That dim sum restaurant in Tacoma’s South End has finally opened
Nearly two years later, Harbor City has opened its Tacoma restaurant at 4816 S. Pacific Ave.
“Thanks to customers who waited for a long time,” the restaurant wrote on opening day, April 7. “From now on you can choose any of our restaurants in Seattle or Tacoma to enjoy.”
It’s the second location for owners Ma Dehan and his wife, Grace, who, with his brother and sister-in-law, have carved a legacy in Seattle. In a recent roundup of the city’s best Chinese food, Eater Seattle described the original restaurant as “perhaps the crown jewel of the International District’s dim sum spots.”
In a 2021 look at dim sum options, Eater also named Harbor City as one of its 14 favorites. Dating back to 2013, Seattle Magazine also praised its Chinese staples, including gai lan (broccoli), Mandarin string beans with pork, seafood noodles and “especially good” cashew chicken.
According to the restaurant, popular dishes include steamed pork or shrimp dumplings, BBQ pork buns, Peking duck and chicken feet.
The owners originally filed state paperwork in the summer of 2020, telling The News Tribune they sought Tacoma in part because of its dearth of dim sum restaurants. As the pandemic dragged, they had difficulty finding staff, particularly those trained in the complex cuisine.
In February 2021, then again in May, they delayed the opening. Comments a-plenty from eager diners rolled into Facebook posts. Last month, it seemed the time was finally nigh.
The South End building, just south of 48th Street, was home to Josefina’s Mexican Restaurant for two decades before closing in January 2020. Last fall, Harbor City affixed new signage, but little else seemed to change: the faded yellow stucco facade and red-tiled roof remained, along with smiling hearts painted on the windows.
On Wednesday, Ma Grace said they planned to re-paint eventually.
The interior of the restaurant also looks similar, save for the plentiful good-luck pachiras (money trees) and arrangements with red-and-gold ribbons in the entryway. There are two dining areas: one to the left as you enter and one to the right with booths and more tables in view of the full-service bar.
Online ordering will be available soon, but the full menu is ready for on-site dining and takeout.
Harbor City Tacoma
▪ 4816 S. Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-503-3398, harborcitytacoma.com
▪ Wednesday-Monday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (closed Tuesdays)
▪ Details: Chinese favorites with focus on seafood and dim sum
This story was originally published April 8, 2022 at 6:00 AM.