Golden Palace — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

Update Nov 2024, more than 2 years after last post

UPGRADE rating to 5⭐️ FOR CONSISTENTLY SUPERB CANTONESE DINNER SERVICE.

• This is a conclusion from several independent visits between myself and foodie friends.

(Photos uploaded separately at the time of update).

The lunch buffets on weekdays is NOT the measure of this place. ITS GEM IS THE UNDERSTATED CANTONESE A LA CARTE, best enjoyed at supper time😎.

It’s truly superb, the flavors brings back fond memories of Hongkong, a culinary center known for myriad Cantonese foods, from the street stalls to takeaways to casual and fine dining.

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 THIS IS PITTSBURGH’S BEST PLACE FOR ROAST DUCK.

In addition, the dumplings are reminiscent of traditional Cantonese DimSum.

Indeed, while this not a DimSum eatery (unfortunately Pittsburgh DOES NOT YET have a true DimSum Restaurant), the dumplings are exceptionally Cantonese!

It’s a BYOB, so bring your favorite wine for dinner.

Service is excellent.

SURPRISING AUTHENTIC CANTONESE, against the cheap Chinese-style greasy salty lunch buffet (corruption of Chinese cuisine). Please please forget that buffet.

ORDER FROM THE MENU, and awaken your palate to the subtle flavors of the Cantonese. The menu is short and very navigable. My recommendations: Cantonese duck - juicy, fat rendered very much to the almost paper thin skin Char Siu pork - unique Chinese BBQ pork, very lean Sautéed Bokchoy with garlic

They also have a small dim sum selection - the best is the Shu Mai and Shrimp Leek Dumplings.

It’s a find...

Since the owner / staff asked for a reason for giving a one star for the review, I'll go more in detail to be fair to the business.

I ordered takeout on July 26th, 2024. My order was the BBQ Pork with rice, Seafood Congeee and the Fried Beef Noodle. The main reason for the subpar review had nothing to do with the deliver side of my order or price ( ie. Delivery time / temperature of food).

BBQ Pork with Rice -the pork was dried and the pieces were the over cooked ends. I know you're going to get some end pieces in the dish, but we are talking about all the pork pieces being dry / end pieces.

Seafood Congee the congee consist of a few pieces of squid and diced up beef. No other seafood found in the congee

Fried Beef Noodles completely sloggy and the entire dish was one piece of noodle playdoh.

I am only reviewing the quality of the food and not the service because this was a take out order. I just hope the dine-in service makes up for the quality of the food. Weather you are charging $5 a dish or $500, there is no reason for intentionally providing lower end quality ingredients or lack of ingredients. If the owners want to discuss this in private, feel free to leave a time and I'm happy to call to discuss my review with them in English...

$8.50 for the buffet (i think it’s cheaper if you’re a Pitt student). If you go in with low expectations you'll enjoy it. It's a good place for college students to pig out of greasy Chinese food. There's a pretty limited selection for a buffet, so if you're looking for something specific this might not be the place for you.

I think there were just two people running the whole place. One was cooking, the other was running the register, seating people and bussing tables after people left. I actually see this as a good thing, sometimes it annoying being interrupted every few minutes by the waiter asking if you need anything, or refilling a drink. I thought it was nice that they just leave everyone alone.

This was my first time there, but it sort of had a coffee shop feel in the sense that there were several people sitting alone studying. It was also very quiet compared to other...