Golden Unicorn, 17 years later

Posted on August 24, 2012 by CVS

When I was a kid in the ’70s, I thought Kowloon House had the best siomai ever.
I remember the rather crude cardboard takeaway box lined with wax paper, with the piping hot siomai that was so magical.
I stopped eating it in high school after I saw some rats running out of its Park Square store back in the ’80s.

I don’t know exactly who introduced me to Golden Unicorn in New York back in the ’90s. All I remember was you had to wait in line and the food was really good. It was such a treat to take a bus there and eat with friends like Biden
Seventeen years later, I wondered if it would be as magical for me. Luckily I was able to drag Grace and Alexei to Chinatown last Sunday.
We had a kind taxi driver who had no idea how to get to 18 East Broadway.

Spotted a couple of hipsters in the area

And then that magical building

We were lucky the line wasn’t bad when we got there around 11:30 AM

I had to look for the mirrored hall of rave reviews, and there it was (kabrokot ang mga utao)

After a 15-minute wait, we got a go signal to go up to the 3rd floor.
Inside looks a bit gaudy/creepy with all the drapery, mirrors and funky tiles

We managed to call a few dimsum carts to our table and got the piping hot siopao, which was perfect

I didn’t try this one. It was “bola-bolish”

The best pork siomai in the world!! Exactly how I remembered it 17 years ago

This one paled in comparison

The perfect hakaw

and golden-fried shrimp balls. No idea why it’s served with Pringles. It was good though

Our bill was only $40. We had no soy sauce, no calamansi, no rice. If you want soy sauce and calamansi, you might have to bring your own. LOL. But seriously, it didn’t need anything else because it was perfect. Except maybe a glass of ice-cold Coke.

http://www.goldenunicornrestaurant.com/

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=581779396 Reb Belleza

memories again.

[Reply]
omnesia

Um, I think they need to change their bamboo steamers!! Sorry Cecile.

Back here in the Phils. try Golden Bay restaurant, near DFA along Macapagal. They’re 50% off everyday on all their dimsum. It’s a well-kept secret. Just by looks, comparable to what had there. Taste is really good. Value for money.

[Reply]
CVS Reply:
August 24th, 2012 at 11:54 PM
they do!!

[Reply]
njmanang

Haven’t been there in a while but I agree masarap sya. If you want best congee try Bowery Congee or for updated siopao go to Baohaus sa East Village. Both small non-descript place but dang good food.

[Reply]
http://www.currystrumpet.com/ Deepa

Omg ang lakas ng tawa ko sa mga nakakashokot na utash! Afraid!

[Reply]
http://thekaloka.com/ kaloka

My husband who’s head over heels about siomai would love it there. He’s always in the quest for the perfect siomai in the world that I thought he would find it in China.haha!

[Reply]
http://chenmeicai.blogspot.com Chai Chen

I love dimsum! Whoooaaa! Ms. C bawal na coke. :p

[Reply]
CVS Reply:
August 24th, 2012 at 7:00 PM
yes i knoe. thanks

[Reply]
LiLi
Twitter: briandelro
Reply:
August 24th, 2012 at 7:19 PM
try mo the soda on the top shelf. LOL .
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lil_divine/7002785041/lightbox/

[Reply]
Walnuts

they call it steamed pork bun here or char siu bao aka siopao asado. There’s also another pork bun that look like a tinapay from panaderia but inside is the same filling as in the siopao asado which is really good too! Ms. C, you are in my neck of the woods… this is where I take the M9 bus to go to Battery Park City. We go to Jing Fong for Dimsum which is similar to this place, I’ll definitely try this one of these days. Please do try the cupcakes in SOHO on Mercer St., the store is called Georgetown Cupcake… it’s really good! Near your hotel there’s also Magnolia Bakery… their banana pudding is addicting. If you feel like walking around and hungry in the middle of the night, my go to is the Halal Guys on 53rd and 6th. And of course, the steak at Peter Luger. =)

[Reply]
CVS Reply:
August 24th, 2012 at 11:58 AM
I’m *really* scared of Battery Park.
I’ve tried Magnolia Bakery, nothing spectacular and Peter Luger, but I’ll go back there when I’m with guys. My husband would love it

[Reply]
Aggie99 Reply:
August 24th, 2012 at 12:42 PM
IMO Chikalicious in the East Village has still the best cupcakes (esp banana & mocha) because they use cream cheese frosting. Best dimsum is at Ocean Jewel in Flushing. Best ramen (akamaru modern) is at Ippudo (walang sinabi ang Momofuku). And best braised pork belly (kaku ni) swimming in broth is at Inakaya near the NY Times building (get it to go and eat it with rice!)

[Reply]
cupcakes Reply:
August 24th, 2012 at 7:57 PM
Parang Original’s Buko Pie lang ang Magnolia, kung hindi ka taga Los Banos, eto ang pipilahan mo para pasalubong. Pero kung local ka, you will get Lety’s Buko Pie kahit friend mo pa ang may-ari ng Originals : ) May baguhan ngayon, yung Baked by Melissa. Kinabog nila ang mini size ng Crumbs, and they perfected the price point ng cupcake- parang kasing laki lang ng apat na 25c (quarters) na pinatong patong. Within Midtown, yung pastries sa Financier masarap din, French-french lang ang peg, eto ang CEO’s choice kasi eto ang inaabangan ko sa office pag-katapos ng board meeting ng amo ko.
CVS, may libreng tapas and wine tasting sa Union Square sa Sabado. 2-5 PM.http://www.unionsquarewines.com/events/tasting-details.html?ip=i2BvhUloBK2Sgqysyeijnq7PSpbH91vsfd1UgNib%2BCc%3DMasaya sa Union Square pag Sabado, may shala na talipapa kunwari. Then, it would be a leisurely walk to the piece de resistance- Chickalicious!Ate, libre mo akong pabango sa Bendel- yung Fils de Deux ng Etat Libre d’Orange (aka Philippine Houseboy). Nainspire daw yung perfumer sa movie ni Brilliante Mendoza na Masahista.

Seriously, masarap di lumafang sa basement ng Park Plaza- may turo turo si Todd English dun, and the snobbiest cupcakes and macarons are there : )

Walnuts Reply:
August 25th, 2012 at 1:25 AM
The only thing i buy from Magnolia is the banana pudding… otherwise, the cupcakes suck, too sweet. Don’t even know why they are famous with cupcakes. Georgetown on the other hand is divine. I am sure you know where to go, if at all i should ask you where else to go? LOL. Since Mudra is with you 11 Madison is the place to be, haven’t tried it though (READ:walang budget!). Have you checked the Comme de Garcons in Chelsea? I find their store interesting, design wise. Would like to know what you think. You have a lot of readers here in NYC, it will be nice to meet you in person. *wishful thinking*

[Reply]
CVS Reply:
August 25th, 2012 at 2:04 AM
eleven madison 200 dollars per head. siomai na lang

Ann Reply:
August 25th, 2012 at 4:48 AM
Hi Cecile! Try Two Little Red Hen cupcakes. its on 85th Street & 2nd Ave… Its THE BEST in NYC next to Billy’s. The Brooklyn Black Out, Red Velvet, Banana & Coconut are the best!

[Reply]
Zashi

Dimsum is love. Most major city has that one perfect dimsum place with the long ques and yummy food.

[Reply]
http://profiles.google.com/manansalar Regina Manansala

Yum! There’s a dim sum buffet that we always go to in LA that’s really good too! It’s mommy’s favorite place/restaurant.

[Reply]
http://dontaskmetosmile.wordpress.com/ dontaskmetosmile

What’s the difference between siomai picture #1 and #2?

To me, though, the dimsum experience is incomplete without toyo, calamansi and chili garlic sauce. Haha.

[Reply]
CVS Reply:
August 24th, 2012 at 9:51 AM
i think the second has less pork? maybe grace knows the answer

[Reply]
divasoria
Twitter: briandelro
Reply:
August 24th, 2012 at 9:54 PM
haha i don’t know the answer! pero yah, parang mas konti yung pork

[Reply]
CVS Reply:
August 24th, 2012 at 11:12 PM
I think the other kind has black mushroom

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