East Pearl Seafood Restaurant — Restaurant in Duluth

East Pearl Dim Sum – A Culinary Gem in Duluth

If you're searching for an authentic and outstanding dim sum experience in the Duluth area, look no further than East Pearl Dim Sum. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted with the warm ambiance of a traditional Chinese teahouse combined with modern touches, making it an inviting space perfect for both casual dining and special occasions.

Atmosphere: The restaurant’s atmosphere is a perfect balance of elegant and welcoming. The spacious seating is ideal for large gatherings or intimate meals, and the interior is beautifully decorated with modern Asian influences. The large round tables, complete with rotating Lazy Susans, allow for easy sharing of dishes – an absolute must for any dim sum experience. Whether you're visiting with family, friends, or even solo, East Pearl Dim Sum offers a setting that feels both communal and comfortable. The space is clean and well-maintained, with an emphasis on customer comfort.

Service: The service at East Pearl Dim Sum is nothing short of impeccable. From the moment you walk in, the staff is attentive, polite, and always ready to guide you through the menu if needed. The traditional dim sum carts roll around regularly, allowing you to see and select dishes right at your table. The servers are knowledgeable, happy to explain unfamiliar dishes, and very efficient at keeping the tea refilled and your table clear of empty plates. Despite how busy the restaurant can get, especially during peak hours, the staff maintains a calm and organized approach, ensuring you’re never left waiting too long for anything.

Food: Now, let’s talk about the food – the heart and soul of East Pearl Dim Sum. The variety of dishes offered is impressive, ranging from the traditional to the innovative. The freshness and quality of each dish are evident with every bite. Here are some standout recommendations:

Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (Har Gow) – Perfectly translucent dumpling skins filled with plump, juicy shrimp. The texture is delicate yet satisfying, a true staple of any dim sum outing.

Pork Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) – These are a must-try! The thin dumpling skin encases a savory pork filling and a hot, flavorful broth. Each bite is a burst of deliciousness, and the dumplings are served with a ginger vinegar dipping sauce that complements the richness perfectly.

Steamed BBQ Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao) – Fluffy, soft buns filled with sweet and savory barbecued pork. The balance of flavors is exceptional, and the buns are generously filled without being overwhelming.

Crispy Turnip Cakes – A classic dim sum dish, these turnip cakes are crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft on the inside. The combination of textures is addictive, and the slight seasoning allows the natural flavor of the turnip to shine.

Chicken Feet in Black Bean Sauce – For the more adventurous eater, East Pearl’s take on this traditional dish is superb. The chicken feet are tender and flavorful, bathed in a rich black bean sauce that enhances every bite.

Value: For the quality and portion sizes, East Pearl Dim Sum offers incredible value. Dim sum is typically priced by the size of the dish (small, medium, large), and here, the prices are very reasonable considering the top-notch food and service. You can easily enjoy a generous meal without breaking the bank, and if you’re in a group, sharing allows you to sample a wide variety of dishes.

This is a restaurant that has clearly earned its place as a local favorite, and after one visit, it’s easy to see why. The bustling yet organized environment, combined with the rich variety of dim sum offerings, makes East Pearl Dim Sum a must-visit for any food lover. Whether you’re a dim sum enthusiast or just looking to try something new, East Pearl will not disappoint. I’m already looking forward to...

A wonderful experience overall! This is my second time here, and the experience was consistent across both visits. Their food is delicious and complexly flavored, with a moderate price for the portion sizes. My favorite part, however, is their service, which is wonderful.

Where to start with the food? As is well-documented, their Dim Sum is wonderful and full-bodied. I have to give particular compliments to the pork shumai, which is savory and has a surprisingly pleasing texture. Notably, their Dim Sum in general is deceptively filling. I'd definitely recommend starting small and being willing to get more. It's easily accessible (see below), so don't worry too much about the inconvenience.

They have a good number of vegetarian options. However, I did not try any, so I can't comment on the quality of those. If I ever do, I will update this review.

Their entrees, while not quite as special, are certainly worth a visit all on their own. If you enjoy the rather particular Chinese style of serving hot tea, this is a wonderful place for that, with subtle flavors and beautiful leaves. Though not strong, it isn't supposed to be - that is not the style they serve. It is wonderful.

The wait staff is very attentive and practically omnipresent. The lady pushing the Dim Sum cart is especially attentive, and while she does not speak English very well, she is very patient and helpful. The rest of the staff is also very accommodating, equally able to serve those in a hurry or those who wish to linger and enjoy their meal. They also helped cure my ignorance on certain dishes with politeness and professionalism. A wonderful experience!

My only complaint - for which I'd take off half a star if able, but definitely isn't bad enough to warrant a full star - is that the shrimp did not seem perfectly fresh when I visited the second time, as if it had been either in the refrigerator for several days. It wasn't bad, but it could have been fresher. That said, I am used to fresh-caught and flash-frozen shrimp. Unless you're used to ocean-fresh shrimp, you probably won't notice it.

I'd definitely recommend East Pearl, and plan on bringing friends here all the way up from ATL proper. Especially if you enjoy savory foods, it's...

East Pearl has been my favorite Dim Sum Restaurant for decades now. The food is consistently of high quality and the recipes and presentation techniques have been followed for as long as I've been a customer. I forget what year I first ate here but definitely it was before 2014.

I recently tried another Dim Sum Restaurant and the price was over double what I paid East Pearl fir today's lunch and far inferior in taste.

I had some of my go to items today:

Chicken and Pork Congee

Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice with Chinese Sausage and Pork

Pork Shumai

Shrimp Shumai (I prefer the egg wrapper to the rice wrapper)

Pork Fried Rice Puff

Seasame Balls with Toasted White and Black Seasame Seeds filled with Sweet Red Bean Paste

Chrysanthemum Tea and Rock Sugar

I ordered an extra Seasame Balls to go and also had leftovers.

My bill on a credit card was just over $40 at $40.02 not including tip.

I just scanned some other reviews and had forgotten there is a cash discount!!

My friend wanted the budget friendly Chinese - American Weeekday Lunch Special for $9.99. She ordered Beef with Green Beans, Eggs Drop Soup and courtesy White Rice. The soup was included in the special. This special had a substantial amount if beef for the point point! She's a light eater so she also had leftovers.

I don't have service problems here. Although today, no one was running around the dining area in a Red Tee Shirt which the English speaking staff tend to wear. No one came to my table to ask if I had any requests or to show me the additional menu ir full Dim Sum Menu. But I had no wait when I requested my Congee as I didn't see a Congee cart. But staffing was more than sufficient and I was able to communicate in English with everyone on staff with whom I had a...