Jm Oriental Kitchen & Dim Sum

Alright, gather 'round, gather 'round! You know how sometimes you're just craving something that'll make your taste buds do the cha-cha? Well, let me spin you a yarn about this little gem of a place, JM Oriental Kitchen & Dim Sum, that'll have you saying "O-M-Gim-Bao!"

First Impressions: The Place

So, picture this: you walk in, and it's like you've just stepped into a vibrant, bustling street market in Hong Kong. Neon lights, red lanterns, and more chopsticks than you can shake a stick at. It's a sensory overload, and I'm not just talking about the time I tried to use chopsticks after a few too many lychee martinis.

Now, Let's Talk Dim Sum

Alright, let's dive into the main event, folks. Dim sum, for those of you who've been living under a rock (or just really into your mom's meatloaf), is like the Chinese version of tapas. Little baskets of deliciousness, each one a surprise party in your mouth.

Now, I'm not one to toot my own horn, but I've had my fair share of dim sum. I've been to the fancy schmancy places, the hole-in-the-wall joints, and even that one place in Chinatown that only served dim sum to cats (long story). But JM, oh JM, it's something else.

Shrimp Dumplings: The Gateway Drug

Let's start with the har gow, or shrimp dumplings. These little guys are like the gateway drug to dim sum addiction. They're so good, I once saw a guy try to smuggle a whole basket out in his fedora. True story.

Siu Mai: The Party Trick

Then there's the siu mai, those cute little pork and shrimp dumplings with the carrot topping. They're like the party trick of the dim sum world. You think they're just a pretty face, but then BAM! They hit you with that umami flavor.

Sticky Rice: The Wild Card

But here's where things get really interesting. JM's sticky rice is no ordinary sticky rice. It's wrapped in banana leaf, which, according to my friend Google, is some sort of ancient Chinese secret. I don't know about you, but I'm sold on anything wrapped in a banana leaf. It's like nature's own edible packaging.

JM ORIENTAL. KITCHEN & DIM SUM, London - Restaurant Bewertungen

And Then There's The Tea

Now, I know what you're thinking. "But what about the tea, you heathen?!" Well, hold onto your butts, because JM serves up some mean Chinese tea. They've got everything from the classic jasmine to something called 'monkey picked tea'. Yes, you read that right. Monkey. Picked. Tea. I'm still not entirely sure how that works, but it's delicious, so who am I to argue?

Surprising Facts: Because Why Not?

Alright, let's take a little detour into Surprising Fact Land. Did you know that the tradition of dim sum comes from the Cantonese phrase 'yan sum', which means 'a little bit of heart'. Aw, isn't that sweet? It's like they're saying, "Here, have a little bit of our heart. Oh, and some pork buns."

And here's another one for you. Ever wondered why dim sum is typically served on small plates? It's not just because they're cute (though, let's be real, that's a big part of it). It's also because in ancient China, people used to pay for their food by weight. So, small plates meant you could get more food for your money. Clever, right?

So, Should You Go?

Well, I'm not one to tell you what to do (except maybe to try the sticky rice, for the love of all that's holy). But if you're looking for a fun, vibrant place to stuff your face with some of the best dim sum this side of the Pacific, then yes, yes you should go.

And who knows? You might just see me there, trying to figure out how to use those chopsticks without making a fool of myself. Again.