Jumbao Palace Noodle Bar

Menu Items

9.9

Entree

Wonton Soup

Pho

★★★★★ 1 review

Reviews

• Must Try ★★★★★ Wonton Soup Visited Sep 23, 2024

  Amazing Noodle Bowls

  Jumbao Palace Noodle Bar was easily the most surprising find of my trip. Located inside the Hard Rock Seminole Casino in Tampa, Florida, it wasn’t my first choice during my last visit due to a long line—so I settled for some terrible Chinese food at the food court. This time, however, there was no wait, and I was seated within 10 minutes.
  
  **A Rough Start To The Meal**
  
  The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, all centered around stir-fried or broth-based noodle bowls. I went with what seemed to be a favorite: the BBQ Pork, Shrimp, and Wonton Soup. Priced at $16, I wasn’t sure what to expect—especially since this is a casino restaurant—but the online photos looked promising. When the drinks and appetizers arrived I was somewhat worried. Soft drinks were $4, served in cans, and the appetizer, a small serving of four fried spring rolls, was $8. At first, I felt these prices were steep, but when the main course arrived, and I was pleasantly surprised.
  
  **The Food
  **The noodle bowl was massive, piled high with meat, shrimp, wontons, and bok choy. My dining partner ordered the Pork Belly Noodle Bowl, which came with two large, crispy pieces of pork belly served separately from the noodles to ensure it stayed crispy, and could be eaten at your own pace.
  
  I started with the BBQ pork, which had that classic pink-topped layer, was tender, and came in large strips. The shrimp, already peeled, had a clean flavor with no fishiness and had absorbed some of the broth's delicious essence. The wontons were bite-sized and filled with pork, with a soft wrapper. While they didn’t stand out on their own, they complemented the soup perfectly.
  
  The bok choy, served whole, was a nice touch, which I enjoyed bite by bite throughout the meal. The bowl was generously portioned, with at least six strips of BBQ pork, half a dozen shrimp, half a dozen wontons, three bok choy, and a hearty serving of noodles at the bottom.
  
  The broth itself was a standout—rich, flavorful, and easily one of the best I’ve had. I’ve dined at many Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese noodle houses across several states, including iconic spots in Chinatowns like Houston, and this bowl genuinely ranks among the best.
  
  **Overall Impression**
  
  While the meal was exceptional, it didn’t earn a perfect score. The $4 charge for a can of Coke felt overpriced, and the spring rolls were small and unimpressive for their $8 price tag. Service also left something to be desired, as we weren’t offered refills or additional drinks until the end of our meal, even for water.
  
  **A Perfect 10 Entree**
  
  That said, the noodle bowl itself deserves a near-perfect 10. It’s the first time I’ve ever awarded such a high rating for an entrée. While there’s always room for minor improvements, this was about as close to perfect as a noodle dish gets. I’ll definitely be back and have already recommended this place to several people in Sarasota. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Sarasota, but I’d gladly make the trip again to try another dish. The appetizers aren’t worth the price, and if you’re content with water, this is hands down one of the best meals you can get for under $20 in the area.

  Jubao Palace Signage BBQ Pork, Shrimp & Wonton Soup Dining Area Pork Belly (Comes with bowl of soup broth & noodles) 4 piece Spring Roll Appetizer (we ate one before I could take the photo) BBQ Pork, Shrimp, & Wonton Noodle Bowl (Closeup) (egg noodles) Signage Entrance BBQ Rib Meat Bok Choy Shrimp Wonton Menu Front Menu Back Menu Page 1 Menu Page 2 Menu Page 3

  — Paul