Asian Queen 星點心 — Restaurant in Richmond Hill

Two out of our party of six arrived first just before 11 am and there so happened to be a table, fitting for six, by the door that just cleared up when they walked in without anyone else in front. The staff didn't want to give us the table because they said our whole party wasn't present. After some back and forth, and the promise to order dim sum ASAP (since it takes time to prepare anyways and the other four members were just 5 minutes away), they finally agreed to seat us. This started off our experience poorly as it wasn't like there was another party of six present to be seated, etc.

From Monday to Friday, all day (9 am to 9 pm), this joint offers their S/M/L items for $5.25. They also don't charge for tea due to the self-serve set up they have, whereby they serve you your first cup but refills require you to go to their station, which also has cold water and condiments such as hot sauces.

Overall, the food was good but some dishes were a little overcooked/over-steamed making them a little softer than usual. My grandparents who have been here before said this is not usually the case so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt but either way, it wasn't bad by any means. The siu mai, har gow, and other dumplings had a good chew to them with a good amount of filling. The curry cuttlefish was again, softer, but had good flavor. The congee was a good consistency and flavorful without being too salty and didn't leave you thirsty. I personally really liked the mango mochi which was soft and chewy, with a filling of real fruit and cream. The "most disappointing" was the BBQ pork rice only because there was a lot of rice compared to toppings of pork and choy. However, the leanness of the BBQ pork was perfect without being dry. The shrimp rice rolls were also a little underwhelming.

Again, service is minimal due to the nature of their setup. But the servers do bring the food and clear empty baskets and plates. They were very fast when it came to clearing tables but I felt it was because they're so busy that they want to turnover tables as soon as possible. During our stay, I would say 11:30 am was when they had the biggest rush and wait for tables. Even though our family said many thank yous, the employees weren't very responsive.

The place is new so it is quite clean and the decor looks nice. Seating was actually quite comfortable because of the chairs, but I find long rectangular tables are difficult when it comes to dim sum since it is hard to puzzle out the dishes due to space and makes it harder for sharing as one end of the table can never reach the items on the other end. They don't really have many circle tables, minus a few small ones for 2-3 people.

Overall, you can see there's lots of pros and cons but their affordability, decent food, and cleanliness makes this spot one to put on the "frequent list". Service is not their main selling point so I didn't expect much, just as it seems they do not expect...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Asian Queen Dim Sum, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience that deserves more than the 3.9 average rating on Google. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere that immediately set the tone for a delightful meal.

Dim Sum Delight:

Let’s talk about the dim sum—absolutely amazing! Each dish was a testament to the quality and craftsmanship that goes into making authentic dim sum. As someone who typically prefers the convenience of home dim sum from local dumpling factories, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the offerings here. Yes, the prices are on the higher side, but you truly get what you pay for. The flavors were vibrant, the ingredients fresh, and the presentation was beautiful. It’s clear that the chefs take great pride in their work, and it shows in every bite.

Payment Convenience:

One of the standout features of Asian Queen Dim Sum is their acceptance of credit cards. In a world where many establishments still cling to cash-only policies, it was refreshing to see a restaurant that embraces modern payment methods. This not only makes the dining experience more convenient but also opens the door for a broader customer base. I believe that if they continue this practice, they will attract even more patrons who appreciate the ease of card payments.

Cleanliness and Hygiene:

The cleanliness and hygiene of the restaurant were also commendable. In today’s dining landscape, a clean environment is non-negotiable, and Asian Queen Dim Sum exceeded my expectations. The tables were well-maintained, and the overall ambiance felt fresh and inviting. It’s clear that the staff takes cleanliness seriously, which adds to the overall positive experience.

Self-Service Tea and Relaxing Atmosphere:

I loved the self-service tea option! It’s a fantastic idea that allows guests to enjoy as much tea as they like while creating a relaxed, casual dining experience. Speaking of relaxation, the music playing in the background was simply amazing. It was soothing and created a homey feel that made it easy to unwind and enjoy good conversation with friends. This is the kind of place where you can linger over your meal, savoring each dish while catching up with loved ones.

Final Thoughts:

In conclusion, Asian Queen Dim Sum is a hidden gem that deserves recognition for its high-quality dim sum and inviting atmosphere. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a relaxing meal with friends or family, this is it. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone who appreciates authentic dim sum and a welcoming environment. Thank you, Asian Queen Dim Sum, for a wonderful dining experience! I can’t wait to return and indulge in more of your...

I learned about this new restaurant from a Facebook food group. So decided to check it out today. I was a table for one, the staff told me the wait time will be half an hour so I went out to take a photo and came back. It was a little crowded and stuffy inside. My number is 50, I've noticed they were calling 52 so I inquired. Their response was like oh you missed it. In my mind, I am thinking will I get the next table? It almost felt like once they skipped my number that's it.. the number they started calling just got higher and higher, so I had to ask again, it's a little frustrating, anyways a little chaotic during their soft opening. I find when customer ask about delays of the dim sum item or how my number is skipped, the manager doesn't really admit it and end up blaming the customer. I think it's very busy because of the $5.25 small, medium large dim sum soft opening special.

I've noticed the couple next to me were asking why one of the items took so long. The tea you will get a cup of tea, if you are ok with the tea you can go up to the station and refill by yourself. Similar to the noodle spots. if not you can order your own type of tea with a teapot for additional cost, different tea leaves you can choose from at the back of the menu. The station have different sauces such as chili oil, vinegar, chili sauce and you can just help yourself.

Onto the food, the har gwa, one of the four had a hole in it, a little moist. The steamed chives and shrimp dumpling again one of the four had a hole in it. The vegetarian bean curd roll was tasty. The deep fried chives shrimp cake was just like a shrimp spring roll, usually they are round like a shrimp Patty. The deep fried fish ball with clam sauce, it's on the smaller side and I find it not dense and hard enough. It was not bad but nothing to write home about.

I did enjoy the steamed matcha rice roll with crispy shrimp and squid. Nicely presented. I thought it was unique and a good texture. Overall, they did have a few unique dim sum items. It's good that they serve all day dim sum but the rice rolls are not served after 3:30pm and no congee after 3:30pm as well. I feel like if the ambiance is as comfortable as the Starchiva Cuisine will be better, now it feels like a Scabrough noodle spot or China town, not comfortable seating wise and defeats the purpose of yum cha. Flavour wise some items were unique so they have potentials. I think they are not quite ready yet in terms of handling this volume of customer during the soft opening stage. Rating...