East Ocean Palace
“If you're a Queens resident, that's well worth not having to schlep to Flushing/Chinatown.”
“Where's the shout out to the pineapple buns?!?!”
“Probably will be going again this Sunday! 🙂 Sunday can get crowded after 11am.”
East Ocean Palace
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Some years ago, East Ocean Palace started as a true contender in the NYC dim sum battle. I was ready to splurge on 4 stars after a few trips here. Two weekends ago, however, it took a turn for the worse.
My favorite items to order here: the pineapple buns (with actual pineapple bits) still came out piping hot, but the custard filling was overly sweet. The mango egg tarts are also no longer made here. That's right, collective sighs heard across Queens. Though not classic in their execution, these were the items that made East Ocean stand apart from the rest.
The rest of the dim sum was even less impressive. The skins on the shrimp dumplings were super sticky, and clung to my chopsticks & to each other like a 'millenial' to his mom's 'teet.' In fact, almost all the skins on every order broke. No one wants their fillings to pour out of their buns; that's what Spanx are for.
A few members of the staff can be overly rude. I once inquired about their famous pineapple buns. This particular waiter said 'if it comes around, you'll see it.' He didn't even bother checking for me. After 10-15 minutes, I gave him a questioning look, and he screamed from across the restaurant in Cantonese, "if they don't have it, they don't have it!"
Oh, genius.
Overdue review, but my parents and I used to come here quite often! There aren't really any Dim Sum places in the Forest Hills area — you'd probably need to go to Elmhurst or Flushing for anything real..unless you come to this place!
East Ocean has quite a large dining room, and they're really quick about seating you even if there's a wait. My family and I usually get around 7-8 dishes here and they come around really quick. You can expect to start eating within 5 minutes of being seated, so if you're really hungry this is the place! I have had better dim sum for sure, but this place really isn't too shabby. Their desserts are a little meh
I get most of my dim sum from the main Chinatown areas (Flushing, 8th Ave or Chinatown in Manhattan).
I went to East Ocean Palace when I lived in Forest Hills for a short time. It's convenient for residents around the area who don't want to go all the way to the crowded Chinatowns. Despite it not being in the heart of the Chinese community, it still gets crowded during the weekends for dim sum.
I've have dim sum and dinner here. Dim sum was pretty good and they have some different dishes like egg tarts with tapioca inside. I ordered the beef chow fun which was kinda bland even though it looks very dark and flavorful. The dinner entrees are big and tasty. The fish with tofu casserole is served on a metal dish over a small flame to keep it warm.
Overall, a decent place for dim sum if you're around the area.
Went for Sunday lunch and had some good dim sum. If you are driving, be prepared to drive around the block several times. Parking is quite limited but if you look carefully enough, you will find it. When we arrived, wait was about 10 minutes for 2 people. There were quite a bit of people waiting, holding a piece of paper with number on it. Since we were only 2 ppl, they asked if we were willing to share a table. If you share a table, you'll get seated quicker than if you wait for a table for your party only. Once we sat down, everything came out fairly quickly. They rotate different foods via different carts so if u dont see what you are looking for, either ask or be patient and wait.
They also have gigantic crabs in the tank & live lobsters to be cooked upon order.
We shall return here again.
I have mixed feeling on East Ocean Palace. I've dined here on many occasions for dim sum, East Ocean as the only dim sum restaurant in the area. The lunch wait on the weekends are similar to Chinatown unless you have a party of 2 or less, then the wait time is less if you are willing to sit next to strangers. The prices are higher on average, $15 – 20 to be moderately full. The quality of the dim sum is mediocre.
The only reason why I would come here again is for the convenience of the location. Most times I'll travel to Chinatown for dim sum.
Note there is a $30 minimum credit card charge.
This place is truly become one of my favorite dim sum spots! It is at a pretty quiet neighborhood location in queens. But it is a huge building it is hard to miss. The first time I came it was packed with people. The second time I came during the week day and the crowds toned down but still a good amount of people. The interior is very much like a banquet style place. The staff is very quick with the orders and taking care of things which I like the efficiency. The food was wow! I loved every dish I got. There was one particular shrimp dish I enjoyed it was with a big spicy pepper and some delicious sause. Another was the shrimp balls. The egg tarts are delightful and yhe sesame balls are very delicious! I tried so many shrimp dishes I can't name them all but it was so good! I got enough dim sum to stuff three people and in total it cost about 40 dollars but it was so worth it it was like 3 rounds of dim sum haha mind you we are great eaters!
I've been to East Ocean Palace several times for dim sum and once for dinner. I've always come here out of convenience because I live a few short blocks over. It is usually packed during the weekends for dim sum to a point where you sometimes have to wait to be seated, but it is always quiet during the weekdays. The dim sum options is actually fairly vast and the food itself is rather respectable and quite tasty.
I came here this past weekend for dinner and I probably would not come here for that anymore, only dim sum… if I am not too lazy to make my way to Elmhurst or Flushing for dim sum that is! It was surprisingly very empty for prime dinner time on a weekend. In terms of the food, everything was just average at best – nothing particularly memorable. The sirloin steak was overdone, the fried chicken was dry, the fried squid was over battered, the beef stew with bean curd was meh, even the rice taste of bad quality. At least the Peking style pork chops were okay, and the snow pea tips and mayonnaise shrimp with walnuts were delicious. The crab meat with fish maw soup was pretty good as well. We did get complimentary oranges and sweet red bean soup at the end of dinner which was nice.
East Ocean Palace is the only restaurant of its kind in all of Forest Hills. It is the only one that serves dim sum and Cantonese cuisine. Unfortunately that also means higher prices because there is no competition. If you live in the neighborhood and really craving dim sum, I think it's worth a go. However, I wouldn't go out of my way to come to this restaurant and especially not for dinner here.
When you think of dim sum Forest Hills definitely does not come to mind. If you don't want to head all the way out to Flushing then East Ocean Palace is great alternative. The restaurant is a bit smaller then other spots, but the crowds are also smaller as well. It can still get a bit busy during peak dim sum hours, but if you are willing to share a table you will get one pretty quickly.
The service is pretty quick and the carts are frequent. They have all the dim sum staples and everything always comes out hot. I always enjoy the char siu bao and the haw gau. I like finish off my dim sum with some dan tat, but you may have to wait for that. I never really see many of these circulating. Overall a pretty decent dim sum spot.