I hadn't really visited this block since the great Pacific restaurant closed (two lobsters cooked Cantonese style for $19.99!!), but a friend brought me shu mai from here and well, now I'm a regular on this block again!
I had no idea that the best dim sum was right here in Elmhurst!! And that it took form in such a cute bakery. To get this amazing dim sum, just go to the back of the bakery and you'll see the full dim sum menu. While their offering is limited than the big dim sum dining halls in Flushing or Chinatown, this Rainbow Bakery has the best of the best. And I say this Rainbow Bakery because there are chains of this bakery and they all offer different items. Which I'll go into later!
This branch's dim sum menu has: (my favorites are starred!)
1. Shrimp Har Gow ($3.50) *
2. Pork & Shrimp Siu Mai ($3.25) *
3. Steamed Beef Ball ($3.25)
4. Bean Curd Skin Sheet Roll ($3.25) *
5. Pan Fried Turnip Cake ($3.25) *
6. Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf ($2.50)
7. Spare Ribs in Black Bean Sauce ($3.25)
8. Spare Ribs with Rice Noodle Roll ($3.75)
9. Shrimp Rice Noodle Roll ($3.50) *
10. Beef Rice Noodle Roll ($3.50) *
(11 and 12 are no longer available)
13. Salted Fish with Pork over Rice ($3.95)
14. Spare Ribs over Rice ($3.95)
15. Shredded Pork and Preserved Egg Congee (L: $3.50, S: $2.00) *
16. Fried Rice Noodles with Shredded Egg and Vegetables ($2.50)
Listed separately: Pan Fried Shrimp and Chive Dumpling (N/A) *
Steamed Buns:
- Plain ($1.20)
- Vegetable with pork ($1.50)
- Chicken ($1.50)
- Roast pork ($1.50)
- Combination (Pork, Chicken, Egg, Sausage) ($2.25)
When ordering, for non-native Cantonese speakers, just tell them the number that you want--it's easier for them to grab rather than saying the full English name.
This place is amazing. And their prices? Unbeatable! The quality is just like ones you get at the dim sum dining halls--just without the rolling carts (which I know, are the best part, but COVID-19, so). The only thing is that their congee is always sold out past 9AM, so just be wary of that.
As I mentioned before, this branch is 1 out of 4. Another branch isn't too far away from this one, which is the Rainbow Dim Sum (82-53 Broadway). Their menu is a bit bigger (like they offer 10 different types of congee!!), but the style of food is also different. For example, their steamed rolls are cooked differently than this Queens Blvd one, and I prefer this branch's. But that branch has chicken feet... So long story short, I go to both branches for different menu items! Get the best of both worlds.
But back to this branch: not only is their dim sum delicious--so are their baked goods! Similar to Chinese bakeries, you pick and grab whichever baked goods you want AND they list the time they were last baked at. I got a turkey and egg sandwich and it was good! They also have some more dim sum goodies there, like roast pork puffs, so be sure to check there before you check out!
Basically, while this store is small, do not miss out on it!! What a gem, Elmhurst! read more