Steamy Piggy Revisited

An acquaintance recently checked out Steamy Piggy and told me they really enjoyed their meal. While recalling that I really didn't enjoy my previous visits to the place, I did make a note to return. 

I found that the interior looks much the same. There's that motif of bright colors with worn and rustic touches like the rusted original walls and such. I'm not really a big fan of such contrasts, but then again, I'm not quite the design maven, right?

The menu has expanded a bit, but is still just occupies one sheet of paper. There's now someone actually making dumplings on the ide of the bar and quite a variety of pan fried dumplings; seven in all. I decided to check out the "Assorted", which was one of each pan fried dumplings.

I also wanted something else; but already having dumplings, decided to stay away from more starch. I went with the Salt and Pepper Chicken ($4.50).

The portion size was generous. This "popcorn" chicken of sorts was nice and hot; the meat moist. I really didn't care for the coating, which was on the soft side. The pieces lacked crispness and was rather gummy in texture. The seasoning was on the weak side; not enough salt or pepper. On the bottom of the bucket were lots of itty-bitty pieces of chicken.

Here's the very colorful Assorted Pan Fried Dumplings ($9.50). Looks like they did the Facing East thing and went with varied colored wrappers.

On a good note; unlike my previous visits, all the dumplings were adequately pan fried. As for fillings, I think the pork and chive was the best as the meat wasn't too hard, the filling moist, and the flavor balanced.

My least favorite was the chicken curry version, which had a rather bitter taste I didn't enjoy.

Many of the wrappers were problematic. I bit into the "pimp shrimp" and the wrapper tore, the too hard filling squirting out from one side.

The flavor of the basic pork and cabbage dumpling was decent, there was a nice amount of liquid in the dumpling. But the meatball was really tough and the wrapper too brittle.

The best texture, in terms of wrappers was oddly, the egg and cheese dumpling.

The bottom was nice and crisp, the wrapper not too thick, the top nice and plump. Though I'm not a big fan of cheese dumplings......eggs yes, in a good vegetarian jiaozi.

So, nearly half a year later, it seems that the dumplings have gotten slightly better here. But, like Facing East, it's more of a concept versus substance type of place. And like I said before, probably more of a place for the younger crowd to eat and hang out in.

Steamy Piggy
4681 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111
Hours:
Sun - Thurs 11am - 10pm
Fri - Sat 11am - 11pm

Comments

[kat]

hopefully they get better

[Soo]

That's good for them the younger crowd isn't as discriminating.

[Kirk]

I hope so Kat.

That's not necessarily a good thing Soo.

[Junichi]

Looks like the target audience is the Instagram generation.

[Kirk]

Sounds about right Junichi.