Dim sum guide

What dim sum is

Dim sum (点心, 'touch the heart') is the small-plate snack tradition that pairs with morning yum cha (饮茶, 'drinking tea'). It originated in Cantonese culture and is still concentrated in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta — though it has spread to every major Chinese city and around the world.

Where to eat

• Hong Kong: Lin Heung Tea House, Tim Ho Wan, Lung King Heen, Maxim's Palace. Lin Heung is the old-school cart-pushing classic; Tim Ho Wan is the affordable Michelin-starred chain.
• Guangzhou: Tao Heung, Lin Heung Lou, Guangzhou Restaurant, Diandude.
• Shenzhen: every major Hong Kong chain has a Shenzhen branch.
• Other cities: yum cha at any major Cantonese restaurant.

How it works

• Arrive between 9am and 12 noon. Some restaurants run an afternoon yum cha but the morning is the canonical session.
• You'll be seated and asked to choose tea — the choice is part of the ritual: jasmine, pu'er, oolong (tieguanyin or shuixian), Longjing.
• Order by trolley (the carts circulate at the older Hong Kong houses) or by ticked menu (the modern style).
• Plates are billed by size — small (小点), medium (中点), large (大点), special (特点).
• The bill is calculated from stamps on the order sheet.

Iconic items

• Har gow (虾饺) — translucent shrimp dumpling.
• Siu mai (烧卖) — open-topped pork dumpling.
• Char siu bao (叉烧包) — barbecued pork bun.
• Cheung fun (肠粉) — rice-flour roll with shrimp, beef, or barbecued pork.
• Egg tart (蛋挞) — Hong Kong-style with crisp pastry.
• Lo bak go (萝卜糕) — turnip cake, pan-fried.
• Wu gok (芋角) — taro fritter.
• Daan tarts — egg-custard tarts.
• Phoenix talons (凤爪) — chicken feet, braised in black bean sauce. The classic 'unfamiliar' item; surprisingly delicious.
• Ma lai go (马拉糕) — steamed Malay sponge cake.

Etiquette

• Tap two fingers on the table to thank someone pouring you tea.
• Pour for others before yourself.
• The tea fee (¥3–¥10 per person) is on the bill — that's normal.
• HK adds 10% service charge. You don't tip on top.
• Mainland: no tip.

Order pattern

A typical 2-person yum cha is 5–7 plates: 2 dumpling plates, 1 cheung fun, 2 bun-or-rice items, 1 sweet dessert.