Hong Kong Dim Sum And Then Some

3 Mins Read

*Har Gow Salt and Pepper Shakers - White by Pinyin Press*

Everyone who has been to Hong Kong surely must have had Dim Sum before - Those delicious morsels of piping hot dumplings and cakes served in hand-woven bamboo baskets. The phrase Dim Sum 點心 literally means touch your heart or gratitude, as legends say that it originated from the Eastern Jin dynasty, when an unnamed general ordered civilians to make buns and cakes to send to the front line, as a form of gratitude towards his soldiers after battles.

Nowadays, you don’t have to go through a battle to enjoy this deliciousness. Dim Sum is served during Yum Cha 飲茶 time, which literally means ‘drink tea’ and is basically the Chinese version of a brunch, except it can also happen very early in the morning for some of the elderly folks, who go yum cha after their morning exercise.

What kind of dim sum is there?

The big three would be the quintessential Har Gaau 蝦餃, steamed shrimp dumplings which has served as an inspiration for a Salt-n-Pepper shaker set (Yes, it comes with a bamboo steamer) by Pinyin Press; Siu Mai 燒賣, a steamed open-ended dumpling of pork or shrimp, wrapped with an unmistakable yellow sheet of dough; and the Char Siu Bao 叉燒包, a fluffy white bun filled with barbecued pork, which is mostly steamed but sometimes glazed and baked. There are so many more like Spring Rolls, Fried Turnip Cake, Cheung Fun etc, the list is really endless, you can see a list on Wikipedia, but really just go and try them out!

So where to go for the traditional yum cha experience in Hong Kong?

*Dumpling Salt and Pepper Shakers - White*

City Hall Maxim’s Palace

Hong Kong City Hall, 2/F Low Block, Central

Maxim’s palace is one of the most famous traditional dim sum places, both a local and tourist hotspot. Here they still serve dim sum the traditional way, by pushing the food in trolleys around the restaurant. When you see what you like, just wave your hand for them to come over, give them the order paper to stamp on, in exchange for some fresh dim sum. Tip: Weekends are very busy - go early to secure a spot.

*Original Dim Sum Limited Edition Print - Block Printing* Technique

Lin Heung Teahouse

G/F 160-164 Wellington Street, Central

One of the oldest (if not the oldest) surviving Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong. The first one was opened in the 1880s, and it has changed hands and locations several times since then, but remains one of the biggest tourists attractions in Hong Kong. It doesn’t serve a broad selection of dim sum like Maxim’s Palace, but here you will find more hard-to-find traditional dishes that are no longer served in other places, like Pork Liver Siu Mai or Baked Fish Intestines in Egg. So some of the food here is more of an acquired taste. It’s also cramped, noisy and you may have to share a table. But local experience? Definitely.

*Mens Dim Sum Pattern Swim Shorts - Made from PET bottles*

Sun Hing Restaurant

Shop C, G/F, 8 Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town, Western District

This is less of an establishment and more of a hole-in-the-wall kind of place. The dim sum is excellent, cheap and the store is open until the wee hours in the morning. It’s a favorite with old-timers and LKF partyers who go there to fill a hole after a big night out. Go for their Egg Custard buns.

Of course, there are many other notable places like Tim Ho Wan, the Michelin recommended dim sum place (at local prices!), or free-flow dim sum at Dragon-I on Sundays. So grab a few foodie friends and have fun exploring! And if you want some dim sum to keep for a longer time, check out the dim sum design goods from our Qraftie sellers, they make great gifts and keepsakes for you and your special ones.

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November 2019