My first visit to Golden Island had me wondering how takeout was going at Jasmine. I had checked out their website and found they were doing online takeout orders. So, I decided to order some dim sum...which was 20 cents cheaper then Golden Island......at $5.99. Interesting to note, Jasmine Express opens at 1030 as does online ordering. And then it's at least 50 minutes before your order is ready.
Upon arriving, I noticed that the signs lead you to Jasmine Express for pick-up.
And you have to wait in line with everyone else....all of the folks in front of me were placing orders. They placed their order and waited across from the restaurant to be called. So, while I expected my order to be ready at 1130.....which it was (see the photo below, it's on the shelf); I still had to wait another 25 minutes in line. Add in the rather perfunctory service..... Wouldn't it make more sense to have a separate line for online pick-up?
Anyway, check out the outdoor dining at Kula above....creative uses for those concrete dividers.
Eventually I made my way to the front of the line, mentioned my name, and was handed my bag....I mean...really, my food was laying on a shelf for 25 minutes, when I could have walked up and been out of there in less than five.
I then drove back to the office and checked things out; I went with the Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai, Har Gow, and the Steamed Shrimp Fun Gor (fun guo aka Chiu Chow Dumplings). All $5.99. Man, if I hadn't been to Golden Island before this; I'd have had a bit of sticker shock as this was twenty bucks of dim sum.
The siu mai was decent. The pork had been evenly minced, thus achieving a better texture and was also more tender and moist, Good porkiness; the wrapper was still pliable and not hard. Pretty good overall.
The Har Gow was the best of the bunch; no torn wrappers here. The shrimp were plump and tender, with a nice mild sweet-brininess. This was quite good.
The Chiu Chow Dumplings was the worst item; the wrapper too thick, the filling under seasoned.
I actually like a bit more pungency and peanuts in this style of dumpling.
Overall, while the pick up process was really weak, this was much better than Golden Island.
A couple of weeks back; I decided to try the whole drill again.....with the same results. Enter order and pay at 1030; told to pick-up at 1130, arrived, this time at 1115, and still waited almost 30 minutes to pick up my order which had been lying on the shelf since I arrived.
This time I got the Shrimp Siu Mai, the Har Gow again, and the Steamed Scallop and Shrimp Dumplings.
This time one of the wrappers on the Har Gow was ripped....bummer.
Still, these were as good as what I'd had on my previous visit.
The shrimp and pork siu mai was also quite good; moist, fairly tender, nice balance of porkiness and shrimp flavor.
No hard pieces, no grittiness, no muddy flavors. The wrapper was even more tender than with the pork siu mai on my previous visit.
The Steamed Scallop and Shrimp Dumpling was ok.
While the wrapper was a bit on thick side and the dumpling could have used more scallop.....I missed a nice tender-sweet-oceany scallop flavor, the shrimp in this was again quite delicious and prepared well.
So, while the dim sum at Jasmine was, in my opinion, superior to Golden Island, GI definitely had the better service and process. So, I'm not quite sure....maybe it's best for me to wait until this is all over and I can have a proper dim sum meal.
Jasmine
4609 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111
Current Dine In Hours
Mon - Thurs 10am - 3pm
Fri - Sun 10am - 3pm, 5pm - 8pm
Jasmine Express
Daily 1030 - 830pm
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