Cross-posted at
excerpt:
The menu reflects current trends, too. While you can certainly still find classic dim sum houses in Hong Kong, the newest and buzziest establishments churn out sausage buns that look like wiener dogs, fish balls transformed into penguins, and bird-shaped pineapple dumplings served in an elegant cage. There are restaurants dedicated to Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty and Gudetama. (At the Gudetama-themed restaurant, a bao depicting the lazy egg character even barfs up yellow custard when you squeeze its stomach.) It’d be tempting to say it’s a trend driven purely by Instagram, but Hong Kongers’ obsession with cuteness isn’t new. It merely follows in the footsteps — presumably adorable, anthropomorphic, blushing, and giggling footsteps — of Taiwan and Japan. In Japan, kawaii refers specifically to this culture of cuteness that emerged in the 1970s. And Fusion Delight is just one in a fleet of local dim sum restaurants that have taken this cute cue from Hong Kong. In San Francisco, Dragon Beaux dyes its soup dumplings in vivid shades of red, green, and yellow, and Hong Kong Lounge’s shrimp dumplings resemble little bunnies. In Oakland, the new owners of Peony serve steamed buns dressed up like teapots.
Fusion Delight
699 Lewelling Blvd., Ste. 212, San Leandro
510-895-1818
Hours: Mon.–Thu. 10 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–9:30 p.m.; Fri. 10 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m.; Sat.–Sun. 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m.
Cash, all major credit cards
Sample Menu
Piggy buns … $4.50
Purple yam balls … $5.25
Baked BBQ pork bun … $5.25
Durian puff … $6.50
