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Name: Tropical Chinese Restaurant
Address: 7991 SW 40th St, Miami, FL, 33155
Telephone: (305) 262-1552
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.67

Tropical Chinese Restaurant

7991 SW 40th St, Miami, FL, 33155

(305) 262-1552
Store is closed

Tropical Chinese Restaurant Menu

Dim Sum

Steamed Shrimp Dumpling har Gow'

Steamed Siu Mai

Chicken Pot-stickers

Leek Dumpling Pan Grilled

Crispy Shrimp Roll
Cold Plates - Salads

Jellyfish Salad

Napa Cabbage Salad

Spicy Braised Beef Shank Tossed
Soup

Shrimp Wonton Soup (2)

Hot & Sour Soup* (2)

Chicken Corn Soup (2)

Seafood To-fu Soup (2)

Ginger Scallion Seafood Soup (2)
Shrimp

Emperors Prawns

Prawns W/ Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce

Pepper-salt Spiced Prawns

Xo Prawns

Sizzling Garlic Prawns
Fish

Snapper Supreme

Fillet Of Snapper

Crispy Peppercorn-salt Flounder Boat

Szechuan Peppercorn Fish

Filet Of Flounder Hong-kong Style

Healthy Meal suggestions for Tropical Chinese Restaurant

Dim Sum

Steamed Shrimp Dumpling har Gow' [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steamed Siu Mai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Pot-stickers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Leek Dumpling Pan Grilled [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Shrimp Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cold Plates - Salads

Jellyfish Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Napa Cabbage Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Braised Beef Shank Tossed [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup

Shrimp Wonton Soup (2) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot & Sour Soup* (2) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Corn Soup (2) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood To-fu Soup (2) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginger Scallion Seafood Soup (2) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Shrimp

Emperors Prawns [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prawns W/ Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepper-salt Spiced Prawns [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Xo Prawns [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sizzling Garlic Prawns [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fish

Snapper Supreme [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fillet Of Snapper [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Peppercorn-salt Flounder Boat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Szechuan Peppercorn Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Filet Of Flounder Hong-kong Style [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Natasha R.

Went for dinner last night with our family! The food was delicious! We ordered the shrimp dumplings and spring rolls as appetizers, both very good. For Entrees we all shared the Peking Duck, the Orange peel beef and the coconut curry chicken and vegetable fried rice, all to share and ALL were so very exquisite! I cannot wait til we go there again!!
(5)
Renata F.

Came here on a Wednesday night with my boyfriend and was a little disappointed to know that the food cart service is only before 3:30pm Monday through Sunday. We still are delicious dim sum and some beef and everything all the flavors in the food were amazing! Bill came out to $77 with two beers two dim sum and two entrees. Will come back again to try the different dishes :)
(4)
Amy N.

Not a bad spot!! I was solo so just had soup, rice and spring rolls. All were totally fine. Not knock your socks off but very decent. It was a bit pricy ($49, before tip) but I had a glass of wine and a Mai-tai, too. Definitely will be back to try their dim-sum.
(3)
Rozanne D.

AmaZing Dim Sum!!! A must go and You can spend alll day eating :))) For you sweet tooth people try the sesame balls - you won't regret it!
(4)
Michelle C.

Loved the food and experience. Everything was so tasty and authentic. The staff was ready with the carts the staff quick to provide service. Definately will return.
(5)
James J.

I am quite the fan of trying new things and exploring my palate as much as possible. Tropical not only was able to provide the service and delivery of numerous options for new and exotic items, but hands down presented the best asian/cantonese experience I could have possibly hoped for, as well as my first attempt at a dim sum meal. Throughly impressed. The Space: Large and accommodating with plenty of asian-theming, Tropical is a bustling restaurant that manages to remain spacious (assumably because they have to allow for the carts that deliver each savory dish to each table). Additionally, there are various sizes of table for whatever party number you have. The Food: Our table ordered primarily off of the dim sum menu, only adding a plate of fried rice to the following: -Leek dumplings -Fried Taro Shrimp patties -Steamed roast pork buns -Baked BBQ pork buns -Chicken dumplings -Siu mai -Shrimp dumplings -Mexican buns In order of best to...well...least best (nothing was bad or something I just "did not care for") -Steamed roast pork buns (A+): The texture and sweetness of the bun were unlike anything I have ever experienced, and combined with the incredibly seasoned pork held within...I could have order a dozen of these and carried no shame whatsoever. -Baked BBQ pork buns (A): A more americanized, sweeter styling of pork, yet still pairing superbly with that unique sweetness that only these types of buns can produce. A unique take on a BBQ sandwich that I far from hated. -Chicken dumplings (A): The best dumpling I have ever tasted. Period. Paired incredibly well with the chili sauce they provide on the table. -Siu Mai (B+): I am not a particular fan of seafood, but this combination of shrimp and pork created a very intriguing blend of flavor and texture. A touch of soy and I was completely satisfied. -Mexican buns (B+): Non-traditional in that this item is not really asian, these buns caught my eye in passing throughout the meal. The familiar sweetness of the breading, the rich but subtle sweetness of the custard and the crumbly, but smooth texture of the icing on top...it was remarkably satisfying while allowing for more than one bun to not be overwhelming. -Fried taro shrimp patties (B): Super-crispy patty with texture from the noodles used to craft its general shape, yet containing a dense shrimp mash that, though a tad starchy, was quite tasty to sample. I could have stood for this item to be a little hotter when it reached the table but still enjoyed the flavor enough to finish a whole one -Leek dumplings (B): A tasty option for a dumpling, but a little texturally unappealing for me in comparison to the other items present. Still very delicious to eat. -Shrimp dumplings (B): With this item, I feel my lack of passion for seafood is the sole reason for my not enjoying this item more. They were definitely tasty, tender, and arrived hot to the table, but I simply preferred the chicken dumplings with both present. The Service: This was my first time experiencing the banquet that is dim sum, but I felt no faltering in service of food or in managing the dishes on the table as we racked up items. The staff always came around multiple times, such that we were never lacking in food or drink, and when we ordered the fried rice to the table it came out within 10 minutes. When needed, explanations of dishes came readily and with an inviting tone that made ordering that much easier. I should note that for those who prefer separate checks, the single sheet used to order items also dictates a single bill, so splitting this between people becomes a tad cumbersome. Hardly an issue considering the swiftness of the staff. Final Thoughts: I am the type to eat multiple small meals throughout a day rather than a couple big ones, so this was a very welcomed first for me. I also loved the fact that every item was right in front of me, fresh and ready versus a place where I might have to commit to a whole dish of something I may or may not want to finish, site unseen. Price-wise, a group of four people will likely spend $20 per person, so come bearing this in mind. Tropical is a must when I next visit the area and I feel my taste for dim sum will always be compared to this first, resoundingly incredible visit.
(5)
Kimberly N.

The food was very good for the price and the service was excellent. We tried the shrimp dumplings (which were just shrimp in a wonton wrapper), shrimp & leek dumplings, pork dumplings, steamed pork buns (which would've tasted excellent if they were hot instead of room temp), spring rolls, fried shrimp (which the waitress kept on trying to push onto us and wasn't quite worth the $9 price), and others. Overall, we had a very positive experience.
(4)
Yussi M.

What can I not say about this mediocre meals, service and price. We started with shrimp wonton soup that was tasteless. The soup was suppose to be for two people, but they bought out a big bowl and served a cup for each of us before taking it away. Total miss represent on the menu and by the waiter. We ordered a spring dumpling from dim sum menu and I've had MUCH BETTER. We order spring rolls that had some type of protein they called chicken, which I really really doubt it was. We ordered a seafood rice noodle thinking it would be good based on description. Total disappointment! The seafood was hard and the noodles had no favor. The service was terrible. Had to get waiters' attention several times throughout the meal for simple things (i.e. Fork, water, and plate removal). The food plates ordered were overpriced. I've eaten in 4plus star places with similar prices and better food.
(1)
Anonymous ..

BIG CITY Chinese located in a neighborhood strip plaza. Absolutely the best Chinese food I've ever had. This isn't the typical slop-on-a-plate Chinese food we've come to expect. No buffet. No early bird special. Just amazing food. From the outside Tropical like any other neighborhood Chinese restaurant. Located in a strip mall, you will be surprised when you walk inside. The owners are always there to greet you at the door. Servers are professional. Tables have linens. The restaurant is clean. The left side has a bar and intimate tables for 2 -4. The other side is best for groups. They are a great choice for a date night... or groups. They have a full bar and wine menu. Awesome dim sum choices were the steamed shrimp dumplings, friend shrimp wontons and pan seared chicken dumplings. Each was cooked to absolute perfection and served with an its own sauce. Great entree choices were honey garlic chicken, fried to perfection with paper thin batter and amazing sauce. General Tso's chicken with amazing flavor. And orange peel steak... the highlight of our meal! WORTH THE DRIVE. We live 45 minutes away!
(5)
Gianfranco B.

A COMPLETE DISAPPOINTMENT... zero leftovers :( But yea, as far as Traditional Chinese spots go.. Tropical is definitely a CHOICE SPOT in Miami. Go on and order away!
(5)
Claire M.

When I attended the University of Miami I was here EVERY single Friday night! Not once was I brought a sub-par appetizer, meal, side dish, ANYTHING! It is so good that I even had my graduation dinner here following the ceremony. The dimsum are out of this world and every single dish there is a close second (yes, I have tried almost ALL of them and have nothing bad to say!). Jason is also the MAN when it comes to waiters. He knows what to order and won't ever steer you wrong. If you happen to be in Miami and love quality dimsum and Chinese food in general, go here and you won't regret it.
(5)
Hikari G.

A local favorite that has won multiple awards and that is always packed. This place can be a bit pricy with 8+ groups but the food is always hot and delicious with plenty of seating. The yummy Peking duck is prepared before your eyes and so worth trying, and they have a large dim-sum selection that comes around in little carts during lunch. If you haven't tried this spot please do I really think you will enjoy it.
(5)
Roy L.

The food was sooooo good! Especially fish in the chilli oil was so tender and tasty! However, it's kinda pricy. Overall, it's a great Chinese restaurant
(4)
Jason G.

Where do I start? I guess I should start by saying I don't drive much, especially when it comes to food. This was a solid hour ride for me and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. I would suppose it's a long ride for most people because I don't know who in the hell is living in this area. You could easily drive by it if you didn't have your GPS on. It's located in a dilapidated strip center that is best suited for one of those credit repair agencies, a palm reader and probably a happy ending massage parlor. All that aside, Tropical Chinese is legit. I don't claim to be some dim sum aficionado, but I have no problem saying this is the most authentic I've had in all of Florida. In fact, if you opt to eat dim sum anywhere else you should just run in traffic, preferably on the Palmetto Expressway. I could list all the great things I had, but it happens so quick that it's almost impossible to keep up. So all I can do is tell you some helpful tips. Arrive at least before 1pm on Sunday because you want to make sure you're getting everything before they run out. If you're hungry, don't fret because you'll be eating the moment you sit down. DO NOT attempt to do this with less than 3 people at your table. You could try and do this with just two, but its better in bunches. The goal is variety here. You want to get as much as possible and share it. Plus, most of these items come in 3, so its best to keep your options open. The dumplings, steamed buns, sticky rice, shrimp, pork, tofu, eggplant, chicken, the veggies (Chinese broccoli and bok choy), the crab balls or those crab things that taste like corn dogs, all very good. You will fill up rather quickly too so don't be afraid to take a little breather. This place is deserving of all its praise and while I don't necessarily think I'd make this drive for anything other than their dim sum, I can't imagine most of their menu items aren't equally as awesome. When I say it's authentic, I mean the people sweating in the kitchen are literally straight off the boat. Nothing here is sacrificed. The food is fresh and high quality. The service is typical, no-nonsense, little patience, zero humor, kinda opinionated and sometimes coarse but its to be expected and none of it is ever bad enough to discourage you from coming here. It's a cultural thing you just learn to accept over the years and I happen to think its apart of of the whole experience. Dominate me with your dim sum please.
(5)
Kim O.

We went here for dim sum on a Sunday morning. It was super busy but we got a seat right away. The experience was fun but I felt like the quality of the food was just not that great. They do have a huge variety of dishes to try, which was a plus and the servers were all over the place and always offering fresh dishes. I just was not thrilled with anything I tried. In particular the duck was very disappointing. I was really looking forward to it but blah. The shrimp dumpling thingies were pretty good. The desserts are very unique and I did enjoy those. I can't remember the name but there was a sesame seed dessert and a bean paste one? Weird but good. Fun dim sum experience but the food is just ok.
(3)
Salvatore S.

Tropical Chinese ha been around as long as I can remember. Dim sum for lunch is lots of fun. There are all of these carts going around with all different foods you are dying to taste. Being at least 4 people so that you can try a few things. My favorites are the shrimp, shrimp dumpling kind of thing, and orange beef. The wonton soup was really good and I don't think I'll be able to order that anywhere else again. Last, we had the chicken in black bean sauce ( you have to try at least one dish in bb sauce) was awesome. Go there, try lots of dishes and enjoy. Just don't let the people with the carts throw food in your table because the cost adds up. Lastly, go there for Chinese New Year if you can. They have a dragon going around the room and it's lots of fun. My dad loved this restaurant and I will always think fondly of it and try to get there whenever I can.
(4)
Jo E.

It's the best in Miami, but that is not saying much. Today the food seemed to be full of MSG. The beef was cold and old and the server took it to the kitchen and nuked it, so it was old and micro-gross. For two of us I paid $47.00 for lunch! no drinks! Ridiculous. So long as it is filled with fans, they will not change.
(3)
Yell N.

First things first order the Peking Duck... Honestly it was the best thing we had all night. The service leaves something to be desired but the food made up for our waiter who disappeared throughout our meal and only reappeared with our check. Environment: the ambiance is ideal for a cozy family dinner or a light night on the town with a date, if you have one or even if you're on your own. The red lanterns are a nice touch and this place got a facelift from a couple years back. The owner came over to make up for the lack of service and was very nice. The Food: To start we got the pork buns, jellyfish salad and the Peking Duck. The best part of the meal is that they cut the duck at your table and served you an appetizer from the duck. Don't worry the duck comes back for your main course. The jellyfish said was delicious even though the name may deter you... Try it out. The buns were a little doughy but still tasty. The bad: the downer of the meal was the service and the constant presence of dirty dishes. We sat down and one of the plates were dirty which ended up a plate with a chunk of food on it with our fortune cookie. So I guess we ended the meal with how it began and dirty dish. But all and all while the service was not as great as it has been in the past We would go back for some Authentic Chinese food.
(4)
PaulSEGAL ..

Dim sum carts run around at lunch But @ dinner you can Oder a few off the menu. We had shrimp shumai, very good Crispy honey chicken Chow fun vegetable All delightful Will be back
(4)
Connie K.

Came here during a weekend around 2:00 pm. There was a huge line out the door and tough to find parking in the plaza. Husband went to park the car, while I waited in line to get my name on the list. For small parties, the wait wasn't bad, maybe around 7 minutes. We got a terrible table, where the carts couldn't come to our table and they had to loudly speak to us over another couple, and pointing out which dishes they had. It was uncomfortable. We ordered several dishes from the dim sum carts. The food was ok. We tried to order several items that we were told they "ran out of" because it was already 2pm. With SO many customers still waiting in line at 2pm, you'd think they would understand supply and demand. I was surprised at what they marked as "large" dishes. It seemed like everything we ordered was a "large" dish. I wonder what would be a medium/small dish for them. It was very expensive for dim sum, the most I've ever paid ANYWHERE, which includes, LA, SF, Vancouver, etc, while lacking the quality of an expensive dim sum restaurant. This place is very touristy, I would come maybe for the novelty of experiencing dim sum, but there's got to be a better dim sum place in Miami.
(2)
Iliana R.

There's only one place that exists in the world for me to have Chinese and that's Tropical. No need to worry if you are eating "mystery meat" as nothing is a mystery here. The entire kitchen is covered by glass and you have a front row seat. Every dish is fresh and delicious! I highly recommend the Peking duck! Amazing! The best thing about this place has to be the Dim sum lunch. Every day from 12-3 you will be just in time to catch the little rolling carts of deliciousness. It's Chinese fast food. Just take a seat and as the carts come around you grab what you like. My favorite has to be the BBQ pork buns. But get there early because they tend to fly. Another one of my favorites are the duck and the clams in black bean sauce. Enjoy!
(5)
Lacey C.

At Tropical Chinese, practice makes perfect. For your first visit: Go early, like 10:30am and prepare to get out of there before the after-church crowd rolls in. Look OK, but wear your stretchy pants. Make no plans after your brunch--and for God's sake, don't take your friends. You'll eat almost everything with animal-like abandon and have a $70 tab. Afterwards, your bodily state will approach miserable as your body bloats with MSG and attempts to put you in a coma. But the food will all be delectable and you will regret nothing. For your second visit? Go at the usual time--11:00am and be alright with telling some of those pushy cart ladies, "NO WOMAN." You will overeat--but not the sub-par Congee you had the first time, or almost any fried-food (which, for the most part are food-baby inducing and lack lustre). You will be stuffed full and need to walk off your shame at Target for an hour. You will regret nothing. For your third visit? You will start to feel OK about this sort of thing. You know to stick with mostly steamed things--because they are amazing and don't make you feel like hot garbage. This includes the leek dumplings, shrimp and spinach dumplings, double portions of their pan-fried chicken dumplings (because don't mess with the classics) and the ginger-pork shu mai. You will eye those around you for clues as to what items you could order off the menu next time. After brunch you will go to Target, get your shopping done and have a normal day. You will--for reals this time--regret nothing.
(4)
Andy D.

Tropical, it's where Chinese eat, that's a telling sign right there, and Tropical Chinese Restaurant is extra special for lunch, that's where you can watch the ballet of the Dim Sum Cart, actually it's more like bumper cars as they bounce off one another. This is a restaurant that's best for groups, and horrible for one, as Dim Sum is an item best shared. Not, that it's expensive, it's very reasonable, but they give you so much. Another thing they give you a lot of is MSG, that's that special flavor enhance monosodium glutamate that dehydrates you and gives you the shakes if you consume to much. As we speak I feel like a human vibrator, if there are any takers out there. But, the food's so good, and the varieties of Dim Sum are phenomenal from Chicken Feet (the real deal) Shrimp Pasta, Shrimp Dumplings, Shrimp Shumi, all excellent, Mushrooms, Bok Choy, BBQ Pork Buns......see a lot to eat. Tropical has done a great job adapting to the community down here, they realize good customer service, good food, and fast service is a great combination. I really think this is one of the top Chinese Restaurants in South Florida, it's clean and efficient, most Chinese Restaurants are just efficient!
(4)
Patrick L.

People always want to question the "authenticity" of the Asian food found in Miami. It's a little annoying, because we do have places that can hang - perhaps not as many as San Francisco and New York, probably not even as many as Orlando, FL - but they're out there. For Chinese dim sum in particular, Tropical actually can come close to the dumplings, buns and shumai found in San Francisco's Chinatown. There, I said it, and I'm not joking or exaggerating. In quality and taste, mind you - Chinatown's still an awful lot cheaper than this. But no point in complaining. Unless you want to jump on a 5.5 hour westbound flight, this is as good as it gets. The employees are pretty relentless rolling their carts around. You're going to need to exercise restraint, or else you'll end up paying a lot more than you wanted. Again, price is the only drawback to this place. It's all tasty, but I particularly like the steamed cart.......and the spicy sauce they put on the table is awesome. It seems to go with everything. If you're craving savory, and don't feel like hitting up one of Miami's fancy brunch spots on Sunday, dim sum at Tropical is an easy choice.
(4)
Sean C.

Not so good, Kon Chau across the street is so much better.
(3)
Dylan K.

Best peeking duck. This restaurant reminds me of NYC Chinese. A not to miss place. Great service- amazing waiter.
(5)
Zach S.

Great Peking duck. Comes in two courses: roll ups than duck with vegetables. More than enough food for two people. Doesn't look like the best place but the food was great!
(5)
Gigi M.

Nice restaurant and very well decorated and clean! Authentic Taiwanese food. Their dim sum is very good. Their Peking duck is the best in town. If you are looking for a very nice Chinese restaurant where food, service and ambiance are all equally addressed this is definitely the place.
(5)
Z Z.

General Tso and vegetable fried rice is incredible! We enjoy sitting by their BIG picture window which offers views of their kitchen and all its action
(5)
Ana B.

Food was gross, the waiter seemed bothered by us, and the place smelled bad. I will never understand why anyone likes this place.
(1)
Andrew C.

Came here for dim sum with the family. My parents used to come here a long time ago but stopped because the prices were higher than other places. Based on such rave reviews I convinced them to take the whole family out to try it again. To keep things short and simple, this place was just ok. We ordered something like 15-20 different plates.Some dishes tasted good, some okay, nothing was deplorable and nothing was spectacular. Some of the dishes were even cold (which my dad's coworker warned him about). I frequent south garden and kon chau and they have better tasting and cheaper dishes. The only downside is that at kon chau they don't push the carts around which is something that I love about dim sum. Service was good overall, plates were cleared often and water glasses were refilled. Although when I was making the reservation the night before, the employee on the other side just hung the phone up abruptly without saying thank you or goodbye, but other than that service at the restaurant was fine. This place was really packed and I do not know why. The food is just okay and the prices are higher than other places that offer the same, if not better tasting food. Back to south garden for me!
(3)
Soleil O.

Warm and inviting service and atmosphere, yet the food we ordered was awful: the stuffed eggplants were undercooked, bitter and stringy, and the sauce they came with was flavorless; the har gao dumplings were just meh; and the crispy roasted pork seemed to have gotten an American makeover when someone sliced perfectly good BBQ pork into thin strips, then breaded (!) and deep fried them. The final result was a horrendously greasy depiction of roast pork that only tasted like frying oil. I'm by no means an expert on Chinese food but having traveled to China and Hong Kong I had certain expectations for my meal, which sadly weren't met at the Tropical Chinese Restaurant.
(2)
Alain B.

It really pains me to say this, but I had an awful experience at Tropical. I mean, not while i was actually there but the results of the meal literally left me with a sour taste in my mouth. This may be an isolated experience so I haven't written them off entirely, but I've had the worst food poisoning I can recall. I won't get into the gory details but I'm so sure it was due to their dim sum as my partner also laid next to me clutching his underbelly through the evening. I believe the first hint was when they served me some cold, stale calamari which they simply reheated after I brought it to their attention. I'm not sure how long they keep these dishes in their carts but I'm assuming it must be longer than suggested by the FDA. It's a shame because everything there is tasty. I also read in someone's review that they too received food that was nuked after complaining about it's temperature. From now on, I plan to just avoid the dim sum altogether. And it's unfortunate since this has been my go-to takeout place since I was a kid.
(2)
Cathy O.

Delicious and went there to spurge with my daughter, which was good because we had no idea what we were being charged for each item, so don't bother if price might be an issue. Staff was very attentive. I lived in Asia in high school so don't usually have a problem with the accents but it was almost impossible to understand the various servers when we asked about the items being brought around in carts. So we blindly ordered a lot and enjoyed it all. I will go again. We got a dessert-I think it was sesame balls, but then saw a review on the wall next to us featuring some other dessert so we pointed and asked for that, too. It never came, but we were stuffed so just took a doggie bag home of the leftovers. Hopefully they didn't charge for the extra dessert, but we couldn't figure that out from the bill.
(4)
Kevin C.

One of the better authentic Chinese restaurants in South Florida, btw that is not saying much. I came here for dim sum and I was surprised that the inside looks pretty decent, even better than South Garden. They had the traditional dumpling seen during dim sum. All of the food was done decently. The spring rolls, pork dumplings, shrimp dumplings, and egg custard were all good, if not great. The pork buns had a nice bread but the roast pork inside was left to be desired. The biggest downside from this is that each tray was $4.25. So a total bill for 2, added up to over $40 after tax and tip. That's a lot for 2 average/normal sized people. Unfortunately, I don't know enough Chinese to argue about my bill, but if I did, I would have seriously questioned the price.
(4)
Joseph S.

I was really excited to eat there, the place was crowded, so I figured I was in for a great meal, wrong. First off, the food was extremely slow in coming out. The spring rolls were awful. I ordered the honey chicken. Wasn't good at all, I've had better at panda express. The portion size was small, which wasn't a problem because the food was bad. I'd never return.
(1)
Miriana M.

I'm not a huge dim sum fan, but the leek dumpling is amazing! I probably would've never chosen it from the menu, but I'm glad the bf did, I'm now a new fan. Please try the peking duck, they serve it to you table-side so you know you're getting the whole thing. It's nice and crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, perfection! Make sure to add some sauce for some extra flavor. The place seemed pretty busy to me on a weekend night so I would recommend you make reservations especially if going with a big group.
(4)
Allison D.

Heard of the restaurant through a friend...and it was totally worth the try// I went a little skeptical and ended up leaving a true fan// went on a Saturday for lunch time to try de Dim Sum (dim sum its only served till 3pm) and it was a great experience, the only bad thing about it is the parking since the restaurant is located in a small shady strip mall. The Restaurant itself is very nice decorated, super clean and the servers are always bringing the carts so you can stuff yourself literally with the most amazing dim sum variations. It is a very popular place the day I went for the first time we saw a famous Spanish singer having lunch in one of the tables. I've been going every month since, I really really like it!
(4)
Lourdes C.

Let's see... Where shall I start? My step daughter is diabetic and was thirsty. I asked for a glass of water as we waited to be seated and was charged .50 cents- for tap water. Once we were seated we had the misfortune of being served by someone who had no interest in explaining the menu- when we asked questions it clearly bothered him. The tap water again, was at a premium. I've never experienced anything like it. The food wasn't bad, but the service was probably worst than the snobbiest restaurant on south beach. Never again .
(2)
Beth G.

this was our first time here; had to pick up two asian customers and have lunch...they loved it, so we know it was good; good buns and great chinese broccoli...will try to go back again when in the area.
(4)
Sandy T.

Good dimsum for Miami. A bit pricey but the restaurant looks nice. The food wasn't fresh though. They had carts pushing the dimsum but it wasn't busy enough for them to keep refilling the carts so you don't know how long they were sitting in there. I wouldn't come here often only maybe in a LOONNGGGG while. I'm still looking for a GOOD dimsum place in the dade area.
(3)
Jon D.

Excellent experience every time I've been here or gotten take out. I highly recommend.
(4)
Gregory C.

Dim sum was decent but overpriced for the quantity and served cold. Wonton soup was served cold and instead of getting a big bowl, we got two cups. Service was absolutely horrible. Never checked in on our table, forgot one of our dishes. We had to ask the bus boys to get his attention and none of them spoke English. A dinner that would be typically an hour took almost 3 as the waiter took 30 minutes to bring the check which then needed to be corrected. Won't be going back here again. Kon Chao is far better!!!
(2)
Alex M.

The slowest service in Miami, unbelievable. I had to write about it, still sitting here waiting for my food.
(1)
Joy D.

Stopped in for a bite Friday afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised. This restaurant is meticulously clean and has a great ambience. Being able to see the chefs prepare our meal, only further sealed the credibility of this location for me. I had the chicken dumplings as my appetizer. This nicely steamed pastry was packed with chicken and spices. Served with a nice vinaigrette. ....kisses to the chef! I shared them with a friend and still had enough to take home. For my main course I chose the chicken and Chinese vegetables. I must admit it was a flavor I hadn't tasted in recent years at local chinese eateries. In fact I felt like I've been cheated out of quality Chinese food for quite some time....but I digressed. This is my new go to spot. I'm convinced that there is no better around. I shall return again and again and again!
(5)
Jonathan S.

Let me just start off by saying that this is the only restaurant where I've had dim sum. I have no idea what authentic dim sum is supposed to be. Cool? OK! The experience here is really what hooked me to the restaurant. Lunchtime is exciting and fast paced. Basically, a waiter sits you down and takes your drink order. They bring out some hot tea and you're left at your table with what I assume is a list of menu items (assume because I can't read Mandarin.) Then different carts come by your table with various types of food and you can choose what you want to eat and it gets checked off on your list so that your total can be tallied at the end. More or less.... Anyway, the food served here tastes great! No complaints in that department. I try to grab as many different types of steamed buns as I can. When I don't really know what else to grab I just scout around to see what neighboring tables are having and choose those items. Scouting is how I came to try the chicken feet which I love! They may seem gross but the daring will be rewarded. When I asked for it most of the table looked at me like I was insane. Their loss! You should also know that they only use the carts for lunch. I came once for dinner and didn't like it as much. Service wasn't as good and even though I ordered most of the same things I would've normally had the food didn't taste the same. I honestly think the carts make it all taste better. Silly brain. Prices aren't too bad if you stay away from the meat only dishes like duck or pork but they're awesome so eat them anyway. Great restaurant overall!
(4)
Julia S.

The best Chinese food in Miami! And I know, cuz I'm from New York! Greeted at the door by the owner and her daughter. Seated quickly. Menu is extensive and kitchen is glass walled so you can watch your food be made. Salt and pepper popcorn shrimp, seasoned to perfection. 7 ducks platter, out of this world! Waiter was funny and attentive. Prices were reasonable for the portions. Owner personally came by our table before we left to thank us. Top notch!,,
(5)
Leslie S.

Everything very fresh best wonton soup ever
(5)
Adam F.

I've been here twice in the past but don't go often because in my opinion they overcharge for their product. I've never had great service or great food, but re-check my memory every two or three years. Well, I'm officially done checking myself. First, the service was horrendous. It seemed that the regular customers were treated very well, but we were treated like second class citizens. No problem, we're all hungry and only focusing on the food itself. The shrimp wonton/egg drop soup was great. We ordered three different types of dumpling and they were just okay. You can get better at kon chow just down the road. We orders the honey orange beef and it was overlooked and tough. Mother had shrimp and spinach hot pot. Tasteless. But all of this is okay because the price of all this slop was incredible. Paid $100 for a meal I could've gotten anywhere else for 30-40% less. That and they charge $2.50 for each refill of a soda! Between the poor quality and having to ask people for sauces and drinks multiple times, I've cured myself of yet another restaurant in Miami.
(2)
Aldo G.

I was surprised by this place. It is very well decorated and has glass windows facing the kitchen. You can see everything going on in there and its quite entertaining to watch. The menu was overwhelming. It has so many choices so I stuck to basic dishes I had tried before. The food was tasty and I was astonished by the quality of the meat used. It definitely wasn't the mystery meat you get at some Chinese restaurants. I really liked the place and definitely willing to come back for more. I would recommend this to place anybody looking for better quality Chinese food but I would warn them that It can be pricey.
(4)
Ed M.

This is an excellent authentic Chinese restaurant outside of SF or NYC. Dim Sum and an extensive menu; I arrived late to meet friends for dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve and missing the lion dance performance. They saved me some dim sum: pot-sticker, chicken feet and something else. These were ok and nice to have. . The main courses were mixed greens, szhechuan eggplants, honey garlic chicken, szechuan peppercorn fish and 5-layer pork. The first 3 are spicy hot and very tasty. The egg plant was especially good, not over-cooked and just right in texture, yet full of the sauce flavor. Everyone liked the 5 layer fat pork! Cleaned it all up, a great sign in this day of watching calories! Good ol Corona in ice cold glass was perfect for this meal. After 30 years, the original owners still run this. They know their business.
(5)
Lauren Q.

Tropical Chinese offers really great Chinese food but the service could have been faster and more attentive. We had the spare ribs and chicken dumplings to start which were both very good. The general Tao chicken was an excellent entree! We decided we would try take out for our next tropical Chinese dining experience.
(4)
Ute L.

Overrated and overpriced. Drove all the way to Tropical Chinese based on the "best dim sum in Miami" reviews. Expected a hole in the wall restaurant with non English speaking waiters pushing around dim sum carts. Not even close. The only serve the dim sum off the cart during lunch. The restaurant is huge with lots of round tables to accommodate large families. The prices are high and the menu is Americanized in that is very meat centric. For starters, we ordered the vegetarian rainbow pancakes, which were supposed to include vegetables but instead they were just Chinese style pancakes wrapped around rice noodles that had microscopic specs of scallions inside. The hoisin sauce was also bottled and not home made. $12 for basically a rice noodle appetizer is pretty ballsy. The scallion steamed dumplings were OK but needed something green, like scallions, chives or spinach. The $20 crispy pork dish did not look appetizing and the price was outrageous considering the portion size. The BF said it didn't taste good either. The best dish by far was the Szechuan eggplant. Tender, saucy with just the right amount of heat. It was so good actually, I will try to replicate this dish at home. Finally, there are no desserts on the menu. That's the one thing authentic Chinese about this place that I wish wasn't! Put some fried cheesecake on the menu! But then again, I can always get that at Maiko or Miyago.
(2)
Melissa P.

The best Hong Kong style Dim Sum in South Florida. They walk around with carts containing fresh dumplings, shrimp, duck, clams, pork, sticky rice, bokchoy, Chinese broccoli and more. It is the real deal. Small plates $3.25, Medium plates $3.75, Large plates $4.25, X - large $6.25, Clams and Prawns $8.75. Dim Sum Monday - Friday 11:30 to 3:30, Saturday 11 to 3:30 and Sunday 10:30 to 3:30. Regular menu available too. The won ton soup is excellent. This restaurant is beautifully decorated, immaculate, and the bathrooms are modern and clean. There is also a glass window looking in to the kitchen, which is also immaculate. All tables receive a kettle of hot tea. Come early because it fills up quick. Enjoy.
(5)
Maria E.

Horrible service! We had to flag down staff to ask for anything including a drink, fork and any food we wanted. I went to to the counter to pay and receptionist got on the phone then lost my ticket. I did what I never done and did not leave a tip. We couldn't even figure out who are waiter was because we had to flag down different people to help us. Worst service I have ever seen! The food we were able to get was decent (not great).
(1)
Juli M.

This place use to be one of the best! Now with other places coming out!!! I feel like service sucks here and the food is ok! Not good or great! I hope they do better..
(3)
Sue M.

Service is bad. The servers are indifferent. There was no drink refill. The food is also sub-par. The fish was not fresh. The shellfish has sand in it. They also use too much tenderizer in beef.
(1)
Carlos J.

best Chinese in town and its not even close. Greg and his family have been holding it down for a long time. Dim sum is great for a quick business lunch but dinner is what's awesome there
(5)
Cindy T.

American Chinese food! The dim sum was just ok and it's pricey. The only thing I like was the congee. Overall if you are craving authentic Chinese cuisine then look else where!
(2)
William B.

I came here with a friend back in December 2013 and it was the worst restaurant experience in my life! My friend told me nice things about this place so I was pumped to try something new and different and boy was I in for something terrible. We were seated right next to the kitchen and after waiting twenty minutes for a waiter to get our order, a new group of customers got seated behind us and immediately their waiter starts taking their order. Why couldn't we get our order done first? We arrived before anybody else did. We decided to stay an extra couple of minutes and see if a waiter would finally take our order and each waiter walking the floor didn't bother to look at our direction during this whole time. My friend and I walked out of the restaurant and not even the hostess acknowledged our leaving early. It seems that this restaurant likes catering to certain people and are not welcoming to newcomers. I wish them a lot of luck because they lost me as a customer.
(1)
Princess R.

The food was fantastic here. They have such a wide variety of dishes and plenty to please your palette. Some of the stuff I ordered sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, chicken feet, pork steamed bun, rice noddle with shrimp. Everything was fantastic. My husband does not like dim sum so he ordered from the menu. He ordered sizzling black pepper beef. It was horrible. To me it tasted bitter to him he said it was way too much pepper. We didn't want to complain so he took it home. Tried to eat it for dinner we ended throwing in into the dumpster. $17.50 wasted. For dim sum i give them 4 stars but for my husband's dish 1 star. So over all i will give them 3 stars.
(3)
Johanna C.

I was not at all impressed by the food nor the service. We ordered spring rolls, honey garlic chicken & special fried rice. Portions were enough for two, but price was too expensive for what it was. The special fried rice was bland. I guess they do not have a dessert menu because at the end of our meal, they brought the check and did not even offer us dessert. A few hours after dinner, my husband was checking his debit card transactions and to our surprise the restaurant overcharged us. They debited about $3 over what he had authorized. I'm never going back to this place!!!!
(1)
Stevens T.

This place looks like a total shit hole from the front. It's located in a shopping strip plaza right in front of Tropical Park. When you enter the restaurant though you are surprised to find how nice the inside looks. Inside they have a bar plus they have a wall with a very wide selection of fine wines. For a while I have been trying to find a place in Miami that can serve some good dim sum... Unfortunately I haven't found a place yet down here. If you are accustomed to dim sum restaurants in NYC or other cities with large Asian populations then this place will surely disappoint. They cut you short on the portions and the small plates are over priced,in my opinion any way.. And believe me I never bitch about price.. You will know that if you read my other reviews. Anyways I know there isn't much of a demand for dim sum in Miami which explains why dim sum restaurants suck so much down here. As far as their non dim sum menu items they did look appealing and expensive as well but from what I saw the portions are well worth it. They advertise a 3 course Peking duck meal which looks really good and will be the only reason for me returning. I will say that this place does seem to be one of the finer looking Chinese restaurants for people living in the Bird road/Tropical Park area.
(3)
Mian W.

Well, if this is one of the best Chinese restaurant in Miami, then Miami has disappointed me in terms of Chinese food. We came here for dinner because of high yelp rating. So we might had too high of expectations. When we enter the restaurant, it was crowded but we got our table right away since it was after 8pm. Once we sat down, there was a lot of smoke coming toward me from the hot-pan dishes served at nearby tables. And the smoke made my eyes really uncomfortable and it lasted for a while! They should have better ventilation in the first place if they know they are going to serve those smoking dishes. Now let's talk about dishes. Nothing special. The seafood soup was okay. The vegetable with garlic dish we ordered was very oily. The pineapple fried rice we had was served in bowls but not inside an pineapple. Our biggest complaint was the fish. My friend wanted a steamed fish. So we asked what options we have for fish. The waiter said that they ONLY had red fish. Well, we had no choice but to order the red fish and request to have it steamed. However, the waiter never asked us about how big of the fish we would like or warn us about the size of the fish. Why I complain about this? Because when the fish arrived our table, it was in the size that was even enough for 6 or more people but we only had 3 people and two of us were petite Asia girls. And of course, this price of the fish was not listed on the menu since it was considered as special order. At the end we were charged for $38 plus tax for the fish we didn't even finish half of it! And the taste was awful! So we felt like we were being ripped off! The story does not end here. I was so angry about this and I signed my receipt without giving any tip since I thought the waiter should have asked or warned us about the size of the fish when we ordered it. He chased me outside of the restaurant and said, hey young man the tip was not included. But I refused and left.
(1)
Leo S.

This place used to be so good but it is consistently getting worse. Their fried rice is under cooked with no color..I mean its like eating a bowl of white rice with a few hunks of chicken and shrimp thrown in. The barbecue ribs we used to love get SMALLER and SMALLER!!! I mean..it really makes me wonder what animal produces such small ribs? This place has a loyal following of Asian folk that must like the authentic stuff they serve...but if you want some standard Chinese food like fried rice and ribs...I suggest you go somewhere else.
(1)
Lala S.

I came to this restaurant because of all the good reviews. I really don't understand why people are giving this restaurant good reviews. I guess the real reviews are being filtered. The quality of food is horrible. I ordered general chow chicken and every time I was chewing on a piece of chicken it was chicken fat. On top of that the service was horrible, I was never asked how my food was. I asked for another glass of wine and it never came. I will never come back here again.
(1)
Andrew K.

Scratch made soups with huge pieces of the freshest seafood. House made noodles (chow fun) with a rich black bean sauce. And last but not least: DIM SUM. Order the steamed chicken buns and make sure you get them nice and hot. The BBQ pork buns are also very good. The chefs are making each individual dim sum piece as fast as you can eat them. The shrimp and pork stuffed bean curd skin may be the best item on the dim sum menu....
(4)
Pamela B.

I have been here before and it was pretty good but last night was horrible. I called beforehand and was told it was not busy but when I got there it was. Understandable. 10 minutes into waiting to be seated in walks a lady who knew the manager and her party immediately seated. Not cool! Finally we were seated to a bare table and the guy basically threw our utensils on the table. We ordered dim sum and other items from the menu. The pork bun and shrimp dumpling were pretty good. Sumai was way too salty. Then we got our food. Special fried rice was horrible. No taste at all! Chicken lo mein was disgusting and it tasted like peanuts?!?!?! Never have I had lo mein taste like that. Pad Thai yes, lo mein no! Orange chicken was decent but nothing spectacular. Oh and who is our waiter since NO ONE came around to refill anything! Finally at the end they did and wouldn't give more soda since "no free refills" 85$ down the drain. I'll stick to South Garden for my dim sum cravings. The staff is a lot nicer!
(1)
Arturo B.

Dim Sum carts are great for lunch. You get to pick many plates and taste different flavors and food preparations. I visited recently with three colleagues. All of us loved the food. We picked around 10 plates and shared It was perfect; not full, but just the right amount of food. The last time I had Dim Sum at Tropical Chinese was ~2006-2007, and this was again a great experience. My SO, her family, and I also visit this restaurant about twice a year for Peking duck! Sweet and savory duck skin wrapped in flour 'pancakes'... yum! Then you get the remaining duck meat cooked and served with rice. It is indeed great. I have no doubt in my mind about this place being one of the best Chinese restaurants in town. BTW, food is not cheap, so be prepared to drop some $$$ down.
(4)
Kaitlin W.

Terrible, terrible service. On a Sunday morning, they were completely overstaffed - all of the employees were hanging out in the dining area, chatting and completely ignoring my family's attempts to request anything. In a Chinese restaurant, you should never have to repeatedly request tea refills. The pork buns (both steamed and baked) were decent, but overall the food was not good. This place was not up to the standards of my Chinese family, and I would not recommend it.
(2)
Karla S.

Tropical Chinese is truly an institution in Miami. I've been coming here for years and years delighting myself with their incredibly delicious dim sum. It's truly a wonderful place that fills my belly and heart with pure joy. Never disappoints :)
(5)
Faby P.

The moral of this story is don't judge a book by it's cover. This little gem is located in an unglamourous strip mall on Bird Rd and the unsexy slums of whatever this place is. Step inside to find a tastefully decorated, dimly lit little place with a full bar, an elegant wine cellar and incredibly friendly staff. Never in my wildest most judgmental dreams would I have thought this place was this cute inside. And the open kitchen? Never have my paranoid eyes seen that in a Chinese establishment. We had several items from their famous dim sum menu: steamed pork buns (didn't love, but OK), crispy shrimp ball (fire!), steamed shumai and a kickass wonton soup. We ordered the Peking Duck and had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. This dish rocked my world. After i got over the sight of an entire duck table side - a pretty graphic and unappetizing sight - I focused on the assembly of little "pancakes" with crispy duck skin and scallions, with the tangy sauce for dipping, being put together. This was the highlight of my meal. The duck skin was so tasty, so crispy, with the perfect amount of fat. Yum. The rest of the duck was taken back for proper dismemberment (thank God) and brought back stir fried with veggies which was tasty but not as magical as the pancakes. I hear the day for dim sum is Sunday so we plan to go back for just dim sum. Hopefully the pancakes are on the menu.
(4)
Cristy M.

Really good food and okay service. The staff isn't particularly warm and fuzzy but the food makes up for it. We had the shrimp wontons and leek dumplings to start. Both great, I would say I preferred the leek dumplings. Both sauces they were served with were also great. I'm not a huge honey garlic chicken but this place may have changed my mind. Light and crispy, tender and juicy and amazing flavor.
(4)
chris h.

Being Chinese, I don't always take others recommendations on Chinese food easily - mostly because the food in China is different from the American Chinese food in this country. A few years ago, when I was visiting Miami Beach. Stayed at a boutique hotel in South Point. One night, the owner of the hotel came in and sat next to me at the bar. When he heard I was Chinese, he told me about Tropical Chinese having the best Chinese food in the Miami area. I discounted his suggestion for he is non - Chinese :-( After I moved to the Miami, "Tropical Chinese" kept on being brought on by almost everyone who found out I am Chinese! I finally decided to give it a try. After all, what do i have to lose? - a tank of gas? Well, that was 3 year ago since I first tried. Now, I'm a regular for their dim sum. Have been recommending to friends and neighbors. We often go in a group of 6 to 10 people. The food is tasty and the price is fair plus friendly service. Overall, good food and good experience.
(5)
Caro F.

Always fresh dim sum and a lot of flavor!
(4)
Stephen S.

Far and away among the best, if not the best, Chinese restaurants in Miami. I would take serious exception to anyone saying that it's close to anything found in San Francisco, but otherwise, I'm on board. Been twice. Fantastic both times. I haven't seen so many Asians in one place in South Florida before or since. Vegetarian friendly. Excellent seafood dishes. Excellent everything, really.
(5)
Lena C.

Tropical Chinese - I am SO glad i found you, though you are tucked away in an unassuming strip mall. It takes an exceptional Chinese restaurant to get me steamed up and you are the one in MIami! I have been here for dinner and dim sum brunch and both times, I was happy not to find the sugary coated fried chicken bits that we sad Americans are accustomed to. Instead, your chicken bits are served with perfectly steamed white rice and a delicious sauce that allows one to eat more than three bites. Speaking of steamed up, the pork buns are the best I have ever had, in what seems, to my redneck self, to be a pork stuffed donut. Ahhhhh, pork buns, I am counting down the days until we see each other again. Ohhhh, pork buns, soon you and my mouth will unite in delectable bliss! Whew, after writing this review, I think I will have to make the trek out to the burbs this very weekend.
(4)
Dan B.

I come here for the dim sum! 11 AM - 3 PM baby! I discovered today that I have a special affinity for the shrimp and leak dumplings. I'm not a huge fan, however, of the shrimp and parsley dumplings. Weird huh? You gotta try it all and choose your favorites. As far as dumplings go, they're awesome. They have shrimp, scallops, pork, etc. I also enjoy those sticky pork buns, which are doughy and fluffy. I'm also partial to the orange beef. That spicy pepper in the middle is great, especially when mixed with soy sauce to kinda ease the intensity and make more of a sauce out of it. I've always been impressed with Tropical Chinese and would recommend anyone visiting Miami to try it if they feel like top-notch dim sum. Prices are fairly reasonable.
(4)
Alissa S.

Excellent Chinese food! As a former New Yorker, I was skeptical to believe that any Chinese in Miami could compare to what NYC had to offer, but I was proven wrong. We shared a hot and sour soup, lo mein, and chicken with vegetable dish. Everything was fresh and made to order. The waiters couldn't be any nicer. I'm so happy to have discovered this gem. I was recommended it by a native Floridian and would not about it otherwise. I will definitely be returning whenever I am craving Chinese!
(5)
Naveed K.

Tropical Chinese has the most aggressive dim sum I've ever experienced. The cart-wielding ladies really want you to eat everything they're carrying in their cart. No, seriously, they're like pushy grandmothers. But maybe this is how dim sum is supposed to be, I'm not entirely sure. Quality of food is hit or miss. Some of the steamed buns are really chewy, like they've been sitting for a bit. The beef dishes are solid. Duck is always a good bet: tender, not too fatty, flavorful. The chicken feet were pretty awful per my chicken-foot-connoisseur friend. My favorites were the "chinese broccoli" [this is the technical term?] and bok choy. They'll also do special orders on request. Again, don't be afraid to say no to the aggressive cart ladies lest your bill and table get overly crowded.
(3)
Jose R.

I can vouch that the rest of the food is crap! Very, very expensive crap. I was just there and it was horribly expensive for the quality of food. I ran out of rice because all they gave me was a half cup bowl and then they wanted to charge extra for a little more rice and a soda refill. Mind you the small glass of soda $2.25. We all know how cheap soda fountains are. Last time I go to this dump! The dim sum is good but I can't deal with their greedyness! I'll take my money somewhere else. Wish I would have known it was rat infested before I went.
(1)
Andrea B.

My son and I decided to go to Tropical not realizing that it was the Chinese New Year. What a fabulous surprise! The food was exceptional, atmosphere so festive, service gracious and the Chinese dragons and music made it an unbelievable evening. It is on our list of new favorite restaurants. Just great!
(5)
Bette Ann S.

I have been on a quest to find the best Chinese food in Miami, and I think I finally found it. While this may not be "off the boat from China" Chinese food that you can find in NYC, this is pretty close. My girlfriend and I came here on a Thursday night. The restaurant was in the middle of nowhere--in a strip mall. Gotta love it. First thing I noticed when I walked in was the amazing wine storage wall. Looked very professional for a Chinese restaurant. There were a lot of great wines on the wine list. We ordered a particular pinot noir; however, our waiter came back to us and told us they were out of it. He offered us 2 other bottles of wine, both which were more expensive than the one we ordered, for the price of our original selection. Very good service. For dinner we ordered Wanton Soup, Salt n Pepper Shrimp, and Sizzling Beef in Black Been Sauce. We asked our waiter for recommendations, and he recommended the beef. I always determine how good a Chinese restaurant is based on their Wanton Soup. Tropical Chinese had delicious Wanton Soup: the perfect mix of saltiness with tender shrimp wantons. Our main dishes were delicious. I asked for the Salt n Pepper Shrimp to be cooked with the shells (you eat the shells and all), the test of a true Chinese chef. These were delicious. Very tasty with the perfect about of jalapeno. The Sizzling Beef in Black Bean Sauce was very tasty and tender. I don't usually order beef, but I really enjoyed this. For dessert, they bring you half an orange, which was nice. Overall, our service was great, the food was great, and the wine was great. I definitely will be back. I would like to try their dim sum.
(4)
Rachel S.

Had a hunkering for Chinese and decided to go for take-out to accomodate my fiance's work schedule. The place looked warm and inviting and service was exceptionally friendly. We had a very large order and they got everything right, which earns bonus points (most take-out is missing at least something). The potstickers were clearly made in house and were delicious, though the sweet dipping sauce was too sweet without enough tang/sour/spicy to contrast. In fact, everything we ordered tasted good, but because almost everything seemed a bit underseasoned, nothing made it into the great category. We had quite a spread: hot and sour soup (lacked sour), wonton soup, salt and pepper shrimp (needed some kind of sauce or accompaniment), triple salute chicken (best dish we had with great flavor, just not enough flavor), ginger scallion beef in hot pot, shrimp in lobster sauce, and eggplant. Oh wow, and lo mein (tiny vermicelli noodles, interesting, just super bland). It was pricey, so I expected more. Dollar for dollar, I prefer the taste of the food at New Chinatown over this place.
(3)
Sharon P.

Went here for the Dim Sum yesterday. This time we took my MIL. She is not really into chinese food, so I made sure to order dumplings, mongolian beef, chicken w/spinach rolls and BBQ pork buns. Sadly the only pork buns they had were the steamed one, they were out of the fried ones and it was only 2 pm. The steamed buns are white and look and feel like raw dough and when she bit into that, it pretty much ruined it for her. Fortunaly we got a kitchen window seat and got to watch the food prep and the ice cream for dessert made up for her. Of course the rest of us will be back. Minus the in law.
(4)
victoria r.

Great DIM SUM. Gets super busy! Reservations only if it's for a big party. Their Siu Mai, Chicken Bao, and Dumplings were so good. You can tell the food is fresh. Staff is nice and speak English. Clean and more upscale for most other Chinese restaurants. Pretty inexpensive. They stop serving Dim Sum at about 3-3:30ish. You can also order from the regular menu but Dim Sum is definitely a treat. Highly recommended.
(4)
Maria B.

lame is what this is..peas in rice no seasoning. obviously the farthest from asia you can get. not to mention I got my main course first, my dim sum after, and my drink at the end of my meal. don't come here.
(1)
Kate J.

Love this place and have eaten at it a lot...so much that I needed to take a break. And I'll have to get over the rat comment in below...I'm sure a lot of restaurants have the issue, right? YIKES. Very unique for Miami...my Chinese friends like it so that's a pretty good test to authenticity. I'm sure if located in San Fran it would just be avg but here its the best. I love that I'm staving and can go right in and begin eating immediately. Now to be picky...I hate that they send the dim sum carts w. the not so popular items around and around but the one thing that you want is not out. I've had some experiences but you could tell they were kitchen related. If its not ready its not ready. You can still order things like soup if they don't have it on the carts. And for dinner...Black Bean Chicken ROCKS!!!
(5)
jennifer l.

This is one of the worst dim sum place I ever went to. I'm from San francisco and I eat dim sum all the time so I have very high expectations. I see a whole wall full of reviews from different magazines and it won awards for the best dim sum.....high over rated. The dim sum was cold and even when they said it just came from the kitchen it was only luke warm.Some of the dim sum was scatter in the cart and they pick it for you if you want it. That is so not sanitary. I do not recommend this place at all. If anyone ever go to San francisco and is looking for a great dim sum place go to the Mayflower Restaurant! Great place, great food, good prices
(1)
Gianna O.

So delicious. A little overwhelming because of the tons of options. I also noticed that many of the dishes were not very warm. I enjoyed everything except for the rice pasta dishes and the bok choy. I ate a ton!! Go hungry.
(3)
Phil H.

Hands down, the best Chinese Restaurant in all of South Florida.
(5)
Tony H.

Every time I come here I expect good food and never get it! I'm not sure why I keep giving this place a chance, perhaps its all the peope who claim to like it that keeps me coming back to se If i have my tropical chinese moment...Am I the only one that has noticed the musty humid smell, the lack of taste in the food and the overhype of this place? This time I saw a roach going up the wall next to me only to have a lady come up and smash it with her hands...This place is NOT good it just has name recognition and history. chinese food in south florida has been going downhill for years and this place didnt escape the trend.
(1)
Kelly O.

This is my favorite dim sum in Miami. I enjoy the carts and the selection. The bbq buns are the best. The leek and veggie dumplings as well as the shrimp dumplings are great. I enjoy the black bean chicken or Singapore noodles at dinner. I just feel that they are really overpriced at dinner time. I can get the same dinner for a better price and same quality at New Chinatown.
(4)
Kevin C.

Good Asian food is very hard to find in Miami. This joint is probably one of the better Chinese restaurants in Miami, which probably isn't saying much due to the lack of options. The dim sum is good and fresh off the steamers, but more expensive than other dim sum spots. I absolutely loved the Emperor's Prawns: Deep fried prawns over a bed of broccoli and covered in a creamy sauce and nice garlicky flavor throughout.
(3)
Roberta J.

Tropical Chinese is awesome! They consistently have the best dim sum ever! The service is great and the food is always good. The dinner menu is always excellent. I love Tropical Chinese! You can always be sure you will enjoy it!
(5)
Thomas M.

Thank God for this place. If anyone knows of any other Dim Sum in Miami hit me up. This place a diamond in the rough to say the least. If you are doing Dim Sum brunch on the weekends you must make reservations and don't be late as you'll wait. From the outside it looks like a crappy Chinese place but once you enter you feel like you are in China. The walls are filled with articles and awards, by the reservations table there is a actual cabinet full of awards. Congrats! Very simple decor, like all good Chinese places. Dim Sum is so much fun, the little carts, the authentic dishes, the rude Chinese waiters with no English pushing every dish in your face I LOVE IT!!! BTW you can order anything else not just Dim Sum if you are a first time goers, and be prepared to order the drinks immediately as you'll wait otherwise, I like to slip the guy a tip from the get go and he's always on top of his game. The place is always full. Favorite dishes Orange Beef, Roast Duck, Baby Bok Choy, Long Broccoli, Shitake Mushrooms sautÃ© in garlic sauce, steamed Beef dumplings, steamed pork dumplings, steamed shrimp dumplings, these coconut balls not sure the name. Make sure to use the dry chili paste on everything it's great LOL Ohh special fried rice, get one portion it's huge! If you are a Duck Lover, there is a dish forgot the name where they skin the Duck in front of you and roll up the crispy skin into salad tacos (magic), and then they carve the meat off and sautÃ© in the kitchen. Sensational. You have not experienced a true Chinese atmosphere if you have not been here, lastly it's loud, can be a little rude and it's simple so embrace it.
(5)
C D.

The service was good, the place is clean. I was not impressed with the food I was definitely expecting it to be more authentic. We did takeout and one order was a greasy chicken dish. The other was a veggie, tofu dish with basil and spinach. The combination was lethal. the basil was overpowering and the sauce was some kind of cornstarch mixture. It smelled rank like burning plastic. I dont think I will be revisiting this place anytime soon.
(2)
Sylvia S.

hells to the yes...chifa in Miami!
(5)
grace h.

This was a really great Chinese restaurant with nice ambiance and the food was authentic and tasty. I'm Chinese and had great food growing up in LA and living in NY so was a little skeptical of this restaurant, but it was great! Long wait - so call for a reservation.
(4)
Dustin B.

Amazing Chinese in South Florida... recommended by natives, though I was reserved based on its simple storefront. I was gladly greeted by amazing staff and served a delicious, yet only mild (as my wife wanted it) hot and sour soup for two, delicious... we kept it simple tonight with just pork lo mein and chicken with vegetables... the pork lo mien was to die for with big chunks of pork, looking like it was sliced right off the spare ribs... the chicken was pure white meat, not oily with a great mix of vegetables... cut up orange with cherries finished as the complimentary dessert- a key staple for any "real" chinese restaurant. Sure, I can get General Chao's at any Chinese Takeout and I am sure it's great here... but tonight was amazing!
(5)
Robert t.

I love this restaurant! Every time I go, the restaurant is full. The food is excellent, service is top notch and it is fun to watch the chefs work their magic thru the big plate glass windows. It is also great to see how clean the kitchen is. We started with Dim Sum appetizers that were tasty-especially the scallops. The salt and pepper shrimps were another perfect appetizer. The seafood dinners we ordered were all fresh and well seasoned. Our servers were extremely attentive and unobtrusive. Sometimes it seemed our food appeared out of nowhere. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
J L.

Well, after reading the reviews on Yelp, I thought I would give it a try. The place was not hard to find, but the parking is totally ridiculous. What do I mean? The parking spots are made for compact cars and most of the parking are dead-end stripes in front of the restaurant. Ok, it is not the restaurant's fault but sure was annoying. The ambiance of the place definitely ranks high compare to many other places I have been. The place was quite full so we got seated at the far corner of the dining room, where the carts are always parked. Yes, they are parked there right next to us...it was a little annoying but we didn't ask for seat change. So I saw exactly 4 carts. First we got the shrimp in the rice wrap...it was boarder line COLD and it did not taste that good. Second we got the fried chive bun and fried fish balls. They were warm but the chive bun was very greasy and fish shrimp was ok. Then finally we got to the steam cart, we got the shrimp dumpling and Sui mei. The sui mei was ok but the shrimp dumpling...it was BAD. The shrimp tasted sour!! It was definitely bad (meaning you might get sick eating it). I didn't complain because I was so disappointed with this place. So to conclude, we ate five things and it cost us $26 (with tips)!!! After coming out of the restaurant, I wished I had just gone to McDonald right across from where we parked...and the worse part is,I left the place hungry and have this bad taste in the mouth that we can't get ride off!!! So, this is a place in which I will never return!!! And if I can give it a zero or negative starts I would!
(1)
Manuel G.

Great for dim sum,moderate prices,very good service.I recommend it , waiting for a table is usually the norm on weekends.Problably the best chinese restaurant in Miami.
(4)
Shayna B.

I have been going to this restaurant since I was a little girl. For over 15 years every Sunday my family has had Dim Sum here. I have searched the world for dim sum and have never had dim sum like this. The shu Mai and the sticky rice in a bowl are a must! Also the grilled chicken dumplings are great. The best part about this place is that they have the pushcarts so service is fast, food is always hot and fresh. Also all the waiters give it a true authentic experience.
(5)
N T.

Wonderful food & service. We had the dim sum dumplings, won ton soup, honey chicken, special fried rice, & a pepper steak. It was all delicious. The portions aren't as large as your typical Chinese restaurant & therefore a bit pricey for the amount of food. The place is very clean, cozy, & nice ambiance. We have ran into a few local politicians & famous figures on occasion.
(4)
Pilar M.

I've been going here since before I could walk and almost always go for my birthday. It is amazing. Order the Sweet and Sour Prawns in a basket (basically, it's a very extravagant honey-walnut shrimp) - it is no longer on the menu last I checked but they still make it. However, you'll need to ask for some extra sauce, sometimes the shrimp are downright naked! The pecking duck has only gotten better over time (the stir fry portion is tasty) and even their plain rice is above average. Also, their leek dumplings are phenomenal. Service is friendly and the pretty oranges at the end are a nice touch. Dim sum is satisfying too, although I wish they still had those shrimp on a stick covered in taro and then deep fried with a delicious sweet & sour sauce to dip it in. Absolutely sinful!
(5)
Eric M.

1 star for ambience and confusing lunch service during dim sum time as you'll have to flag someone down for anything else. Yes they repeatedly come to you and I've heard raves about this restaurant so my friend ordered special fried rice which was nothing special. I tried the clams in black bean (they took back to the kitchen to reheat so it came out overcooked and dried) Also tried the chicken feet and turnip cake. They were both bad choices and not tasty. I couldn't take more than 1 or 2 bites. The only thing that was good was shrimp dumpling and short rib black bean. All is all, every dish should be tasty and the food is better in SFO/NYC/HNL chinatow. For $60 including tax/tip for 2 no drinks, I would have preferred spending at Phillipe Chow Miami Beach.
(1)
Pitu S.

Went this past Sunday, friendly staff and good ambiance. It was super busy which tells you lots of locals go there.. weekends its fun because you get the experience of choosing your food from the passing carts (dim sum) but you need to know what you order because you wont understand the staff unless you speak chinese! they also have a little menu with pictures.. use it or you might get stuck with the wrong items! Excellent if you want to try something different for brunch... best chinese and beautifully clean!
(4)
Samy F.

The food is alright. The food and its flavor seem to be from a different region of China that I am not used to. However, last time I was here, I had the sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf. Boy, was that sticky rice weird. My sticky rice was dark and it tasted weird. It was like fragrant, sweet. I don't even know how to describe, it was like someone poured perfume in it. And as I was leaving, I heard someone say the same thing about the sticky rice, so it was not just me. Never ordering that again. Not only was the food weird, but it was very expensive. Normally I would pay about $60 at South Garden for dim sum, at this place I ended up paying around $150+. You know how the servers come with a little cart with food and they offer you stuff, you choose something and they circle how big the dish is on a piece of paper, which determines how much you will be paying? Well, we realized that about 90% of the dishes are labeled as large, which will be about $6+ each. Also, the extra large dishes are like $11 and nothing that we ordered was a small or medium. Don't go crazy and get carried away and just order everything they offer to you, or you will pay a lot. The service... Most servers were nice. However! This lady that seemed to be the manager was just horrible. She was rude to people who were eating, and she was especially rude to employees. She has no respect for its employees. When the lady in charge of the little cart with fried food came to us, it turns out that she knew my friend who was with us. She said hi, but the manager started yelling at her. The manager also started pulling her to different tables when we weren't even done looking at what the cart had. So the second time the little cart came to us, the manager pretty much yanked the tongs off the girl's hands and started offering things to the table next to us. I think I could write a dissertation on how rude and disrespectful this manager is. I am not going to say this place is horrible or the best, because it is neither. The environment is nice. It's a pretty place. The food is decent. Most of them were edible, except for the sticky rice. However, the service is just plain bad.
(1)
Sarah T.

Yum-O! This is the place to go when you need to convince people dim sum is delicious. The setting is spectacular - large red lanterns and fancy Asian furniture. The entire place smells of rich mahogany. Unfortunately, every plate is large and XL, so our bill came to $60. No one questions those carts! Some of the cart ladies barely speak English. Everything is the same flavor - the shrimp paste in the dumpling is the same on the tofu and within other shrimp fillings. Both the salt pepper shrimp plate and the calamari were cold. Fried cold salt pepper food is disgusting. The crepe and the dough (eg shrimp dumpling) are very thick. I would choose a different place for the food, but I would definitely come here for the experience.
(4)
Ai C.

Came here for dim sum one time and the experience was decent. Decided to come for dinner too. We are a group of 5, got seated quickly and ordered quickly too. I was shocked when the dishes came out, after looking through the menu, I realized how expensive things were. But I figured they will be bigger portions so we ordered anyways. When it all came out, they were so small it shocked me. One order of ma po tofu was 14 dollars and it looks enough for one person only. We ordered a total of 4 dishes and so we got 4 bowl of rice, we are a traditional Chinese family so we tend to eat more rice with our dinner. The rice bowls that they brought out was super small. So we got asked for more rice and each addition XS bowl of rice is 2 dollars. Unbelievable! I have been to many places and ate at many Chinese restaurants and this one was just so bad. Food tasted decent service was bad. Pricing and portion is awful. The waiter ignored us when we called and he stood there chatting with his fellow waiters. Overall very unsatisfied. Spent 90 bucks on portion sized food for kids. Rip off! ä¸å›½äººè¿œç¦»è¿™å®¶å‘çˆ¹çš„åº—ï¼ æˆ‘ä»¬ä¸€å®¶äººæ¥è¿™é‡Œåƒé¥åˆè´µåˆå°‘ã€‚æœåŠ¡ä¹Ÿä¸å¥½éº»å©†è±†è…ä»–å¦ˆçš„14åˆ€è€Œä¸”è¶…å°‘ï¼Œä¸€ç¢—é¥ä¹Ÿè¦2åˆ€ï¼Œä»–ä»¬çš„ä¸€ç¢—é¥ä¹Ÿè¶…å°ã€‚å‘çˆ¹ï¼ï¼ï¼ï¼
(1)
Danni C.

The dim sum was cold and the prices were higher than other Dim Sum places in Miami. We ordered sesame balls and asked if they could be cut in half. This is not a ridiculous request because it is done at other dim sum establishments. The woman pushing the cart looked at me and in Chinese said "Take care of it yourself" and walked away. I would have settled for a "Sorry, I don't have scissors to cut them." Couldn't believe how rude she was. I would rather take my business to Canton Palace on SW 8th St. Food and service is much better!
(1)
Nicole C.

I was back in Miami. I know I vowed to never visit this place again, but I was craving the leek rolls I can't find at any other dim sum restaurant. This time I was equipped with a person who was more assertive about the bill. He asked what the price of everything was, and essentially we found out that everything was a 'large' except for the sticky rice which was an extra large, which makes me wonder why even have small and medium on the menu. Oh well. I ordered my faves to go: har gau, leek dumpling, leek roll, chicken dumpling and stick rice in lotus leaf. First thing's first, the har gau was ACTUALLY SPOILED. I put it in my mouth and it was the nastiest thing I've ever eaten. I nearly threw up. Needless to say that went in the garbage. The leek rolls were still good and so was the chicken dumpling. The sticky rice and leek dumpling were blah. If anything the leek dumplings tasted kind of old. I've officially fallen out of love with this place.
(2)
Alex E.

My wife and I returned to Tropical Chinese last night after not having been there since 2010. The food has always been good at this place, but last night's service was ABYSMAL. We were never checked up on by our waiter even once, and I had to ask the bus boy TWICE to bring our waiter over (I wanted a refill). Even though the food is good, it is way too expensive here. We just had the spring roll appetizer (3 average-sized rolls cut in half) followed by our entree of honey garlic chicken and pineapple fried rice, which was just big enough of a portion for two. I had a soda and my wife just had water. All this came out to $52.65!! To add insult to injury, they had issues with their POS terminal, and swiped my card multiple times. Each swipe rang up an amount $7-$10 higher than my actual bill. This sent up a red flag over at my bank, causing my bank to block my card due to suspected fraud (my account had more than enough funds needed to cover everything). I wound up having to drive to the nearby Publix to withdraw cash from a different account in order to pay. This whole mess caused us to miss the movie we planned on catching right after. The owner didn't even have the courtesy or customer service skills to apologize for the inconvenience. I definitely won't be returning here.
(1)
Joe A.

Best Chinese in Miami.
(4)
Pam H.

Wonderful dim sum! We have been taking our two boys there since before they ate solid food and the staff has always been so nice to us and to them. They are 2 and 4 now and the waiters will rig the chopsticks for them with the paper and rubber bands so they can use chopsticks like Mom and Dad. So service is excellent. And the food! Boy is it good. I love the shrimp noodle and the leek dumplings. The boys love the pork buns and we ALL think the sesame balls are to die for. The atmosphere is totally different at dinner and the prices are a little higher. I don't think I would take the kids there for an evening meal - they are toddlers after all and the other diners might not appreciate it. But the dinner menu is wonderful. Service is as always, perfect. My only regret is that we don't get out without the boys very often so it has been a while since I have made it here for dinner.
(5)
Jimmy B.

Only good Chinese I know in Miami, dim sum of course! only low is the bad habit waiters have to push for the items that been seating on cart too long, to avoid this seat close to kitchen door and/or request freshly prepared food.
(4)
Jason G.

Great dim sum. Best in Miami!
(5)
Big Daddy V.

Lunch is the only time to have dim sum. The variety at lunch was decent and well worth the visit. Dinner wasn't worth it - dumplings were too salty. Noodles were good but fried rice was so bland as to wish we didnt order any.
(3)
Gus M.

I prefer to know what is inside of that thing sitting in front of me that I'm about to put in my stomach. That is my biggest problem with the dim-sum lunch at this place. After hearing many rants and raves from my mother's cousin, we gave it a go, and the whole family was disappointed. From the moment we sat down, a server speaking broken English somewhat explained the menu to us, but I was still confused. After taking our seats, a guy in a cart comes by and begins to put things on our plates. At that moment, we stop him. What is this guy doing? He continues to offer food from his cart, which happens to all look exactly the same. When we ask what is inside, he can only say one or two things. Something like "shrimp", or "is good". I mean, I don't mind trying new things, but let me know what the hell is inside this pastry. After not being a fan (at all) by this method of serving lunch, I decide to just get some orange chicken. Extremely bland and overly gooey. Tasted like nothing. After that horrible experience, we've never gone back.
(2)
Carla L.

ln my opinion the best Chinese in Miami. So far l have not tried anything here that l haven't liked. They have an amazing eggplant dish with juicy eggplant and a delicious sauce that makes my mouth water by just thinking about it! Their specialty is Dim Sum, and its definitely worth having. Now... l must say that l agree with other yelpers.. the Lychee Martini is OH SO Exquisite.. Yes my reviews usually include some "likker". You can see inside the kitchen and check out the prep done as well, cute concept.
(5)
David G.

Your friend is coming into town from San Francisco and says, in advance, that he's in the mood for some good Chinese food in Miami. Do you: A) Rush right down to Tropical Chinese from the airport. B) Convince him that he really needs to get Cuban food in Miami. The food is pretty good and it's reasonable, especially for the Dim Sum. But look, it's a very popular Chinese restaurant situated on Bird road. Do you think it packs the restaurant by selling challenging authentic dishes to the local Latin palates? Nope, of course not, it's very safe. I can't blame them. Is it the best Chinese in Miami as many, Yelp and non-Yelp, claim? Meh. Will I go here again spurred on by the encouraging tide of culinary exuberance from friends and acquaintances? Sure, I like this place. Just make sure to choose "B" and force your friend to take you to some good Chinese next time you're in San Fran.
(3)
Joanne M.

Best chinese food, I've had in a while! We shared some chicken dumplings, special fried rice and chicken and vegetables. Its not as cheap as most chinese places, but it was well worth it. I def. recommend for dinner. Plus you can go there, the dining area is nice.
(4)
Lourdes W.

If you're a Dim Sum virgin, this may not be the best place for your first time. Lunch was served instantly. Carts rolled by me by employees who either did not speak English or I just did not understand theirs. I felt like the food was being pushed on me and there was no substantive (or any) explanation of what I was supposed to eat. Out of 10 different items I tried, probably 5 were notewothy: Shrimp dumplings, chicken dumplins, shrimp wantons, a pork sweet bread thing and some other shrimp thing. I apologize for being brief, but I really don't know what I ate. I ordered a spicy meat, which was served cold...not for me. I've heard such good reviews about the Chinese food here. Perhaps dinner may offer a different experience, but no more dim sum for me.
(2)
Rachel C.

Excellent dim sum! Enjoyed a fantastic lunch here. Favorites were bok choy, sesame dessert filled with bean paste, shrimp fritters. Feel free to encourage these friendly servers to slow down if you like. Delicious and so so many tasty options.
(4)
Christie A.

Came here for dinner on a Friday night and was pleasantly surprised to see how nice this restaurant was on the inside. I hadn't been to Tropical Chinese since I was a little girl and they have definitely upgraded/updated the place from what I can remember. I LOVE that you can see into the kitchen and see the chefs woking away at the food. Very cool. Thankfully, the food matched the decor. This is the best Chinese food I have ever had in Miami, hands down. I am guessing this is as authentic as it gets around these here parts. Yes, it is pricier than most mom and pop Chinese restaurants, but I feel that here you are truly paying for the quality of food. Since we were here for dinner there was no dim sum, but we did get to have several other delicious dishes including the shrimp ball appetizer, the special fried rice, and the spicy szechwan beef....which thankfully for me wasn't all too spicy, because I don't like spicey! My husband added a spicey sauce to his beef and that made it perfect for him....although I could swear his started sweating from the heat of the spice! The one dish that I thought was just okay was the Emperor's Prawns with grand marnier sauce. They are prawns wok tossed with a creamy grand marnier sauce, sprinkled with fresh grounded peanuts, and surrounded by broccoli spears. Although I found the first prawn or two absolutely delicious, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th just seemed too sweet. I would probably forgo this dish the next time, unless I share it with the table as an appetizer. Its just too much/too sweet for a dinner plate in my opinion. The service was also spot on. I can't wait to come back for lunch and try the dim sum!
(4)
Paula E.

if there's something to be thankful about this grad school final week from hell is that apparently I'm getting really lucky at finding good chinese places.... yes I know what you are thinking and you are probably right, I must've gained like 65437457 lbs eating bc of stress but I'll worry about that next week when its all done. Another crazy night at the labs, another night of take out. Of course everyone turns to Paula for the solution (yeah, first you guys make fun of me for being a Yelper obsessive but when push comes to shove...) I did some quick search and found Tropical nearby. Most of my colleges ordered the typical dishes (General Tso's etc) and I quickly eyed through the review highlights and read Singapore noodles. Done, that'll be it. When we got there to pick it up I remembered having eaten there at a big family gathering and remembered how good of a place this was (I had actually once attempted to look for this mystery place to no avail), also noting that this place had gotten me hooked on black bean paste after having tried their amazing Tofu with black bean curd. Yes! the night just got a little better. We picked up our food and came back and my god were those noodles the bomb diggity. Super flavorful, not too soggy, not too dry, not too greasy. Just plain ole satisfying good. The spring roll was also quite delectable, except it was miniscule... mental note: order more next time. Best of all is that I didn't suffer from the Chinese food coma that usually comes after ordering take out and was successful at continuing with my work for a couple of hours. That right there is plenty to ask.
(4)
Gregory N.

We went for dim sum the other day. For the uninitiated, dim sum is a lunchtime thing, with cheerful staff pushing carts around carrying small plates or dishes of food, mostly steamed or fried. And it's mostly delicious. For example, a small plate of fried eggrolls is something you might choose off the carts. My favorites are the baked pow, a bun filled with "barbecue" pork, and tim sam (?), ground pork seasoned and mixed with finely chopped red peppers (I think) and wrapped in a wonton then steamed. One of my tablemates loves the chicken feet, but I won't touch those. The point is, you're not going to like everything, but you'll find something you like. It's fun when you're with other people because you choose for the table, and everybody gets to try different things. Tropical Chinese is also open for dinner, and it's very good. My favorites are black bean chicken and garlic shredded pork. There is the open kitchen separated by a large pane of glass, which adds to the "Chinatown" ambiance. It's not Iron Chef, but it's like a cooking reality show going on right in front of you!
(4)
Janelle F.

So apparently- Tropical Chinese seems to be the only decent place in this part of town (or country, whatever!) for dim sum. Expectations were high as so many people are constantly raving about this place...and unfortunately, my experience didn't match the hype. Out of the 10 things I tried, I liked 2 or 3 and only the shrimp wonton was memorable. I thought the desserts were unappealing (both looking and tasting), and some of the food that should've been warm was served really cold. The hot and sour soup was "okay". To make things worse, the service was pretty bad, too. While there were 6 or 7 waiters standing around doing nothing, I had to flag mine down for a refill, the check, sauces, etc. On the opposite end, the waitresses pushing the dim sum carts around were super pushy. It is unfortunate that there's nothing about Tropical Chinese that will make me want to return.
(2)
Jadine R.

NOT a fan of Tropical. : /
(2)
Mike A.

Great Sunday Dim Sum spot.
(4)
Jenaia F.

Since my original review, I've been to this restaurant a few more times. Once for dinner on a weeknight and once for lunch on a weekend. I am happy to report that they have earned that 5th star. On our weeknight dinner, the husband and I shared the hot and sour soup for two, some dumplings, and a spicy beef dish (can't remember which one). Everything was delectable!! On our weekend lunch, we had the dim sum which was a lot of fun. We got a chance to taste several small dishes - my favorite amongst them was the shrimp and parsley dumplings... AMAZING!! It was an expensive lunch, but definitely worth it if you're in the mood for some good Chinese food and a unique experience.
(5)
gloria g.

One of the best Chinese restaurants in Miami. The experience we had in the food and the service was very good. We liked the orange peal steak and the shrim soup too....... The only thing is the parking lot is a litter small if you have a big car! But the food is great..........
(5)
Cheff W.

Excellent service. Great food and drama (watch out for the steaming hot carts coming your way!). Bring families/friends and go! Oct 2014 update: gets better and tastier every year. Yummy!
(5)
Cristy M.

If you are into Dim Sum, You'll love Tropical Chinese. If you come here for lunch you'll find about 8-10 servers going around with little carts filled with Dim Sum. They have shrimp, pork, chicken, and a few other these are my fave's. The servers are a bit pushy wanting you to take more food and the parking is a bit of a pain.
(4)
Paul F.

This was my first time going to a dimsum restaurant in Miami. I was lucky that my good friend brought his girlfriend along, who speaks both Mandarin and Cantonese (!). She was able to fill me in on what was good here. For starters, if you've never done dimsum, the whole experience might be a little overwhelming. Waiters with carts will pass by you one after the other to offer you a whole different selection of dishes -- most of which I wasn't familiar with. I think the experience might be even better if you went there not knowing anything - the waiters don't have time to explain what everything is, but it's a great opportunity to just sample as many different dishes in a single sitting. The food is delicious -- they have a killer hot and sour soup, and the seafood doesn't get much better for a Chinese restaurant. I'd really like to go again to try out their chicken and pork dumplings, which I didn't have the chance to try. Oddly, I rather enjoyed something my friend called "ox stomach." It looked like a seafood dish and had the consistency of one, but wasn't. If you're a picky eater or if all you know is pork fried rice and General Tso's chicken, this place may not be your thing. For me, I love odd cuisine, so it wasn't a big deal. It was a sweet experience.
(4)
Brisco J.

Best Chinese food in Miami, which really isn't saying much. I give four stars because the food is tasty and service is good. However, I have to deduct a star for the past health violations they've had. I'm sorry, but I just can't seem to forget about it.
(4)
John H.

Do you love Yank Sing in San Francisco? Well, Miami has dim sum too, and it is serious. Tropical must have stepped up their game too, because my visit in July 2012 revealed a new dedication to excellence, as if the chefs had an epiphany, some new direct knowledge of the existential meaning of dim sum. "Betterness" was evident. Houston Texas does not have dim sum like this. San Francisco does. Make them heat up the sesame rice balls, they serve 'em cold sometimes. Lets make sure we hold them to the high standards they are capable of.
(5)
Raul R.

I love this place. When I moved here from Chicago, my family introduced me to it. We have had many family gatherings here, including my nieces Law School Graduation Party. The service is impeccable. You can see the spotless kitchen from the main room. Everthing is fresh, fresh, fresh. Peking Duck, to die for! The Dim Sum, forget about it! Incredible! Seek this place out. You will be glad you did!
(4)
Florence Y.

Red lanterns galore as I walked in for dinner this time around. IYou know what they say about red lanterns, right? *wink* But nope, this place isn't THAT kind of place. Not an ounce of sleaze. It was packed for a late friday night...families, couples, friends. Service was quick and efficient. Sat at the other side of the restaurant this time facing the open kitchen...random big fires often distracted me. My friend and I ordered roast duck, mixed vegetables and chicken with salted fish fried rice...I LOVED the duck ( may be a little too salty for some), mixed vegetables had bamboo, mushrooms, water chestnut, broccoli, carrots and snow peas. Tasty! The chicken and salted fish fried rice was...DELISH! I am so thrilled that they did it right and great, now I can get it to go on my way home! Tip-bits: Restaurant closes about 11pm on Friday night Good for family-style dinners Sit by the kitchen if you worry you eat cat by mistake ;p Strange out of place cushions outside now (they resemble the kind you see outside Splitsville, I think they are for smoking, not for dining)
(4)
Lorena P.

Pretty good new to dimsum. It was a fun experience
(5)
Monica W.

AMAZING!! DELICIOUS!! Simply perfect. My husband and I eat out at least twice a week, I am not a big fan of chinese, but decided to go there because I love Peking duck, it is quite difficult to find it in South Florida, and I saw an excellent review of the restaurant on TV. When I eat our I expect the best, I am a pretty good cook, so if I eat out it better be a lot better than what I can cook, and the service has to be excellent! The Tropical Chinese restaurant exceeded my expectations; the dim sum was fresh, delicious, and perfectly served; the Peking duck is served at the table, and then what is left over of the duck is taken back to the kitchen to make a second course. My husband and I ate one order of Peking Duck, we both ate until we literally could eat no more, took what was left over home, and it suffice for next day's lunch. The service is impeccable, despite how busy they were the servers were extremely attentive, helpful and very professional. I adored the food, loved the service, and best of all the prices!! Dinner for two, with two beers and left overs to take home $65
(5)
Imee B.

Im a South Florida transplant from the San Francisco Bay Area and one of the toughest adjustments to living here is the over abundance of underwhelming chinese food. The food here alleviates a little bit of that disappointment- it certainly is the best Ive had in South Florida which is why im giving it 4 stars.
(4)
Lilyvania M.

This place is a hidden gem, and if you like Chinese food this is a must! I discovered it via a Yelp event and have been back twice since then- I went back the next day and the following weekend...yes, it's that good. The vibe is great. People just seem to be having a good time there just tasting the different dishes, sharing, and having great conversations with family and friends. It does get very crowded so try to make reservations or arrive right after they open. And yes, it gets loud but the food is so delicious that it's worth the noise.
(4)
laura m.

This place is what I expect from a dim sum restaurant. Asian cooks, servers, and it looks like Asian owners. The restaurant was totally crowded at 1:30pm on a weds. Lots of Asians dining (good sign)! The dim sum goes til 3-3:30pm and they serve from the traditional rolling carts. There is a huge window that looks into the kitchen and you can see them cooking up everything - fresh. We were seated right away and the hot tea and dim sum service was immediate. The steamed pork buns were great, the shrimp balls delicious, as was the Chinese broccoli and all the other dumplings we ordered. We also had the pan fried shrimp noodles from their regular menu. They were perfectly cooked and the sauce was delightful. We had 5 dim sum servings and the noodles for around $45 bucks. A little on the expensive side but normal for Miami. One tip-there is a red dim sum menu at the front counter with pictures and descriptions of all options in English. This is nice since the table tab is in Chinese. We will be back!!!
(4)
Belinda S.

One word: Amazing, make it two: absolutely amazing. Chinese food, is my favorite food to eat, so finding this place was heaven. This is a family owned restaurant. My boyfriend has been going here for years and told me about the place. This place is has the best Chinese food in Miami, hands down. My favorite dishes are the shrimp lo main, and the shrimp prawns. I highly recommend the shrimp prawn best dish on the menu. This place also has awesome dim sum and wonton soup. Seriously, you need to try this place, it's the BEST!
(5)
Christina C.

Since my last review, i have been back here at least twice more: once for the Yelp event held here on a Saturday afternoon and again last night for dinner with my friends. The food is great, the staff is pretty friendly, and I have to say very patient, especially for dealing with the group of people they served last night. Among some of the great food we enjoyed were the Scallop Pot Stickers (a-mazing) and the General Chicken (at least I think that's what it's called). The wine was great! And I even had some leftover Shrimp Fried Rice to take home for lunch tocday. Wohoo!
(5)
Julia M.

Did not come here during dim sum hours, which I would've liked to have experienced since a friend recommended this place for such, but instead came here for dinner on New Year's Eve. The place was PACKED (with non-Chinese people) but that could have been due to the fact it was 9:30pm and few other restaurants in the area were open. We were seated at a tiny table in an area of the restaurant that was not well-lit (and needed to pull out our cell phones to read the menu, which the waiter actually told us to do....). In hearing that their dim sum was good, I ordered their shaolin dumplings off their 'limited dim sum' menu that they offer during all hours. The soup-filled pork dumplings might very well have been leftover from dim sum hours, since they all stuck to the bottom of the dish and were impossible to scrape off.... Next dish: whatever you do, do NOT order the crispy pork -- it is over-priced and over-cooked and has the consistency of beef jerky. The fish and tofu dish we ordered was much more palatable, but for $25 you would have expected a larger portion size than a small soup bowl, or at least more rice than an ice cream scoop's worth. Oranges for dessert and fortune cookies made for a slightly authentic end to our meal, but expect an over-priced, under-serviced, less-than-authentic Chinese meal.
(2)
Jeffrey L.

Dim Sum! Best Dim Sum place in Miami Dade County that is not over priced as various places on the beach! Service is phenomenal.
(5)
Rebecca B.

Dim Sum is the notable dish of the Tropical. There are some of the dishes that I don't care for. But for the mayor part they are pretty good. I have tried their regular menu entrees and they are just ok. The Dim Sum is the way to go. Enjoy!
(4)
Krupa H.

There dim sum is great! The only time we usually come if for their dim sum, so I cannot judge on their regular menu. When getting dim sum, you have to go get the pork and chicken shu mai. You won't stop at one or two sometimes though as a warning. We always get the chicken dumplings as well which are superb too. For dessert you have to get the custard buns of course. Great dim sum to go to in Miami!
(4)
D H.

I am not 100% sure, but I believe this is the only dim sum place in Miami/SF that served it pushing cart style. There are pros and cons when it comes to pushing cart. The pros is that you can see what you are getting before you're getting it. The cons, well....that dish could be going around in circles.....many circles, which lead to you, or in my case, me getting luke warm or cold dish. There are exception to this law of physics. In NYC, there are these HUGE dim sum places, where the cart doesn't have the chance to make it all the way through before running out. With that, you know it's fresh hot. Since this place doesn't have that characteristic(even when it's packed), you are playing russian roulette with each dish's temperature. But when you do get it, its pretty decent.
(3)
Len D.

My new favorite chinese place. I really loved the honey garlic chicken and the chicken pot stickers. Its not cheap though (rougly $70 for 2 people). The honey garlic chicken was perfectly fried. A good honey garlic chicken is still crispy when the honey sauce is introduced. I also liked how they browned the bottom of the pot stickers. It gave the bottom a nice crunch at the bottom. We also had the walnut chicken which was OK. The best thing about it was the presentation. served on a flower shaped with fried noodles. I'd say its the best honey garlic chicken in Miami. I will definitely come back to try to rest of the menu..
(5)
Rich N.

We had some good times, but those are no more. Used to be good. Really good. Service was never all that friendly. Dim Sum was the talk of the town 10 years ago. Place started to entropy, like the shopping mall this place is parked in. Wound up on the local news for health code issues, complete with news footage, a few years back. Disgusting. Not going back. Not ever. Add to that, it's pricey. Forget it. For Dim Sum try Miss Yipp on South Beach.
(1)
Jordan S.

The only place for Dim Sum in South Florida. Tropical Chinese is an institution for Chinese food in South Florida. You really can't go wrong by going there at any time, however I would recommend going for Dim Sum. For those of you who don't know what Dim Sum is I will explain. Imagine sitting at your table sipping some relaxing wonderful tasting Jasmine Tea. While you are doing that or perhaps enjoying a Lychee Martini, a train of carts starts moving through the restaurant. You are being offered all manner of fare. Pork Dumplings, BBQ Rolls, Fried Rice in Lotus Leaves, Shrimp Dumplings, Bok Choy. Several dozen types of dishes all served A la cart [You pay for each thing individually]. Each item is either a Small, Medium, Large, or Extra-large item and you are charged accordingly. Don't miss any of the dumplings. They don't have some of the more exotic fare such as chickens feet but what they have they make quite well. All in all 5 stars. 2 people can easily go for $25 total so the value is there, the food is fresh, and the place is quite clean. If you are looking for a place to take a date don't hesitate. The drinks are great and it's great fun to look at and discuss all the items as they are going by.
(5)
Tough C.

Best dim sum in Miami! I have tried dim sum in New York, San Francisco and Seattle and nothing compares to what I've had at Tropical Chinese. Their regular menu is also good, however, I only recommend this place for their dim sum. Get there early on the weekends, because it fills up fast.
(5)
Luis D.

I've been coming to this restaurant for about 20 years. Miami doesn't really have too many Chinese restaurants that have authentic dim sum. So, in my opinion this restaurant is the is the best in it's category. If your having dim sum... Please try: shrimp ball, pork & shrimp ball, and the Chinese broccoli. Menu: imperial duck(must order 1 day before),& Imperial chicken. Important: Dim sum stops every day at 3:30, they have paper menus in the front of the restaurant that have a good description and pictures of everything on the dim sum menu.
(5)
Cris C.

Food was amazing. Lunch is where they have the carts for the dim sum. Must go place in Miami
(5)
Mimi S.

Nice decor and polite, gracious staff. The food (dim sum) was available as soon as we sat down. The carts rolled through and we had probably ten small plates of food before us in a matter of minutes. Everything tasted fine but I think this was a case of us not being a fan of dim sum, not the restaurant itself. The food is good but if you don't like real Chinese food, then this is not the place for you. The siu mai (pork dumplings), clams, and orange beef are worth trying. There was also a breaded shrimp plate that was pretty good. The egg custard dessert was also good. There was a bit of a language barrier so it was hard to get detail on what we were eating. I think we would go again with someone that's a pro at eating dim sum to make it more of an enjoyable experience.
(3)
Paul S.

Dim Sum extravaganza!! Worth the drive for Chinese. Good service and not a drop of the food was left on the table. Try the chicken feet, yeah really chicken feet!!
(4)
Franky A.

I used to love this place and would eat there often. I stopped eating there over a year ago after I found out there was a rat problem there that was reported in a South Florida consumer report. I was devastated to hear the news because I loved this place and I can't bring myself back there at any cost. It's a damn shame. I still give the food 5 stars but I shall never step foot there and I'm sorry that I had to spill the beans about this place's dirty little secret.
(5)
Coty S.

Whenever I go to Miami, I go here for their dim sum. It is served daily from 11:00AM-3:00PM. This is dim sum on cart, so you can see what you are getting. The prices are low and I have never had dim sum this good in my life. My favorite is their roasted chicken, duck, orange beef, gai lan, and stuffed eggplant. If you live anywhere near Miami, I am so jealous that you love close to this amazing place, you must go here! If I lived in Miami, I would be there at least once a week for dim sum.
(5)
Tomas R.

Bar none, best dim sum in Miami! You can't go wrong with an endless parade of steam carts filled with exotic treats, passing by your table until you've had your fill. My favorites include parsley (don't know why they call it that, its actually cilantro) shrimp, mexican buns for dessert, and shrimp pasta, which is made with yummy rice noodle paste drizzled with a sweet soy sauce. Their mongolian beef is good, but can be hit or miss on the freshness factor. Another must try is the fried leak dumplings, deeeelish. If you are willing to try anything once, order the rooster's feet, a bit boney and not for the california roll types. You got to love a place where most of the staff can barely speak English, and have taught my kids how to say thank you in mandarin, Xiexie. A bit of advice, try to arrive at 12:00 PM to beat the long waits.
(5)
Jewel H.

I been coming to Tropical since I was in my mama's belly! The best dim sum I have ever had in my whole life. My all time favorite dinner dish is the peking duck. I love how they make it in front of you. The service is great, well only because they know us since we ONLY been going there for over 20 years. Great family memories there and great environment.
(5)
Luis G.

I've had dim sum before. I wasn't ready for Tropical Chinese. Located in a Rinky dink strip mall, this place has nothing to go for it on the outside, but don't be scared, if you're reading this while looking at that storefront, i'd like to be the one to give you a gratuitous shove through its door. Man up, you're about to get slapped with flavor. We were seated right away for dim sum, carts are rolled by right away, I don't know if we were lucky but as soon as my butt was seated I got offered food, and it was non-stop deliciousness from there. I can't wait to go back. Best dim sum I've had. Ever.
(5)
A.J. C.

This place has a distinct expensive quality about them. The food is very good. But the price is set for a more upscale market. It is very good chinese food for a pretty penny. But I still love the Sunday Dim Sum carts that get pushed around.. if you've never experienced dim sum, you need to right here.
(4)
Henry C.

Evidently, the reviews all have one thing in common: this is a restaurant worth trying. My favorites here: lotus leaf rice, steam shrimp in the various variations,..you must definitely try the baby bok-choy, clams and of course pork dumplings. Hot (green) tea goes with Dim-sun as maple syrup goes with pancakes, but if you are lunch time beer drinker then try Tsingao, a fresh lagger style with a nice spice to it. It goes very nice just as well.
(4)
Lourdes D.

Being originally from up north, I love their dim sum; a MUST at Tropical!
(4)
Armando N.

Hands down the best Chinese cuisine in South Florida. I've been coming here since a year ago. The service is outstanding and the food... oh my... amazing. My recommendations: - Siu Mai Dumplings - Stuffed Mushrooms Dumplings - Peking Duck Wraps - Twin Phoenix Hot Pot - Braised Pork Belly - Prawn with JalapeÃ±os - Maine Lobster - Pineapple Fried Rice. I could go on... Their menu is huge and all their dishes are truly delicious. As for drinks try the byejoe fortune cookie martini.
(5)
Otty B.

One of our favorite restaurant. It's great to come back on Wednesday May 27th. Luv this restaurant because it's always consist on the food and service . So hungry! After finding our florist for the wedding. It's great to be able eat delicious food.
(4)
Huy N.

A dim sum restaurant is defined by its chicken feet. And man does it suck. No skin on the feet to eat with a lackluster sauce. Btw no congee served too. Service was good but the plaques on the wall were commemorating a by gone era of this restaurant.
(2)
Marisa H.

Don't judge a book by it's cover! The outside might look sketchy but the inside is so nice! What a perfect spot in Miami to have some great DimSum! The food and atmosphere was good and the menu very extensive! Deff a place I will come back too! 5/10 atmosphere 8/10 food 7/10 experience
(4)
Natasha P.

As soon as you walk in your invited by giant red lanterns and infront of you a case with a buddha statue. They have a cool wall with pop art modern designs that brings it a cool feel. The servers are very nice and attentive. Theres also a glass wall where in the kitchen, you can see the chef and staff. The food is very good and fresh. Not greasy like other Chinese restaurants. Very authentic and a huge menu to choose from. We ordered shrimp wontons, 1/2 duck, and special fried rice Will return. I've heard it's so much fun for Chinese New Years, there's a dancing dragon and everything :)
(5)
Carlos F.

Ambience/decor: 4 Food: 4 Service: 2.5 I went to try this restaurant for dinner, and noticed it is VERY expensive Chinese food and portions are so small they are basically for one person. They charge for tea per cup/person (only Chinese restaurant I've heard in South FL that charges for hot tea) Quality is ok, nothing out of this world. You'll notice that only gweilo (é¬¼ä½¬) eat here for the atmosphere.
(2)
Michael O.

Tonight marked my second visit to Tropical. Went here with my girlfriend and one of her friends after getting quality beef chow fun our first visit. My girlfriend and I ordered the Beef Chow Fun and General Tsao's Chicken, which they brought out a full 10 minutes before the other guest at our table was served. The chicken was tasty, but the beef chow fun had zero taste. The beef didn't even taste like beef. We alerted a server to fix it, and they brought over someone who appeared to be the manager. Both my girlfriend and I told him the dish had no seasoning, to which he repeatedly replied it was perfectly made and was delicious, and to just eat it. Despite arguing with him for 5 minutes, he kept repeating how delicious the dish was and how we should just eat it. Thankfully, we were able to get our original server to get the kitchen to prepare the dish again. Even though it was a lot better, it sent my girlfriend immediately running to the bathroom to throw up. Two hours later, she is still sick, even though she was fine before and excited to go to the restaurant. We will definitely NOT be going back, or recommending it to any of our friends. Especially since 2 entrees came out to over $40 with waters. In addition, the last time we were there, we had a fraudulent charge made days after we had gone on our credit card. Even though the place looks nice, it is just another disappointing excuse of Chinese restaurant in Miami. STAY AWAY.
(1)
Jeff G.

I'm sorry that I must be the voice of dissent but this place is really overrated and overpriced as far as Dim Sum is concerned. Yes, this is one of the only places that has daily cart service, so it's good for a quick fix, but for the price quick is not a good thing. For years this was one of the few go to places for Dim Sum as Miami was and still is devoid of good Chinese food. That being said, we now have better options nearby and some do cart service on the weekends and they are all less expensive. My other issue here is the service. Do the cart pushers work on commission or something? Some of them seem to get mad if you don't want anything off their cart or if you don't take the item you really don't want that they are seemingly trying to offload onto you. Maybe it's a cultural thing, so someone please fill me in as this is not the first time I've noticed this here. It's been a long time since I given this place another try, I don't think I'll be giving it another chance in the future.
(2)
Bonnie L.

Tropical Chinese is like Bruce Jenner with an identity crisis. It claims to be authentic, yet tries too hard to be a "high end" establishment, which isn't really what Chinese food is meant be! The waiter tries to prepared the food for you, as if you were in a Michelin 3-star restaurant. That's fine and dandy, except they brought 1 bowl of rice for a party of 4, and charged 2.50 for each additional bowl! The lobster lettuce wrap did not taste like lobster, the pecking duck was good, but not very "authentic" when it's wrapped in tortilla. The clams were bland. The price was way too expensive and not worth the quality of food we received. I actually felt cheated eating here. In conclusion, I do not recommend this place. Too pretentious, too expensive, and the food leave more to be desired.
(2)
Wendy L.

Items worth trying: Steamed shrimp dumpling Steam Siu Mai Pan fried leek dumpling Peking duck wrap Wok charred chicken pot stickers Emperor prawns Basically anything on the dim sum menu that looks good to you From their regular menu, the ginger scallion Maine lobster is too salty, in my opinion. The black bean chicken is tender, but also too heavy on the salt, though it would go well with some white rice. Lettuce wraps are ok, it was hard to identify exactly what the finely minced pieces of food were and even more difficult to decipher by taste, but according to the menu, it's supposed to be pine nuts, minced onion, bamboo shoot, water chestnut, shiitake mushrooms, and Chinese sausage--who would have guessed! Bottom line, I much prefer the dim sum items over the dinner menu. Great place to brunch with friends!
(4)
C G.

Great restaurant, dim sun carts are fantastic for lunch, our go to place for Chinese.... sit on the right hand side vs the left of the dining room. the best servers are usually there.
(5)
Elaine Z.

Sketchy location but inviting interior decor. Appealing to fans of Americanized dim sum - take one look inside and you'll see a majority of non-Chinese dining. Of course, this isn't a bad thing, but as a proponent of authentic Chinese I found Tropical to be extremely overpriced and not as good as South Garden or Konchau. That being said, the Peking Duck and shrimp shu mai were still tasty and different from my usual dim sum orders. I was very underwhelmed by my favorite dish at other restaurants - beef chow fun. The noodles were tasteless and the beef lacked flavor and tenderness. The bill was over 300 for a table of 7 - at the other dim sum establishments, we would've paid 1/3 the price for a much more palatable experience. It was nice to try a different place, but with other options nearby, I won't be coming back.
(2)
mariana c.

My favorite Chinese dim sum on the east coast Clams , leak , beef and shrimp shumai and everything else
(5)
Lizzy H.

Tropical Chinese has the best dim sum selection in South Florida. We drive down from Coral Springs to this authentic chinese restaurant at least once a month to have dim sum on Sundays. They offer quite a large selection of dumplings, buns (baked & steamed) and other hot dishes straight from the kitchen. I would highly recomend the pork siu mai - it's my favorite place to get siu mai!!! The chives dumplings and pork buns are pretty good too. For dessert, ask them for lychee and they will serve you a large plate of lychee over ice. It's very refreshing after such a flavorful meal.
(5)
Paloma A.

I had been looking for a good Chinese restaurant in Miami and Tropical Chinese is just that. We had some dim sum for appetizers, Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai and Fried Wonton Shrimps. For dinner we had the Chicken in Black Bean Sauce and Special Fried Rice, and of course some Jasmine Tea to make it perfect. I was missing a good place like this since I moved here. I am so happy they exist. The staff was amazing, the waitresses were attentive and one of them even covered our 3yr old who was sleeping making sure he was warm. WOW! Definitely making this our family restaurant. Can't wait to bring the rest of the family. Thank you to the staff!
(5)
Elisa M.

This restaurant is the best dim sum restaurant in Miami, they have a huge variety of dimsums and offering in cart service, and even though it might be a bit more expensive than others, I think it really worths the price since is authentic, it`s clean, big, service is fast and food is good and well cooked... for me, is my number one place for eating dimsums!!!
(5)
Lee Z.

We ordered a pan fried noodle dish and several dim sum. Overall, the food is average and prices are higher than other dim sum places in South Florida. The decor is nice and very modern, unlike other Chinese restaurants, but them again, I'm going for the taste and quality of the food and not really for the decor. Of course having both is a bonus. The service was really good compare to many other busy dim sum restaurants.
(3)
Jimmy G.

My partner and I decided to go to this place on a whim! It was late afternoon and I was Yelping around for something new to try. Tropical came in my search results and read some reviews. We gave it a shot... We drove up and it is in the middle of a sketchy shopping center. Didn't look busy or attractive from the outside. But once inside.... WOAH! The place was packed!!! Busy as it can be. The smell in the air was fascinating. Cool funky red, black and white wall paper definitely set the town. We got sat right away and served water almost immediately... But that's where the service abruptly fails. We did not get attended for approximately 10-15 minutes. My partner had to stand and speak with the host to get a server. We ordered: shrimp dumplings (DELICIOUS) - beautiful pink pearls of goodness. They were stuffed with big pieces of shrimp and had a delicate flavor. I'm coming back for more of these. Duck ConsommÃ© - although I wouldn't call it a consommÃ© due to it not being as clear as it's supposed to be, this soup was to die for. Big pieces of cabbage and tofu accompanied the essence of duck through out the soup. Definitely a winner. Pork Dumpling Buns - this was my first time trying buns. I LOVE THEM! These buns were stuffed with shredded sweet and sour pork. The order brought three. They restaurant does offer a spicy homemade sauce for the dim sum if you'd like. Pan Fried Noddles with Roast Pork - LOVE the pork in this restaurant. Juicy, succulent, and tender. The noodles was really crispy, and I mean REALLY CRISPY. If you like that, then it's definitely for you. It's coated in a yummy rich beef sauce. Ended our treat with lychee and hot tea. This restaurant is definitely once at the top of my list. The SERVICE SUCKS! Drinks got served late, plates were dirty, had to ask for things on occasion. But the chefs and food is what make this restaurant a gem. Come by! It's authentic as it gets! You will not regret it!!
(4)
Na Y.

Very impressive Chinese food! The server is very professional and the dishes are served to the table really quick!
(4)
Rachel Q.

I've been a customer for many years but am very disappointed with how cheap they've become. Yesterday was the last day I ordered from this place. I placed a large order ($130) for carry out which included 2 beef fried rice. Well the rice was mostly just rice and peas. Additionally, they only provided 2 small duck sauces for such a large quantity ordered and wanted to charge for extra. I expect to get what I pay for. Beef fried rice should have beef.
(1)
Paul G.

Food was delicious and authentic, service was excellent and the food was reasonably priced i will definitely be back.
(5)
Jay H.

Great place. More elegant/gourmet Chinese. Had the different dim sums, a very delicious seafood soup, pineapple fried rice and ginger beef. It was worth the extra cost for this place.
(4)
Lana N.

Came here because of a friend's suggestion. It satisfied my long time craving for dim sum!! The decor is pretty cute and having the carts adds to the experience (another place I went to didn't have it). They accommodated our group including a baby quite well. The staff here is extremely accommodating with several people continuously refilling our water, clearing plates, giving us sauces, and correcting our orders. The things I liked were the Shrimp Dumplings (a classic) and the green dumplings that might have had tomato in them? The egg tart filling was good but I didn't care for the crust. However, my friends said they could taste the gas in the leek dumplings (one of the Yelp highlighted items). Overall, the price isn't bad but not cheap (it's Miami after all). However, if you're looking for a nice Sunday dim sum meal to get full off of, I'd recommend trying this place.
(4)
Nurys I.

This was my first visit to Tropical Chinese and I loved it! The ambience was nice. The restaurant was nicely decorated and looked clean. We ordered dim sum to start: shrimp dumplings, pork and shrimp dumplings. Then we ordered Chinese broccoli in oyster sauce and for our starters we ordered black bean chicken in a hot pot and sticky rice. It was just the right amount of food for the three of us. The food tasted fresh and very flavorful. We skipped dessert and instead ate the complimentary fortune cookies and orange wedges. The service is not 5 star but it works. I would definitely come back with a group of friends and try more food. Note: you will walk out smelling like your food (or your neighbor's).
(4)
Vane M.

Authentic Chinese food. Peeking duck and wraps prepared for you. This place is just good. It's a bit on the pricey side, but in reality I can't think of any other restaurant like this one with this quality of food.
(4)
Liliana R.

Authentic chinese food with a very extensive menu. I used to love this place for their dim sum option but recently their food quality has lower a lot and food comes not warm at all. I will give a last try...
(3)
Jessica N.

The quality of the food in this place is horrible. One of the worst Asian foods I have ever tasted. The food tasted cold and not fresh. They overwhelm you with plates of food. They charge you for each plate they put on your table weather you touched it or not. Unlike other din sum places, where you pay one price per person. I recommend no one to go here. Not only was the food horrible, but extremely over priced. Customer service was another big disappointment. The servers either didn't speak English or pretended like they didn't understand. They had a plate of sweet and sour chicken and the sauce was made with ketchup.This place gets a big zero for food quality, service, price, and location. I recommend going to hakkesan at the fountain bleu hotel. Pretty much the same price but for much better food and service.
(1)
Anthony M.

Tropical Chinese is an authentic Chinese restaurant. The ambiance is laid back, upper-middle class, and the service is quite good. Their choices in food are extensive, there are some dishes that have to be called 3 days in advanced, and their wine list is to par. One of my favorite features is the fact that the kitchen can be seen from the restaurant to do its glass windows. As a haut cuisine restaurant it would make my first choice in Chinese dining. I rate this restaurant a 4.8. Good Job Tropical Chinese!
(4)
Seth S.

Heavy Duty Old School Chinese from a Miami institution on Bird Road. Coulda' been from the days of my grandparents. Spinal Tap would like dining here. And yes, you can still get fried rice, egg rolls, egg drop soup, and beef with broccoli, too. Cheeky comments aside, this place is an institution, and for good reason. It hasn't changed much over the years, the peking duck is still quite solid, and parts of the menu appear to date from Dwight Eisenhower's administration. Chairman Mao would be pleased. I'd suggest the dim sum when available.
(3)
Jessica P.

Best Chinese Restaurant in Miami. Hands Down! I highly recommend the Crispy Pan Fried Noodles with Chicken, Dynasty Pork Chops and Hong Kong Fried Rice. The food was delicious and also the Dim Sum on the weekends is a must. The prices are a little high for a Chinese restaurant but worth it if you want really good Chinese food for Miami.
(4)
Carol M.

This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Miami. It is usually full and there is a window that allows a view to the kitchen. My favorite dishes are the Peking duck and the wonton soup. Highly recommend it!
(4)
Elvira F.

I went there for dim sun with two friends and was so put off by how rude the cart servers were that I will not be coming here again. To quote another reviewer: Do the cart pushers work on commission or something? Some of them seem to get mad if you don't want anything off their cart or if you don't take the item you really don't want that they are seemingly trying to offload onto you. Overpriced and overrated, I will not be coming here again.
(1)
Kenny W.

I've been going here for years, my recommendation is go just for the dim sum on the weekends. It's really good.
(4)
Staci L.

The food is amazing. It's a very cute place. The three stars are for the horrible service. My husband and I waited about 10-15 to put our drink orders in as well as food. The food delivery was fine, we had some dim sum which were delicious and wanted to order more but no one came to ask if we wanted refills, to clean up plates, nothing. Our entrees came and were amazing, but it took another 15 min to clean up. Then we were given the typical fortune cookie and then proceeded to wait 20 min for our bill. I don't know if they're short staffed or what was going on, we will give it another try, giving them the benefit of the doubt but the service and price have done nothing to entice me further.
(3)
Charlie S.

I've always loved the dim sum here, and having eaten here since their re-design, I'm even happier with the food. Pork buns are a favorite. The Chinese broccoli is excellent, and pretty much always cooked perfectly. Other favorites include: - the "crab claw" (note - only a little bit of crab here, mostly delightful fried shrimp) - shrimp and chive dumplings - tofu shrimp - orange beef (though frankly this can be sometimes inconsistent, sometimes too chewy). There is much to love here. By far the best dim sum in Miami, and served from the carts (which has its own special magic).
(5)
Cassie G.

I once went to Hong Kong and fell in love with dim sum. I had heard about the legend that is Tropical Chinese for YEARS but never made it until I started working close by. Now, lunches during workdays are usually confined to grab and go shops or quick casual sandwich places but thankfully, dim sum means all the food is hot and ready to go so you can easily get in and out in an hour. Now, the problem with eating dim sum for lunch? To me, it's like an ideal version of an all you can eat buffet and that means I'll eat a lot and roll back to work in need of a nap. No matter though. It usually ends up being the best part of my day no matter how full I feel after. Favorites include the steamed pork buns, shrimp shumai, eggplant with shrimp, sweet buns... Honestly, I've never had a plate here I wanted to throw out and don't forget the sauce - I mix the spicy with the soy for a perfect combination that is great with EVERYTHING. I'd suggest coming with more than one other person so you can try more. The workers are speedy which can be dangerous if you eat with your eyes. They are also happy to explain what they have on their cart although it might be a little intimidating to ask at first. Case and point, I now know why this place has been around for so long. I am by no means a dim sum expert but it certainly satisfies any cravings I have!
(4)
Brynn R.

Delicious, authentic Chinese food. Servers come around with carts and you can pick what you want off of the cart. I had the Orange beef and the general tsos (which I had to order off the menu). The orange beef was delicious! Wonderful flavor, it took my no time to finish it. It was a bit too sweet for me after a bit and hard to bite, but it won't stop me from going back for seconds. Will definitely order this again! The general tsos was good, but not like the usual general tsos I get at other restaurants. The sauce was thinner and less sweet than I am used to. This is probably a more authentic way of making this dish, but I probably wouldn't order this again. The servers were friendly, but got easily confused when you talked to them. I think there was a bit of a language barrier. The setting was very nice, the restaurant was very busy and the layout and design were nice.
(5)
Jose F.

Great place for Dim Sum, service was great, even on a busy Sunday afternoon, the food was tasty, and reasonable price, I would suggest arriving early since Dim Sum is served from 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM.
(4)
David A.

Come here for the Dim Sum obviously. There are many different selections and it is easy to run up the bill if you order with your eyes like me. The desert dumplings left more to be desired, but the shrimp shumai were delish.
(4)
Chester O.

Food was OKAY but that is it. Special fried rice was average. Honey Garlic chicken was normal. Szechuan beef was horrible and tasted like it was drowned in A1 sauce. Dim Sum was pretty good I admit. I have never had the worst customer service ever! We waited 30 minutes before having to get up and tell a very reluctant waiter that we are ready to order. After we got our food and ate it we waited another 30 minutes before having to ask another waiter to give us the check and he gave the most nasty attitude. We never got to see our first waiter after that. I would not recommend this place to anyone. There are much better places in Miami with way better service and prices.
(1)
Sean R.

I have been coming to this restaurant for the last 25 years and I hope to come here for the next 25 years it is by far the best Chinese restaurant in Miami! The most authentic dim sum that you will find from here to Hong Kong and I know because I've traveled throughout Asia at least 10 times in my life. If you're looking for great Chinese food, this is the place to go. The service A+ the look is clean and modern. If you go on a Sunday between 12-3pm be prepared to wait.
(5)
Milagros T.

Loooooveeee it!!!! By far the best Chinese restaurant in Miami Can't wait to go back for more Dim Sum
(5)
Celine S.

Ä°t was the my first "real chinese food" experience. Everyone who works there were chinese. The decoration makes you feel that you are actually in China. Food was just excellent. Right on the spot. Because it was our first time in a reataurant like this we ordered more then we usually eat. There was no bad food. The dumplings and pork bun were so good. No bad comments for here. Ä°ts too far to our house but I will deffinitely come here again!
(5)
Rocio P.

This place is amazing. Please don't change. Dim sum is out of this world. Our server recommended probably the best sake I've ever had. We also ordered the fried rice and it was the freshest tasting fried rice ever. The ambiance is great. I love that it is family owned and so unassuming. We need more places like this in South Florida!
(5)
Martin R.

Probably the best Chinese food I have tried in Miami. Everything we had was prepared very well and very tasty. The restaurant was pretty full so the service was a little lacking. It took quite a while for the waiter to get to us and to bring our food out. There were other tables that seemed to be bothered by the service. I made the best of it and wasn't in any hurry. If you go, expect to wait. I need to return to try the dim sum. From what I hear it is the best around.
(4)
Kimberly K.

I recently found out that this restaurant serves dim sum on rolling carts EVERY DAY! That's super awsome and convenient for me because I work every weekend and can never make it to dim sum! Also, when I take someone out for their first dim sum, I'd prefer it to be rolling carts for the full authentic experience. Tropical Chinese is a big family owned restaurant with what seems to be a full bar as well. I came in on a Monday for dim sum and it was rather busy for a Monday, surprisingly. They have about four carts rolling around with a good amount of dim sum items on the menu. It's not a full dim sum menu with over 60+ items but they do carry the usual popular items, so I'd say about 20-30ish dim sum items. They start you off with hot tea and water automatically, great! I ordered about 10-12 plates that ranged from steamed dumplings, a small plate of duck, Chinese broccoli, shrimp crepes, taro shrimp, shui mai, etc. They all tasted great! You can tell they weren't store bought from wholesale restaurant markets but hand made from their own kitchen. Oh, you can also see inside their kitchen btw because it's shielded with a clear glass window :) I was extremely disappointed in the taro shrimp... I'm assuming not a lot of people order taro shrimp so the dish had been sitting in the cart for quite some time because it was cold and chewy when I got it. Taro shrimp should be crunchy, but mine wasn't fresh at ALL! :( after this experience, I noticed a few items weren't exactly so fresh and had probably been sitting in the cart for quite some time, I can tell from the temperature of the food. Never the less, the food still carried an exquisite flavor that still made steamed dishes enjoyable to eat, even if below room temperature. Their egg custard tarts were by far the best, super light, the perfect amount of sweetness, fluffy, and the pastry was airy and crispy as it should be. When a server rolled around with duck in his cart, I HAD to order it, and he surprisingly took it to the kitchen to warm it up because it was cold. I thought that was rather genuine service. I recommend everyone to try their first dim sum here, just make sure the food is warm and if something doesn't taste the way it's suppose to, don't be afraid to ask for them to heat it back up or bring out a new one. Dim sum isn't exactly abundant in Miami but when you do find it, you want to make sure it's as fresh as can be!
(4)
Dev M.

Went for the first time about a month ago, the beef chow fun was good, but the house fried rice was very dry. Decided to give it another shot tonight with a friend. I ordered the beef chow fun again and General Tso's chicken. The chicken was very good, the beef chow fun however was awful! It was so bland, absolutely no flavor whatsoever. When I called a waitress over to speak to her about it, she called another waiter over. That waiter, who I believe was the manager, told me that the food was delicious and to just eat it. He refused to listen to anything I had to say and eventually just walked away. I finally go a hold of my waiter who had the kitchen re-do it. It tasted a lot better the second time, but as soon as I finished eating I immediately felt sick to my stomach. I ended up throwing up the chow fun in the bathroom minutes later. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE! WILL NEVER RETURN! I can't believe that happened, I'd been dying to go back for their chow fun for weeks. Immensely disappointed.
(1)
Qian T.

My BF recommended this place for so many times. Finally, I decided to give it a try. I have been there three times so far. Mostly we went there for lunch on Sundays. Of course, I went there bcz of Dim Sum. I would say the food is above the average. Since there r not so many good Chinese restaurants in Miami area, this one would be a good place to go. I haven't tried to order from the menu, so I am only giving this review on Dim Sum. We like most of them. They r small portions, so we can have a variety of food. They r pretty good. Servers r nice n attentive. Most servers who push carts around r very nice except couple old ladies (rude). The atmosphere is nice. Will go back.
(4)
Sofia S.

I am obsessed with their dim sum!! Absolutely delicious with a nice selection and flavorful tea! The service is excellent, they bring the carts around as soon as you sit down and clean plates as soon as you finished. Water glasses are alway full! Amazing!!
(5)
G C.

My parents have brought our family here since I was a baby. By far the best Chinese you'll ever had. Location is a little strange but totally worth it. Everything is awesome - honey garlic chicken, fish, and pineapple fried rice. This is a must try if you're in the mood for really good Chinese. Consistently delicious for over 25+ years
(5)
Olivia K.

I don't know why this place doesn't have more stars. I went here twice, and loved it both times. My first time I went at night about half an hour before they close. I didn't realize they only serve dim sum until 3 and was really upset. The lady heard me saying how I wanted the black bean spare ribs, and although they don't serve them at the time, she made it happen. They went out of there way, and I really appreciated that. I also got the pan fried noodles, shrimp shumai, and another rice dish. They were all great! The second time I went was today to try the dimsum and everything was great. They went around with the carts and We ordered over 11 different things. The rice noodles with shrimp inside was the best! This is the first dimsum place I've eaten in Miami that reminds me of the Chinese food back home in CT and New York.
(5)
Roly R.

Excellent food very high class small portions with high prices Service can be scant and rude at times Truly unique and real food
(5)
Tina W.

Gregory did a fabulous job visually modernizing the interior. My guess is he took cues from more flashy contemporary Hong Kong restaurants and brought it to his bustling corner in an otherwise subdued little strip mall way west on Bird Rd. That said, non withstanding, The cuisine here is superb. It's fresh, professionally prepared and properly priced. It's authentic CHINESE food with no unbearable gimmicks nor blatant Americanization. Dim Sum on Sunday is a treat for those in the know -- as it gets super-busy -- and it is a reoccurring family affair for us. It's lovely.
(5)
Ian T.

Definitely the best Dim Sum I've had in South Florida. Keep in mind that the four star review is grading on the "Miami Curve" when it comes to Chinese restaurants. In L.A., SF or NY this would be a middle-of-the-road "ok" restaurant. But it isn't in those places, and in Miami it's as good as it gets. First of all, the variety was good with quite a few dim sum selections that went beyond what you would get at an Americanized joint. Add to that, its genuine ladies rolling around carts with the options (as it should be!). The Har gau (shrimp dumplings) and Siu mai (pork dumplings) were well prepared. They had genuine tasting Cheong fan (the rolled sheets of rice noodles). The egg custards were good and the sesame ball was the first I've had in South Florida that were actually good. Also honorable mention for the potstickers. I will say that the stuffed eggplant wasn't quite authentic tasting nor that great. The XLB (Xiao Long Bao) juicy pork "soup" dumplings weren't particularly soupy or juicy. However, the very fact that these were even available was a big plus, since outside of the big asian population areas, these treats seem to be rare as hen's teeth -- which is bizarre because I'm pretty sure the taste would be popular with pretty much anyone. They also didn't seem to know why I wanted a soup spoon, vinegar and ginger for my XLB. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone missing genuine Dim Sum -- or anyone curious to try it.
(4)
Ed H.

Of all the restaurants in Miami, whatever possessed me to go to this HORRIBLE place? Where to begin....it's about 3 PM on a Monday and the place is virtually empty when we arrived. We were hurriedly shuttled to a table where before we had a chance to sit, there were literally at least 4 Dim Sum carts with their respective attendants each anxiously strong arming us into accepting the assortment of plates. There were literally three plates of greasy and less than tasty mysterious items set on the table before we had fully sat down. The time that followed was filled with what was reminiscent of pushy street peddlers and vendors forcing their wares upon the wary. Unfortunately, all of the mysterious items were tasteless and inedible. Each time, the attendant would take what appeared to be a bowling score card with Chinese lettering on it and check off what was supposedly served. We never saw a menu or any other type of chart with prices or descriptions or anything related to what was being served at this restaurant. The service was pretty bad too. We had to persistently ask to be provided with eating utensils and napkins only to be ignored several times. At the end of the meal we received a shocking bill that still has me clueless. The description for what we're served was extra large lunches, large and small Dim Sums, etc and the total bill. After all was said and done and we left, I happen to check the health and safety inspections by the Florida Department of Professional Regulation of this establishment. I was amazed to find that in February 2014, this restaurant had 54 violations of all kinds of health code items; and again in April 2014, it had 34 more violations for similar critical issues. I'm not sure if it was the food alone, or reading the review, or a combination of the two but my stomach is not doing so well right now. Eat at your own risk, be careful!
(1)
Phil I.

Dined here and done take out several times in the past few years and always great food. Did take out last night and food was as bad as Chinese food could get. Fried rice tasted burnt and dry and honey chicken overcooked. Hope it's not in decline.
(1)
Adrienne C.

YUM! crab claw and shrimp balls...she said innocently......and I've since discovered that they make the best 'orangy beef' I've EVAR tasted! I l I like the restaurant, Most always able to scoop up someone desirous of accompanying me..specially If I'm paying...(why do I know so many of these people,...oh well). Sometimes it's difficult to get the attention of a 'waiter' to order a drink, or say, duck sauce or an extra napkin and giving your order to the cart pushers sometimes is futile...but not always. I can't remember eating anything I didn't enjoy and I like that you can combine like priced items on one plate. All in all, this is a place that I will be returning to..and it's even in a shopping center with a bunch of other ethnic joints that are all pretty good too. Dim Sum carts roll till 3pm every day and Saturday and Sundays are very busy but I've never found the wait to be too long. The other Dim Sum places in the area are Chinese Garden on Sunset and Kon Chau on Bird both of which I have reviewed and visit often. In my heart, I have a special place for Kon Chau for not making me feel more idiotic than I already felt having performed a clumsy and rather inelegant ballet in front of their door.
(4)
Alisha R.

If you are looking in dim sum in Miami, look no further. Tropical has been serving dim sum for the longest and not much has changed. I mean no need to re-invent the wheel here. I come here at least once of twice a month to get my dim sum fix, but if you are new to the whole Chinese brunch/lunch come early. If you wait until it gets busy, it can be a little intimidating for a first time. Each of the plates are small, meant to be shared and are pushed around in carts. When the cart approaches your table the server will tell you what they have and serve you what you like. I will definitely advise trying a little bit of everything and take your time ordering. When you first sit down it's hard to not get overly excited and order everything only to realize you only had space for three or four little plates. My favorite dishes are the bok choy, shrimp pasta and all of the dumplings. My mouth is watering just thinking about all of the tasty little bites.
(5)
Mr M.

Three solid stars all around. Food was on point, beverages were nice and cold. I suggest you sit back and enjoy the dim sum selections and call it a day.
(3)
Vera W.

Their dim sum is great! I'm giving it 5 stars because there are very few dim sum places in Miami, and the few that exist are not good, so this place is a rare gem. They have a wide selection of dishes. The food is delicious and fresh. They have high turnaround, so you can tell the food is freshly cooked and not been sitting in the carts for hours. Flavors are great and very authentic. The restaurant itself is also really clean and nicer than most Chinese restaurants. We went Sunday around 1:30. The place was packed and they had a line out the door, but the wait was not bad. Only 20 minutes. Absolutely worth it.
(5)
Sheska O.

As far as Miami Dim Sum go, Tropical Chinese is one of the best. You have to be a little adventurous to go, as less than a quarter of the servers know enough English to fully explain what each piece is. But the good news is that no matter what you pick, it's all good. So go and enjoy!
(4)
Nisha C.

Ive been to tropical on Sundays for dim sum, and its great. A lot of options and cool environment. I really like the set up of the restaurant. The only issue is that its very packed on Sunday. While seating didnt take too long because I called ahead, sometimes getting the staffs attention or waiting for a particular cart took a while. They also don't do refills on fountain drinks, which I found weird, because they didnt give me an actual can or bottle. Despite that, its definitely worth going to and i will be back again!
(4)
jennifer a.

For the price, amazing!! Fast service. If your hungry you can eat as soon as you sit down, for dim sum. Some of the waiter make you feel rushed and forcing food down on your table. The pecking duck is a must. It feeds four. The pork buns were not good. The buddah beer is the cololest bottle beer i have yet to see. Ill be back!
(4)
John E.

I give this 5 stars because it is the best of its kind. The best dimsum Ive had in Miami or NYC. With that being said, it is not truly a 5 star restaurant. and a true 5star restaurant doesnt do this volume. As far as this goes they just do it right. I love how they redecorated and show the kitchen. Gives us confidence the place is clean... Yes I said best Dim Sum in Miami and NYC.
(5)
Andres S.

This was our second time at Tropical Chinese, we had sort of mixed reviews the first time around, so I wanted to give it a second shot before actually doing a formal review. I will start by saying that even though the service is not bad, is not outstanding either, expect your waiter to not be fluent in english, so be patient. Whenever I go to a chinese restaurant, there are a couple of dishes that to me make or break the place, one of them being the Hot & Sour Soup, and theirs is probably one of the best I've had. Be prepared to share though because it is a big bowl. Their spring rolls are tasty, yet small, but try them. Then there is this whole hype about the Dim Sum, and here I'm venturing into uncharted waters. You see, Dim Sum is very subjective, what you may find tasty or appealing, some other person might find repulsive. They offer a huge variety of Dim Sum for Saturday lunch, and it is definitely worth the try, but, try to have an idea of what you want to have based on other reviews, or ask the waiter to help you out, because the menu is huge and can be overwhelming. The fried rice is solid, so is the Peking Duck, and we also tried the Orange Peel Beef, which is a must try. This place is not cheap for a chinese restaurant west of Miami, but, it is legit, and definitely worth a visit, or two, or three, LOL.
(4)
Katherine K.

SO good. I haven't been to dim sum, but it's definitely on my to-do list. I'm still thinking about the curry coconut beef in a hot pot and the Emperor's prawns. If you're looking for great Chinese food that isn't just a place for take-out, go here. You won't regret it.
(5)
Jonathan M.

The best Chinese food in all of Miami. Hands down. I've read some other reviews with differing opinions. I've been going here for a long time and, if you know the right things to order, you can't go wrong! We usually get the crispy peppercorn-salt flounder boat, which consists of a whole fish filleted into chunks and then fried. It is served in a basket over the original fish, which usually has some extra meat to pick off as well. The other amazing dish is the emperor shrimp - gigantic shrimp that are bathed in a sinful creamy sauce with a Grand Marnier base. You won't go wrong with these. Like I said, I've been coming here for years and am no longer allowed to order food - our usual waiter brings out whatever food he thinks is the best of the day...always a great experience!
(5)
Anna H.

Yummy in my tummy. We are BIG fans of their pineapple fried rice. And you can't go wrong with any of the dumpling options. Wish the customer service was a bit better... They are rough around the edges but the food is worth the return trip every time. A hidden gem in south Florida.
(4)
Dinorah a.

This is the worst Chinese restaurant we've ever been to in a while. Big disappointment !! What the hell happened after they remodeled it but it was way different from our last experience here. The Peking duck was dry , soggy skin and it tasted staled.. Gross ! The whole snapper fish , full of bones & lastly we ordered the chicken fried rice had NO CHICKEN when we asked our server where the chicken was he said it was minced , I said WHAT?? Show it to us, is it invisible??? He Then leaves and brings the female manager who insists that there's chicken in there .. Grounded very thinly ..insult our intelligence ! Mmm I'm sorry but we've been to quite a few Chinese restaurant and when u order chicken fried rice you see pieces of white meat chicken .. I'll stick to PF Chang's or Hakkasan !
(1)
Trish C.

First of all, I'm a Miami local. Well, okay, a transplant, but I'm living here, so I am recommending as a local, not as someone who is a one-shot-then-bye review. Hubby and I went there on 2 solid recommendations for date night last night. O M G. Their dimsum was awesome. We had to bring lots of leftovers home because we'd had so much fun eating the apps. The restaurant had a great "energy" and the atmosphere was "just right." Not too kitchy, modern yet kinda traditional, not too many tables, not too few. If you're looking for "all you can eat Chinese Buffet" food, this is not your place. All dishes are elevated and unique. Prices were really reasonable, and when I say to my hubby, "I really feel like having Chinese..." I know I won't have to twist his arm to get him back to Tropical Chinese. I've heard the Peking Duck is amazing. So, next time, we'll go with at least one more couple, get the Peking Duck and enjoy it with all the other yumminess.
(5)
Lauren C.

The food is pretty good, the dim sum is a fun experience, and the staff is endearing although not particularly friendly. However, I ordered a glass of 12 year Japanese whiskey that retails at less than $70/bottle and they charged me $20 for one small pour of it. I couldn't help but leave the place feeling pretty ripped off. I mean, this is a restaurant in a strip mall on Bird Road not a club on South Beach, what's up with the gigantic mark-up? Next time I'll stick to ordering a Tsingtao.
(3)
Eve C.

In my pre-Yelp days, I used to frequent Tropical Chinese for their fantastic dim sum lunch with former coworkers. For some reason or another (and mostly due to moving and changing jobs), I hadn't made it back to Tropical for several years. Until fulfilling the Jewish Christmas tradition of Chinese food, that is. When you're one of the few places open on a big holiday, you can definitely expect your business to garner a bit more attention than normal. To put it mildly, Tropical Chinese was busting at the seams on Christmas night. We arrived around 7pm and were told there was an approx. 45 minute wait - not great, but not terrible. There were people milling about everywhere - stuffed like sardines in the small entryway, lounging on and against every available surface - everywhere! We probably only waited about 30 minutes before we were hurriedly ushered to a table in a far corner of the restaurant - dodging trays full of food ready to be served, and narrowly missing toppling fellow diners' drinks on our way. They really pack as many people into the place as possible! We opted to share a few dishes - the veggie spring rolls and shrimp shumai to start, and the ginger-and-scallian hot pot chicken, beef lo mein, and veggie fried rice as our main courses. It was the perfect amount of food for 3 people, with a little bit leftover. My favorite was the lo mein - thin noodles (different than what we'd expected) with a light, savory sauce. The beef didn't really add anything to the dish, so I'd probably nix that on future orders. I've heard the duck is the way to go at Tropical for dinner, but my dining companions weren't down with that - something to save for next time, perhaps? Overall, it was a tasty, satisfying dinner, and the fulfillment of a tradition. The prices were a tad on the high side (which doesn't make much sense considering their dim sum prices, but oh well), but we managed to get out for around $25/person, including tax and tip (without booze). A couple things to note - service here is pretty non-existent. We had the fortune of being in the corner, and managed to snag a waitperson on their entry to the kitchen area every time we needed a drink refill or some hot sauce. But in other areas of the dining room, it probably wouldn't have been as easy. I'm planning on making it back soon for dim sum, and hopefully to check out their duck dinner!
(4)
John Q.

First of all lets state the obvious. The quality of Chinese restaurants in South Florida is abysmal. If you are visiting from NY, DC, SF. LA etc, don't even bother. Wait until you get home. BUT if you live in South Florida and love high quality Chinese food, this is the only clear choice. There are one or two more that occasionally rise above mediocrity but Tropical Chinese is the only one I found that consistently rises to a level between good and excellent.
(4)
Mayli M.

I'm sad to have to write this review.This used to be my favorite place for Chinese food.I had been coming here since the 90s! I wonder if the management changed or what. The first thing I noticed is that the menu is different. This raised a red flag but since everything in the restaurant looked the same, I overlooked it. I had duck, which is my favorite. The skin was soggy and the meat was dry. It was hard to swallow. My husband ordered chicken fried rice. The chicken was not the usual slices of chicken breast, instead it was hunks of processed chicken. There were no veggies either. They didn't even put mung bean sprouts. I don't know what happened but it's really tragic. I didn't mind paying extra money at this restaurant because the quality was excellent. However, the quality of our food & the price should get zero stars. I only gave 2 stars because of the service.
(2)
Jordan T.

This is one of my favorite restaurants, and definitely my favorite Asian restaurant of all time! I have been coming here regularly for years, and each time I always get unreasonably excited. This was my first introduction to dim-sum a few years ago, and although I have visited others since then, this one is by far the best I've ever been to. My favorite dishes are the shrimp wontons and the steamed scallops. I love the atmosphere here when it is crowded (which is the usual, especially on weekends) because the servers are all pushing around carts full of delicious, steaming food and it feels like an experience, not just going somewhere to eat. Depending on the day, things can sometimes get a little crazy, with the servers pushing carts frantically, descending on new tables and yelling out the names of foods that they have, lifting up plates and aggressively showing you their most popular foods. If this doesn't sound like your ideal dining experience, but you still want dim sum (which is, by the way, only served in the morning-afternoon, from 11:30 - 3:30 on most days), then I would recommend that you come on a weekday right at 11:30, when they open, so that it isn't so crowded. The inside area was also recently given a bit of a more modern, quirky redecorating. Just be aware that although it is in a shopping center, the mall parking is always extremely crowded and narrow. Excellent place for dim-sum!
(5)
Freya P.

Slowwwww service and rude staff, food mediocre, took forever to get a waiter in the meantime they pass around dim sum, of course you're starving so you eat and eat, just a sales technique I gather. Won't be back.
(2)
Rachel W.

The food was great..salut to cook! It was our first time there, every thing going so fun until we finished... There was a kid with us, he was playing n we didn't notice the menu fell down on floor.. The middle aged Chinese lady wearing a glass just came by n angry says " what's going on here" n says something in Chinese grab the menu n went away! Never want to go there again, even all the restaurants are closed n m starving to death I don't want to c that lady's face again!
(1)
Michael W.

Okay, having tasted dim sum from Shanghai, Hong Kong, New York City, and San Francisco I have a higher standard of what proper dim sum is supposed to taste like. For Miami, this place is decent. The food isn't that fresh though. I never was a big fan of the carts unless they're slammed all the time. But being here in Florida, I've never really seen a need for carts except for those couple hours for lunch rush on the weekends. I had my usual favorite dishes: steamed shrimp dumplings, sticky rice in lotus leaf, leek and shrimp pan fried dumplings, and fried shrimp balls. The dumpling skin was too thick and also stuck to each other. The sticky rice was plain and didn't have good texture and tasted old. The leek and shrimp dumplings were the freshest item I had. Again, the skin was too thick and the pan fried portion would stick to your teeth. The flavor was okay though. It's rare enough to see an Asian in Miami, so for a good dim sum chef to be present here would've been a miracle. The food is decent and will get me by when I have those dim sum cravings though! Service is fast and actually more polite than most Chinese restaurants, surprisingly!
(3)
Lisa M.

This place never disappoints! It's the one restaurant I could eat at every single night without ever eating the same thing twice. Everything on the menu is delicious!! We were there on Saturday night with a group of 8. The service was exceptional as always. We ordered the Peking duck, which is prepared table-side. If you are squeamish at all, this probably isn't for you as the duck is the real deal, complete with head intact. It is amazing! They make these delightful rolls with plum sauce and scallions and then serve the remainder of the duck on a separate platter. One duck was enough for all of us. Other standouts are their dumplings...I live for the the shrimp and the scallop ones but they are all good. We also had the ginger lobster which comes cut up in the shell with some lovely vegetables. It's delicious! My kids love the staples...honey garlic chicken and lo-mein. You can't go wrong with his place. It's always busy so I recommend a reservation.
(5)
Wl M.

Horrible. We arrived on a Sunday at 11.30 AM and the place was already starting to get busy. We were promptly seated and the parade of carts full of delicious looking food began to circulate. My wife and I selected several different things and began to sample them. I tried some strips of beef smothered in some sweet sauce and it was cold. It was not room temperature, it was cold. I gave it to the lady pushing the cart and she took it away and brought it back after putting it in the microwave! Same plate! If you don't know, beef turns to rubber in a microwave. I certainly didn't want that plate of warmed over, unsafe food. We never did get to order anything to drink but my waiter did give me extra water, unfortunately it was all over the table. I tried the very large crab puff. I broke it into two so I could handle it and when I did, grease flew out and onto my shirt and pants! This is the point where my wife saw my face and just started laughing. But wait... The crab puff doesn't have crab mixed into the breading, it is a piece of crab enveloped of thick dough and then fried. Just to let you know that it is really crab, they left the whole claw in there. That's right. I even took a picture. I wonder how many dentist bills they have to pay. I took a bite of some other spirally doughy thing and it had no flavor at all. My wife didn't like much of her meal either but I can't be sure because she was laughing at my meal too hard to let me know. We paid $34 and went elsewhere to eat.
(1)
George L.

Horrible waitstaff, they barely responded at all. The food was abysmal, the authentic chinese food was awful, and the american-chinese food was tasteless and both are expensive. Do not go.
(1)
Rosa Haruko A.

I came here on a Tuesday at around 7:30pm we were quickly greeted and seated by the hostess. I have been here once before about two years ago, everything seemed the same. The service was quite attentive with every server helping each other. Food wise I give it 3 stars due to the price of each tiny dish. I got the curry coconut chicken $17.50 and chicken lo mein $15.00 to share with my boyfriend and it just wasn't enough. I understand the quality of the food and service is higher than at most Chinese places but I don't believe the food was amazing, it was good just not great. I would recommend this place if you're willing to spend money and come in a large group so you can all share.
(4)
Jamie L.

This place is so fun! it reminds me of dimsum restaurants in NYC- authentic with their carts and lively atmosphere. My favorite are the sesame balls, spinach dumplings, and beef. Order the Peking duck on the side; you will not regret it! One tip, expect a 20-30 minute wait during Sunday brunch.
(5)
Krystal Z.

I hope there could be a "no star" option! I do not want to give them any stars! The service was horrible!!! The waiters stare at you while you eat, and you can see 6-7 waiters standing there chit chatting and will not come to take your orders. The portion was very little, and the price was not reasonable at all! I would NEVER go back again!!!!!!
(1)
Grechen G.

Sad not to give them 5 stars.... 6 months ago I would've. But the quality of the food has really plummeted.... Mainly their special fried rice. It was so bad that the last time I ordered it, I called them and placed my complaint. However, they were generous and cared enough for my business that they gave me a free quart to make up (reason why I'm giving them 4 stars).... But even that one was mediocre. Still, they have other delicious plates... The Hong Kong steak is excellent!
(4)
Jorge M.

I Love Their Dim Sum. I have been coming here since 98. They come around with carts filled of deliciousness!! They have steamed, pan fried,fried, and sauteed dumplings,seafood,meats, and vegatables.I have learned through out the years that the best time to come monday-friday is 1130-1230 that's when they are the freshest. The weekends its 11-3 so many people come here at that time so nothing has time to sit around and get cold. My favs are the sue mai, steamed and baked pork buns, shrimp balls and rolls,shrimp and scallop dumpling, shrimp pasta, sauteed bok choy, rib tips, soups,and the Mexican bun. The restaurant is kept clean and service is quick.
(4)
Alissa W.

So I went to this place 10 years ago and have not been back. I was watching a show and was like I want Chinese food that is good quality in Miami. Super hard to find so I went on yelp and saw Tropical I remember years ago it was good but kind f far from my apartment. Started out with the dim sum one scallop $4.95, and one shrimp $4.95. Really good the shrimp has one whole shrimp in each one, and the scallop had one whole scallop. For my entree I got this crock pot with shrimp, shitake mushroom, and spinach $18.95. WOW WOW WOW was this amazing great quality huge mushrooms maybe 12 of them and fresh spinach. I was really impressed I definitely want to go back on Sunday for the dim sum cart. Prices are not cheap though, but like i say you pay for quality. * only negative I have is service slow, and not good !!! I refuse to take off a star for that though bc the food quality is excellent and the kitchen is open you can see what they are cooking.
(5)
Whitney K.

So I heard this was a "Miami staple." Needless to say, I was a little suspect because I have tried unsuccessfully to find decent Chinese food in Miami since I arrived (in fairness, usually within a deliverable radius from Brickell on Sunday mornings when I can't drag myself out of the apartment). This place blew me out of the water. I promise the drive is worth it. I also promise that the strip mall Tropical Chinese is hiding in has the best kept secret in Miami. The prices are a steal for what you get, the food is fresh, flavorful and delicious and the dÃ©cor is just the right amount of Chinatown without the cheese. A classic case of not judging a book by its cover and easily the only place I'd send someone for legit pepper steak and dim sum (whether they were looking for a hangover cure or not --- and that's saying something).
(4)
Alexander D.

Dim Sum restaurants are few and far-between in Florida. Tropical manages to deliver on the authenticity, but suffers from its strip mall location and kitschy decor. I was satisfied, but not all impressed.
(3)
Jesus R.

Best, if not most legit, Chinese place in Miami. Everything I tried is top-notch. The dim sum is very good. Some may want a more authentic experience, but hey, Miami doesn't have a Chinatown!
(4)
Jonathan P.

Very good. Best Chinese I've found since moving from NYC. Chow fun a little to salty. Dim sum is tasty. Everything else has been pretty good
(4)
Joseluis A.

finally awesome dim sum in miami. too bad tropical chinese is near where civilization ends in miami-dade but for locals, it just might be worth the trip. we miami people dont have that many options for dim sum but tropical is the place to go on sundays. i went there with my sis and her husband whos of chinese heritage. we had to wait about 15 mins to be seated but immediately attacked the carts. the clams were good. chicken feet goodness. sticky rice. pan fried dumpling action. the good stuff. service is typical. not that nice but seriously, whenever i go to a chinese restaurant and i dont get ignored at least once by a waiter/ess... i just feel cheated and broken hearted. the abuse is part of the glory at chinese restaurants. everyone knows that. we ate like savages and the bill came up to $55 without tip. im a fan and i will be back before the apocalypse. definitely.
(4)
Tania G.

in all fairness, we did not try the dim sum. it wasn't until we sat down that we realized we had just missed the 3:30 serving...so we went on to order from the regular menu. we started with the chicken pot stickers which were okay. they came paired with a reddish sauce which i'd never had before and it was terrible. and i mean, terrible! as an entree we had the special fried rice which tasted pretty good and was very fresh. the decor is worth mentioning as is the service. i am definitely returning to give the dim sum a try- i'm sure i won't be disappointed.
(3)
Dee C.

Yummy Dim Sum place tucked away in a strip mall. It was pretty busy. Very clean. Service very attentive. Food was excellent, but there could have been more of a variety.
(4)
Nathan E.

Best dim sum in the Southeast. It's always busy, which ensures a high rotation of everything in the carts. Whenever we go, we cannot get enough of the leek dumplings, which are ethereal. And although it is impossible to match the goodness of those dumplings, everything else is always great - shu mai, shrimp dumplings, eggplant, pan fried dumplings, pork buns... It's all great and one of the best brunches you can have in Miami
(4)
Noemi C.

Delicious food, clean restaurant and the service was super polite :) Will be going back with friends and family :)
(4)
Mayren O.

I was yelping my immediate surroundings for a restaurant with great/decent reviews when I came across Tropical Chinese. Based on the 4 stars and somewhat decent reviews, I decided to take a chance on them. To my surprise, the service was terrible!!! I had to practically beg for a glass of water more than once. I counted 10 people total at the restaurant and that was including myself. If it was that bad with only 10 people, then I can't fathom what the lunch rush would possibly be like nor would I like to find out. I ordered their Dim Sum with a shrimp won ton soup (both delicious). I also ordered the beef lo mein and the noodles came out a little hard and warm. My girlfriend ordered the pork belly with white rice and it was equally terrible. I know a lot of places where I can order amazing Dim Sum and won ton soup where the rest of the food is also delicious. I will not be going back to this restaurant but at least I can voice my opinion to let others know... I guess it wasn't a total loss after all.
(2)
Mandy L.

I really want to give zero star. Service sucks and over charged my debit card.That's funnyï¼ï¼ï¼Totally suprise meï¼Don't ever go there!
(1)
Stephanie W.

My boyfriend and I had been meaning to try this place for a while. I really only knew about it through popularity on Yelp. So, maybe I was expecting a lot. Maybe I just ordered the wrong things. I don't know, but this place didn't do it for me. I'm not so sure who our waiter was because we had about three different people coming to our table to ask us our order, or if they could bring us anything else, or if we wanted our check. Few and far apart. They seemed to get upset that we were taking our time deciding what it was that we wanted. It was our first time and the kitchen wasn't closing for another hour! I hate feeling rushed, especially on very important decisions. Like dinner. I asked what was most popular and he sort of told us everything. So we were back to where we started. We ordered a few dim sum and also got a hot and sour soup which was DELICIOUS. But my boyfriend's very first bite of soup had little piece of something really hard. We weren't sure what it was. It looked like a piece of uncooked rice. The dim sum was bland. The chicken didn't taste any different than the ginger pork. Both tasted questionable. From another waiter we order General Tso Chicken because we tried the "most popular" question on him. It tasted okay, with some pieces of weirdly textured chicken... When they brought the dish, it came with one small bowl of rice, and I immediately knew that I would end up asking for another. So I just asked when he brought the one bowl so he wouldn't disappear again. He looked at me, pointed at the bowl, and lifted an eyebrow as he said, you want another one? -- I am a hungry Cuban girl. Yes, I want another bowl of rice. The service was pretty bad, and the food was whatever. Not the best first impression.
(2)
Nicole H.

I wanted to like this place, I realllllly did. I read the reviews and have always heard good things but, I was SUPER disappointed! First off the service was terrible... Having to ask for sauce and water more than 3x when the restaurant had 2 people in it?!?! Then receiving a teaspoon NOT COOL Tropical Chinese, NOT COOL... So fine, I always say the same thing- I focus on the food. If the food is good, I am happy. Unfortunately, the food matched the service. We ordered pork belly that, was cooked soft to an unpleasing gelatinous texture in a VERY overpowering sauce, I tried to swallow it and TRIED to enjoy it because, on other instances I have LOVED pork belly but, this was NOT what I remembered. My girlfriend ordered the beef lomein which, she hated- While, I like the noodles the beef was stringy/grissely and flavorless. Once the bill came and we kept talking, the waiter paced to check our bill and close us out; It was 6:00pm they had JUST opened and we had only been there for 40 minutes! Ridiculous. I won't come back.
(2)
Huy D.

Went to Tropical Chinese Restaurant for Dim Sum. The food was average but quantity was on the small side. Dumplings were made smaller than what I had at other restaurants. So food is a 3 star. The cashier messed up my invoice so they charged me more. The dim sum items are charged according to the size of each order. The cashier charged me a large price for a medium order and a medium price for a small order. Luckily I caught the mistake with a little Chinese language knowledge. Unsuspecting patrons beware! -1 star for the pricing mistake.
(2)
Eschel H.

The constant battle over who offers the best dim sum in Miami will never end, with sides tending towards Tropical or Kon Chau. Well put me squarely in the Tropical camp. The offerings are fairly diverse, the service is decent, the place feels CLEAN, and the prices aren't absurdly high (they're just high). I'm a big fan of their steamed and baked pork buns, as well as the orange beef.
(4)
Kendra M.

When we first walked in, we were immediately greeted and seated. It was lunch time aka dim sum service, but we didn't know that. We had barely put our butts in the chairs when the carts of food arrived. We had heard this place was great, but didn't know that lunch service was dim sum. We quickly figured things out and ate a great meal. I love the cart service because it is immediate gratification with no ordering/waiting. We were told that everyday the dim sum menu changes daily. The staff was extremely nice and very attentive...my water glass barely got half empty and it was refilled again. Definately going back for dinner. Rumor has it the duck is amazing.
(4)
Tiffany L.

I'm still unsure as to how this place has 4 stars and been on TV and all that stuff. There are many more restaurants in Miami that are more "authentic" than this place. I came here a while back with family and didn't enjoy it. Some foods came out cold and you can tell some seafood and meat wasn't as fresh as they claimed it was. We also had dimsum here once and my mom didn't like it at all. She even wanted to leave after eating like two dishes because she said that they tasted spoiled :x I finally came back after so long with some friends for some last-minute dimsum. We had been going to the Canton Palace Restaurant on SW 8th Street for a while so we wanted to try something else. It had been a while since my experience so why not? The dimsum was definitely more expensive than I assumed it to be. It was a weekday so there wasn't much of a crowd. The carts that were going around didn't have much variety and the same carts were going around so the foods probably weren't fresh :/ The four of us ordered like 5-8 dishes (I think) and they were okay, not too bad. I liked the Fried Shrimp Balls and the Shrimp Dumplings were okay. I prefer the Char Siu Baos (pork buns) at Canton Palace (much larger and more meat). I probably won't back here again if it was solely my decision lol.
(2)
Kevin M.

I'd heard a lot of good things about this place so we took the drive over to check it out. The eggplant Sezchuan style was very good. The spicy flavor and meaty texture really hit the spot. The crispy pork was terrible. It was deep fried small pieces of fatty, heavily salted, over cooked pork on the bone. No thought went into the seasoning, the preparation, or the presentation. At $18 for a few small pieces and a small side of white rice, this dish was completely over priced.
(2)
Caro G.

Topical Chinese never disappoints. I have gone there my whole life, and I am truly a loyal customer. The only issue I have with this place is that the prices have gone up way too much. They jacked up the prices, which is a bit ridiculous if I may add. I still go there all of the time though.
(5)
Alexandra P.

Excellent Dim Sum! I highly suggest the Shu Mai, Sticky Rice and Steamed Pork Dumplings. You an order these and be happy fed with left overs while having variety
(5)
Dan M.

Dim Sum carts everywhere. You gotta come ready to eat! Be quick on your draw and sharp with your math cause it adds up quick. I have been visiting this place for several years. Us guys gather for a lunch feast that usually lasts till early dinner. Ainting you Wont....
(4)
Paul M.

Tropical Chinese gets 5 stars because it is the best Dim Sum in the area. I wouldn't say it is as good as some Dim Sum I have had in Chinatown in San Francisco, but Tropical is definitely the best I have had down here. The dim sum carts are really the way to go. When you come here you have to have your eating face on. Forget about a romantic meal since the roving carts will constantly be passing your table. The cart with the steamed dim sum has the best stuff and is the most popular, and thus it has more stalkers than Lindsey Lohan. Just be patient and it will get to you eventually, don't fill up on other stuff trust me. It's great to go here when hungry as the time from sitting down to food in your mouth is less than a minute. You get charged for what you eat so it's a great place to go for all appetites. My favorites are: Orange Beef, pork/shrimp shumai, shrimp dumplings, bok choy, and pork buns. My only complaint would be that some of the servers barely speak English but I've always been able to get away with a point and a smile. Great Dim Sum for a great price, can't go wrong!
(5)
Rick A.

Tried the DIM SUM and to be honest I was a little disappointed. The Carter's themselves barely knew what they were serving and came by every 10 minutes. Took me 45 minutes just to complete a meal. The foods flavor was not bad. Common Miami Chinese food
(3)
Shih-Che C.

The food is good but the servants are very passive. they won't refill water automatively. And it's hard to add additional dishes and rice.
(3)
Hannah S.

Such a great expeince and the food was great too! Bunch of people pushing carts of foods around yelling out foods I've never heard of our seen. Really good dim sum!
(5)
Irene C.

Always my favorite food but the last two times, including last night, that we have been there the service has been mediocre at best. Last night the food arrived at different times. Usually, with the exception of the appetizer or soup, the entrees arrive all together....Not this time. By the time the last entree arrived we were full. It was busy yes but that is the usual at this restaurant. On top of that the portions have shrunk. I will give it another try but the food tastes great.
(2)
Bill S.

Fantastic Chinese food and especially the Dim Sum. This is the ONLY place in South Florida with the NY style Dim Sum Carts and the preparations are excellent. I will drive one hour to visit this place and only wish they would open up another restaurant in Broward or Palm Beach County.
(4)
Alex S.

No review necessary. If you know good chinese food, you've probably already been to tropical Chinese. The food is simply awesome. If you're from New York and have been complaining that you can't get decent pan fried noodle or egg rolls in Miami, you can stop. Tropical Chinese is as good as any Chinese joint on Long Island.
(5)
Nicole A.

Dim Sum, gimme, gimme, gimme!! This restaurant has the yummiest dim sum I have ever had, including dim sum in Chinatown, NY! Bam! I went there. I love this place. I don't go nearly as much as I should.
(5)
Anon M.

A Miami classic. The best Chinese food (and one of the most expensive) in Miami. Get the squab song and the lettuce wraps to start, both are musts. While I will say that I have better Chinese food in NYC, SF, and China proper, this certainly holds its own for being in a fairly small Asian community. Don't let the suburban strip mall location fool you--Tropical Chinese is where to go.
(5)
Caro D.

I didn't really believe that Miami had good Chinese food, I really thought it was a myth, a legend, that I would just have to deal with. Some sort of cross I would have to carry having returned from a four year stunt ("college") on the west coast. My cross got a little lighter last week. A friend directed me here, to this unsuspecting restaurant-in-a-strip-mall. Everything about the exterior and interior decor says ordinary, or early 90's (which in my mind are about the same since my parents idea of an adventurous meal was "El Novillo"). I've already been for Dim Sum two Sundays in a row (and I might skip out on some month-old commitments to make it a 3 or 4 week streak), and I have walked out satisfied and stuffed to the brim every time. (And for $12-$17 a meal, my wallet was as well). Some tips: 1. Dim Sum is 11:30 to 3:00 PM most days 2. When you walk in, there's a stack of paper menus on the right, grab one for your table. It helps a lot in terms of understanding what food is being paraded in front of you and what of that food you want. 3. Do NOT be afraid to ask questions. Yes there are 7 ladies buzzing around you speaking rapid fire Chinese, but they also speak English, and are happy to help you out with food suggestions and understanding what is in each item of food. Some items I loved: the steamed pork buns (everyone's raving about the BBQ pork buns, but I was a bigger fan of the steamed ones), the little custard desert tarts, and the fried calamari was amazing too! I can't comment on most of the stuff we ate because for the most part, I had no idea what I was putting in my mouth - but it was always good. Come hungry, you will order a ton of food, and it will feel like such a waste when you can't finish it all. Somebody PLEASE tell me what the tea is. It's amazingly tasty and delightfully caffeinated.
(4)
MICHELLE C.

So hard to find good Chinese food, hubby wanted it the other night so I checked my bookmark's and voila this came up. I had missed the UYE, and really wanted to give it a try. My fellow yelper's were right on as usual. Really enjoyed the decor, very nice inside with the Chinese red lights, dim lighting, clean, and comfy. We missed the Dim Sum carts, got there a bit to late but next time we will check it out. The waiter's barely speak English, kinda funny when you are trying to order. We started with Lychee Sakatini's, they were good, and we also ordered a dumpling with pork and shrimp. Fresh, great flavor, a nice prescreening of what the quality is of their dim sum. Entree: I chose a pot of shrimp with black mushrooms, spinach and garlic with sprouts. Hubby ordered the spicy Mongolian beef. And had to try their fried rice with shrimp. The portions are of good size, the food was delish. My entree had big prawns, the sauce and spinach complimented it so well, fresh and very tasty. Hubby enjoyed his beef dish, it was not that spicy so he asked for hot sauce and wow, it was hot, but he enjoyed it. Service was good, the food was great, prices were on the high side. Yes, they made me a fan and we look forward to going back to try more dim sum. Just be careful it adds up quickly. Thanks Lourdes for a great suggestion, we really enjoyed it.
(4)
Sharon W.

I have been here once for dinner and countless times for dim sum. Dinner review first - excellent! The menu was great - just what you would find in a city that has a real, established Chinatown. The menu has the standards as well as more interesting items that you don't typically see in Chinese restaurants in South Florida. The presentation was beautiful and the restaurant atmosphere itself is lovely. You definitely feel you are in a more upscale venue. On to the dim sum - such fabulosity! Everything is absolutely delicious and they do not hold back! You can get everything from standard dumplings on down to chicken feet. I particularly LOVE their bao and also the sticky rice wrapped in a leaf. But really, I have not eaten anything here that I didn't like or love! The carts come by frequently, but if you want to take a break and let your stomach rest for a while, they do not pressure you to eat more or move your fat a$$!
(5)
Adam S.

I think the food here is phenomenal for what it is. Basically, there are roving carts of delicious dim sum Chinese goodness that you pick and choose from at your table. We had 5 dishes. First we had some BBQ chicken. It was nice. Good flavors. Next was some Siu mei with shrimp. I thought it was good, but not great. Third was fried shrimp. It was good, but it had a texture that was unusual to me. Fourth was some pork pot stickers and they were delicious. They were great. Last was orange beef. This was my favorite part of the meal. It had a nice spiciness and a wonderful citrus flavor. I would eat it all day. On the downside, the carts were kind of relentless and just kept coming throughout the meal which didn't really allow us to relax and have a "normal" meal. No silverware only chopsticks. Good for authenticity points, but bad for guys like me who can't use chop sticks. The meal was only about $25 which is a great value. Definitely worth a trip.
(4)
Marisa S.

Authentic. Fun. Delicious. Sit back and prepared to be tormented as they roll around carts overflowing with delicious dim sum goodies. You will be so overwhelmed and want to try them all. As the plates pile up you will start realizing you are tasting some of the best dim sum you have ever had -- and the only dim sum you will ever have in Miami. All at a great price. I really love this place and sadly I don't go often enough!
(4)
Ting-Chi W.

Very disappointed!!! Dim sum dishes are cold and the waitress is not very nice... As a asian customer, I highly do not recommend this place!
(1)
Randy P.

Have been coming here for years and I've never been disappointed with their dim sum. Huge selection, great service and fantastic food. Very authentic. Had their duck for 1st time recently and it was simply sublime. They bring it to your table and prepare it two ways. If you like duck, order this and you will be rewarded.
(5)
M B.

After hearing good reviews about this place, I decided to try the take out service. What a huge disappointment! The spring rolls were tiny, dry and bland. The fried pork appetizer dry, rubbery and tasteless. The pork fried rice, another disappointment tasted old, stale and dry. The pork again was rubbery in this dish. My last entry of chicken in black bean sauce wa overlooked, salty and flavorless, My partner and I threw most of the food into the trash. We were out $36.00 and still hungry. If I lived closer, I would have returned all the food. don't waste your money here!
(1)
Tania H.

For anyone who wants to try dim sum this is the ONLY place to go. You will be pleasantly surprised once you step inside. It's been a few years since I was there last & they updated the decor dramatically. We got there at the perfect time for Sunday dim sum and were seated immediately which is good because not 15 minutes later it was getting packed and Tropical is a big place. As soon as we sat they offered us oolong tea and water. They walk around with these carts that have all the little dim sum packages and depending on what you choose the price varies. We had the stuffed bean curd, shrimp shu mai, scallop dumplings,fried shrimp patty, some kind of chicken, and bok choy. I think our least favorite was the chicken simply because it tasted like the chicken you find in the mall at the chinese food court. Other than that it was simply delicious and I cant wait til I can go back again.
(5)
Jason F.

What in the hell did I just eat? It was green, slimy, flat, round, salty, bitter, crunchy...all at the same time. I didn't ask. I didn't care. Tasted too good. Tropical Chinese is the first place in South Florida I've been that comes close to offering a truly solid, and authentic Dim Sum experience. The best I've had was in an alley in Guangzhou, China (where I also ate scorpions and bees) and the second best in Oakland's Chinatown, at Legendary Palace. LIke most MIami strip malls, the place will be hard to find/notice on your first try. But, once you know where you are going, you're set. The space is very unassuming and a little outdated. This, of course, is often a sign that the food speaks louder than decor. All of the usual suspects appear on the carts. I especially enjoyed the leek dumplings and the Chinese broccoli. One of the items, "parsley dumpling", was maybe the simplest on the cart, but one of the best. A few of those with some chili sauce are delicious. I was happy to see chicken feet on the cart. When I've had them in America, I watch people tackle them with bravery but with caution. When I was in China, I learned that eating a chicken foot should be gross and loud. Don't be cute. Suck those toes. Eastern ethnic dining in MIami can really be hit or miss. Some bright, some dim. Tropical Chinese is a diamond in the rough. Go.
(4)
Trevor D.

I have been going to Tropical for years now. It's definitely the best chinese restuarant in S. Florida and believe me when I say from West Palm to Kendall I have pretty much tried them all. At one point I could say Mandarin Village in Plantation (closed in 2005) was comparable and Oceania in Plantation (Closed in the 90's). Tropical is the best of east meets west. There's many items on the menu for those who favor a more authentic Chinese cuisine, however, the restaurant has American classics such as General Tso chicken, honey garlic chicken, beef with brocolli, etc. This place is well known for its dim-sum, which I do like and it's very good, but there's only so much buns and dumplings I can eat. When I go here I go to hit home runs, not singles. I usually start my dinner off with the honey glazed sliced roast pork, bbq spare ribs, and the roast duck. Dipped in hot oil, those three items create the triangle offense. You can't lose . Now, the roast duck I mentioned is on the main course menu but I like to order it as an appetizer. I feel duck should be eaten by itself so you can truly enjoy the taste of the meat: no rice, or Peking style where they cut the skin off, served in a pancake and the remaining meat of the duck is cooked with mixed vegetables and served as an entree . As for main courses you cant go wrong with pretty much anything. There's a wide selection of poultry, beef, pork, seafood. Everything in the sizzling black bean sauce is superb. My go to dishes are the black bean chicken and Yeung Chow fried rice. Most people when they order a main course they stick to the brown or white rice. But as an experienced chinese food eater I know it is a necessity to order a fried rice of your liking. Overall, I give Tropical 5 stars. Places better than: Canton, New Chinatown, Mr, Chow, Phillipes, Hakkasan, Kon Chau Places not better than: None, hence the 5 star rating
(5)
Alex B.

Best Chinese food and dim sum you can find in this area! This is the only place you will always get great Chinese food!
(5)
The Black Rabbit O.

I guess after having ate good Chinese in Flushing, NY, I am convinced there is no good Chinese food in Florida. This place falls in that category. We went here for the dim sum based on the good reviews. The placed was stuffy, not enough room for people to pass by, the decor outdated and dingy, table and cups dirty. The food was just ok, too many dishes with shrimp paste and some of them too oily. Nothing stood out. The thing is that people in Florida don't really know good Chinese because the standards are so low. I wish we had more Hong Kong/Shanghai style modern establishments with better quality. My biggest advice for the improvement of this restaurant is to remodel the whole place with a cleaner-looking, modern decor. This will make a big difference. Also, serving jasmine tea would be a plus.
(2)
Nathan S.

Kinda fancy-so dress nice. Presentation and service here are 5 star. The garlic chicken was the best I've ever had and would definitely order again if I go back. We also ordered the clam's w/specialty black bean sauce and it was sooo good too BUT--the clam shells were really broken up and so it really took away from us being lost in the dish. It would have been a perfect rating were it not for the splintered clam shells. So I will not order that ever again.
(4)
Ashley M.

I have been recommending Tropical Chinese for a long time now, and just realised today that I had never reviewed it. While their food during dinner hours is nice, the best time to visit Tropical is during weekend lunches, when the dim sum carts are out. I have been learning mandarin chinese, so it is always fun to try and talk to the servers. The cart servers are always fantastic, and eager to explain the different items in their cart. My favourite cart-lady always teaches us both the english and chinese names for the items...a lot of fun! The other service is normally a little slow, waiting for drinks or the bill, but we have never had a major problem. However, the real reason to visit Tropical is the taste and quality of their dim sum. Everything is always extremely fresh, and it's always better when the restaurant is at it's fullest (more turnover). If you are a dim sum virgin, make sure to take a picture menu with you from the entrance. They are located on the table with the wheat grass next to the front door, and have pictures with English/Chinese descriptions. My husband and I normally order about 6-7 small or medium plates to share, and the bill is normally about $45-$50 including tip, which we find to be a bargain for the experience. We love coming here on Sunday afternoons, when the restaurant is packed. It just makes for a more enjoyable experience. We have come right as they opened on a Saturday, however the carts really bombard you too quickly when there is only a couple of tables in the restaurant. For a great dim sum experience, Tropical Chinese is definitely a restaurant that cannot be missed. I am a huge fan!
(5)
Alex V.

What can I say DIM SUM.... BAM!!! this is the only place in Miami that I can say that it can def serve some Dim. I got spoiled with West coast places and coming to So Fl it is not the same. Tropical can really has a great selection, nothing extreme, but you might be able to order it. The carts have soome good grub and the taste and the services is good. Took a friend that is also from the west coast and he was impressed too. I will be back.
(4)
Alexis Y.

We had our annual holiday party here and I made all of the arrangements with the manager Mei Hensley who was wonderful to work with. We had everything from mai thais, dim sum, chicken lettuce wraps, shrimp balls, steak, scallops, the food just kept coming and it was served family style. Our guests were so pleased with the menu. They even set up a separate table serving only vegetarian dishes. All in all a great place to take a large group on a budget.
(4)
Manny M.

Food is out of sight! If you're into Dim Sum go CRAZY! The Shrimp Dumplings and Pork Buns will have you craving for the next visit the moment you leave. Thank God the kitchen is exposed and seems clean, otherwise we'd have no point of reference on how they get down. If you go by what the woman's bathroom looks, you'll never want to eat here again (not sure about the men's bathroom as I've never been in there). Do yourself a favor and try this spot. You will enjoy it! If you REALLY have to use the bathroom just be a soldier and hold it till you reach your next destination. Would be 5 stars if they get the bathroom situation up to code.
(4)
Gaby S.

My family orders here very often and we love the food! The food is so fresh and the fried rice is amazing and different from other chinese foodplaces. Its like a gourmet kind of chinese place and we always enjoy it. The specials they have are great too!
(4)
Tay D.

Great place. Definitely a hole in the wall type spot. The pork dumplings are spectacular and all of the food in general have been cooked to perfection. Definitely recommend. Don't let the outside and location scare you off, tropical china is probably one of the best Chinese restaurants around.
(4)
Lynn C.

When I saw the reviews for Tropical Chinese, I just could not believe that their dim sum would be good. I guess I'm spoiled coming from the Northeast, but this is definitely good! I've been here twice for dim sum. The carts are full of food and you don't have to wait long once you are seated for a cart to come by! They don't have the widest selection of dim sum items, but for Miami, it's awesome. Lines on the weekends for a table are long but go by pretty quickly. The wait staff are friendly and fast! I also love the restaurant decor. It's very Chinese - lots of red and traditional Chinese decorations, but it is beautiful and not tacky or cheesy. Classy. ;) I have also ordered takeout. Everything on the regular dinner menu is very good - the best I've had in Miami!!!!!! Too bad I don't live closer...but this is a must have when I am in Kendall and craving Chinese!
(4)
Bruce C.

Been going here for years. Hands down best Chinese in Miami. Go for dim sum, but get there EARLY or be prepared to wait as the lines are often out the door.
(5)
Isabel L.

3 letters: MSG. We generally enjoyed going to this place for dim sum and Peking duck but afterwards would suffer from heart palpitations, headaches, and nausea. Finally, today we asked the waiter if they used MSG in their food and he very nonchalantly says, "yes, in everything." Say what now?!? Any restaurant that decides to poison it's patrons with an excitotoxin instead of choosing to serve the best ingredients and showcase their recipes and cooking is off my list. After years of going there regularly I will not be going back. Sure their food tastes delicious - but thats the MSG talking, and if our side effects are any measuring stick they use A LOT of it. STOP USING MSG guys, if PF Chang's can do it you guys have no excuse.
(1)
P B.

There isn't too much to say other than this place is fantastic, authentic, has a great and lively atmosphere and the service and recommendations are always impeccable. Every time I go back there is something new and delicious to try. The dumplings are incredible and there orange beef is out of this world.
(5)
Guillermo F.

I've been a Tropical Chinese customer for many years, and this place never disappoints... having the sassy chinese ladies running around w Dim Sum filled carts adds a lot to the fun of coming to this place, and definitely makes you exercise your courage when you don't know what you're ordering. If you're interested in Dim Sum, make sure you come here before 3 PM, the carts stop doing their rounds at that time and they go to a la carte after that. Really a must go
(4)
Viola R.

I have not gone back to this place for couples of years due to the distance from my house. Today, because I took my mother to Coral Gables for some errands, and she requested for a Chinese restaurant for lunch. She is very happy with the dim sum that were carted around the restaurant. And I am pleasantly surprised at how speedy and friendly their services are. The food is as delicious as I have remembered. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who is interested in Cantons style Chinese food and dim sum.
(4)
David C.

Seriously, how does this place exist down here?!? It is way too good for Florida. For a New Yorker this is the equivalent of an oasis in the middle of the desert. It rivals the famous Golden Unicorn in New York City. I send everyone here and everyone can't believe it. I'm giving it 5 stars because Tropical MUST stay in business, it is one of the few places worth driving an hour for lunch. TIP: Get there early for lunch OR the good stuff will be gone TIP 2: If you are curious about a certain Dim Sum, try it, the portions are small and are fairly inexpensive. TIP 3: They have great hot and sour soup TIP 4: Don't be a piggy, this food is for sharing
(5)
Sari M.

This is the best place to eat dim sum and late dinner for if you starving Chinese food. Clean and cozy place not like Chinese restaurant looks dirty and smell... that's the reason I am not fans of Chinese restaurant bcoz the place most of them looks ugly, dirty, no service and just feel no... This place are different... i always came here for dim sum and chinese food, i can trust their food....
(4)
Susan A.

Touch my heart and make my belly happy! There's nothing like the Chinese pass-time of Dim Sum. Dim Sum stems from an old tradition Yum Cha, which the Chinese observe as "tea time." Before the two had linked paths, it was once considered odd for food to be consumed while drinking tea. The Chinese believed that this kind of consumption would lead to unnecessary weight gain until they realized tea would actually help digest the food. Weight consciousness aside, I'm glad they made it part of their culture and are affluent U.S. has been able to get a taste of it. Normally an early morning to mid-afternoon snack (most places won't serve past 3:30PM), Dim-Sum can definitely be made a meal. With several bite-size yet delectably palatable treats, who could resist just having one of many? Mmm... variations of noodles with meats, chicken, shrimp or vegatable. The very thought of steamed succulent shrimp dumplings has my mouth watering. How I would love to visit China and sit as a guest with family during Dim Sum time. So far, the closest I've gotten to this is Jing Fong's in New York City. It's always on the top of my to do list every time I visit the NY. Being not much of a shy person, I often mingle with the regulars when I visit this not so little hole in the wall and they seem to be quite pleased with the cuisine. Jing Fong's is pretty big for NY's China Town; usually flooded with neighbors and local vendors on their break. Unfortunately, NY for me isn't a 3 hour drive (one I would happily make on any given day for some good old Dim Sum), but more like a 3 hour flight from my tropical city (Miami). Thankfully Miami is full of diversity and anyone could get a taste of practically anything they want down here. However, the search for some NY quality Dim Sum has been hard. I've been to numerous Chinese restaurants throughout South Florida and had yet to find a place worth ranting about. Then I was introduced to this wonderful little palace of Chinese decadence in the middle of Westchester; Tropical Chinese Restaurant. Am I going to far? You can be the judge but I'm sure you would agree with me. I must have passed this restaurant more than a dozen of times. Located in a little shopping plaza, I always thought it would have been some mediocre Chinese spot run by a Spanish speaking staff serving your run of the mill special fried rice and honey garlic chicken. Well, I was obviously wrong. Now it might not have the same set up as Jing Fong's in NY, with a cluster of tables being circled by carts filled to the top with cartons of steamed or fried treats. However, the decor is charming, the service is great and the food will still come to you by cart; you just a get a little more space and intimacy with your table. As you skim through their elaborate and daring menu of Chinese cuisine, the first page of Dim Sum is a heavenly display of dumpling and noodle combinations. My personal favorites are their "Har Gow": steamed shrimp dumplings, steamed siu mai, chicken pot stickers, fried shrimp wontons, and steamed beef tripe with ginger scallions. Ok, you can grab a kleenex now to wipe the drool off your chin; I understand completely! As if that weren't enough, their jellyfish salad (yes, real jellyfish mixed with crisp cilantro) and szechuan muscles and scallops are to die for! Just talking about this has me craving and tempted to beat the afternoon traffic down Bird Rd. Dim Sum is definitely a beautiful thing. What is traditional pass time for my Chinese friends has become one of ultimate treats for me.
(4)
Steve L.

Damn! Only reason I gave it a four is because I dont give 5's. This place is amazing, fast.and delicious. Only.has the dim sum carts at lunxh time. Run dont walk and get here to eat. I had an oral orgasm.
(4)
Sandy R.

The dim sum is as good as it gets in Miami, and I've never been disappointed with any of the regular menu items that I've ordered. Parking is easy, but our service was only average.
(4)
Rebecca C.

I had never had Dim Sum until here so I know I can't really compare it to anything else. But it is so good compared to most Chinese places. It's always packed and they have menu food items also but I've never tried those. Here's how it works, in case you've never had it either: You get seated at a table, you order your drinks, and they give you a card to place on your table. Then you wait for the waiters/waitresses and they push metal carts filled with small plates of different types of food around. When you see one you like, they mark it off on your card and give it to you. They have a little menu of all the Dim Sum items, which I would NOT recommend getting because then you look for things you want and wait for them to come and when they dont, you'll get disappointed. You also need lots of patience to enjoy the meal. Otherwise, you might get frustrated if your favorite shrimp dumpling doesnt come out and you keep waiting for it. They also run out of dessert fast so make sure to get it if you see it (custard or donuts).
(4)
Susan T.

I just realized that I never wrote a review for Tropical, and I swear I come here EVERY SUNDAY. Going to Tropical Chinese is a weekend ritual in my family and trust me, I don't live anywhere near it!!! I actually live in Brickell, but I would drive even furthur to go to this place. The dim sum is in one word- DIVINE! Service, cleanliness, and quality of the food is always consistent. I absolutely love this place and it has become a part of my life! My favs- the shumai, shrimp dumplings, chinese broccoli, and the pan fried leek dumplings. Great place for groups and families. My fussy 7 year old son loves the shrimp wontons and shrimp dumplings.
(5)
Elizabeth D.

Without doubt the best dim sum overall that I've ever had. Better than NYC, better than Boston. Hands down. Good service, nice and clean. My favorites are the custard buns (grab 'em quick bc they sell out), the shrimp wrapped in wide noodles, the crab claws stuffed with shrimp then fried, and the Chinese broccoli. More expensive than Konchau across the street but more variety, cleaner, cart service, and just better overall.
(5)
Erni V.

I call this restaurant the best overall restaurant in Miami! No celebrity chefs, no pretentious policies, no overcharging, just honest clean and really delicious chinese food! It made me miss growing up in Chinatown, NYC! Dim Sum is excellent and service is consistent and courteous! Pricing is more than fair which is why i say its the best overall restaurant i have tried in Miami!
(5)
Stephanie L.

Steamed, fried, dough, rice, shrimp, beef...Sum more dim sum please! Tucked in the back of an unassuming shopping center, you would never expect the gem that is Tropical Chinese. With bright, hanging red lanterns, dim lighting, and a large window so you can peer into the kitchen while you eat, it's the perfect combination of upscale and fun. The dim sum lunch is not to be missed! Served in the traditional cart style, you can sit and have options paraded around in front of you as you decide what you want. Literally there are so many many choices it can be tough to decide and I usually end up harassing each person working the carts to tell me what they have (nearly impossible to visually inspect and guess for me). They can talk pretty fast and are good at selling how tasty each dish is, but don't let yourself be pressured into getting everything they offer or it will add up pretty fast. I recommend trying to grab a paper menu by the door before you are seated so you can see pictures and descriptions of what they have. Also, if you don't see something you want you can request a dish and ( if they haven't run out for the day) they will bring it to your table. You might not love everything, but try enough things and you are bound to find something (or many things) you like. Eat till you are full and then they ring up your total at the end. There is a steamed cart, a fried cart, a large plate cart (with things like beef and veggies), plus I think one other random cart I may be missing. Pretty much everything is fantastic, but two of my favorites are the shrimp noodles and the crispy shrimp balls. The shrimp noodles look a bit like a flattened spring roll with a long flat translucent rice noodle wrapped around whole shrimps. They can kind of fall apart, but they are delicious and come with a slightly sweet sauce that complements them perfectly. The crispy shrimp balls are also really tasty, and have a great textural crunch with a smoother filling inside that is kind of like a fresh shrimp mash. I'm also a fan of the mini-football shaped taro-filled with shrimp and the pork/shrimp shumai (can you sense that I may just really like the shrimp dishes?). My more-adventurous friend loves the chicken feet and swears they are really well prepared. The sesame balls filled with red bean paste and the little custard tarts are also a really nice light and sweet finish to the meal. Although the dinner is very good too (love the shrimp wonton soup and beef chow fun), it can be a bit pricier than you might expect for Chinese food. If you come with a large group they offer a round table with a rotating center so you can share. The place can get pretty packed so it can be a bit loud, especially during lunch. However, it is really clean and something different to do. While it may not hold up to the standards of Chinatowns in other cities, I find it to be one of the better choices in Miami and a great experience. With delicious food and a lovely atmosphere, Tropical Chinese makes for a great place to come with a bunch of friends and family, or for a more intimate meal with just a few people.
(5)
Andrew S.

I guess I can add a star for being the only place to find semi-decent dim sum in Miami. I lived in Hong Kong for a while, and Dim Sum was an obvious choice for an alternative to "Sunday Brunch". The variety, the exotic nature, the chicken feet... these little morsels, which is translated to basically mean 'little hearts", are meant to satisfy in one bite. Well, Tropical Chinese does get pretty darn close to offering an authentic experience (albeit a bit pricier than most dim sum restaurants I know in HK), and the ambiance in the restaurant is good as well. However, the cart pushing, hooting-and-hollering 'fuwuyuan' (waitresses) remind me of some of Hong Kong's street dim sum restaurant, not the kind that you'd take your family to on a Sunday. Definitely could improve overall, to justify the $60 check after. Satisfying: - The har gau isn't bad, and was cooked well. - The workers are about as authentic as it gets... friendly, pushy, active, fast. Underwhelming - The chicken feet. They are so delicious in some of my spots in HK, Beijing and Shanghai, but they are left out too long in Miami. I'm sure more people would appreciate this culinary treat if they had it prepared/cooked better. - The bak choy is always cold - The siu mai seems simply thawed from a frozen package. - The shrimp rice noodles, my FAVORITE, were not good. Tastless, too much rice noodles. - The tea is so typically bad (Chinese American restaurants) I don't want to come off as a snob, because I know this is about as close as it gets for many Miami natives who don't go to Hong Kong as often as I do. However, I had to give it a two because, lets face it, the description for the grade says, 'Meh. I've experienced better.'
(2)
Janelle B.

I absolutely love this place!!! My mom loves it, too!! We go often and love the idea of the carts strolling passed and being able to choose from them. The shrimp and malanga patties are amazing, and so are the shrimp pasta and the hakao. I don't usually order from the regular menu, but some of my cousins have ordered the chinese fried rice and chicken, which is also very good.
(4)
Carrie J.

Hit the spot for my dim sum craving. But way more expensive than what I'm used to and smaller dumpling sizes. Was about $50 for two people...with good appetites.
(3)
Tom M.

The food was very good and have been to this restaurant before. The reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because of the roach on the wall that fell onto the table. The owner was very sorry.
(2)
Gustavo A. L.

4 Stars in general category - 5 stars because it is without a doubt the best Chinese restaurant in Miami. My humble opinion is that Miami doesn't exactly have a good Chinese restaurant scene, so Tropical might stand out more because of that. However, it has a very good dim sum. Spicy really means spicy and for than I respect them. Hot and Sour soup is phenomenal !! and the rest is just good grub. I like this place and their dim sum is good and this is all I have to say about that.
(5)
Monica G.

Hands down, this is my absolute favorite Chinese restaurant. With family or friends, for dim sum or dinner, Tropical has always served great, authentic Chinese food for everyone to enjoy. Dim Sum: I've been dining at Tropical since I was a kid and can truly say that during their Dim Sum is the funnest time to eat here. The steamed shrimp dumpling and the rice pasta with shrimp are my all-time favorite to have. And I recently discovered that their egg custard tart is a sweet ending to a savory dim sum session. And yes, everything is delivered throughout the restaurant in carts by the servers! The sizes of the dishes determines how much everything will cost, but since everything tastes great, it is well worth it. The best time to go is Sundays until 3 pm. It is usually crowded but the service is quick. I remember going once with my family (5 people in total) and we had an amazing time and only spent 20 minutes there from start to finish. We were amazed by how fast everything went without actually being rushed out of the restaurant. Dinner: I've celebrated many birthdays and other occasions having dinner at Tropical. My favorite dishes are the Shrimp Wonton Soup, Beef Chow Fun, Fried Rice, and every once in a while I've ordered the Steamed Snapper. Once again, everything was flavorful and delicious. And at the end of every meal, we are given sweet orange slices and the always fun conversation starter, fortune cookies! The atmosphere is lovely at Tropical Chinese Restaurant. They have been around for so long and they food has always stayed delicious.
(5)
Brent B.

Some of the best Chinese food in Miami. The shrimp wonton soup is fantastic. The crispy duck was pretty good but I found the sauce too salty and didn't do it for me. Lena C. got the tofu with salty fish. The tofu was cooked perfectly, and the salty fish was a nice compliment. This place is a little pricey but well worth it. I can't wait to try the dim sum.
(4)
Def J.

unauthentic dim sum, though the staff is authentic. the food was warm and did not taste hot or fresh. I was fooled by the four stars. the decor and staff was nice, but I came for the food and sadly did not meet my expectations.
(2)
Chen J.

The female manager intended to rush people close finishing their dishes to quicken the turnover. Never have such experience in Miami and won't go again.
(1)
Gustavo C.

First time customer, my girlfriend and I went recently. The service was slow, to sit and to take order. But what we had was very good, especially the dim sum Siu Mai. We went with an order of the General Tso Chicken, to my taste was just right in a balance of tanginess, but lacked spiciness. So hard to find spicy foods in Miami, since people here don't eat spicy. And as a secondary appetizer we got the dim sum chicken pots, which were ok but nothing to stand out. Prices were about right. I would recommend this place to couples, or big parties. I am planning on taking my girl there again to rate the other dim sums as we were intrigued to try them all.
(4)
Christine P.

Dim Sum, where have you been all my life? Updating my review because I finally checked out the much-talked about Dim Sum at this location. Sunday afternoon lunch, waited about 30 minutes, but it was worth the wait. The moment we sat down there was someone with a cart offering us food. Can't beat being served that quickly. There are tons of options... just imagine Spanish tapas, a la chinese... and people rolling carts around constantly offering you food. They mark down what you've ordered, and you keep eating. I don't know how it happened, but I was stuffed in record time. My fav was prob the shrimp balls. I suggest going with someone who knows a bit about Dim Sum, so they can help you navigate all the options (it can get hectic and busy... and my Dim Sum expert was a savior!) Definitely coming back, and bringing new people. :)
(4)
Elissa M.

I spend a lot of time in Hong Kong and China, so I have a baseline for authentic Chinese food. In atmosphere and ambiance, this definitely ranks right up there with a typical family restaurant. The dim sum carts with the ladies loudly announcing their "wares", are also bang on. And that's where the similarity ends. At tropical Chinese the dim sum is cold and greasy. Unless you happen to catch the lady on her way out of the kitchen, expect the dim sum to be luke warm at best. If you order the sauteed vegetables, expect them to be laden with oil. Yuck! Although they might not have the carts, the food and dim sum at Chu's Taiwan Kitchen or Kings Palace is far superior.
(2)
Yeleny S.

I recently moved to Bird and decided to visit Tropical Chinese after a night of organizing and much hunger. This is a favorite for most but not being a Chinese food lover I had only visited once long ago and didn't remember anything worth coming back for. I was surprised to find the food very good and fresh, a distinctive variety of what you normally wouldn't have at your local Chinese restaurant. Though very good it seems overpriced. It's not your typical Chinese takeout, its not cheap but it's damn good. Try the dim sum or noodle seafood dish or General Tso's chicken . I am still craving more.
(4)
Colleen L.

I'm a little addicted to this Sunday morning dim sum brunch of amazingness and awesomeness at Tropical Chinese. Tucked away in an unassuming little shopping center off Bird Road I have found the best dim sum evar. Enter the restaurant and sit to the right. Wait if you have to! The carts come more frequently and you're really in the fray, which is what dim sum is all about! Must eats: Sesame balls chinese broccoli w/ sauce siu mai dumplings shrimp dumplings STICKY RICE. shrimp rolls Do NOT forget to order the sticky rice. It's always at least great, at best out of this world. A little bit of a drive for a miami beachian, but for me it's worth every gallon.
(5)
Kathy P.

We came to Tropical because we read many good reviews on yelp and trip advisor. The dim sum, in my opinion, was good... except i ordered this rice dish and it was very sour and old. YUCK! The service was what I expected to be... The servers swarm our table with the dim sum carts. The seating inside is very limited and very close to each other. The restrooms are clean. I expected to be a variety of dim sum but it wasn't that much. It's a little expensive too, for dim sum... each dish is almost $7.00 per dish. In Orlando, it's half the price. I'll probably try another dim sum place the next time I am in Miami, not because of their food, but because I want to try something new and different :P
(3)
Elyse W.

You got to treat dim sum here like you're shopping for a great knock-off designer purse in Chinatown. You've got to stay in control. Do not let the carts control you. So, instead of babbling on and on about the lack of a chicken feet cart like there was the last time I came here for dim sum (way back in 1999, which burned a weird memory into my psyche) or giving everyone another tireless review of the items I like best (pork buns and the steamed rice that comes in a leaf are by far my personal favorites) here's a few tips for those of you who have not popped your Tropical Chinese cherry: 1) The interior of this restaurant looks like Mad Hatter's in town -- everyone's running amok, kids are screaming, loud families are yapping away. The place is always packed, but, DO NOT FEAR, waits for tables are usually not that long. 10-15 usually tops regardless of how long the wait looks. 2) If you get stressed out easily or demand a lot of attention from a waiter, this dim sum may not be for you: Carts most likely will not come directly to your table. Sometimes they may, but most of the time you've got to make some hardcore eye-contact, wave, smile, throw ninja stars, or just get up, walk over to the cart and demand what you want. All these crazy tactics (sans the flying knives) are acceptable here and work. 3) Be patient! Don't go for the first cart of grub that comes your way just because you're desperate for food. For some reason the truly delicious stuff you have to wait a bit for, but it's worth it. Plus, impatience transforms into a hefty bill, you can easily rack up $70 between two people in no time. For dim sum. Yeah. I'm serious. 4) Don't let waiters fast-talk you. If you can't hear what they're saying, tell them to slow down. If you don't understand what something is, ask them what it is again. And do not let them just take a bunch of stuff from their cart, put it on a plate, and then drop it on your table UNLESS you really want it. They will try this, don't let them. 5) No free re-fills on soda. And soda's usually flat. Just stick with tea or water. Ah, a steamed white rice is on the house as well (for all your crazy ricers out there). If you play by these rules, you'll have a pretty good time. If not, you may leave missing some hair from your head.
(4)
Barney C.

This is a lunch/dim sum review. Long time (10 years+) Tropical fan here. Second time in a row about half the plates contained cold food that should have been hot. Second time in a row I had to ask three people for a Diet Coke and received it after the meal was over. For $44 at lunch for two people without alcohol this is not a good deal. Note to management: This is not Collins Ave.! You are in a strip mall in West Miami! Don't scrimp on the fundamentals!
(2)
Chris C.

Great atmosphere. You can see straight in to the kitchen, which is awesome for a Chinese restaurant (nothing to hide). The food was good enough to not leave any to take home. Duck was great (eight precious duck brings all sorts of goodness). The price was a little more than I expected, but the waiters spoke English, were very enthusiastic and the service was great, so I'll pay an extra couple of bucks for that. Overall, good experience.
(4)
Elizabeth D.

I was a Canton kid growing up, so I never had the pleasure of dining at Tropical Chinese until very recently. My expectations were way off. I expected a much more casual place and somewhat inexpensive dishes. The name "Tropical Chinese" doesn't exactly scream "elegant" to me. Instead, the restaurant was large and quite fancy. For what we wanted to spend on dinner, we decided to just order a special fried rice, general tsao chicken and an order of shrimp dumplings. The dishes were family-style, so my husband and I were able to share and roll outta there with full bellies. On my way out, I caught a glimpse of what I want my next experience here to be like. Peeking over my husband's shoulder over to the table at the far end of the restaurant I caught a glimpse of a roasted Peking duck. My eyes widened as the server sliced pieces of the duck, smeared something on it and wrapped each one up in some sort of "Chinese pancake" for the couple at the table. This is definitely a "3 Dollar Sign" place, but if you're craving some bad-ass Chinese food, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Tam N.

I want to say I know my chinese food having eaten it in various places and having authentic home made chinese food. This place is a good option in miami but it isnt the best. The prices especially is not worth the taste. Went with some friends one being canto and everyone left full but really wouldn't return. We had the seafood basket, string beans in black bean sauce, salt and pepper shrimp, and another seafood dish. The dishes ranged from 15-20 dollars each and were half the size that Im use to getting in places like LA or NYC. The salt and pepper shrimp didnt even have the heads or shell and the batter didnt taste anything like I'm use to. The veggies were ok and the basket was decent. Service was okay. The place seems to lean towards the Americanized chinese food. The dimsum was double the price of places like Kon Chau and was very limited. Try it out but definitely not worth the price.
(3)
jennifer c.

Yuck! I know it's hard to find authentic dim sum in this town but I rather pass on this food. The dumplings were mushy/gummy and didn't taste good either. Being originally from California I know I have to lower my standards out here, but really??? I would say go to Panda Express before I say to go here.
(1)
Anne T.

I went for dinner here with my friends one night but I don't think I will return. The food here is overpriced for what it's worth. The portions are small. The dishes are somewhat authentic. I saw on their menu that they have dim sum during lunchtime but when I saw the price of each dish, I almost had a heart attack. They were $6! The dishes during dinner averaged $15-20, which is double of what it's worth. The decor is very nice though. It's dim-lit, with lots of decorations (big lanterns hanging from the ceiling) and the restaurant is very clean. It'd be a good place for a date but I wouldn't recommend going here if you're looking for authentic chinese food.
(2)
Andrew D.

This is a decent Chinese restaurant for date night. The food is fresh and well made, and usually made in record time in spite of the crowds. Those crowds can be dense, and it is very loud inside sometimes. The dishes are also surprisingly expensive, and it is hard to get out with two people for under fifty dollars.
(3)
Alice A.

The last time I ate dim sum I was in NYC in China town, so I have high standards. This dim sum was EXCELLENT. Can't believe they have it here in Miami. Cant wait to go again! Wish it was closer.
(5)
Miguel F.

I love Dim Sum. Ever since I had it for the first time as a teenager with my uncle in New York... i have enjoyed it. I have been coming to Tropical Chinese for a few years and I always leave with a smile and a happy stomach. Dim Sum is only served during the afternoon, so if you want to try it out make sure you remember that. Servers push around carts full of different options including, dumplings, different pork dishes, sticky rice, soup, desserts, etc. My favorites are the shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, scallop dumplings, and the sticky rice. I can eat these all day. So delicious and fresh. It is relatively inexpensive for the amount of food you eat. One bit of advice if you have never had Dim Sum, you should go with someone who has because there is such a wide variety of food and you can end up picking something you don't like and it may ruin the experience.
(4)
Yolanda L.

I've been in this restaurant since 2003 the quality of food since them is not the same I still go, the kids enjoy, my soon love one of the waitress :) The food I can say it's ok, I defetenelly recommend you to try
(3)
Daan K.

Best Authentic Chinese in Miami When I say authentic - I mean it - and trust me, I have been to China and eaten from the streets there - and it is amazing! this is one of those places I only take special people for 2 reasons: 1 - its not your typical chinese restaurant in that dishes can cost up to 50 for a soup 2 - its an acquired sophisticated taste - so if you like honey chicken from panda kitchen - you won't understand this kinda chinese food. everything here is amazing it is very unassuming and i suggest getting a seat by the kitchen so you can see that the food is being cooked by the real deal chef's i am going to dim sum asap !
(5)
Claire S.

I think the dim sum here is some of the best I've had anywhere. I really love their BBQ chicken and the potstickers. Oh and their shrimp. MMMmmmm. SUI MEI????!!! We went for lunch and they were pushing carts around offering us plates, which I loved. My only complaint is that nobody really explained to us what was going on and how to order so I was confused and probably would have liked to order at a slower pace. But the food is hot and fresh and delicious. A +.
(5)
Andy w.

It is pretty good dim sum, however, unless you are eagerly craving for dim sum, it is kind of pricy. It costed me over $50 for me and my wife for lunch and we did not even eat a lot.
(3)
Daniel L.

I'm going to keep this short. I haven't had dinner here except once for takeout, but nothing on the regular menu really has stood out to me. The only reason I ever come is for dim sum. Its legit, and few and far between around here. Great selection, decent quality, though it does crowded around that time. Its worth the wait.
(4)
Carlos R.

Best Chinese I've had, and I don't really like chinese. Had the black bean chicken, orange beef and veggie lo mein. Just excellent. Jason was our waiter and he was hilarious. Really want to go for lunch...he really recommended it.
(5)
Tare P.

I used to come here a lot in the 90's when this was the only dim sum cart shop in town. It was great back then, not so good now. It has a classic Chinese atmosphere (dark wood chairs, red lanterns, etc.) so it's nice to bring first time dim sum eaters here. The carts make it easy for you to order, and they have peking duck and pricier dishes. Overall taste is above average for South Florida, but below average if you're from LA or NYC. (And if you're from LA or NYC don't expect to find anything comparable in Miami--it doesn't exist). Tropical would be my 2nd or 3rd choice after South Garden or Kon Chau. It just seems to have lost it's flavor after all the hype. Yes, and after the news reports of having a rat problem, I stopped going there too. BTW--Bamboo Garden in North Miami was closed down due to a rat problem last year... Oh yeah, and for dinner, Sushi Ko next door in the same plaza has pretty reasonable sushi!
(3)
Kei K.

Such bad service! Went here earlier with friends and received the worst service! Such rude, cold waiters... Got the wrong food and an argument as the main course. Not returning here again..
(1)
John S.

Best dim sum in Miami! Well priced, but can be a bit pricey. Very comparable to dim sum in NYC and Chicago. Get their sticky rice, get thier shrimp rice pasta, get their shrimp and scallop dumplings. Also, my dad loves the duck.. and it definitely looks like it's worth trying; I'm just not much of a duck-eater.
(5)
Danielle L.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole wide world. (And really, I have been around the globe more than a few times.) I can't list enough of the dishes, but whether you go for a dinner with a group or for dim sum, the food is always excellent. I will confess to a period (i think when the owner, Greg, left the country for a while?) when the food got a bit too salty. Just dropped a notch. But I have been back on many trips home (every visit gets a trip or two to Tropical) and it's back up to snuff. Warning: this is not Americanized Chinese food. I don't mean that this is all frog tripe and snake feet (a joke, of course), but crystal vermicelli w/ prawns or triple salute chicken w/basil or ginger scallion beef in hot pot are not at all what you would expect from something as typical (or awful) as the local Canton chain. Shrimp wonton soup is how it's supposed to be - no heavy, thick wrapper in yellow, food-colored water. Peking duck is delicious... and if i recall this correctly, followed by the second dish where the rest of the meat is served with mixed vegetables. Shrimp in lobster sauce is nothing at all like the gloppy mess that Americans expect; it's a clear sauce with a pool of black bean sauce and large sauteed prawns. Try spring rolls, squab song, authentic beef chow-fun dry... If you like "American" Chinese, though, you will still be very happy: my unadventurous family members do fine with honey chicken or chicken fried rice, etc. Oh, and yes, try the dim sum for lunch. Selection is awesome and the food is great. I prefer the regular menu, though. Last exultation: the quality of the ingredients. You know that chicken is chicken; it's sliced breast and not random particles. The vegetables are crisp. The seafood is fresh - never fishy. And if you don't believe me, you can watch them make the meals through the long picture window into the kitchen space. Damn, I wish that I were in Miami right now. Sigh... I love Joe's in Rockville but even they've got nothing on Tropical.
(5)
JOHN H.

Love this place! eat in, take out ,dosnt matter... if you like Dim Sum this is where you need to go! can get a little pricey, but definetly worth it.
(5)
R M.

Decent Chinese food. Restaurant not nearly as nice-looking as depicted on their website - kudos to the photographer. Chinese Broccoli entree was rather meagerly apportioned, compared to the Triple Salute and Ma Po Tofu dishes. Staff was a bit odd.. Don't get your hopes up and you'll probably be satisfied.
(3)
Tham C.

Finally! A good Dim Sum Place that has carts and traditional dishes! Being a California transplant I've missed my Dim Sum options something fierce over here. While the prices may be a little high per dish, they were delicious. Mine weren't cold at all - perhaps because I was sitting near the area they kept bringing the restocking trays for the carts which was near the register. Service was great once again maybe because I was by the register but the experience finally calmed my cravings and made me realize that I didn't have to engorge myself in California when ever I visited. So if you've never had dim sum this is an experience that is the most authentic you can get that I've been to in South Florida.
(4)
Orlando D.

I used to have an Asian woman fetish. I'm not proclaiming that to in any way suggest that I no longer like Asian women, I'm just saying it was a hardcore fetish where I'd see a blonde girl and mentally dye her hair, change her facial features, put a school girl costume on her, and have her do the peace sign with her fingers. The reason I bring that up is that every time I review an Asian restaurant I say things that could be misconstrued as racist and it comes off extra inflammatory over there in San Francisco where there is one karaoke bar for every 4 citizens... IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. I mean there are lots of Asians there. See? I did it again right there! My point is, I love Asians. Nintendo, Lucy Liu, teriyaki sauce, and shitty tattoos written in hanzi/kanji that I can make fun of are just a few of the many awesome things to come out of the Orient. Another awesome thing is Tropical Chinese Restaurant. The absolute best Chinese restaurants are the ones where you can barely understand what the waiter is telling you, and this one fits the mold brilliantly. I remember asking for orange beef and the waiter confirmed my order by reiterating it, saying "ok you lie ora bee" and I'm just like, "...yeah" wondering if he asked me if I liked RnB. This lends authenticity to their cuisine. It's just how it is. Think of it this way, if you went to a place called "Big Mama's Southern Collard Green House of Pig's Feet 'n Soul Food" wouldn't you doubt its authenticity if some arrogant Frenchman took your order in broken English? I love me some P.F. Changs, but a place like that doesn't hold a candle to this sort of establishment wherein they basically run an embassy inside their walls. Their fried rice tastes like the opening ceremonies at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Awesome. If I've ever had better fried rice then it must've happened during some sort of traumatic event that I've blocked out from memory. Like that Michael Bolton concert I ALLEGEDLY attended with my mom in '96. She's gotta be making that shit up, I would never subject myself to that. It makes some sense though, my mom would be the kind of person that would drag me to a Michael Bolton concert and pack some tupperware in her purse with fried rice. That behavior rubbed off on my little sister, because I went to watch Inception with her and she had 4 little bags of 100-calorie Chips Ahoy servings, a tupperware box with pineapple slices, 2 Hi-C juice bags, and a banana. Her purse was more like a messenger bag, and I think a little bit of that crazy pineapple broth juice spilled because even on the way to the theater she smelled like a piÃ±a colada. Speaking of which, they don't serve piÃ±a coladas at Tropical Chinese Restaurant. See? Authentic. PEOPLE WHO WOULD ENJOY IT: Chinese foodies wanting some good food at a reasonable price. PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT ENJOY IT: My mom because she can't take tupperware with food to this place.
(5)
Vanessa V.

The food will not disappoint you. I felt like I was in HongKong again-authentic food! With its unassuming facade, this restaurant serves the best chinese food in Miami, what a gem! This is definitely not a "just dimsum" place. Their Ginger Seafood and Scallion soup is awesome (great broth)! We had roasted duck and pan fried seafood noodles, both were very good. Food is served fresh, hot and fast. The only reason why I'm not giving this restaurant 5 stars is because the staff was a bit un attentive-we kept trying to call their attention whenever we needed something... We will definitely come back. :)
(4)
Gaie C.

I went to Tropical recently with the hopes of having some good dim sum because I have not been there in such a long time and was sadly disappointed. While service was fast enough, the food was cold and tasteless. The shrimp dumpling was cold and tasted stale. The egg tart was nasty because it is supposed to have a lightly crispy crust with a soft center; however, it was soggy, damp and cold. The baked BBQ pork buns tasted old and generally did not look appealing. I went in hungry and hopeful but left disgusted and disappointed. There are so many other good dim-sum restaurants in Miami that I could mention without pondering. In my opinion, majority of their clientele is American, Hispanic, 2nd or 3rd generation mixed Asians and tourist who read their reviews on Zagat or other food critics that gave them good ratings. Not a single Chinese person goes there for the food... seriously, whether it's Chinese, Japanese or Spanish places, when you don't see people of that culture dine there, it's a sign of not so good food. The only reason they got 2 stars because the servers were good.
(2)
Denise P.

This is the only Chinese restaurant I go to! The food is really tasty and fresh. My favorite dish is the Lo main noodles with chicken or vegetables, I'm a very picky eater but this place is really great. Also, a big plus for me is the very clean restroom, to me if the restroom in a restaurant isnt clean that says a lot. Check this place out and you won't be dissatisfied one bit... you'll leave with a happy tummy. :D
(5)
Marc M.

I am always cautious with chinese restaurants, but there you will find some authentic chinese dishes. Yes their Dim sum are to die for on sunday afternoon lunch! All the servers bringing around carts with all these chinese exotic appetizers. I really like it but be aware also that you will not be alone! This is hugely crowded... Rules of success? I would recommend their fried rices and those vapor treats.
(4)
Liliana E.

This place is amazing! I'm not a big fan of Chinese, but this place i CRAVE! Everything I have tried is delicious! It's clean, it's organized and the employees are friendly.
(5)
Laura M.

Best Dim Sum in Miami. Oh, and the Lychee martini is yummy! The Peking Duck for dinner is nice too with a mixed seafood broth soup to start. I spent almost every Sunday going there for Dim Sum with my toddler (children friendly). 4/8/08 Note- for those who don't know, most dim sum places, the servers are stoic and pushy. Hands down again, best dim sum. My friend who is Chinese living in Cleveland, says it is one of the best ones. I have been to China Pearl in Boston, Happy Chef and Phoenix in Chicago, can't remember the names but one in Cleveland and one in NYC, and Tropical just has a huge selection and delicious. Love it here!!
(4)
J C.

The only REAL Dim Sum in MIAMI with the push cart just like Home in NYC! More pricier then any other Dim Sum I had though. But amazing food & people!
(4)
Virginia B.

"You like flied pohk buhn? Shlimp loll? Vely vely tasty... You tly it!! You like a lot!" Mmm, dim sum. I can't vouch for the rest of the food, but the dim sum (11AM-3PM) is very good. They have rolling carts (which can act as weapons...watch your extremeties!) and within minutes you can have fresh, steaming dim sum on your plate, even when the place is packed to the gills. The boy and I load our plates with crushed red pepper sauce and soy, drown our veggies and dumplings, and eat until our lips and bellies are on fire. The best part? We consistently walk out for just over $20. And if you consider how big a handful of those mint chocolate things I snag as I leave, this is quite a deal.
(5)
Jamie F.

This is a fun and enjoyable place to have dim sum in Miami. I have had better in other cities, but not in Miami... This place is chaos and the wait staff comes and goes in dizzying confusion. They offer Dim Sum for lunch and on Sundays. This is the Hong Kong style cart service and half the fun is warding off the pushy cart-pushers! Dumplings are good - chicken, pork, shrimp - they are all great! Pork buns are another staple and Tropical is renowned for their Peking Duck. Otherwise just see what looks good and give it a try!
(4)
Mark H.

The best in town! My niece loves this place and always suggest this for our family get togethers. The food is fresh and delicious. The staff are accommodating. Way off the beaten path and worth the find!
(5)
Ashley A.

Easily the best Chinese place in Miami. They have inventive dishes (the jellyfish is quite good, if anyone is adventurous enough to try it!), fresh ingredients, and make even the most mundane Chinese food delicious. Their Honey Garlic Chicken is the best I've ever had. (And I can't find it in New York, which drives me insane.) In Miami, this is a s good as it gets. In New York, it would get 4 stars, but where else can you get dim sum in Miami? The steamed pork buns are GLORIOUS, by the way.
(5)
G G.

Lots of Dim sum, but is over priced and I find most of the food fairly tasteless. I few years ago it was great, but not know.
(2)
Vanessa C.

this place is cater for non chinese because the servers are always talking to those customers that are not chinese. I ask for a refill of tea and each server is passing this task to the next one because they are busy advertising their food. I don't understand why customers will like to hear about their food while eating. not wonder why I don't see chinese ppl eating there. try other chinese dim sum in miami such as south garden, kon chau or canton palace. be aware that to order food is different you would have to order in paper instead of pointing what you want, the reason is to keep food hot and fresh.
(1)
Marta L.

2 words... Dim Sum. Fantastic!
(4)
Rosalyn M.

Dim sum is good. The other dishes including the duck are not good. Even worse they have the dead ducks hanging there, you can see them while you eat.... Gross! So unless you are going here for dim sum I wouldn't recommend it.
(2)
Anil J.

been coming here from the 90's , good food best dimsum i have had and i have been to china and hong kong and somehow its so much better here. service is ok, depends on the waiters mood , if they had a bad night then you are in for some plain ignoring when asked for service, happened to me a few times over the years, for best time come at 11 30 am or after 1 30 pm ususlly its packed between those times, place is decorated nicely and try the duck..really juicy.
(4)
favio p.

Dim sum is great but most dishes are lacking in flavor. i will defenitely try other dishes from their menu when i come back. Good for a quick Dim Sum, i tried the chicken dim sum, steemed shrimp and sticky rice. The sticky rice was awesome but you must have pacience as it takes a while to take it out and eat it. The carts pass by quickly and you have to look at the dishes since it's really, really hard to understand the ladies with the carts and their chinese accents.
(3)
Christine N.

Compared to dim sum in the San Francisco Bay, I would give the food 3 stars. But since there's hardly any Asian food in FL, this place deserves 4 stars. The dim sum is reasonably good, and the service was great. I've never been to a dim sum where the servers spoke English and politely asked if I wanted items. I was ready to bust out some broken Cantonese for my food and scramble for my food. It boggles my mind how nice they are! The restaurant is clean and traditional in a cool way, with big red lanterns and dark wood.
(4)
Ricardo B.

Orange chicken is outstanding. Pricey though. Location not so great as it is part of a strip mall. However, the moment you walk thru the doors, you forget where you are. Outstanding food, good service; pricey for Chinese but hey, well worth it
(4)
Max T.

I love Dim Sum. CHINESE food is my favorite. I spend alot of time in CHINA, and HONG KONG, every year. Have had food in CHINA all along the east coast from north to south. I have also had chinese in Cali and New York. This restaurant is in my neighborhood . To say the dim sum is good, means you have never had real Dim Sum. A while back I had a horrible experience here (will not go into details, since it might have been corrected by now) and never went back. I wish It was better than it is, since it is so close by. I also think the prices are above what they should be. A friend ordered take out the other day, and it was thrown straight in the garbage. The pepper beef was breaded?and tasted like nothing. Breaded pepper beef/steak seems odd to me, and the menu doesnt say it is breaded. The fried rice was horrific; no onions, no peas, no carrots, couldnt find the egg, very bland taste, as if it was not fresh; Everything we ordered tasted like nothing despite the beef being drenched in a watery sauce. The generals chicken had a good tasting thick sauce, but the chicken was over breaded. I continue to search for a good Chinese restaurant in Miami, I know enough to know this is not it.
(1)
Melissa S.

My husband and I went to this restaurant based solely on reviews from Yelp... if you have ever had really good Chinese food (NYC, San Francisco, Taiwan, China, your in-laws, etc.), this place is NOT for you. It was OKAY at best. The service wasn't great (we were passed over twice before my husband finally talked to the manager), and the food wasn't anything to write home about. If you like Chinese food and have never experienced the real thing, then I would absolutely recommend this place. It's alright, it's just probably not quite worth the 4 star rating.
(2)
Bridgitte H.

A hidden treasure! Amazing variety and quick service.
(5)
Andrea W.

Visible Dim Sum menu literally, they have carts that pass by your table so you can choose what you like to eat. Yes at time you can feel pressured to pick something off of each cart but after being there a few times you'll get the hang of saying no. Many options to choose from. The shrimp and leek dumpling is my favorite and well as the pork steamed dumpling.
(4)
Amy S.

I went to Tropical for the first time on Sunday. I'm from Washington DC and am Chinese so am used to good dim sum. I've never had dim sum in miami and was pretty nervous. I was pleasantly surprised and would say that it was almost as good as home! I took my father in law that admitted that it would be overwhelming if I hadnt picked everything. They had 90% of my favorite dishes which was exciting. The only thing i missed was the sticky rice which was wrapped in banana leaves so i didnt notice it. They had a full bar which i wasnt expecting. For beer and food for 3 people, it was only $37. Will definitely make this a weekend tradition! Now just have to find a decent Pho place..
(5)
Megan W.

I dream of the wonton soup and the Chinese doughnuts. Best dimsum I've had outside of HongKong.
(4)
Chantalle G.

I have always heard about Tropical Chinese over the years, but had never gone which is odd because I enjoy chinese food. Finally headed out there because our friend, whom is a huge foodie, wanted to eat there for dinner on a Sunday night. First impression, cute chinese restaurant, not super cheesy, and the big open window kitchen was a good sign. Server was very nice, but didn't need much help bc the hubby and friend knew exactly what to get. Ordered the Crispy Roasted Pork, Peking Duck, Emperor's prawns, and Honey Garlic Chicken. WOW, amazing! Everything was absolutely delicious! This place totally takes out New Chinatown. I'm usually known to eat like a bird, but I cleaned up my entire plate. We have even ordered take out and food is still as good. Never eating at another Canton or local chinese restaurant, unless its Hakkasan again!
(5)
Jenny Q.

Good dim sum, or for any occasion. It's where you go to be seen in the community but it's good food and service.
(4)
Jason C.

Its probably the cleanest chinese restaurant I have ever been too. I also enjoyed watching them make my food through the glass. As far as the food goes it was very good. We ordered the calamari, duck, honey chicken, and sizziling steak. The only reason I gave it four stars is because of the prices. I feel chinese food should not be expensive and our bill was pricey. Othr then the price I have no complaints, great food and great service.
(4)
Rob C.

Tropical is usually highly rated on the various Miami restaurant review sites (because there is really no competition to make anything good -- thus I rarely eat dim sum in Miami). It's ok; plus it has a relatively nicer ambiance compared to its competition that serves traditional chinese entrees. And correspondingly more expensive (entrees). Lots of service staff. Crowded dim sum but no wait. Carts. Aggressive ones... Some items can be a miss depending on the day. I usually get shrimp and leek dumplings, pan fried leak dumplings, etc. My friend's opinion... chowhound.com/topics/435â€¦ try South Garden
(5)
Mark G.

Awesome dim sum. On par with what you will find in Hong Kong or Alhambra, CA. But no jellyfish dim dum from what I could see. Be warned: those dim sum cart wenches are more pushy than the middle aged hooker who chased after me in Beijing. Don't be afraid to say no to them. Extra brownie points for wheeling the dessert cart over to me when I requested a custard bun.
(5)

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Address : 7991 SW 40th St
Miami, FL, 33155
Phone (305) 262-1552
Website https://www.tropicalchinesemiami.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 3:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Tropical Chinese Restaurant

7991 SW 40th St, Miami, FL, 33155

Tropical Chinese Restaurant Menu

Dim Sum

Cold Plates - Salads

Soup

Shrimp

Fish

Healthy Meal suggestions for Tropical Chinese Restaurant

Dim Sum

Cold Plates - Salads

Soup

Shrimp

Fish

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