Our first foray into Shenzhen’s Sea World (海上世界) district wasn’t exactly mapped out with military precision. With a packed schedule and barely any time to breathe, we didn't have much choice but to first hit Prince Square (太子廣場) conveniently perched on top of the subway station. It’s not the most glamorous intro to the neighborhood, but considering Sea World isn’t exactly brimming with mega malls, it did the job for us.
In a perfect world, we would have enjoyed our late lunch somewhere else but as the dining options in the square were few and far between, we ended up going to a familiar face, Dianduda (點都德).
Obviously, no one would say no to dim sum. Not when we all had nothing to eat for the past few hours.
At 3:30pm, Dianduda wasn't exactly buzzing.
And I wasn't just talking about the restaurant guests. Even restaurant staff were in major shortage. In the past, someone would have come over to prepare tea for us but everything has been self-served so far this afternoon.
Charcoal baked barbecued pork puff (炭焗叉燒酥) (¥25) – The puff pastry was a little thick which was never a good sign. The filling was decent but the texture threw things off. A shame, really.
Stir-fried rice rolls with soy sauce (豉油皇砂鍋豬腸粉) (¥31) – Surprisingly good. The rice rolls had a nice chew and soaked up the soy sauce just right. A humble dish that quietly delivered.
Steamed red rice rolls with crispy prawn (金莎紅米腸) (¥31) – The fillings were a little on the hard side but overall, pretty decent.
Steamed lobster dumpling (大滿貫龍蝦餃) (¥25) – The parade of steamed dumplings started off with this one made with lobster meat. Serviceable, though hardly the star of the show.
Steamed shrimp dumpling (招牌蝦餃皇) (¥33) – It was followed by the restaurant's signature shrimp dumplings. A better effort. Juicy shrimp paired with asparagus and bamboo shoots gave it a nice crunch and depth of flavor. A classic done well.
Signature siu mai (招牌燒賣) (¥31) – Presentation was... let’s say “rustic.” But it tasted fine, which is what really matters. Still, a bit more finesse wouldn’t hurt.
Pan-fried leeks dumpling (生煎韭菜餃) (¥42) – A sleeper hit. Aromatic, punchy, and crisped up nicely.
Crispy milk custard rolls (流心奶香酥脆卷) (¥25) – Another dish from Dianduda which I thought they did an admirably job with. Flaky on the outside, soft milky inside.
We had to rush through the meal so we could get enough time to check out this bayside dotted with boutiques, cafes and restaurants. I heard the Sea World boat was an iconic part of the attraction too with the dancing water fountain right beside it.
I appreciated all the space we had at lunch today but the service, or the lack of it really left something to be desired.
Food Rating: 5.4/10
Price: ¥¥¥
Address: Shop 33-35, Level 4 Prince Square, 22 Taizi Road, Nanshan, Shenzhen, China
深圳市南山区太子路22号汇港购物中心二期太子广场四楼33-35号铺
Closest Metro Station: Sea World (海上世界)
Tel: +86 (755) 2668-2997
Opening Hours: 8:00am - 9:00pm daily
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