Dim Sum Delights That Touch the Heart

With so many great dining options that surround us daily, it’s easy to eat more than your stomach can handle. And this often means there’s no room left for dessert.

But Jade Dynasty in Ala Moana Shopping Center offers Chinese-inspired desserts that are light, tasty and prove to be the perfect ending to your meal.

Each dessert is served dim sum-style, which means a perfect sharing opportunity and perfect portions each time.

Walnut Mochi Cake ($2.95) features three rectangular mochi pieces topped with a sugared walnut. While previously a specialty item, Walnut Mochi Cake was so popular with guests that general manager, Gary Chan, decided to add it to the regular menu.

There is just enough sweetness to leave you satisfied without going completely overboard.

For your Easter festivities, Dining Out recommends you try Fried Mochi with Lotus Paste ($3.50), three carrot-shaped items that combine a crunchy exterior with a smooth and creamy filling.

According to Chan, the dim sum chefs hand roll each piece into the carrot shape on the plate, and there are actually no carrots in the dish.

“The dim sum chef saw pictures in a magazine in Hong Kong and he decided to try it,” Chan explains. “We tried to make it and see how the response was from the locals.”

And it’s been a big hit since then.

Silken Tofu with Ginger Nectar ($2.95) is a traditional Chinese dish that is not only tasty, but also very good for you.

“It’s a roadside dessert,” Chan says. “I remember when I was small, people used to push carts selling it.”

The tofu is cooked in a container and served in a bowl for individual servings when the tofu is the right texture. And another great thing is that the tofu is made in-house. Ginger nectar sauce is poured into the bowl on top of the tofu.

The lightness of the tofu makes even a full tummy relax, and the ginger nectar sauce aids in digestion and calms your stomach down.

Mochi is a common theme for many dim sum desserts at Jade Dynasty, but really, who’s complaining?

Spring Mountain Coconut Buns ($2.95) have a flaky mochi exterior with coconut and haupia sweetness on the inside, and it’s also easy to eat with your fingers!

There are so many menu choices at Jade Dynasty when it comes to dessert, and most are only $2.95. So go ahead and try as many as you like!

Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

Ala Moana Center, Hookipa Terrace
1450 Ala Moana Blvd. #4220, Honolulu
947-8818
Open daily, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Dim sum served from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.