It’s been a while since I wanted to try Dim Sum Sam in Times Square. We went a couple of times and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. From outside, you would think that it is a small place, but it has a large dining room in the back as well as upstairs. This is more a casual spot where you will order at the counter and they will assign a number. You then go to the dining room, passing the kitchen with peking ducks hanging, where a TV will display the orders being currently prepared, and, below, a sign will show which number has been called. When your order is ready, it will display and you will hear a loud beep followed by a robotic voice saying “Please take the meal”. It it is yours, you then go to the counter to retrieve it.
Kitchen at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Peking ducks at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Dining room at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
TV system for orders at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
They do have dim sum, but it seems that they are known for their Hong Kong style BBQ that they offer with duck, pork or chicken, in many ways. I tried their Roast duck noodle soup (it is a pork bone soup that you can also get spicy) with egg noodles (you have a choice of Hong Kong egg noodles, Mei-Fun, Ho-Fun or Udon. The duck was very good, but I admit that the bones are a bit annoying to get around, especially when eating with chopsticks, and the broth was tasty, deliciously fatty. The egg noodles were good, but I prefer thicker noodles, so next time I might choose the Udon.
Peking duck soup at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Peking duck soup at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
I wish they were serving Peking duck, because I got their Peking duck bao and it was superb! The bun was not as fluffy as what I had elsewhere, but the duck was amazing: when you bite, you get an explosion from the glaze it has been cooked with, that oozes from the crispy skin, mixed with the sweetness of the hoisin sauce. This is a must have.
Peking duck bao at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
For dim sum, they have the classic vegetable spring rolls (that are piping hot when they come) or the delightfully greasy and crispy scallion pancakes. The shrimp dumplings are my favorite, but their buddha delight that are made with mixed vegetables are quite good too.
Scallion pancakes at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Spring rolls at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Shrimp dumplings at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Buddha Delight dumplings at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
I also love the fact that they have desserts: their Portuguese egg tarts are succulent, flakey and sweet, while an absolute must have is their sweet egg yolk buns.
Portuguese egg tarts at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Portuguese egg tarts at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Sweet egg yolk buns at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Sweet egg yolk buns at Dim Sum Sam in Times Square
Overall, Dim Sum Sam is a good surprise in an area that can be challenging in terms of quality of food, some restaurants looking more at foot traffic from the tourists visiting New York, rather than focusing on returning customers. But this place is different: the food there is delicious, for good prices. I will definitely go back.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Dim Sum Sam - 240 W 40th St New York, NY 10018
