Asian Pearl 2009

Pace yourself.

Asian Pearl 2009
6821 Stockton Boulevard #165

Sacramento, CA

We arrived at 9:33am and watched as a small crowd gathered at the entrance.  At 10:00, we pounced.

We were probably the 6th or 7th table seated.  Within a minute, a steady stream of carts full of piping-hot steamers descended upon us.  Lids were lifted.  Heads nodded.  Consumption began.

And continued for the next 90 minutes.

Pork with Jellyfish.  Roast Duck.  Baked AND Steamed Pork Buns. Shrimp Siu Mai.  Shrimp Rolls.  Shrimp and Rice Balls.  Ginger Pork Dumplings.  Eggplant with Shrimp.  Etc., etc., etc.  Did I mention shrimp?

Seriously, we ate for 90 minutes.  The variety and quality was quite excellent, and the service was on par...until 45 minutes in.

Allow me clarify.  The dining room is HUGE.  I mean, from the outside the restaurant looks to be the size of a grocery store.  Inside, there is an endless sea of tables.  After 15 minutes, we kinda thought, "What a waste of space!"  30 minutes later, the entire restaurant was PACKED.  I was too busy scarfing to see where these people had come from.

Another 15 minutes later, chaos began to ensue.

As usual, we arrived when you're supposed to arrive...right when the restaurant opens!  Those who arrived closer to 11am were visibly impatient, often barking at servers that the carts either hadn't come by or bypassed them completely.

What do you expect in a room of 400?  Do you really expect the same service as if there were only 40 diners?  Come on, now.

All in all, quite the culinary experience, and a great way to spend the first sunny Sunday morning in a long, long time.