The culinary landscape of Bellevue just got a major boost as Sun Sui Wah Seafood Restaurant finally opened its doors at Bellevue Marketplace shopping center today, bringing its 30-year reputation from Canada right to the heart of the Eastside. Patrons eager for a taste of what some say is the best dim sum north of the border will find the new hot spot ready to serve, though snagging a reservation might be tougher than cracking a fortune cookie this month, according to management, which nevertheless is accepting walk-ins. As reported by the Seattle Times, your odds to nab a table without a wait are better midweek. However, a two-hour wait wouldn’t be unusual on weekends.
Adding to the possible pitfalls, after 7 p.m., diners could be circling for parking spots like sharks, as the lot is usually packed to the gills, and weekends aren't any better. But for dim sum die-hards, it’s all just part of the journey to culinary bliss. Sun Sui Wah, with fan-adored branches in Richmond, B.C., Vancouver, and Toronto, is bringing its extensive 95-item menu to the states. The menu boasts crowd-pleasers like har gow, rice rolls, and egg yolk buns, notching its top spot on diners' must-visit lists.
Come 5 p.m., it’s family-style dining, and the restaurant's lore is only amplified by its famous roasted squab and a Peking duck dish that has ducks practically flying off the plate from popularity, or so the lore goes. Staples like the baked free-range chicken with rock salt is prescribed for any family dinner, and beef lovers have sung praises for their diced beef tenderloin with black pepper. Around the dinner tables, the pan-fried eggplant has also emerged as a popular choice, as Seattle Times highlights.
Last weekend, management conducted a trial run, operating under the radar, before lighting up the "open" sign come Monday morning. As dim sum lovers queue up from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., management may even consider firing up the steamers as early as 9 a.m. soon. To sweeten the deal, Sun Sui Wah is throwing a grand opening discount of 10% off all meals until April 20. For those willing to brave the wait, this new Bellevue eatery promises an authentic Cantonese dining experience worth its weight in dumplings.
