What to Order at a Dim Sum Place

Dim Sum is also know as 早茶 (which translates directly to “morning tea”). Its origins can be traced to Southern China, with the most popular being from GuangDong. Think of it as Chinese brunch. The idea of it is that you lazily roll out of bed late on a weekend, go to Dim Sum with friends, and you chat while sharing tapas-like dishes and sipping on tea. Today, I will introduce some classic dim sums.

1. 虾饺 (Shrimp Dumplings)

Juicy shrimp wrapped in a translucent, chewy, and bouncy shell. The shell’s texture, combined with the sweetness of the shrimp makes this a heavenly feeling in your mouth. The wrapper is quite difficult to replicate at home, requiring a mastery of the right ratio of flour & lard at the right temperature, or else the wrapper won’t stick to each other. Hence, I typically opt for just ordering this outside.

2. 烧卖 - 广东/糯米 (Shu Mai - GuangDong Style / Sticky Rice Filling)

Shumai is a type of open-faced dumpling. The more popular shumai is the one with a yellow wrapper and meat (typically pork) fillings. While it is good, the shumai from my hometown comes in a white wrapper and a sticky rice filling that is seasoned with soy sauce, mushroom, and pork fat. That shumai feels like a hug in my mouth.

3. 小龙包 (xiao long bao, or soup dumplings)

I am sure that soup dumplings are the most famous among all the dim sums I mentioned. Like the name suggests, this is typically a dumpling that is filled with both meat and soup. To eat it properly, pick up the dumpling (grab the circular tip of the dumpling using chopsticks) and place it in a large flat spoon. Then, carefully, take a small bite on the side of the dumpling, towards the bottom. Then, carefully (again), sip for the soup. Finally, eat the rest of the dumpling.

While I do enjoy eating xiao long bao once in a while, I have personally never found much satisfaction burning my tongue for a meager bit of soup that is sometimes mostly spilled while I try to lift the dumpling. I would just rather drink broth and eat large baos separately. Hence, why this is lower on my list.

4. 凤爪 (Stewed Chicken Feet)

Before you all freak out, chicken feet has no flavor itself. Its texture is soft and chewy, and it contains a high amount of collagen, which is incredibly good for rejuvenating your skin and anti-aging. Besides it being flavorful, it is also low calorie. This makes it the perfect guilt-free tapas to nibble on while catching up with friends. Every time my family goes to Dim Sum, we immediately order 2 portions of this dish.

5. 叉烧包 （Chashu Pork Bun）

A fluffy bun with a sweet chopped pork filling. The sweetness of the seasoning perfectly balances out with the salty umami of the pork. While the filling is bursting with flavor, the bun provides a good contrast. I am rarely one for sweet entrees, but this is one of the few exceptions I enjoy.