Nana's Dim Sum & Dumplings
A man is eating at his local dumpling shop.
The waiter comes over and asks if everything is OK with his meal.
"The meal is wonderful! But these lights are bright," says the man.
The waiter asks, "Would you like us to turn them off?"
The man replies, "No, but maybe Dim Sum." 😝
Nana's Dim Sum & Dumplings on Havana Street is the sister location to the one located in the Highland which has received glowing reviews. I would expect the same of this location, but we shall see!
FOOD
Flavor and Texture - 41/60
My eyes were bigger than my stomach, but that would not be the first time! 😅 Each dish will be rated out of 7.5 points.
ShuMai (4) – A traditional dim sum dish consisting of shrimp and pork filling steamed in a wonton wrapper. Flavor-wise nothing really stood out, and it was actually bland. However, I did mix some red chili oil and soy sauce together to create my own dipping sauce.
Jumbo Crab Rangoons (3.5) – Rangoons aka cream cheese filled wontons are usually a safe bet at any restaurant. Now, there was an option to add crab meat on-top of the rangoons; however, I am more interested in how much crab meat is in the filling verses on the side. The ratio of cream cheese to wrapper was great, and the wrapper was light and airy. Crab was present in spots but not enough to justify the cost of the dish.
Sweet Rice Shao Mai (4) – This dish consists of sticky rice in a wonton wrapper. I am big fan of sticky rice, but I will say that this too was a little bland despite the fact I could visibly see the rice prepped with spices to give it a slight color change. Again, the dipping sauce helped add flavor. For those that do not like a mushy texture, I would recommend skipping this item.
BBQ Buns (4.5) – The dough in these buns were super soft which was nice, but I guarantee some portion will get stuck to the roof of your mouth. 😋 The BBQ pork was okay, slightly sweet and not too chewy.
Xiao Long Soup Bun (7) – Soup dumplings are temperature HOT. Pro-tip: use the spoon provided for the dipping sauce to cradle the dumpling. You will definitely lose the broth inside the dumpling to your plate if you just use your chopsticks. The savory broth pairs well with the pork filling. One of the pricier items on the menu, but definitely a must try.
Signature Bao (5) – No-frills, standard pork bun. Not as bland as the other dishes, but the dipping sauce did work wonders again.
Pan Fried Pork Bun (7) – This dish is the love child of the signature bao and the soup dumplings. The pan fried bottom was slightly crispy, and the top had a soft crunch. The inside contain the pork filling with a savory rue. This dish is also temperature HOT so be careful.
Fried Sesame Balls (6) – These sesame balls were not as sweet as I have had in the past, which is a nice change of pace. They contain a red bean filling.
Quality/Skillfulness - 8/10
I cannot deny the attention to detail and quality of ingredients used in these dishes, especially when you can view the chefs preparing the dishes.
Value - 5/10
Some items were overpriced in my opinion like the rangoons, and others did not warrant their price point to do the lack of flavor like the ShuMai and Shao Mai.
Dining Experience
Service and Setting - 5/5
I went on opening weekend, so I can tell there was a point of emphasis on customer service. However, the setting was contemporary and there was plenty of parking out front.
Presentation - 5/5
There was emphasis on attention to detail. It would be interesting to see how this place fairs in about 6 months to a year.
Legitimacy or Creativity/Uniqueness - 3/5
I think the owner is wanting create something unique and inviting. However, as a whole, do I anticipate coming back to this restaurant anytime soon because of their dishes and/or atmosphere? Probably not, as there are other restaurants that are cheaper and have a more consistent flavor profile.
X-Factor/Memorability - 2/5
The interior looks pretty. 😬
Total - 69/100
3.5 Stars - A pricier option; however, a good entry-level option for those that have never tried dim sum.