Gourmet Inspirations

Someone from this business manages this listing.

#8 of 61 Restaurants in WheatonChinese, Asian, $$ - $$$

What is Travelers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Gourmet Inspirations

Review

At a glance

Closed today

See all hours

Website

+1 301-929-8818Improve this listing

About

Gourmet Inspirations Chinese Restaurant offers authentic and delicious tasting Chinese cuisine in Silver Spring, MD. Gourmet Inspirations Chinese Restaurant's convenient location and affordable prices make our restaurant a natural choice for dine-in, take-out meals in the Silver Spring and Wheaton community. Our restaurant is known for its variety in taste and high quality fresh ingredients. Come and experience our friendly atmosphere and excellent service.

Features

CUISINES

Chinese, Asian, Cantonese, Hong Kong

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly

FEATURES

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Takeout

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

2646 University Blvd W, Wheaton, MD 20902-1913

Is this a Chinese restaurant?

Yes

Unsure

Save this restaurant

Hours

Suggest an edit

Closed today

Sunday

10:30 AM - 8:00 PM

Monday

11:30 AM - 8:00 PM

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

11:30 AM - 8:00 PM

Thursday

11:30 AM - 8:00 PM

Friday

11:30 AM - 8:00 PM

Saturday

10:30 AM - 8:00 PM

Contribute

Write a review

Upload a photo

Ask a question

3.8

73 reviews

Excellent

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

Diver Dan

Washington DC311 contributions

Weekend Dim Sum

Jul 2023 • couples

Place was bustling on a Saturday noon. Unlike weekdays, when you order dim sum from a menu, there were carts going around and no menus. Something we wanted was not showing up though, so we asked, thinking they would bring us a plate, but soon enough a whole cart of that showed up. One star deducted for $8.95 bottle of Tsingdao beer.

Written July 3, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tonihoney

Silver Spring220 contributions

Dim Sum in Wheaton

Aug 2023 • family

We had a very tasty dim sum lunch at China Inspirations recently. We ordered from the menu & picked about 8 different dishes - from sticky rice, shrimp and pork in rice noodles, shrimp rice little buns, pork buns & some others that I've forgotten! Service was attentive & our waitress knew which items were gluten free. I was pleased with all the dim sum items that we chose. Portion sizes were ample & everything had a great taste. You don't have to wait long for the kitchen to prepare what you've picked out. The restaurant is large & clean. There is a public parking lot steps away.

Written August 24, 2023

The_Wanderer1992

Columbia2607 contributions

Dim Sum

Oct 2019 • none

My husband had a gift certificate for this restaurant, so we came here for lunch. We were very lost and confused as we have never had dim sum or the different Chinese foods that they had to offer, so thanks to the restaurant for putting up with our confusion. However, all the foods we had from the taro cakes to the pork buns to the egg custard were delicious. They also gave us hot tea, which was really nice to have with the meal. With our gift certificate included in the final bill, the total was around $25 with tip and tax. The restaurant was also very loud and it was difficult to hear what the food carts had on them. They have metered parking in a lot nearby.

Written October 12, 2019

Zef

Lund3 contributions

Best dim sum!

Jul 2024 • family

The food is just excellent and on a different level than other dim sum in the area. The shrimp noodles and pineapple buns are absolutely to die for. They have always had really kind service, even during Covid. Genuinely one of my most favorite restaurants!

Written July 26, 2024

su b

1 contribution

Ask tips for customers!

Dec 2019 • family

We were in the restaurant and had dinner last night. We were the last table for them and gave some tips on the table. The waitress asked us to pay more money. My husband wasn't happy, and tips are depended on the customers how much they like to pay. 🙁🙁🙁

Written December 5, 2019

paxa

Washington DC6798 contributions

Favorite dim sum place in the DMV

Nov 2019 • none

Haven't been back to this restaurant for dim sum for a while but now having made the rounds of all the other places in the area we figure it's time to try it again. Not much has changed - the one big dining room still looks clean and contemporary, with well spaced white surfaced 4 tops and big rounds, and comfortable upholstered chairs. On this Saturday we got there just after it opened so were seated right away (it didn't start to get filled up till 11:30). The ladies with the food carts were already waiting so within a few minutes we already had 4-5 plates on the table - good to come hungry as there's no wait for the food - however much more orderly and relaxed than some of the other chaotic places where you'd feel pounced upon and rushed. We had our usual - BBQ pork buns both baked and steamed, various shrimp dumplings - steamed, fried and with chives, taro dumplings, turnip cake, sticky rice in banana leaf, and my favorite dessert - sweet fermented rice cake. Everything was fresh, delicious and prepared exactly as expected except the turnip cake which could use improvement - too mushy (although must point out that so far no other place in DC can make it right). Prices have gone up just slightly since our last visit - the small plates now start at $3.49 - however we still averaged about $20/pp before tip for 9 plates of various sizes, not much different from before. Based on this return visit I'd say it's now my favorite dim sum place in the DMV. An added advantage to this location is it's metro accessible - although about half mile from Wheaton Station. If driving parking is easy - there's a public metered lot next door with reasonable rates - at 25 cents per 20 minutes (free Sundays).

Written November 13, 2019

chaurdongy

2 contributions

Mediocre food, terrible service

Sep 2019 • family

Went yesterday for with my family. Food was mediocre at best, but the service was terrible. We got in at 3pm and there were a few tables. We ordered our food and and after we were served, the restaurant was empty and we were the last table. The wait staff stopped coming to the table. We were near the front of the restaurant next to the windows and they turned off the rest if the lights. My father in-law had to go up to the waiter station to get more napkins for our family. The wait staff was sitting at another table and completely ignored us. Empty plates piled on the side of the table, no refills, and had to grab extra plates for the kids to share their food from a different table. When we left we had to ask get up to ask for boxes and the check. I went to the cash register to pay then took the credit card back to the table to sign and then the only time the waitress came to the table without being prompted was to snatch the credit card slip. She then sees the tip we left in cash on the table and complains it is not enough and we should give her more money. At this point we are upset and unsatisfied with the lack of service, my father in-law snaps back and tells her she did not stop by once, we had to physically get up and get our own napkins, plates, and extra utensils. She then runs off, still complaining she needs more money. I understand wait staff depends on tips and we still left the cash we intended to on the table, but I never had someone so rude and feel so entitled that they had to tell at a customer over their tip. We don't usually complain; if service or food is bad we just don't come back, but yesterday service just so bad that something needed to be said.

Written September 22, 2019

beckybegazo

Laurel12 contributions

Waiters revenge

Jun 2019 • family

My husband and I used to be regular customers of Gourmet Inspirations until we started experiencing nasty customer service. The waiters at this place have been there for years. They seemed to be unhappy about their jobs and demonstrate no interest in having a satisfied customer. We complained to the owner about the waitress lack of service, picking up the empty dishes, bring water, spicy sauce, etc...The seemed to be too busy rearranging their furmity for upcoming events or simply gathering around the round table next to the kitchen door. The food is not tasty as it used to be, the flavor sucks. We complained to the owner and brought up the waitrers; lack of doing and nonchalant attitude. The owner didn't show much attention nor try to give us a solution that will make us feel that something was done. Recently we went back and their service didn't change at all. The food was tateless and the customer service was even worse. We concluded not to ever return to this place.

Written June 24, 2019

Marques P

Silver Spring70 contributions

Not bad at all

Jun 2019 • friends

Rare jem.love there shrimp fried rice.general tso not bad at all.not a a bad place in Wheaton.good atmosphere

Written June 9, 2019

Jeff P

Portsmouth179 contributions

Overall good quality

May 2019 • family

We dined here with 30+ friends, a pre-event family style dinner. Peking duck, which was rumored to be the highlight, was only decent. The other dozen or so dishes ranged from pretty good to just great. Highlight was a sauteed spinach and garlic side dish, with a light oyster sauce. Service was efficient if a little chaotic, and I’m pretty sure one of the servers just wanted us gone. But this was a nice meal and I would return.

Written May 23, 2019

Debbie C

Silver Spring71 contributions

No occasion

Oct 2018 • family

we meant to try this place for long time and finally went when it was under different owner it was very dark and sort of dirty but since ownership changed it's bright and very clean

Written May 7, 2019

Diver Dan

Washington DC311 contributions

A Cut Above

Mar 2019 • couples

This place is a bit hidden in a area crowded with similar places. However it stands out for its much nicer dining room, friendly service and quality food at similar prices. We went at lunch and ordered extra carry out for later. Only had 2 dim sum but based on that agree with others that they do a superior job. On weekday we ordered from a list and they were brought out freshly made. There is a good lunch deal with soup and 3 entrees with ample portions. And the special duck with taro stuffing is really different and creative, if a little heavy. A bit like Chinese thanksgiving complete with gravy.

Written March 19, 2019

jaseaton

Silver Spring2762 contributions

Suprisingly Large Dining Space

Mar 2019 • couples

From the outside, this place looks like a tiny hole in the wall, and they only have three parking spots in front. But inside, the place opens up to two enormous dining rooms. Plain floors and furnishings; not much attention paid to atmosphere or decor. We arrived for takeout about 5pm on a Wednesday and were the first customers on the scene. The owner happily took our order after making a number of suggestions. The hot & sour soup we ordered just out of curiosity wasn't quite up to the standard of our favorite close-to-home takeout place. But the pork dumplings were terrific...had a great, savory spicing. And the chicken with broccoli was excellent. By reputation, they have sensational dim sum. We'll save that for some time when we can eat on-site, since, in my experience anyway, dim sum doesn't travel well and is best eaten close to the kitchen.

Written March 13, 2019

Kathryn L

Fairfax43 contributions

Good find of an authentic local dim sum place

Feb 2019 • friends

Drove all the way from N VA to Wheaton MD in search of good chinese dim sum. The restaurant was crowded and full of mostly chinese local eaters ( this is always a good sign) The dim sum was good but we did not get to try all the dishes as they were sold out by then (12.30pm) Next time I will make sure to start much earlier and go with a big appetite too

Written February 20, 2019

Nano B

Baltimore18 contributions

Not friendly to Buddhist Vegetarians

Feb 2019 • solo

Based on the good reviews, I tried this restaurant. However, I was very disappointed. I personally cannot eat onions and garlic; it makes me very sick. I know Buddhist Vegetarians also do not eat onions and garlic so you would think that an Asian restaurant should have a good system in place for making vegetarian dishes without onions and garlic. This is not the case for this restaurant. Upon explaining my dietary restrictions, the waitress recommended the "Assorted Vegetables with Tofu, Lo Han Style" as the safest bet. I stressed I could not have any onions, green onions, scallions, or garlic, ... even in the sauce. She said she would tell the chef. When the dish came, I could smell a very pungent smell of either seafood or onions/garlic. I still tried to labor on and eat the dish, avoiding the sauce because it made me want to throw up. I threw up a couple times and finally decided to bring the rest home so I could use lots of water to cook out the sauce and not waste the food. When I asked the waitress if she told the chef not to use onions and garlic she said yes. She said it could be the sauce, they use a premade sauce. She said I did not tell her not to use the sauce, but I did. Though she expressed sympathy, this is not the way to handle a dietary restriction. I had GI problems for thr next 2 days and had to throw out the rest of the food even after wasting time trying to cook out the sauce because the food was too repulsive for me. This is not the place for people with dietary restrictions.

Written February 17, 2019