Trader Joe’s Dim Sum Review

When it comes to grocery shopping, I always opt to trade with Joe.

Trader Joe’s has the basics I need as well as new exciting items to try for very reasonable prices. The prices are so reasonable that there are never any sales. Which I love! That’s not at typo friends… I, Katie Askegaard, am saying I love that there are no sales!  Why? I’m a sucker for a bargain,  and I tend to end up buying items I don’t want or need out of the thrill of the deal.

As I was perusing the frozen food section on my weekly  shopping expedition, a stroke of genius hit me:

A Trader Joe’s Dim Sum Review!

I loaded my cart with 5 enticing items, and here’s the ranking according to me and my roommates.

1. Cha Siu Bao Chinese Style Pork Bun: $4.49

The bun itself was soft and fluffy. The shredded pork filling was tender and slathered in a soy sauce that was slightly sweet, slightly salty, and oh so delicious. I was shocked at how good these were, and would recommend picking up a bag at your local TJ’s.There was no debate that these were the winner of this Trader Joe’s dim sum review

2. Gyoza Potstickers (both chicken and pork): $3.79

Next on this Trader Joe’s Dim Sum review are the Gyoza potstickers. Theses are one of my TJ’s go tos. The dough is just thick enough and the filling is juicy, and mostly meat with just a little bit of cabbage. We mixed the pork with the chicken in the same pan, and both are A+.

3. Steamed Pork and Ginger Soup Dumplings: $3.49

I’m been on a soup dumpling kick (learn more about Xialongbao HERE), and this Trader Joe’s Dim Sum product took me by surprise. They had a nice thin dough and the soup inside was flavorful. The filling had a nice ginger kick, although the pork was far too dry.

Pro Tips: Eat it all at once instead of sipping the soup out first to help keep the bites moist.

Pro Tip 2: A proper bamboo steamer is wise so that they don’t stick.

4. Chicken Spring Rolls: $4. 29

We popped these Trader Joe’s chicken spring rolls up in the oven, and they got perfectly crispy. The filling was average- chicken with a hint of ginger, cabbage, and garlic. On the dry side, and definitely needed a sauce. For nearly $1 a spring roll, these aren’t worth it.

5. Chicken Shui Mai: $3.49

At the bottom of this list is the chicken shu mai. These didn’t do it for me. Cabbage dominated the flavor, and the chicken was too gummy. The wrapper was just as gummy as the filling, and left an odd taste in my mouth.

Wrapping Up This Trader Joe’s Dim Sum Review

A 5 course Trader Joe’s Dim Sum feast for under $20 for 5 people is pretty good if I do say so myself!

The pork buns were the champion, I will continue to have a bag of the gyoza in my freezer at all times, and the soup dumplings were a pleasant surprise. Skip the chicken spring rolls and shui mai.