Mott 32 is a contemporary Chinese restaurant located in the heart of Downtown Vancouver. They have one of the best dim sum menus in Vancouver. It is such a luxurious treat to dine at Mott 32 because of their spectacular fine dining service and impeccable dishes. They have been closed for quite some time, however they are open again, and can’t wait to welcome guests back. Of course, the signature item at Mott 32 is their famous Peking Duck. But did you know they also have excellent dim sum? Mott 32 has dim sum on their menu all day, so it’s a great spot for late night dim sum and cocktails.
Mott 32 – All Day Dim Sum
From the Dim Sum menu I had:
- Garoupa, Chopped Chili, Chinese Cabbage Dumpling
- Soft Quail Egg, Iberico Pork, Black Truffle Siu Mai
- Canadian AAA Prime Tenderloin Puff
- Hot & Sour Iberico Pork Shanghainese Soup Dumpling
- Garlic Prawn Spring Roll
- Prawn, Crispy Rice Paper
Each dish was immaculately presented. The attention to detail in each piece is astounding. I really cannot pick a favourite from the above. However, if I had to choose the three must try dim sum dishes are the Black Truffle Siu Mai, the Canadian AAA Prime Tenderloin Puff and of course the famous Hot & Sour Iberico Pork Shanghainese Soup Dumpling.
The dumpling skin for the Garoupa Dumpling was so delicate and translucent. The chili was the perfect pop of heat at the end.
The Black Truffle Siu Mai had a nice pork flavour, and the quail egg yolk was a great ‘sauce’ to the Siu Mai.
The Canadian AAA Prime Tenderloin Puff is quite literally a work of art. The puff had so many flakey and buttery layers that just melted away when you bite into it. The filling has so much umami… words truly cannot do this dish justice.
The Hot & Sour Iberico Pork Shanghainese Soup Dumpling came in their signature baskets, and unlike most xiao long bao, this one is full of hot and sour soup which makes for a very delectable bite. Be careful when eating though – the soup is piping hot!
The Garlic Prawn Spring Roll and Prawn Crispy Rice Paper are fairly standard, but still very tasty. The prawns in both dishes were springy and large. The spring roll was fried perfectly.
Mott 32 – Luxurious Chinese Food in Downtown Vancouver
In addition to the lovely selection of dim sum we had a variety of dishes of the regular menu. To start we had the Stir Fried Assorted Wild Mushrooms and Black Truffle in a Lettuce Cup. What a way to start the meal! The lettuce cups are filled with lovely chopped mushrooms and the truffle permeates the entire dish.
Although we didn’t try the signature Peking Duck this time, we had their Signature Smoked Black Cod. The smokiness of this dish worked well with the natural fattiness of the cod. It was perfectly fried – the inside was moist and flaky and the outside was light and crisp.
To round out the meal we also had some classic Cantonese dishes:
- Sweet and Sour Pork with Aged Black Vinegar
- Pea Tips in Fish Broth with Goji Berry and Lily Bulb
- Wok Fried Flat Rice Noodles with AAA Canadian Beef and Bean Sprouts
The dishes are all expertly made. The Sweet and Sour Pork with Aged Black Vinegar was crisp on the outside and the addition of aged black vinegar was unique. This dish is usually made with dragon fruit at Mott 32, however it was subbed out for pineapple as the dragon fruit wasn’t up to snuff.
The Pea Tips in Fish Broth with Goji Berry and Lily Bulb was a welcome dish to break up the richness of all the dishes we have had. The fish broth was so flavourful and fragrant. The pea tips were fresh.
The Wok Fried Flat Rice Noodles with AAA Canadian Beef and Bean Sprouts has excellent ‘wok hei’ and was very flavourful. The noodles had a nice sear and the beef was so tender.
Mott 32 – Desserts
To finish off the meal we had to fresh mango desserts:
- Fresh Mango and Coconut Glutinous Rice Roll
- Mango Sweet Soup with Sago
The Fresh Mango and Coconut Glutinous Rice Roll was pretty standard. The coconut paired well with the mango. The Mango Sweet Soup with Sago was delightful. The mango was sweet and the soup was creamy and light.
Worth a Try?
Absolutely. Is it pricey? Yes. But if you can, it is definitely worth the splurge. You will not find better dim sum anywhere in Vancouver. The service, food and ambiance cannot be beat.
