Empress Pavilion

• Cuisine(s): Chinese
  Hours: Sun 8:30am-10pm, Mon-Thu 10am-9pm, Fri 10am-9:30pm, Sat 9am-10pm
  Price: $$
• Payment Types: MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, Diners Club
  Features: Takeout, Private Party, Family Style, Business Dining
  Serving: Dinner, Lunch
• Alcohol: Full bar
  Reservations: Accepted, Not Necessary
  Parking: Validation Available

Description

I can't think of a better way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday than meeting friends here for dim sum. Pace it out, so you won't risk missing the little short ribs in a glorious black-bean sauce, or any of the exquisite and varied steamed dumplings, so transparent you can easily read the contents: shrimp and greens, chicken and mushrooms. My favorite is a bird's-nest-soup dumpling the size of a small bowl; break into it with your spoon, and you'll find a broth so concentrated it tastes as if 10 chickens have been boiled down to get one cupful of soup. But dinners are pretty fine too: If you're lucky, the Dungeness crab steamed with noodles and about half a ton of fresh garlic will be on the menu.