888 Sea Food Restaurant

12/28/07

Just what you'd expect from a typical dim sum place

by jwhung

I"m chinese and raised on this. Every saturday/sunday morning or holiday - dimsum it is. Crazy carts passing you with the food you want, servers coming by with dishes you don't want. I like going there only cuz my mother-in-law knows the hostess so we get seated pretty fast. If not, be prepared to wait! 30-90 minutes depending on the size of your party, and the time you get there. Suggestion for ANY chinese restuarant ~ never ever use the cutlery until you've at least wiped it down, make sure your dishes are clean, and don't drink the water. It's tap and have you seen their sink...yech. Either way the food is good and if you get there early enough, very fresh. They have all my favorite dim sum dishes plus some. Parking is terrible but its all about getting there early enough. Don't bother showing up around 2pm cuz you'll just get the leftovers. The servers will ignore you sometimes, just make sure if you need something ask a few of them and one of them is bound to get you what you need. Usually the man in the suits are the managers and are typically much more helpful than the server and bussers, that's if you can get there attention. Anyway, food is delish - just have time and patience if you plan to go.

• Pros: Wide variety, fresh food when its early
• Cons: parking; seating time

08/11/06

Best Dim Sum in all LA county...even over Express Pavilion

by rachel1215

I was the only American in the whole restaurant, so that was a good sign. I like Express Pavilion in Chinatown a lot for its food and its also closer to my home, but 888 has way more variety. Everything was delicious. Service was minimal, which I like b/c Im here for the food, not the service. The wait is really long for Dim Sum on Sunday so come early and bring a book. This place is huge!--its fun to come here with out-of-towners or a big group. It can be a little intimidating at first-hailing down a cart-so if you feel more comfortable, go with people who have gone here before.

Note to haters: Different culture, different food, ergo, different language and customs and therefore different service. You cant expect than the in-your-face, do-as-you-please service thats at most American restaurants. As a server and servee, I personally like no-muss-no-fuss service such as at 888, but I think some people take that as bad service or rudeness. Just a note--be culturally aware of your surroundings. Its LA, dammn it.

• Pros: Dim Sum, dessert, reasonable prices
• Cons: packed on Sunday for Dim Sum so expect a long wait

01/28/06

Refused Service - NO FOOD!!!

by love2eatlyingdown

I took my girlfriend to this restaurant for the first time because it was recommended to me by a friend. We arrived around 9pm. We got a number and waited about 15min to be called. When our number was called the hostess told us to wait because she was going to ckeck that the table was ready. She came back with the manager, and they were discussing something in Chinese. She then told us that we coulod not be served because there was NO MORE FOOD. I asked her what time they normally close, and she said at 9:30pm, but they ran out of food. The odd part was that right before our number was called (about 2 minutes) another party of about 10 people got called and was seated, and it seemed like there was another couple who was still waiting. We will NEVER GO TO THIS RESTAURANT AGAIN!

• Pros: NONE
• Cons: NO FOOD, NO SERVICE

10/01/05

WORSE RESTAURANT EVER!!!!

by outgolfing26

It was a decent slow day...we only waited for 15 min. WE HAD TO FLAG EVERY CART DOWN FOR FOOD..and it wasn't even 1 or two times...but, it was like 5-8 times....WHEN IT CAME THEY TOLD US THERE WERE NO MORE FOOD. When they came out of the kitchen instead of going to our area, they went to other tables....it got so bad that some of the tables around us clapped when the cart came. We got so fed up that we complain, and I've never complained. But, nothing was done.....we just got up and left!!!! DON'T EVER GO TO THIS HORRIBLE PLACE.

• Pros: NONE, NONE, NONE
• Cons: SERVICE, NO FOOD, EVERYTHING SLOW

09/14/05

The Dim Sum with the most variety of dishes!

by jonahlee

This Hong Kong style seafood restaurant is fantastic. It not only the best variety of any dim sum place I have ever been (my girlfriend is from Sichuan, China, and even she couldn't identify everything), but the place has amazing service. Different from most dim sum places, not only are their an abundance of dim sum carts that travel around, but their are also the most helpful waiters I have ever seen. They will take you order for individual dim sums and bring them to you (ask for a dim sum menu), and they even refilled out ice water without us asking. This place has amazing service and is totally reasonably priced. I couldn't recommend it any more, it is spectacular!

• Pros: Inexpensive, Variety, Great Service
• Cons: Parking