Golden Palace in Oklahoma City: Cantonese-Style Dim Sum and Seafood

Golden Palace is a full-service Cantonese restaurant in Oklahoma City that specializes in dim sum service during lunch hours and a broader menu of seafood, poultry, and noodle dishes for dinner. The space seats roughly 200 diners across multiple rooms, making it the largest dedicated dim sum venue in the metro area and the primary destination for cart-service dim sum rather than order-from-menu variations.

What Golden Palace Actually Is

Located in the Chinatown area near NW 23rd Street, Golden Palace operates as a traditional dim sum house where servers push carts of small plates through the dining room during lunch service. This format differs from the menu-ordering dim sum model used by some other Asian restaurants in Oklahoma City, where you select items from a printed list rather than choosing from passing trays. The restaurant also functions as a full Cantonese kitchen for evening diners seeking roasted meats, live seafood preparations, and clay-pot rice dishes.

Dim Sum Service and Pricing

Dim sum runs from approximately 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, with cart service where servers present small bamboo steamer baskets of har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork dumplings), char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), and roughly 30 other varieties. Pricing is per basket, typically ranging from $3 to $6 depending on ingredient cost; shrimp and specialty items cost more than pork-based options. Diners select baskets as carts pass, and final bills are calculated by counting stamped cards or marked plates. A typical dim sum lunch for one person runs $15 to $25.

Dinner Menu and Pricing

Evening service shifts to a full Cantonese menu. Signature dishes include whole steamed fish (market-priced, usually $18 to $30 for a two-pound specimen), roasted duck or chicken by the half or whole bird ($15 to $22), chow fun noodles with shrimp or beef ($10 to $14), and clay-pot rice with chicken, sausage, or seafood ($12 to $16). Pricing confirms this is a mid-range establishment rather than budget or fine-dining tier. Soups, stir-fried vegetables, and offal-based dishes like chicken feet in black bean sauce round out the menu, with most entrees $10 to $18.

Comparison to Other Oklahoma City Options

Golden Palace's cart-service dim sum distinguishes it from Chee's Wei, an Asian restaurant on the south side that offers dim sum from a printed menu during lunch hours. Cart service allows browsing and impulse selection, while menu ordering requires advance knowledge of what you want; cart service also suits groups with varied preferences since each person can order different quantities. For full Cantonese dinner service, Golden Palace competes primarily with smaller establishments like Joy Luck Place or casual takeout shops. Golden Palace's size and dedicated dim sum operation make it the preferred choice for larger groups or anyone specifically seeking the cart-service experience. For diners wanting Sichuan or northern Chinese styles, it is not the right fit.

Who This Suits and Who It Does Not

Golden Palace works best for dim sum enthusiasts, weekend brunch groups, and anyone seeking the social, exploratory dim sum dining format. Its lunch-hour focus and cart service appeal to those comfortable with Cantonese cuisine and wanting to sample many small dishes. It is less suitable for diners seeking quiet, leisurely table service or those unfamiliar with dim sum who may feel rushed by the cart-passing pace. Evening diners looking for Cantonese home cooking or seafood preparations will find it accommodating, though the restaurant caters most heavily to lunch crowds.

What the First Visit Involves

Arrive between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for dim sum. You will be seated and given a teapot and small cups; staff pour hot water for complimentary tea. As carts approach, point to items you want; servers will place baskets on your table and mark your check. Continue selecting until satisfied, then ask for your bill. Dinner visits operate like standard restaurant service: order from the menu, and food arrives in standard portions.

Hours, Parking, and Access

Golden Palace operates daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with dim sum service limited to lunch hours. Parking is available in a shared lot accessed from the street. The restaurant is accessible by car via NW 23rd Street. Call ahead to confirm current dim sum service hours, as weekend and weekday schedules may vary seasonally.

Golden Palace holds its position in Oklahoma City's dining landscape because it operates the only dedicated cart-service dim sum restaurant in the metro area, making it essential for anyone seeking the traditional Cantonese lunch experience or a large group wanting to explore multiple dishes without lengthy menu deliberation.