Bo Loong - Asia town mainstay

Well it was time for a dim sum fix and since Tom's Seafood is no longer doing the $8 all you can eat Dim Sum, I figured that we would go back to Bo Loong and see what they are offering. Located at 3922 Saint Clair Ave NE Cleveland, OH 44114, Bo Loong has been a mainstay of Cleveland's China/Asiatown for quite a while. Located between a gas station and a warehouse just East of the train tracks bridge, the outside is a bit restrained and offers only limited parking which will usually be filled all too fast. Once inside Bo Loong has two large rooms with traditional Chinese decor; of note is the large wooden sculpture and the number of fish tanks, some of which contain decorative fish, others which offer seafood to order. This trip the decor seems to be showing its age with the room feeling a bit old and musty, but it is familar and the food is still excellent. Some will feel that Bo Loong looks a bit outdated, but it does offer plenty of seating and an atmospere that I enjoy. Once seated, on Saturday and Sunday lunch time you are presented with a number of carts containing dim sum, small orders of various meats, foul, seafood and vegetables wonderfully prepared and then either fried, baked or most often steamed. Each order is usually in the $2-3 range, so the best idea is to bring a group and share a lot of different items. It can be a bit of an adventure since you are not always sure what is in each item, but the women bringing around the carts will help guide you through the items. Among the highlights this trip were the har gua, which are simple shrimp dumplings in a steamed starch wrapper that were light, flavorful and just the right hint of sesame oil; the shrimp rolls which have shrimp wrapped in a wide starch noodle and then steamed; and a tofu wrapper around vegetables that packed just the right combination of flavor and texture. The table also really enjoyed the chicken shumei, the steamed meatballs, potstickers and the baked bbq pork buns. To finish the meal we went with the steamed custards, which are slightly sweet egg custards in a light flakey pie shell, delicious and the perfect end for the meal. All told the bill came to about $9 per person and we had a wonderful time. In addition Bo Loong also offers an extensive menu of well prepared Chinese foods. The menu is primarily Cantonese, so if you want hot and spicey you will have to add some of the hot chili oil, but they have been one of the best and most consistent Chinese restaurants in Cleveland for years. Among my favorites on the menu are the clams in black bean sauce and the Shrimp Pan Fried Noodles. Bo Loong is open late and is a great place to get a late night or holiday meal since it seems they are open every day of the year. With a large Asian clientel along with many Ocidentals, Bo Loong can be one of the busier restaurants in town. A unsual adventure is to head down late on the weekend when you will often find that Karoke is going on and the place is full. If you have been to Bo Loong before, it is still the same great Chinese Restaurant, if you haven't been, it is time to venture downtown and see what you have been missing.