Restaurant Review: Dim Sum Lunch at Zen, Leela Palace, Bangalore

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The Chinese origin ‘dim sum’ are the bite-sized dishes typically eaten over a long brunch and served with tea. These can be savoury or sweet and can be prepared in several ways including steamed, fried or baked.

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Literally meaning “to touch your heart,” dim sum has been part of the Cantonese custom originating in their Tea-houses. Consisting of variety of dumplings, steamed dishes and other goodies, Dim sums could be had as snacks, with meals, or as a main meal. When you have them as a side dish , while sipping tea , the meal is known as Yum Cha.

(Photo courtesy: The Leela Palace , Bengaluru)

Dim Sum v/s Momo

Contrary to popular belief , they are different from the Tibetan Momos. Even the ingredients used are quite different as dim sums can be made of any type of flour including rice, potato and corn starch while the Momos are essentially made of maida and wheat flour.

While the Dim sums are served part of dining , Momos is essentially a street food. All Momos are dumplings that could be stuffed with meat, veggies, paneer or tofu. On the other hand,there are around 2000 varieties of Dim sums, that include Tarts, chicken buns, chicken feet and even spring rolls.

One of the premier Asian fine dining restaurant of Bangalore, Zen at Leela Palace, is known for perfecting the art of Japanese, Thai and Korean cuisines. With such an enchanting ambience and elegant interiors with multiple levels of dining areas including the outdoor seating with a beautiful view of the lush green surroundings , the austere and serene would be the apt terms to describe Zen.

Perfecting the art of Asian cuisines, Zen presents an exotic world where you are treated with a blend of lights, space, symmetry, colour and movement on your platter. – Zen at Leela Palace

Zen at Leela Palace has recently introduced the delicious 3 course Lunch meal Delightful Dim sums – consisting of a soup / salad, melange of unlimited signature Dim sums, option of thai main course served with a delectable dessert.

Aimed mostly at corporate and individuals who would prefer to have quick yet healthy mid day meal, this is available from Monday to Saturday every week..

I was recently invited to the special tasting of the Dim sum menu with select food lovers. Below is the recently introduced its three course Dim Sum Lunch

DIMSUM LUNCH MENU

Appetizer

Vegatable manchow soup with crispy noodles OR Oriental salad with avacado tartare

Dimsums

Non vegetarian

Fried almonds prawn with BBQ sauce

Pan fried chicken Shanghai dumpling

Lamb siu mai

Hargow

Vegetarian

Crystal dumpling (v)

Pumpkin & pine nut dumpling

Pan fried vegatable Shanghai dumpling

Fried sweet potato dumpling

Truffle & edamane dumpling

Main Course

Choice of Thai green , yellow or red curry ( Vegetables / chicken / prawn)

Wok fried garlic flavoured seasonal greens

Steamed jasmine rice

Dessert

Hazelnut Salted Caramel

(Orange marmalade , coconut tuile)

My Verdict

The three course dim sum lunch at Zen has a rotating menu that serves unlimited array of delectable assortment of steamed, fried or baked Chinese delicacies along with a starter , Thai main course and generous portion of dessert.

Priced at INR 1200 , it is Ideal for Corporate lunches and die heard Dim sum lovers who want to relish unlimited portions without having to burn hole in the pocket