Review

Price (★★★☆☆): $13 – $14
Priced at around $16 for a pack of 40 dumplings—and often on sale for a couple of dollars less—these come out to roughly $0.40 per dumpling. For a convenient at-home option, that’s a reasonable value, though not exactly a steal compared to fresh, restaurant-quality dim sum.

Flavor & Quality (★★★☆☆): (3.5/5)
If you’re expecting the plump, shrimp-packed har gao you’d find at a good dim sum restaurant, these may fall short. The filling features prawn mixed with less premium ingredients like bamboo shoots. While the combination isn’t unpleasant, it lacks the richness and texture of traditional har gao.

The wrapper is thicker and stickier than expected, with a jelly-like texture that becomes increasingly tacky as it cools. It tends to cling to chopsticks, making for a slightly awkward eating experience. The included sweet soy-ginger sauce—three packets per box—didn’t add much to the dish and was easily skippable in my opinion.

Ease of Preparation (★★★★☆):
These dumplings are steamed for 8–10 minutes and require minimal effort—just place them in a lined steam basket and wait. While it’s not the fastest option, the process is straightforward and yields decent results. There’s really no alternative prep method here; pan-frying or microwaving wouldn’t do them justice.

Summary:

The Costco Royal Asia Prawn Hacao offers a convenient, freezer-friendly option for enjoying dim sum at home. It’s reasonably priced—especially when on sale—and easy to prepare by steaming. However, it falls short of restaurant-quality har gao, lacking the bold shrimp flavor and delicate texture you’d expect. The wrapper is thicker and tends to become overly sticky as it cools, and the included sauce packets don’t enhance the experience. Overall, it’s a decent, budget-friendly choice for a quick dim sum fix, but manage your expectations if you’re craving something more authentic.

Overall rating

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.5/5)