By Rachael Shugars, AAP Columnist

One of my foodie bucket list items was always to experience some good dim sum, a Chinese dish of small steamed or fried savory dumplings containing various fillings, which serves as a snack or main course. In my mind, I imagined filling my entire table with containers of these glorious bites and bits. At Kim Sum in Pennsauken, that is exactly what I did.

This was my son’s first Food Adventures to somewhere that would be featured in the paper and online; he was super excited! As we got to Kim Sum, I noticed how open concept the place was. Tables were set with pleasant arrays of linens and teacups. At first glance, there is a ton of stuff here. They have everything from beef, chicken, and shrimp, all the way to abalone, frog, and jelly fish. It was a foodie’s dreamland! Items are fairly priced at anywhere from $2.50 to $48 dollars, with some items at market prices, so they can vary. You get a good amount of food for what you pay.

We began with something simple: wonton soup. I also ordered a scallion pancake, which my son had never had. We went with shrimp dumplings, chicken feet in black bean sauce, Teochew dumplings, and cream custard buns. The wonton soup was simple, and the broth was really pleasant. The wontons themselves were smaller and more loyal to what a wonton should be, as opposed to what we get from fast food takeaway. The flavor was great as well. The scallion pancake, crispy in texture and served with a savory sauce, was a hit. My five-year-old ate nearly the entire thing! Our shrimp dumplings were lovely as well. They shrimp is lightly minced and wrapped in a thin wonton-like wrapper. The chicken feet in black bean sauce were completely unknown to me. I had seen these things in videos and on TV and was eager to try. It was savory. It was sticky. It was fun to eat. The black bean sauce wasn’t overpowering either. The Teochew dumplings were a mixture of pork, veggies, and nuts inside a thin dumpling; my son devoured two of the three we were served. These are a definite go-to item. Last was the cream custard buns. These were soft, pillowy steamed buns filled with a sweet, frosting-like custard filling. Also, a big hit!

If you’ve had dim sum or you are looking for something different, I assure you that they have it here at Kim Sum. Service is fast, the tea is hot, and ambiance is very relaxed. There are two different menus. Lunch offers up a much larger dim sum menu, while dinner is a massive array of all the finest in Chinese cuisine. I’m thoroughly excited to take my family back here to try some more exciting stuff!

Kim Sum, located at 5201 Rt. 38, is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to midnight (yes, midnight). Make a reservation at (856) 885-2288. They also offer takeout ordering, and their menu is available online. I’m so excited that this place is here and is so much closure than having to take the ride to Philadelphia for amazing Chinese cuisine! If you go, make sure you head to my Facebook page AAP Food Adventures and tell me all about the things you tried. As always, be sure to enjoy your Food Adventures!