give Urban China much of a thought, or chance, because of some poor reviews from their opening. However, the past few months, I've slowly heard trickling of "they've improved" or "they've changed" -- and then, finally, the endorsement that made me try it out: a thumbs up from my sisters, one of whom lived in Beijing.
First of all, I didn't go during "dim sum high time" which is usually between 11am-2pm for most dim sum connoisseurs. So, I'm still unsure whether they do both custom order or dim sum carts. When my husband and I went, we were given both a traditional menu and dim sum menu. My hubby isn't much of a dim sum fan, so I only ordered a shrimp dumpling (generous and plump!); otherwise, we ordered the 3-course peking duck meal.
Now, if you're ever in a "real" Chinese restaurant, I highly encourage ordering the 3-course peking duck meal, and in Urban China, it was superbly presented: first course is the succulent skin, carved table-side, and served with tortilla-like patties, hoisin sauce, and sliced green onion and cucumber. What tickled me is that they also had julienned cantaloupe aside the green onion and cucumber! That was definitely unique. The next course is the duck bone and tofu soup -- very simple and yet, so tasty. Then finally, the duck meat, stir fried and meant to eat as a lettuce wrap. The restaurant provides you with half a lettuce head to go crazy with. Yum yum yum!
However, unlike some authentic Chinese restaurants in the city, it's a bit pricey (The 3 course duck was about $45? I don't remember; I've paid $35 for it in other restaurants -- also, dim sum was $3-4 range when other places are usually $2-3).
They do have a nice interior, great bathroom, and the service is well... there's service! I barely expect any in most Chinese restaurants (sorry for the stereotype, but there it is), but here they are courteous and helpful.
Based on that experience, I'm definitely going to go back, but you can't expect to get the same amount of food for the money you may be normally used to spending at other Chinese establishments. -
Review from S J.
Edmonton, AB
Updated - 7/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Finally went for dinner and it was good. We had moo shu pork (called shredded pork in the appetizer section of the menu), chicken hot pot, shanghai noodles and green onion cakes.
Highlights: moo shu and hot pot. The pork part of the moo shu was in a gelatinous brown gravy, pancakes good and adds-in included two kinds of melon. Was not served with traditional hoisin sauce, but it was not missed. It was very good and a generous portion.
Chicken hot pot was smoking hot (temperature not spicy) and very tasty. A very large portion.
The shanghai noodles were disappointing. Not much more than noodles and cabbage. Really disappointing for the price which I think was around $14.
The menu includes many unusual dishes like sea cucumber. The whole crab served at the next table looked great.
Will be back, but might have to save for a special occasion as it is pricey. For two mains and two appetizers it was over $50 with no alcohol.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/5/2010
Very good dim sung place. I have been several times and it has been consistently good. The variety… Read more »
-
-
Review from Noah B.
Edmonton, AB
12/24/2011
The dim sum here are very very good. I've ate at Mirama, Golden Rice Bowl, and several others in Edtown. The care that they invest in the dim sum at Urban China is very apparent. They also offer Peking Duck. The prices are slightly above average, I think. However, the authentic quality is very appreciable. I suggest you go there for a lunch trip. I do not think you'll be disappointed.
-
Review from Ted S.
Calgary, AB
4/4/2011
I had the steamed pork dumplings, steamed beef balls, deep fried lobster dumplings, and a baked egg tart. The dishes were not hot because they would give you items off the cart that had been sitting there for awhile. Some items are on the list but you can't get them on weekdays, such as the shark fin dumpling soup. Finally, the prices are higher than other dim sum places but without being of higher quality.
Oh, and they charge $1 per person for tea. -
Review from David Y.
9/12/2011 2 photos
My family took me to try this dim sum place out. I was quite impressed with the quality of their food. The dim sum was piping hot, their desserts were nicely presented and everything was quite tasty. The day I was there, we had some freshly baked egg tarts that just came out of the oven. OMG, it was to die for, with just the right amount of sweetness. The custard was so smooth, baked to perfection with a very light and flaky crust. Don't pass this item up next time you are here. It's worth the visit just for the egg tart. Yes, it's that good!!! Also worth mentioning is their pan fried pumpkin mochi with red bean paste filling. The line ups get quite long on the weekends, so go early or expect to wait for a while to be seated.
-
Review from Paula K.
10/7/2009
Urban China is located in what used to be the old Rosie's on 101 Street. However, the new owners have completely re-done the place, making it totally unrecognizable from its former incarnation. Large and bright, the place is brimming with customers, while servers make their way from table to table with their carts of dim sum. Dim sum items range from $3.95 to $5.95 and the portions appear to be substantial.
Due to many dietary restrictions on our parts and the fact that Chinese was the main language spoken here, we opted to order off of the regular menu. The large selection of noodle, pork, beef, and chicken dishes were geared to traditional Chinese customers - you won't find ginger beef or lemon chicken here. You will find shark fin, mullet, duck, pig bellies, and chicken feet. Looking around at the mostly Chinese customers, I realized that we may have gotten in over our heads. However, my companion convinced me we should stay and give something a try.
I decided upon a chicken hot pot, and he chose the diced beef tenderloin with papaya. We ordered steamed rice to share, and drank the tea that was served to us when we were seated. I sipped on the tea as we waited for our food - it was incredibly good. Strong in jasmine flavour and made from loose leaves rather than bags. I remained hopeful.
My chicken hot pot arrived first. Large and packed with sliced chicken, onions, and mushrooms, we both reached for a taste. The chicken was probably amongst the best I have ever had in an Asian restaurant. There was no hint of a chewy texture or preservative-laced flavour. Instead, the chicken tasted slightly braised, with a light sauce tasting mildly of the onions, and just a hint of garlic and ginger.
The diced beef with papaya was a feast for the senses - the small cubes of beef and papaya were accompanied with red and green bell peppers. I could almost smell a wine demi-glace, although I suspect the light brown sauce in the dish mostly consisted of natural juices from the meat and vegetables.
With steamed rice as the perfect accompaniment, we enjoyed our meals. We both found it refreshing how the food relied upon its natural flavours rather than having thick, sugary or garlic overdosed sauces poured upon them. The ingredients were very fresh and the portions were huge. Menu items ranged from $13 to upwards of $25, so a meal at Urban China can be pricey, but definitely worth it given the quality.
A podium at the north side of the restaurant hints at the place being booked for banquets. The washrooms are very clean and classy, with sinks that run like open eavestroughs. The new owners obviously put a lot of thought and money into opening Urban China. I look forward to my next visit.Listed in: Welcome to McCauley
-
Review from Chester V.
6/13/2011
For a Chinese restaurant in Edmonton this place is comparable to restaurants in San Francisco Chinatown. The food was delicious, the service friendly and fast (which is pretty surprising considering the horrible service I've had in previous Chinese restaurants in Edmonton), and the decor quite nice. I definitely recommend eating here should you have a hunkering for Chinese food.
-
Review from Brad B.
Edmonton, AB
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fun. Keep them carts of Dim Sum rolling. This place is busy. We had shrimp dumplings which are incredible! I will be back here many times I am sure.
-
Review from Steve K.
Richmond, BC
8/12/2010
WOW - I thought the only place in Canada to get good Dim Sum is in Richmond BC - it's at this place in Edmonton Alberta too!
Very few cart dishes - which I like made from your order food better.
Everything as I am used to authentic Dim Sum this place made me happy to visit the in-laws in Edmonton Alberta. Many places here are hit and miss, but, since they found Urban China, I'll suggest that we go there every time we are in town.
They easily found room for all fourteen of us and the food was nonstop good and hot just as good as any of the best places I've tried.
Good broad Dim Sum menu! -
Review from Eric F.
Calgary, AB
12/9/2009
Bring lots of water, and stay away if you're on a low-sodium diet.
I was trying to think up ideas for a last-minute dinner spot for a group of friends when I drove by this former Rosie's location and was intrigued by the new signs.
Urban China still has plenty to learn from its dingier counterparts on 97 St.
Because of our group size, I was able to sample many different dishes from the menu. The one consistent theme? It was all incredibly salty (in some cases, almost inedibly so.) I understand that salt and grease are the two components of tasty Chinese food, but this was overkill.
The salt and pepper squid and the chicken and eggplant were the most obvious culprits, but even the Chinese veggies were making my mouth tingle. Amazingly, the Singapore-style noodles were somehow simultaneously too spicy AND too bland.
Service was on par with other Chinese restaurants, which is to say, poor. A more-assertive friend helped herself to a pitcher of water when we were all parched from the meal.
And the prices! Generally about $15 per dish. This is not your favourite hole-in-the-wall.
And lastly, the washrooms were quite pretty, but why is the hole in the top of the garbage the size of a pop can?!
It took quite a bit of persuading to send someone home with the leftovers.
