Tomes of Dim Sum: Following the success of the original location at Pacific Place, Aqua Restaurant Group has opened its second Dim Sum Library location at the Elements mall in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Look & Feel: This Dim Sum Library is aesthetically very similar to the original. The Art Deco stylings are very strong, especially at the entrance which features a spacious bar with bird-cage like bar stools, plenty of mirroring, and a gilded overhang. The restaurant is divided into different section so you have have different experiences. For a quick bite, grab a table next to the bar; for a lingering meal, head towards the back and slide into one of the booths bookended by green-upholstered banquettes. It was a quiet Tuesday evening when we went in, so things were quiet; I imagine there would be far more ambiance if the restaurant was full. What is nice, though, is that although it’s in a mall, it feels like its own little world.

On the Menu: You may think that since this a second location, they would just replicate the original Dim Sum Library menu. Well, you’d be wrong. A lot of thought and effort has been put into the menu for this new restaurant, so only about 20% of it is the same as the original. Right now, though, the star of the show is the Xiaolong Bao special, which will be served weekly. Building on the success of the signature dan dan xiaolong bao, these soupy dumplings are now available in four flavors, the Japanese-inspired Kombu & Bonito; the decadent Beef Brisket; the Singapore-style Bak Kut Teh; and the perfectly piquant Hot & Sour.

We sampled some of the signatures from the new Dim Sum Library menu. Overall, the dishes were very well executed, but they do tend to lean a bit on the sweet side – choose carefully if that’s not your thing. For starters, the deep-fried taro puff with escargot and black truffle har gau were delicious; I personally would’ve skipped the fried eggs & tomato rice paper roll and pan-fried Sichuan cod bao, but that’s purely a personal preference.

For mains, we tried the crispy pork ribs with black olives and pineapple; deep-fried pumpkin with rosemary and salted egg yolk; and stir-fried kale with sakura shrimp and diced pork. The first dish was a little too sweet, with the pineapple flavor overpowering the meat; similarly, the salted egg yolk flavor hid the taste of the otherwise well-cooked pumpkin. The stir-fried kale was a delightful surprise, though, and a creative take on a very popular vegetable.

Great For: A quick lunch while shopping or a casual dinner if you’re in the area.

FYI: The back of the restaurant is inspired by traditional mahjong rooms and can be transformed into a private dining space.

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This writeup was based on a complimentary media tasting. The Loop HK doesn’t guarantee/sell restaurant review coverage. See our editorial policy here.