Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Sea Empress Seafood Restaurant in Gardena

4 (199) 1636 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247, United States

Categories

Chinese restaurant
Dim sum restaurant
Restaurant
Seafood restaurant

Location on the map

Gardena, Los Angeles County, California, US

Phone: +1 310-538-6868
Site: https://seaempressrestaurant...

Opening hours

Monday:11 AM–8:30 PM
Tuesday:11 AM–8:30 PM
Wednesday:11 AM–8:30 PM
Thursday:11 AM–8:30 PM
Friday:11 AM–8:30 PM
Saturday:10 AM–8:30 PM
Sunday:10 AM–8:30 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4

199 Reviews for Sea Empress Seafood Restaurant 2024:

Review №1

2024-02-18 15:45:24

We were on the way to Los Angeles and looking for a breakfast place. I found Sea Empress Seafood Restaurant perfectly on our way. We decided to have our dim sum fix there.We waited at the parking lot for a few minutes and got our table as soon as they opened. The restaurant looks a little dated. But who cares! We want to have our dim sum breakfast.The dim sum is pretty good. Theyre hot and fresh. We got what we wanted and were back on the road in less than 45 minutes.

Review №2

2024-04-08 05:56:05

If you are looking for a decent Chinese food near Torrance or Redondo Beach, Sea Empress is definitely a good one to try. Dim Sum is not available after 2.30pm though.

Review №3

2023-08-23 20:47:29

The food is pretty good! We ordered a few of the dumplings, one meal off the lunch menu, and a chow fun dish. I recommend the Fried taro and the pork shu mai as those were our favorites. The sweet and sour pork was also good, the beef chow fun with gravy was a bit plain but still good.

Review №4

2024-06-26 02:55:09

My all time favorites here are pan-fried noodle with shrimps (ask for softer noodle) and Shumai

Review №5

2023-01-06 01:36:28

For the Gardena area, still a reliably tasty dim sum restaurant. Half the restaurant cordoned off during covid, so only the left side is open for dim sum. Still a dozen tables of diners here for lunch today.Ordering is off a menu rather than from carts. Over 20 dishes to pick from and are delivered in decent time.Everything tasty and good to very good. Eg. Shrimp har gaw very good, radish cake good vs the best dim sum Ive tasted.We ordered enough for 4 at $68 worth of dim sum, enough left over for takeout and a 2nd meal, so you can easily eat under $35 for 2 without leftovers.

Review №6

2023-06-16 17:24:29

If I could give negative stars for the service, I would. This is the worst service i have ever received at a restaurant. Servers would walk away as we were talking to them as if we were a disturbance. Half the things we ordered were good, and the other half was stale and dry. I would not come back to this place or ever recommend it.

Review №7

2024-05-12 01:07:26

Been coming here more than 20 years. Its a bit run down now. The good thing is you dont need to wait for yiur seat any more. Still good for a little dim sum fix every once in a while.

Review №8

2021-07-09 06:00:55

It was my first time here maybe because we got there almost an hour before they stop serving dim sum not really all that exciting like my friend had described it to me but she was disappointed. But this is really more for meat eaters so these were my entrees i was able to get. I didn’t take more pictures because i wasn’t really that much excited about the place but i also got the egg custard sesame ball bomb, chinese broccoli and seaweed salad alway my all time fave and duck the duck was cold and i don’t like my food cold. Other than that the service was good and our waiter was really nice.

Review №9

2024-05-29 03:59:45

This is a bit of a run down traditional old fashioned Chinese restaurant. The staff is ok. Short handed, overworked but they do the best they can. The food is good, but again traditional Chinese. We went on memorial day and it was dim sum day!! All looked very good, but not cheap (5-8$ a plate). It was crowded, which it is not usually.The menu items are good, reasonable selection and all taste good. Menu prices are ok 16-20$.Overall, the place is ok. The food is good, the staff is ok but its a try it place that you might enjoy if you like that old style chinatown type restaurant.

Review №10

2023-02-05 20:09:53

This was my first time here.Photos as of February 2023.Day visited : SaturdayTime: Around 11amDo the servers understand English? yes. Majority do, AFAIK.I grew up eating dim sum with family quite often but have moved not so long ago so it was nice to be able to find a place nearby that wasnt overpriced like Din Tai Fung. Place was a classic restaurant with a large room and many tables. Hot pot of tea (Jasmine) was flowing and quick to come out. Carts were moving around in aisles and warm coming out.A prime example of a regular dim sum place. Food was good and fast to be served. No complaints. Service was quick (more or less). There were many servers walking around being busy so sometimes its a little hard to catch if I wanted something specific if I couldnt find it on the carts or couldnt it didnt come by after a while.There were a few times where the carts never crossed our table even though I saw it not too far off a few tables down but I couldntflag them to come by but it wasnt a big deal.Menu in photos was actually not all the food available on the carts. There were MANY different things not listed. But be careful because there were some items (mainly the ones that do not look like small portions/pieces) that will be priced higher than most items($10+)It gets VERY crowded VERY fast after 11am with large groups of friends and family. Best time to come is right after opening and before 11:30am on a weekend day.Will I come again? Yep :)Hope this review and photos help you out. Enjoy !

Review №11

2023-02-06 04:17:39

Atmosphere was excellent and so was the food and service. I ordered the pineapple fried rice and egg rolls. My girlfriend ordered Lamb stew with vegetables.

Review №12

2024-05-08 18:14:23

Reliably good dim sum restaurant that still uses carts. Service is good for a dim sum restaurant and they can take big groups (we were 30+ people).

Review №13

2022-05-06 20:11:43

Instagram: @eat_saw_telleEat: Steamed Shanghai Pork Dumplings, Steamed Shrimp in Rice Roll, Stuffed Eggplant with Shrimp, Fried Squid Sticks with Salt and Pepper, Steamed BBQ Pork Buns, Scallop Shrimp Dumpling, Beef Meatball.Saw: don’t be koi with me, guardian dragons, fast and furious, stuffed, food cart, squid game on pointTell(e): 8.80 / 10Hi-bite: Steamed Shrimp in Rice Cake, Fried Squid Sticks with Salt and Pepper, Scallop Shrimp DumplingsLo-bite: Steamed BBQ Pork Buns

Review №14

2024-03-06 23:02:32

This is the best dim sum in Gardena. They have the carts on the weekends and a lot of room. Their main dining hall is old fashion, clean, and roomy.

Review №15

2017-03-16 00:15:21

Dim sum items are always fantastic here. Overall food quality are great, service staff are efficient. I guess most customers are not very happy with the service, they are never warm and fuzzy...But in my opinion this is very much the traditional Hong Kong style of operations.

Review №16

2022-04-17 13:30:53

Great dim sum and great service! Although I miss the ladies pushing carts full of steamers, the food and service are still wonderful.

Review №17

2022-01-30 00:11:51

My favorite dim sum place. We usually go on the weekends. The selection is really good. Most of the food is hot. If it’s warm, we usually ask them to heat it back up without any problems.

Review №18

2019-10-06 02:56:10

Great for tasting and sharing a multitude of chinese appetizers. Dim sum selection is decentOur favorite dish were the veggie wraps in bean curd skinPrices are very decent. $35 for about 6-7 dim sum dishes. It was enough food to fill up 3 adults.

Review №19

2024-05-14 20:49:24

Always order the 4pc shrimp egg rolls.very delicious. Staff very very pleasant.atmosphere and ambience a bit congested but they are a very busy establishment..highly recommended

Review №20

2023-05-09 23:05:52

A nice experience outside Chinatown, the place looks clean and sanitized, the service is decent and very friendly, we had the sizzling rice soup which is very good, and also steamed chicken, they sell alcohol and also wine so you can enjoy either one if you feel like it.. overall it was a nice and pleasant dining experience ... enjoy it my dear friends

Review №21

2023-12-21 08:44:40

Not sure how to describe how, this was one of my Fave Dim sum place. And because of that. I will withhold any negatives.Food is just OK. Years ago &, High SchoolIt was much better.... Bur, I still go from. Time to time. Which must mean something 🤔Go check it out for yourself & see.I will come back & read your comments

Review №22

2022-09-01 21:12:17

It got pricey..about $5.50 and $6.50 for A and B type dishes. Highly recommend the Ham Sui kok and bean curd rolls. The rest were just okay.

Review №23

2024-01-06 16:10:49

Pretty sad Chinese food for LA. We were visiting and staying close by - so decided to give this restaurant a try instead of driving 45 minutes to the San Gabriel Valley area. A mistake - should have driven the extra distance.Dim sum was some of the worst that I have had in my entire life - especially the har gow and sui mai - they were tasteless and the dough was mushy. Even frozen ones these days are superior.Dont waste your money on Peking duck - it was the worst . They left the meat on the bones and the pancakes were essentially like Mexican flour tortillas - what a disappointment.Service was equally lacking - had to ask for everything like large plates to eat our lunch entrees and rice. Really no rice served with entrees. We had to wait 5 minutes for the plates and rice while our food got cold.

Review №24

2024-06-18 20:08:59

Was a great traditional dim sum place to dine in and the food was delicious. I will come back.

Review №25

2023-05-07 00:58:34

First time here, confused by the whole thing cause first time I had dim sum usually someone else ordered it. Luckily the staff are very helpful and helped me order the food my friend suggested to get.

Review №26

2019-10-04 15:50:31

Quality had fluctuated recently, but this was a great visit. The spare ribs with black beans were exceptionally good on this visit. Still the solid choice for dim sum in this part of town!

Review №27

2024-02-10 00:50:07

Dim sum here was delicious! Great options but make sure to come between 11am-1pm

Review №28

2024-03-24 19:02:31

Very excellent and reasonably priced Chinese food. Our table tried ten or so dishes, and everything was on point.

Review №29

2023-11-26 20:24:41

Great place for family dinner. I like that each family member has a favorite dish, makes it easier to order and share al la carte.I appreciate the service in this gem right in our back yard.I like the decor, which is old, but beautiful and so peacful. Great place for a cup of tea and a delicious pastryDont forget the favorable fried crab!I would of given 5 stars but need to clean and keep up pond. (Smells)Also time to do inventory on dishes. Cracks big or small is a no no.

Review №30

2023-06-14 03:24:11

This restaurant was a beautiful surprise and I wish it was located near me. As an immigrant from Hong Kong, I can tell you that it is one of the premier Cantonese restaurant Ive ever experienced. My meals were not pricey, and all of the flavors were well balanced. The vegetables were fresh. I have eaten there two nights in a row and tomorrow will be the last evening before I return home. Dining there has been such a relief after very long days. It is quiet, clean, bright, and comfortable. I have nothing but praise for them.

Review №31

2023-05-28 20:28:26

Very disappointed over-all!!! Went for dim sum on Sunday during lunch on memorial weekend. The food was VERY cold and tasteless. Shrimp was so cold that the skin could not be peeled off. Asked server for new one but she just reheated and brought it back. Dumpling soup was cold and dry with no soup inside. Very expensive place. Our dim sum size duck dish was $25 and the crispy pork dish was almost $30! Our bill came up to $142 (not including tip) Ridiculous!

Review №32

2023-02-18 01:54:43

Yuxiang rousi, just a little pork. Most were onion. Small size rice. Not very good taste.

Review №33

2021-07-19 21:07:02

We had dinner there. The food was authentic and delicious, but the prices we got on our check was different from the ones labeled on the menu. E.g. what we thought was $16 become $18.50, and $10 becomes $13. Double check their pricing before you order. We felt pretty deceived.

Review №34

2021-10-18 09:31:26

Always great for dimsum. Ginger tripe, chicken feet, and bird nest dumpling soup are exceptional.

Review №35

2024-01-01 16:43:00

Fun place..one of the grand and fun Chinese dim sum restaueants. very very busy. sad no more table to table carts...

Review №36

2023-05-08 02:43:52

This restaurant serves up delicious Chinese Cuisine. The menu is extensive and offers specialty fresh seafood dishes. There is ample parking and plenty of tables. They have Dim Sum cart service on the weekends with a variety of tasty selection of dishes. Be sure to bring others with you, so you can order plenty of dishes to try.

Review №37

2023-08-23 03:04:07

Dim sum dumpling skin is thick and tasteless. The clams were not fresh and seemed spoiled, so I spat them out.The toilet is downright dirty. The air conditioner didnt work, so several big fans were running, but what the heck was the dirty carpet dust? It was so terrible. wont go again!

Review №38

2021-09-06 21:34:33

Today is a Labor Day holiday. There are many hungry people enjoying the dim sum. The dishes are so delicious.

Review №39

2023-10-05 16:44:46

Food was so bad, order items was not prep. I order three items the worst item was Chinese broccoli with the oyster sauce, Chinese broccoli was over boiled, container was full of water and oyster sauce was in the cup, I was expecting prep but was not. Next order was chicken with snow peas was tasteless ground garlic was raw. Just oyster sauce only. Next order was shrimp fried rice, fried rice was shrimp and Chinese cabbage no taste at all.My suggestion do not go to this restaurant during week days, I they have real chef’s on weekends so you may choose on weekends..

Review №40

2023-03-25 03:24:15

Old school dim sum, where the carts roam the dining room. This food is good as is the selection. The service is superior, where everyone is very attentive.I went with a group of 15 at 11:00 AM and it was fairly quiet, very conducive to a leisurely brunch. Enjoy.

Review №41

2023-08-19 06:52:48

We had dim sum lunch, and what a horrible turn the restaurant has taken. Portions were tiny, nothing was fresh, everything seemed like it was reheated after sitting for a long time. Unimpressive service, but super expensive $25+/person with tea, tax & tip. I ended up purging after I got home, NEVER going back.

Review №42

2022-10-17 21:23:17

Not the best dim sum I have ever had but its been the place I go to for brunch since i moved to the south bay almost 20 yrs ago and have never had a disappointing time! Was always seated within a reasonable time, even during peak hours and the food has stayed consistently good over the years.

Review №43

2024-01-29 03:10:12

Its always great service and a tasty treat! Especially the bean cured veggie or not.

Review №44

2022-11-13 06:03:56

Although noisy at the time it was soon forgotten once the servers arrived. Very good dim sum I really enjoyed the chicken feel in black bean sauce. Evey other item was fresh and delicious. One of my favorite places to eat.+++

Review №45

2024-03-14 03:02:13

Mid week lunch here is rather slow. Harder to find dim sum in the area

Review №46

2023-04-19 01:04:27

The assorted dim sum is great. The service is fast and friendly and the warm dumplings are tasty. Dim sum is only served in the early part of the day otherwise I’d come for dinner.

Review №47

2023-05-07 23:20:57

The food is terrible. The beef satay we ordered tasted like old beef, chewy and and bland. No satay sauce/flavor. The second dishes was kungpao chicken. The chicken was undercook, wet/soggy and not even cook through like typical kungpao chicken. Its supposed to be spicy but it didnt. The restaurant ambiance was a downer. Everything about this restaurant has really changed. Those days before COVID, this restaurant was the place to go, now its worse than Panda Express.

Review №48

2022-02-07 06:08:05

If youre into Dim Sum, Sea Empress will not disappoint you. Weve had the best in Chinatown (when it was better), Monterey Park, San Francisco and overall, Sea Empress is up there with the best as they are consistent with their quality. Its not the best Dim Sum weve had, but we would say top 5 and theyve been around and maintain their quality. The other dishes are quite good as weve hosted many larger parties.In our opinion, the key to our food reviews is the quality of their food. If you expect superb service from dim sum spots, youll be disappointed most of the time as its okay service in general. We dont sweat the small stuff and focus on the food itself, not the service (as waiters come and go). We would expect superb service from Michelin star rated or $$$$ priced restaurants.

Review №49

2024-02-15 17:03:46

Was very disappointed to learn that all of their food is marinated in MSG. Could not request no msg…

Review №50

2022-11-12 05:43:33

This place was one of my favorite dim sum places. Post-covid, the place has gotten more worn out over the years. The koi pond is filled with moss and the water is unclear, barely showing the bright colors of the once abundant kois residing in it. The establishment smells of old rag and the food is no longer good.Fried foods are stale, and you cannot appreciate the flavor. The steamed dumplings are barely warm. I dont think Im going back here again.

Review №51

2024-04-01 01:07:56

Authentic dim sum and Cantonese cuisine with an affordable price

Review №52

2021-04-28 03:40:30

I went to try the dim sum but we had missed it so you have to get there during lunch to order it. The Shrimp & walnuts was DELICIOUS. the stuffed crab claws I would NOT recommend though, definitely not real or imitation. The reason I enjoyed my visit so much was because of the older guy who waited on us, I want to say he was the owner but I dont know. He was a real pleasure! So kind & made sure we had everything we needed, at the end of our meal he brought out a dessert, egg custard pies or something like that they were delicious!! I would definitely recommend this place.

Review №53

2023-01-08 03:11:06

One of the WORST Chinese restaurants I’ve been. The food was awful. The place was dirty. It seemed they used the same frying oil for months. The sauces where plain and disgusting. Really really bad. Do not go! Find something better.

Review №54

2022-06-09 09:25:22

Good selection of dim sum considering the very limited number of restaurants serving dim sum in the south bay. Go earlier in the AM if you want your items to be fresh. Feels a bit pricy at $5+ per dish

Review №55

2023-07-31 18:59:59

The waiters are rude and ignore you when you call them. It seemed like they treat people differently based on ethnicity. The food was terrible, everything was super dry or soggy. Nothing seemed to be the right consistency. Wouldn’t recommend.

Review №56

2019-03-16 18:33:30

Nice food, fast and affordable

Review №57

2023-03-20 20:40:17

I visited this place on March 12, 2023. My total came up to $153.xx. I used my card to pay for the amount and left a 18% cash tip. This place charge my card $183.xx giving themself a $30 more tip that I did not approve of. Make sure you zero out the tip part when tipping in cash on the Receipt. Thanks to my bank for Notify me.

Review №58

2021-10-24 02:59:09

Went here with my mother, wife, daughter, son in law, and my son and his wife. It was our first time here and we were all looking forward to some good Dim Sum. We ended up being extremely disappointed. Not only in the quality of the food, but the service as well. We waited, and waited, then finally went to the staff, and asked for them to come by with some food for us to pick. This didnt happen, once or even twice. It went on the whole time we were there. My only consolation was that I had made up mind to make it a point to show them how disappointed we all were with the service by leaving a bad tip. Well imagine the surprise we all had when they gave us the bill and added a 15% tip to it. I honestly dont understand how that can even be legal but they said if there was more the 6 people at a table they automatically add a mandatory 15% tip to the bill. Having been service worker for many many years I can appreciate why this may be a reasonable idea. But when you give the customer terrible service time and time and again which they knew they were doing, it just stinks. I paid the bill, and what I considered the extortion 15% upcharge. But none of us will ever come to this restaurant ever again. They need to learn how to treat customers. When you as a business automatically charge a 15% tip to any table with 6 people or more then that gives the server a license to steal. They have absolutely no incentive to take care of you at all. So my suggestion is if you want any service at all at this place make sure you arrive with a party under 6 people. At least then youll have a fighting chance.

Review №59

2023-08-30 18:17:18

We went there for dinner and the food was served piping hot. If you like authentic Cantonese cuisine, its worth giving their dinner menu a try.

Review №60

2022-03-21 17:23:39

Basically one of the only places to get sit down dim sum in South Bay, would not say it’s the best because the best is in MPK! Make sure to come during busier times, I came with my husband at 10am on a Sunday one time and the food was really cold and not fresh, but I came back another time a little later like 12pm and food was really hot and fresh.

Review №61

2023-04-19 02:53:22

A little empty but I find that we a lot of Chinese food placesPeople take them to go. The food was the best and comes out fresh and fast. I love it so much ❤️

Review №62

2020-02-10 22:43:41

Delicious authentic Chinese food! Loved itttttttt!!!

Review №63

2023-08-31 15:55:29

I had ordered a pork dumplings and it came with random pieces of crab in it. Luckily I dont have a food allergy but be careful to the people that do

Review №64

2023-07-10 02:47:17

Comprehensive menu, uniformly delicious; friendly and efficient staff. Weve eaten here twice recently and its been good both times.

Review №65

2024-05-30 19:26:30

Food was good except for the chow mein, it was dry and served cold. The bathroom definitely needs A LOT OF improvement.

Review №66

2019-01-18 20:47:32

Whoever wrote the review that you have to be Chinese to get good service, must have come on an off day. I have been eating here for years. The service is always good. During the dim sum time, you might need to be a bit aggressive to get the attention of the women with the carts. Most do not speak English so maybe they gravitate to Chinese because they can understand. If you do not see what you want on the carts you usually just ask a server and they will go to the kitchen to get it for you if it is offered that day. Its amazing how much you can order and then the bill is 1/2 of what you might expect.Nice to go to lunch and the food is ready. I do not eat there in the evening. I only come for dim sum. You can order out also if you know what you want.

Review №67

2021-08-14 00:02:50

Great food, but poor service from the front desk Chinese woman who takes your order over the phone for carry out, but has no manners!I have patronized this restaurant for over 25 years until now, because their dishes are authentic and even though I have complained about her before like hanging up on me, they are reluctant to fire her being a wife of a manager. Recently, she became impatient and said a big HELLO as if I was not listening and I hung up on her this time for being so rude!In these times of the pandemic, they were closed temporarily for a long time and lost a lot of business which will be permanent.Instead, I highly recommend Tasty Kitchen nearby who now has a new and attractive owner named, Anna and their cuisine and service is always very good!

Review №68

2019-01-03 17:07:37

I was delighted to experience that they had returned to their former excellence in tasty Chinese food! We usually have our family feast after a funeral there but had not been using it for awhile as the food had gone downhill. It was a pleasant surprise that it was good again and my cousin paid a much higher price than l had which might explain the improvement. But it had been years and prices do go up especially for seafood!

Review №69

2022-06-22 21:50:04

A total locals place in the center of Gardena ( Gardena literally has everything you could look for in terms of food choices!)Prices are a bit high but dishes are always large and can feed 2-4 easily. Dim sum is usually the choice for picky snackers and will quickly fill you upThe cons? Very old ( think 70s) Chinese resturant- nothing has been renovated and interior is stale. Still Sea Empress stand on its food. This is definitely a place that will book up for Chinese new year.

Review №70

2022-10-15 01:34:15

Best Dim Sum in the South Bay!!! I know there are a couple other places but the quality/flavor at sea empress is so much better. Ive had dim sum in a couple other cities like Monterey Park, Alhambra area where there are Chinese people and dim sum is more popular and sea empress pretty much falls right into place as being a top contender with any of these other places from out of the area. They have a lot of choices for dumplings and other things to try such as duck, charsui pork, currently Im stuck on Crispy Pork. It looks like thick dried out pieces of bacon. Actually though they are juicy pieces of pork belly with a crispy top.....SO GOOD!!! Especially when its hot and fresh! Come early on weekends because this place gets packed and its not uncommon to wait between 5 - 45minutes to get seated. The restaurant is pretty big so people come and go pretty quickly. Can never go wrong with Dim Sum!!!

Review №71

2019-11-20 09:25:34

Service sometimes sucks, sometimes there can be a wait on the weekends, but still one of the better dim sum places in the area. I get my dim sum fix here 1-2 times a month. Parking is generally easy with a lot of other places you can walk to in the area.

Review №72

2022-02-09 00:08:48

First time coming here. Not really sure why the place has such bad reviews. I liked the food and the service. Although, sometimes the food can be a bit cold but the server brought us fresh servings everytime we asked her. Id come come back!

Review №73

2021-10-30 21:09:58

The food was pretty authentic, run by a Cantonese family. Dim sums are pushed around in the carts. I came kinda late, 1:30 pm, so by the time I want to order 2nd round of dim sum, they already put the dim sum cart away.

Review №74

2019-07-20 22:18:48

Most unexpected surprise: Got in without waiting Saturday 11:30 AM. Unheard of for dim sum at reasonable price (for small platters--prices rise for larger ones). Roast duck and beef chow fun (dry style) were quite tasty at reasonable prices.Worth the stop if you are anywhere near the area--beats driving to Monterey Park where wait is MUCH longer and quality comparable!

Review №75

2019-12-29 15:28:28

Lots of options, but the dim sum offerings were expensive for what you get, and aren’t the best in terms of quality or taste. Service was pretty fast considering how busy they were, and staff was courteous, but it was clear that they lacked knowledge of the menu, with a good number of them not even knowing the names of the various dishes. If you are seriously craving dim sum, this place will scratch that itch, but otherwise, there are better brunch options out there.

Review №76

2019-02-15 01:25:20

Carts came and went and never came back, so we couldnt get more of some things we wanted. Servers seemed confused at basic requests. Had to ask for water refills. Food itself was pretty good, but Ive had much better overall experiences with dim sum.

Review №77

2019-12-21 16:21:24

Good for what it has to offer. I usually go there for dim sum. Food is usually good and consistent. Restroom is not always clean and sometimes w/o soap. Some waiters do mot understand english well enough.

Review №78

2021-06-11 01:20:47

Superb Menu w/Prices to Match sea Empress Seafood in Gardena has a diverse selection of Chinese food. Make sure to secure a reservation cuz it’s crowded on Sundays. Gave 4 out of 5 stars because service was kinda slow. But waiters and waitresses were pleasant. I recommend this restaurant for Chinese foodies.

Review №79

2017-03-01 03:52:33

My favorite Chinese restaurant in South bay. I especially like the dim sum, which is very busy on weekends. The evening a la carte is excellent .. good selection of dishes, bustling atmosphere. One of my regulars. Ive never been disappointed here. Plenty of parking.

Review №80

2016-12-03 19:13:53

The food is fast fresh and delicious. My husbands super picky about the quality of his food and he loves it. So do all 3 of my kids! A la cart isnt always available but thats definitely the way to go

Review №81

2024-03-19 17:12:30

The steamed pork ribs tastedvery bad.

Review №82

2015-06-13 16:17:02

Food is decent. Service terrible. By terrible I mean they wouldnt serve us. Non-existent. No carts, no wait staff, nothing. I can drive to Chinatown, have good dim sum lunch with prompt and courteous service, and get back to the South Bay in the time it took to get served here. I will never go back again. I am giving it 1 star only because the rating service wont let me give it a zero.

Review №83

2019-08-31 05:37:22

First time here. the food was ok; other competitively priced food around the area and out. The prices are overpriced, nothing below $10 on their regular menu and just meager portion except the fried noodle with a very different taste. The rest of the entres were mostly $12, $13,$14,, $16, $17, $20+ and above. 2 people with 2 orders and only water drink for $30+ tip. They also charge a scoop of rice for $1. Service was good. Restroom was so smelly that you cannot breath. I would go someplace else and get more for the buck.

Review №84

2023-06-21 19:24:51

If you dont like a rather loud restaurant, you wont like this one. But the. Dim Sum was fantastic.

Review №85

2017-02-08 16:10:03

My husband and I love dim sums, we are Hispanic and the people here working always seem to treat us different, and not in a good way. The food is great sometimes a bit cold and we have received old reheated items.

Review №86

2021-05-15 21:58:54

I just moved to the area and needed a closer Chinese Food Spot; very happy with this one. Its not the American style Chinese food so beware its more traditional Chinese. I cant wait to go there for dim sum.

Review №87

2021-12-31 01:43:16

Walked in and no one greeted us. We had to ask if they were even open, and only then did the host speak to us. The tea was luke warm. The nor mai gai (rice wrapped in leaves) wasn’t even the size of my fist- there was barely any rice. The sauce for the ha cheung (rice noodle with shrimp) was so watered down it was almost flavorless. And the mustard/chili oil that is commonly served with dim sum had sriracha, not chili oil… seriously? Even the bathrooms sucked- dirty and not maintained at all. Avoid this place at all costs.

Review №88

2021-04-25 20:52:09

ETA...I get that its busy and they just reopened because of Covid. But we ordered online, with a pickup time of 1240. Its now 115. I have a hungry 6 year old and a ticketed event 40 minutes away at 2 pm. We were trying to support local businesses. It would have gone so far just to let us know via online order that it would take an extra 35 minutes and then i dont know, offer a discount on next order or give free fortune cookies or something...

Review №89

2021-10-05 05:46:36

Deliciously delightful! Please try Sea Empress you will not be sorry. Understated formal decore, very comfortable and open space. The food is wonderful and reasonably priced. We had a lovely dinner for four under a hundred dollars. EZ to find with lots of parking.

Review №90

2015-04-17 07:03:28

Probably the best dim sum in the South Bay. I give it 3 stars because everything they have here is just okay. Nothing to rave about. Some of the dishes are actually below average, IMO.It gets pretty crowded on weekends.Service is whatever. Overall, if youre really craving for dim sum and dont wanna drive to SGV then this is your place.

Review №91

2018-07-24 00:39:20

Pretty good variety of dim sum from a restaurant outside the Chinese community like Monterey Park. Great to not have to go inland with the crazy traffic. Had a couple of very nice and friendly cart ladies this time. Hate to say it but its unusual for Chinese restuarants. Lets keep it up!

Review №92

2022-02-26 18:08:19

Ok so we went to eat dim sum it was good but the prices were little high for its quality and size. We ate prime rib for dinner elsewhere and IT WAS CHEAPER THAN DIMSUM!!

Review №93

2023-11-30 02:46:36

Everything we ordered was tasty and hot. Highly recommend

Review №94

2022-08-07 16:05:52

Good food and prompt service can be expected when not busy. But it can get busy during rush hours. If you enjoy quick seating and service then avoid high traffic hours.

Review №95

2017-04-18 07:34:46

First time here. Wasnt bad at all and we basically didnt even wait to be seated for saturday at noon. Food was pretty decent. I wouldnt call it the best dim sum but still good. Chances are we will come back.

Review №96

2021-10-31 00:57:44

Closest South Bay dim sum offerings, reminiscent of old style Chinatown, yummy Chinese tapas . Post-Covid (Oct 2021) employees pushing dim sum carts are no longer part of the Hong Kong style ambiance.Prices have tripled yet taste still good.

Review №97

2018-11-28 04:26:58

Great place for a wedding reception. Food was very good.

Review №98

2023-06-24 02:53:45

The Food was on point and very delicious 😋.I will be returning to try their other dishes including duck.

Review №99

2016-10-19 16:34:01

Check Yelp! This place gets terrible reviews, and heres mine:In all fairness, this review is based on a single visit (which is unlikely to be repeated) and we only tried four dim sum items. Those who eat here regularly have no doubt discovered several very tasty dishes the establishment has to offer; unfortunately, I didnt have any of those dishes.Now lets be unfair; its a hell of a lot more fun.First comes the compliment: the shumai were terrific. My wife told me that they lacked the usual Shiitake mushrooms, which might have upset her but came as a relief to me: mushrooms make me sick. The dumplings were fresh and tender, full of rich flavor. I also enjoyed the shrimp noodle, but thats hardly a compliment as the only ingredients of the dish are the wrap (wonton, I presume without really knowing) and the shrimp. Im sure the delicious sauce came out of the same bottle used by every other dim sum diner.The har gow was subpar, at best. And I dont know how that can be, as har gow is also very simple. Thats like a short order cook messing up scrambled eggs: it takes a large dose of anti-talent. One of our favorite dishes is steamed pork spareribs. Rather, I should say that its one of our favorites in a GOOD Chinese restaurant. Trust me: it aint worth the $2.80 for the dish.I asked for a glass of water that came cloudy and in a plastic cup with a little ice. One sip made me flashback to getting dunked and nearly drowned in the public swimming pool where I grew up--the pool that left every kid pink-eyed and blond, if you know what I mean. If youre thirsty, stick to the beer and tea.The dim sum service was terrific, even if the food wasnt. The waiters, however, managed to turn my wife and me invisible--at least to themselves--because the glass of brown water I eventually threw at one of them after being ignored for ten minutes failed to elicit a response. We were happy with the price, though. Very reasonable rates, which is a good thing because if they had charged us the same as another Empress restaurant I know in Chinatown, I would have had to embarrass my wife publicly with a patented Tom Tantrum, and no one needs that. The only other positive I can give is at least the parking is free. But if youre hungry, walk right past Sea Empress and into Marukai Market, where you can find all kinds of food that is actually good.

Review №100

2019-10-30 09:17:55

This is a great dimsum spot for the South Bay area. Yeah yeah Monterrey park and Alhambra have the best dimsum blah blah but sometimes I dont want to drive that far. This place is legit. They got the shu-mais, har-gows, bbq pork steamed buns, etc. Its definitely worth it.

Review №101

2023-08-22 18:34:50

Dim sum is ok.No cart only order on menu a la carte.

Review №102

2019-08-05 13:44:39

Clean, great service, excellent taste

Review №103

2018-02-08 07:34:42

Loud, crowded, service is ok. As others have said. But in the South Bay there arent many options for dim sum. Used to go to PV Palace but they closed down. Surprisingly this was my first time there and it was on Christmas day. Id have to say that this place was hands down much better than PV Palace. So glad to have found a replacement dim sum joint. The salt pepper shrimp, shumai and tripe were my favorites of our meal.

Review №104

2022-10-03 06:00:28

I just went there today one of the best restaurants I’ve been to if not the best. I recommend getting the chicken on a sugar cane egg custard sticky rice and shumai.

Review №105

2023-02-05 01:52:51

Totally delicious dim sum!! Still served tableside on carts - the best way to experience it.

Review №106

2023-12-09 14:32:19

The foods are quite Delicious and their staff is excellent.

Review №107

2022-06-02 16:08:57

Used to be THE place to go for good Chinese food in South Bay, dimsum in particular. Now the food is inedible. What a shame. I can remember when it first opened, it was an instant landmark.

Review №108

2017-11-21 00:44:19

My family has been coming here for 20 years. This was my grandmas favorite restaurant. Everytime we come here we get treated like loud monkey in a library. We get no service. We have to beg to get water and constantly have to call over a waiter or whatever those managers they have that will forget your order minutes after them writing it down. The last 2 times weve been here have been embarrassing to say the least. Thank you treating my family like we walked in there with small pox. I hope to never bring any family and friends here. Hopefully someone will buy you guys out in the next couple years

Review №109

2019-03-24 19:44:09

The service was actually excellent (despite us being not Chinese) but the food was only okay. It’s a 20-25 minute wait at noon on Sunday, which is fine. The food was barely warm which was strange considering how busy it was.

Review №110

2017-01-08 03:59:02

Overall decent dimsum offerings with a few problematic dishes such as fried chicken that still has frozen center. Radish cake that maybe spoiled. Long wait time of 2 hours. Cannot recommend.

Review №111

2019-03-16 20:36:15

Great place for dim sum if you want to make the drive to Garden Grove. They get pretty busy on the weekends but the wait times arent that long since the restaurant is pretty big.

Review №112

2022-01-03 00:46:07

The service totally sucks! The Chinese woman that works the front desk is extremely rude. She did not acknowledge us when we walked in to order. She took her time on her phone orders and when she got off, she didnt ask how can I help you? We just walked out. Before I left I asked you handle to go orders, right? She said yes and sat down and continued to work on her computer. I was like you just have us standing here. And she just ignored me. I Will never visit here again. This is the second time that I visited this restaurant and was treated this way. Never again. ✌

Review №113

2021-05-11 07:54:00

It was good it wasnt too busy but Im allergic to shrimp and they were shrimp and nearly everything other than that if youre not allergic to shrimp this is a great place to eat Chinese authentic

Review №114

2022-04-06 03:43:41

I had really bad experience with MARY. Was calling to order food, however, she had Bad attitude then hang up my call.Food are very nice. But again, I wont come anymore because of MARY.

Review №115

2019-09-19 22:08:31

One of my favorite dimsum/Chinese restaurants in South Bay. Their entrees are always hot, fresh and tastes very good. It is always busy so come early.

Review №116

2022-10-28 22:15:09

Only problem here is I eat too much...everything is so good and I need to have some of everything. Good selection and all served fresh and hot.

Review №117

2024-04-09 17:05:41

The dim sum is delicious

Review №118

2021-08-07 20:42:31

The dim sum choices are great. Food are fresh and tasty. Very authentic. Service is nice too.

Review №119

2018-05-16 23:37:33

Authentic dim sum place in South Bay. Shrimp dumplings, char shiu bao, sesame balls, egg tarts, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves are all thumbs up. Our family also love their beef intestines with special chili sauce on the side. Yummy.

Review №120

2019-06-30 20:56:26

Came here for dim sum...food are good..taste right...service excellent..I gave 20 pct tips...try to select a 5-star..but the restroom not well clean...specially all those chrome fitting...got molded or fungus.. Huge area for improvement.

Review №121

2023-06-02 21:23:33

Typical Chinese restaurant. Food is a bit greasy and if you dont like msg, then you wouldnt enjoy it.

Review №122

2022-05-19 14:15:30

Dim Sum is very good! Service is good. Kitchen does not take orders until 11am.

Review №123

2022-06-04 15:27:23

A wonderful selection of Dim Sum and Chinese dishes. Great selection to anyones delight. I do miss the roving carts due to Covid.

Review №124

2017-02-01 01:41:13

Really standard dimsum, but everything tastes about the way it should and the service is about what I expect out of a Chinese restaurant. Nothing especially amazing, but hits the spot when I want dimsum and its certainly a lot better than a lot of other close-by places Ive tried.

Review №125

2023-02-08 05:23:27

Typical Chinese Restaurant with diimsum.Too many people waiting for weekend lunch.Good food but little noisy.

Review №126

2018-12-31 03:38:26

This place was good 13 years ago and it still good now. I like that they a variety of dim sum more than other spots flavors have always been consistent.

Review №127

2020-01-23 21:39:28

The food was great! I wanted to give 5 stars, but there was a bit of waiting for the Dim sum cart to make its rounds.

Review №128

2018-12-11 14:37:11

Great place. I plan on treating my cousin this Friday. I am thinking of ordering the lobster with ginger sauce over fun chow because it will be a new experience. This will be our second visit.

Review №129

2023-08-16 05:06:23

Missed the carts coming to your table ..only weekendsRhe Thai fried rice was not that good

Review №130

2014-12-08 22:52:26

Came here for a function in the private party section. staff was quick and helpful when called. food was below average. lobster had lots of flour than meat. peking duck was more boney and bao was thin. salt and pepper beef was most tender though. id come back for their dimsum hour

Review №131

2023-10-15 05:04:15

Food was ok but restaurant needs some serious cleaning, updating and refurbishing.

Review №132

2021-10-09 18:09:31

Really great dim sum options for lunch! Fast, hot, delicious, and affordable!Would visit again!

Review №133

2020-01-25 04:41:39

Enjoyed the food, delicious food, good service

Review №134

2014-04-24 20:16:15

Havent been disappointed yet. Always very tasty. Service to pretty good too. If your in the area, give it a try. I think youll like it too.

Review №135

2019-08-30 19:00:27

They have an awesome community event that I attended. They do so much to support their community and their surrounding community, as well. One of their technicians renovated my house and it is so beautiful. Highly recommended.

Review №136

2017-04-25 06:21:22

Was a 5 star BUT they ditched their traditional red hot sauce to cheap shiracha?!? They should not down grade. Hope management will see this. *please do not down grade recipe*

Review №137

2018-03-11 21:07:23

Been coming since 80s and still serves best Chinese in Southbay. Dont live in LA anymore but SE is a must stop for our family when we visit LA!Not too many places in Southbay, I think, that you can get Shaoshing served with your dinner.

Review №138

2019-03-14 20:21:39

This place used to be my top Chinese restaurant not anymore after a take out order, when I got home the shrimp fried rice was over cooked and the shrimp was not cleaned on top of that the spring rolls had weird stuff in it. What a huge disappointment knowing that this is not a fast food chinese place... They increased the prices for poor quality!

Review №139

2021-10-31 22:01:02

The best dim sum in town. We visit this restaurant at least once a month. The shu mai is our favorite.

Review №140

2023-05-20 21:45:31

The dum sum was just ok, I will drive to Monterrey park instead.

Review №141

2019-07-10 03:25:29

Dimsum for the win.... gets busy on the weekends so be ready to wait. Other than that, great food. 4 stars because of slow service.

Review №142

2016-11-15 07:32:00

Dim sum is decent, powerful air conditioning, good service, huge place, order from the waiter, food comes out more fresh.

Review №143

2017-09-11 18:37:22

Great dim sum - its pretty much the only authentic full service Cantonese restaurant in the South Bay and we are so glad its here.

Review №144

2021-09-14 01:37:18

Food was good,but the servers,touching food without gloves and long fingernails these are men but it looks disgusting,unsanitary,they shouldn’t serve like that..

Review №145

2022-04-12 05:27:39

Excellent food and service everytime we go! Had my daughters wedding reception there! Highly recommend!

Review №146

2022-09-06 00:55:10

Went at a busy time, service wasn’t great. A lot of the times cart lady didn’t stop to ask what we wanted, and no one was paying attention to us.

Review №147

2020-01-28 22:48:19

Had a great experience. I attended a memorial luncheon today. The food was fresh and great service and nice atmosphere. I look forward to visiting again

Review №148

2018-01-22 07:54:59

A bit over priced for dimsums, some food brought out are cold, fried ones arent always hot nor warm, everything for dimsums was just So-so... 6 plates bout $50 😭

Review №149

2023-04-15 02:02:42

The place is run down and food could be better. Service can be improved.

Review №150

2020-07-27 04:17:53

I love this place. Always come here when Im on vacation and special occasions. I cant wait til covid 19 is over and I can dine in again. Stay safe.💚💙♥️💛

Review №151

2023-02-27 22:26:02

I miss the carts but its the closest dim sum Chinatown or San Gabriel Valley Dim Sum

Review №152

2022-08-07 05:21:21

The place was full by 12 Noon. The dim sum was good and service was attentive.

Review №153

2016-08-19 20:30:32

Seafood is very fresh. We ordered a steamed sea bass and its tender and tasty. Peking duck was ok.

Review №154

2019-05-30 05:06:53

My familys favorite restaurant. We have all of our gatherings here. Great food. Great service. Great times!

Review №155

2021-09-25 16:36:26

My family drove 4 hour from rom Arroyo Grande to eat just to eat there. The food is amazingly delicious.

Review №156

2019-01-30 02:50:08

Spacey Chinese restaurant good for group gathering. Steam Chicken bun is delicious and other dim sum is good too.

Review №157

2019-02-20 02:28:52

Great service, recommend the dim sum. Has very large seafood tanks for lobsters and crabs. Food was very delicious.

Review №158

2019-09-06 07:20:40

Cheaper than other dim sum restaurant.In general good taste. Do not order any cha-sow (叉燒) related foods.

Review №159

2020-01-19 01:00:47

The place is clean and staff very friendly. The dim sum are acceptable and prices are ok,

Review №160

2024-03-28 12:25:45

Good food

Review №161

2023-03-28 01:09:57

Good dim sum, but hard to get the cart ladies’ attention.

Review №162

2018-05-13 17:51:43

This has become the go - to place for fresh sea food. The first thing you see when you walk in are tanks full of live sea animals that will be prepared for fantastic dishes!

Review №163

2015-11-24 19:09:13

This is really the only place to get dim sum in the south bay . Good if youre in a fix. Quick service and short waits.

Review №164

2017-01-05 16:02:18

This place is just OK for dim sum if you compare with the one in San Gabriel Valley. It is very expensive and foods are just OK. You will only go there if you are unwilling to go somewhere far and crazy hungry for dim sum.

Review №165

2013-12-05 07:29:57

The food is delicious but the last time I was there the restaurant was dirty and smelled bad. I dont want to go back because its dirty.

Review №166

2019-06-17 06:13:00

Not the greatest dimsum but definitely the best in the south bay. Better than going all the way out to Alhambra usually.

Review №167

2017-11-12 00:02:09

Great dimsum in particular they serve it in rolling carts for customers to choose from just like in Hong Kong!

Review №168

2018-09-19 03:26:18

Great food. If you appreciate the subtle flavors of seafood and veggies. Try this place. We will be back

Review №169

2015-09-03 21:04:03

Not the best, but pretty much the only choice for dimsum around these parts. They have a good picture menu. Service is meh...

Review №170

2022-05-28 13:37:45

Foods are good. Place is clean.Good customer service. Will come back again

Review №171

2017-04-16 19:38:14

For a seafood place, their best dish is their crispy duck. Nice ambience and the waiters are quick and polite. Seafood dish average.

Review №172

2020-03-06 21:35:22

This is one of my fav Chinese Restaurants here, I love there Spicey Garlic Pork, Panfried Beef, Sweet & Sour Pork and there fried rices.

Review №173

2022-09-13 03:35:04

Food was mediocre, and service was terrible. No AC also made it unbearable.

Review №174

2013-09-08 00:23:49

The dim sum leaves a lot to be desired. The service is fine, but the quality of the food was poor.

Review №175

2022-08-16 05:13:46

Food was good, but not highend as the prices have become

Review №176

2023-04-24 19:57:12

Went for the lunch dim sum, it was great!!

Review №177

2021-08-06 19:27:34

This is the first time and the last time here.Expensive than other dim sum restaurants and flavor sucks.

Review №178

2022-02-26 21:06:14

Delicious dim sum. Compatible prices. Good selection.

Review №179

2018-11-05 16:37:48

Gotta love this place!! Its basicly a buffet the comes to you...and they have great food.

Review №180

2017-03-05 18:41:30

The dim sum has lots of choices but it is kind of expensive compared to other dim sum places in LA county. Still a good choice though.

Review №181

2019-08-02 23:09:28

Great dimsum complete with carts. A bigger group is helpful to get more variety.

Review №182

2017-03-18 06:54:46

Went for dim sum; great place, had fun, good portions.

Review №183

2022-11-27 02:39:34

Amazing food one of the best i had in LA area!

Review №184

2023-12-03 23:39:35

Love this place .Ox Stew is the best

Review №185

2019-03-25 04:35:02

Been going to this restaurant for three last 20 years. Food is good as n consistent and prices reasonable.

Review №186

2022-08-15 15:48:13

Really good food! The portion size is decent!!

Review №187

2006-03-16 00:00:00

Typical hong kong style dim sum and cantonese style food. great seafood. a bit pricey compared to chinatown.

Review №188

2013-04-28 21:31:53

Great dim sum.... shao lom pow here rules.Dont see it on the menu? They will make it for you.

Review №189

2016-07-08 18:14:05

As good as it is going to get for the South Bay. Come early- dim sum is better when it is fresh.

Review №190

2022-07-16 00:53:34

We were group of 14. Nice service and good food.

Review №191

2019-10-19 19:37:39

Although its not as good as dim sum in Hong Kong but still good dim sum in LA!

Review №192

2018-10-12 00:07:29

If you like some strange Chinese food, it’s ok. Most of dishes are too salty

Review №193

2021-07-28 03:43:17

Great food.

Review №194

2022-03-22 20:37:02

Excellent food and service. Glad theyre still here

Review №195

2017-09-16 02:59:19

Great dim sum and go to place for large group dinner.

Review №196

2020-01-19 03:26:03

Good place— dim sum only served til 2pm

Review №197

2019-07-09 19:52:00

Check your water carefully, theres something in it sometimes. I feel they add lemon to hide that strange debris.

Review №198

2021-07-21 20:28:49

Very slow service charging tea and dont ask if we want it just gave it to us serving others before us

Review №199

2019-09-26 03:51:50

Food was not as good as b4 some dishes too salty.dim sum is still ok