Dim Sum and Then Some
When it comes to dining out, one of the things I enjoy the most is family-style dining where a group of friends and family can gather together at a table and share both a variety of dishes as well as thoughts and stories of the day. While many of you may be familiar with going to a Chinese restaurant and bonding over lunch or dinner, did you know that there’s a Chinese version of breakfast that also allows for a sharing of multiple dishes for 2 or more people. That meal is referred to as Dim Sum. So let’s learn a little more about Dim Sum.
What does the word Dim Sum mean?
Dim Sum is a Cantonese term, literally translated as dot heart or order heart, meaning order to one’s heart’s content. Though the English word “dim sum” refers to the Cantonese variety, the idea of a wide variety of small dishes for lunch also holds for other regions of China.
When is Dim Sum Served?
At most restaurants, Dim Sum can be served as early as 9 am and generally up to 2 pm. While dim sum items can sometimes be offered separately as items on a dinner menu, as a whole Dim Sum service generally is a breakfast or even a brunch option, depending on what you have it.
How is Dim Sum Served?
Dim Sum is generally served two ways. One way is for food carts to roam around the restaurant and if you see something you like, you can gesture or stop the cart and ask them to serve their wares to your table. The second way is done just like any other restaurant where there’s a menu. Make your choices and than the dim sum items are brought to your table. In regards to cost, dim sum is reasonably priced with dim sum items costing anywhere fro $1.50 to $3.00 each and an average cost per person ranging from $13 to $20 each.
What Types of Dim Sum are Served?
Classical dim sum includes buns such as bau (baozi), dumplings and rice rolls, which contain a range of ingredients, including beef, chicken, pork, prawns and vegetarian options. Many dim sum restaurants also offer plates of steamed green vegetables, roasted meats, congee porridge and other soups. Tea is always served along with dim sum. Dim sum can be cooked by steaming and frying, among other methods. The serving sizes are usually small and normally served as three or four pieces in one dish. It is customary to order family style, sharing dishes among all members of the dining party and this allows people to try a wide variety of food.
So now that you’ve learned a little more about dim sum, look below for some restaurants you can check out for yourself.
Sea Harbour
3939 Rosemead Blvd
Rosemead, CA
(626) 288-3939
Delicious Dim Sum
752 Jackson St
San Francisco, CA
(415) 781-0721
Golden Coast Chinese Restaurant
1722 W End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 321-8882
Red Star Seafood Restaurant
8298 Granville St.
Vancouver, BC V6P 4Z4
(604) 261-8389
The Happy Chef Dim Sum House
2164 S. Archer Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 808-3689
