Dim SumThe classics of Cantonese yum cha
Dim sum (点心, diǎnxin in Mandarin) are the small dishes of Cantonese yum cha (饮茶, "drinking tea"): steamed baskets and small plates shared with tea in the morning or at lunch. Many English names come from Cantonese and some are plain translations; the pinyin below is Mandarin.
Dim Sum: the essential names
1. Har gow (shrimp dumplings)
Translucent steamed dumplings filled with whole shrimp — the test of a good dim sum chef.
2. Siu mai
Open-topped dumplings of pork and shrimp, often with a dot of orange roe on top.
3. Char siu bao (barbecue pork buns)
Fluffy steamed buns filled with sweet barbecue pork, split open at the top.
4. Cheung fun (rice noodle rolls)
Silky rolled rice sheets filled with shrimp, beef or char siu, served with sweet soy sauce.
5. Chicken feet ("phoenix claws")
Braised chicken feet in black bean sauce — soft, sticky and a dim sum classic. The poetic name means "phoenix claws".
6. Radish cake ("turnip cake")
A savoury cake of grated white radish (daikon) and rice flour with bits of sausage, pan-fried in slices. Often called "turnip cake" in English, though there is no turnip in it.
7. Egg tart
Flaky or shortcrust pastry filled with smooth egg custard, from Hong Kong and Macau.
8. Lo mai gai (sticky rice in lotus leaf)
Glutinous rice with chicken and mushroom, wrapped in a lotus leaf and steamed.
9. Spring rolls
Crispy fried rolls with vegetable or meat filling.
10. Ma lai go (steamed sponge cake)
A soft, light brown steamed sponge cake, sweet with brown sugar.
11. Molten custard buns
Steamed buns with a runny salted egg yolk custard that flows out when you bite.
12. Spare ribs in black bean sauce
Small pieces of pork rib steamed with fermented black beans and garlic.
Useful phrases
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 饮茶 | yǐn chá | English yum cha (going for dim sum) | Note Literally "drink tea". |
| 点心 | diǎnxin | English dim sum | Note |
| 喝什么茶？ | Hē shénme chá? | English Which tea would you like? | Note |
| 再来一笼虾饺。 | Zài lái yì lóng xiājiǎo. | English Another basket of har gow, please. | Note |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular dim sum dishes?
Har gow (虾饺), siu mai (烧卖), char siu bao (叉烧包), cheung fun (肠粉) and egg tarts (蛋挞) are on almost every dim sum menu.
Why are dim sum names different from the pinyin?
Dim sum comes from Cantonese, so the English names (har gow, siu mai) follow Cantonese. In Mandarin the same dishes are xiājiǎo and shāomài.