Quick Answer
How to do yum cha like a local — the essential dim sum dishes, the tea ritual, and where to eat it in southern China.
Why it matters
Dim sum is a style, not a dish — dozens of small steamed, fried and baked plates eaten with tea. The whole experience is called yum cha ("drink tea"), traditionally a leisurely late-morning meal shared around a table.
TL;DR (Quick Answer)
- The ritual: yum cha — tea plus small shared plates, usually brunch.
- Order: har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai, char siu bao, egg tarts.
- Where: Guangzhou, Hong Kong and the Cantonese south.
What Dim Sum Actually Is
Dim sum is a style, not a dish — dozens of small steamed, fried and baked plates eaten with tea. The whole experience is called yum cha ("drink tea"), traditionally a leisurely late-morning meal shared around a table.
The Essential Order
Start with har gow (translucent shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (pork-and-shrimp), add char siu bao (barbecue-pork buns), cheung fun (rice-noodle rolls) and finish with warm egg tarts. Keep the teapot lid ajar when you want a refill — the local signal.
Where to Eat It
Cantonese cuisine is at its best in Guangzhou and Hong Kong, but you'll find excellent dim sum across southern China. It's the perfect counterpoint to the bolder flavours of Sichuan — see the full map in the regional cuisines guide.
FAQ
What is the difference between dim sum and yum cha?
Dim sum refers to the small dishes; yum cha is the whole meal — tea plus dim sum — usually eaten at brunch.
What are the must-order dim sum dishes?
Har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai, char siu bao (barbecue-pork buns), cheung fun (rice-noodle rolls) and egg tarts.
Where is the best dim sum in China?
Guangzhou and Hong Kong, the heart of Cantonese cuisine, though good dim sum is found throughout southern China.
