Orchids Garden
Hot Tea
Wonton Shrimp Balls
Fried Shrimp and Chives Ball
Har Gow
Chow Mein
Custard Bun
Shiu Mai
Calamari
Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
Baked BBQ Pork Bun
Fried Shrimp with Shell
Chicken Wings
Lotus Seed Sesame Ball
Red Bean Sesame Ball
X.O. Pan Fried Rice Noodle
Pork Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf
Pork Sparerib
Roast Duck
Sometimes one must abandon the rarified air of Mott 32 and Jasmine at The Bellagio, the celebration of a good friend’s birthday taking some sixty-five guests to Orchids Garden on the corner of Sahara and Lindell.
A neon beacon for nearly two decades, and still one of Las Vegas’ few locations for all-day Dim Sum, it was just prior to 6:30pm that three guests entered the space prior to several others, a total of seven tables each celebrating as silver carts navigated the premises.
Clean in terms of décor and populated by a largely Asian clientele, both good signs as are the well-maintained Fish tank and restrooms, it was less than five minutes after taking a seat that Water arrived and Tea was offered, the former kept filled while staff also did a good job of making certain that Tea Pots were topped-off regularly.
Sticking to Dim Sum for the evening, a truncated version of the daytime collection offered but unfortunately already sold out of several selections, it was as friends were still trickling in that Dinner began with Shrimp, both frilly Balls made with sliced Wontons and more traditional versions outperforming tepid Har Gow with thick Skin.
Seated with a mixed group, most ordering with minimal knowledge and total disregard for price, Chow Mein proved almost flavorless save for Salt just as it did during a 2018 visit, Orchids Garden’s pan-fried Rice Noodles in X.O. Sauce a far better taste and value for those who can handle a little bit of spice.
Difficult to say whether Orchids Garden uses previously frozen Dim Sum or makes the items fresh on-site, likely a combination of both, Shiu Mai suffers from a mushy consistency without much flavor while Shell-on Shrimp breaded and fried capitalize on the Carapace in terms of texture as well as taste.
Fair-to-middling for Calamari and Chicken Wings, both “safe” for mixed crowds, Pork Spareribs are fairly dreadful thanks to un-rendered Fat while Pork Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf and traditional Cantonese Buns are much better choices.
Watching others Ignore advice to skip the Duck, bone-in and barely warm beneath flaccid Skin, Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce proved better than many others thanks to snappy stalks while the absence of Egg Tarts (Dan Tat) for the second time made Dessert a pick ‘em between Custard Buns and two different types of Sesame Balls.
TWO STARS: While it may indeed be true that Las Vegas lacks world-class Dim Sum Off-Strip, the debut of New Asian BBQ on Spring Mountain (in addition to Chang’s or KJ) has relegated Orchids Garden to a very specific status of “only when absolutely necessary.”
RECOMMENDED: Fried Shrimp with Shell, Pork Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf, X.O. Pan Fried Rice Noodle, Red Bean Sesame Ball.
AVOID: Roast Duck, Pork Spare Ribs, Chow Mein, Har Gow.
TIP: 10:30a-10:30p daily, though visiting at night runs the risk of menu items being sold out.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.orchidsgardenrestaurant.com
