CHIKO doesn’t deliver its cumin lamb dumplings and chicken spring rolls on a cart, but D.C. adding a new dim sum option is still welcome news. Two of the three locations of the Chinese Korean restaurant will introduce a permanent takeout and delivery-only dim sum menu this weekend after a successful test run during the Lunar New Year.
Customers can order the dim sum from CHIKO’s Bethesda (7280 Woodmont Ave.) or Dupont Circle (2029 P St. NW) locations on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Assess your hunger level and decide whether you want to order three dishes for $20, five for $32, or seven for $47. A la carte ordering is also available.
The menu diverges from what you might find at your favorite traditional dim sum house, as Chefs Scott Drewno and Danny Lee incorporated some Korean-inspired bites like kimchi pancakes with spicy soy dressing and crispy brussels sprouts with a gochujang (Korean chili paste) aioli dip. “It’s little parcels from the heart,” Drewno says. “They’re little small plates that we do in CHIKO’s style.”
The full menu is as follows:
Pork & Kimchi Potstickers, Sesame Dipping Sauce
Cumin Lamb Dumplings, Sichuan Chili Broth
Chicken Spring Rolls, Chinese Hot Mustard
Veggie Dumplings, Wok Fired Squash, Garlic Rice
XO Shrimp Juk, Rice Porridge, Wok-Fired Shrimp
Korean Fried Wings (5pc), Dry-Spiced or Spicy Soy Glaze
Confit Duck Spring Roll, Sweet Chili Sauce
Kimchi Pancake, Spicy Soy Dressing
Beef Jeon, Egg-Battered Beef Patties
Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Gochujang Aioli
Drewno says he longs for the days when you could have the full dim sum experience. He used to offer a fine dining version of dim sum when he was the executive chef of The Source.
“It’s my favorite meal, period,” he says. “I think the whole joy of dim sum is this beautiful chaotic orchestra. I can’t wait to get back into regular service with guests in the dining room for many reasons, but dim sum is so much fun to get a barrage of dishes at the table, have different sauces, and have the restaurant be loud.”
It’s difficult to replicate that experience at home, but Drewno hopes diners will still have fun ordering a variety of dishes. He says the kimchi pancakes and cumin lamb dumplings in a spicy broth were popular during the test run, but don’t sleep on the vegetarian dumplings. The menu will continue to evolve over time.