I thought I might as well start off with a little story and description on Dim Sum – a typical way to spend your brunch-time on a weekend when suffering from another massive hangover caused by a drinking frenzy in Soho, Wanchai, LKF or Knutsford Terrace, or a wonderful choice when having lunch with your colleagues and business partners. Dim Sum is not a dish – Dim Sum, or “Yum Cha” is the Hong Kong way to enjoy the delicacies as offered by the Guangdong and Shanghainese cuisines. This includes the tea, which will always be on the table during such a feast. The most common teas taken with your food are Jasemine, Chrysanthemum, Pu-Erh or some random house brand green. A lot of people will use the opportunity to have their hair of the dog cure take plain hot water as a drink, which is very common all over China (I know: “HK is not China”, “one country – two systems”, etc. – point taken, la!) Dim Sum means something like “touch your heart”, and I can promise you that it is a really nice and pleasant way to have your food.
Dim Sum parlours are huge restaurants that most of the time can easily handle 150+ food lovers at a time. Imagine an open area restaurant setting with round tables that seat approximately eight to ten people. The number eight itself is a very important figure for the auspicious Chinese and Hong Kongnese citizen (oh yes: there truly is a big difference, folks). It is common, that most of the prices will have an “8″ at the end. So you can never go wrong by ordering eight dishes. But try to avoid ordering an odd number of items – there is always another treat to be found on the menu. Ordering might prove to be difficult, every now and then. A friend of mine and me ended up having a look at the small bamboo baskets in the kitchen, one day. There was simply no chance to communicate with the waiters so we made our way towards the kitchen using an interesting form of sign language. A big improvement for me came along, when I found the “Dim Sum Guide”, as available on the site of the Hong Kong tourism board.
There are of course a lot more choices available than given in this over-view, but it will definitely be a good help for no clue gweilos like me when I arrived newbies. If you wanna be on the safe side, just ask if they have an English menu, before being seated. But I believe most of you will agree, that it is more fun to explore those places without an easy to understand menu. Another good little helper is a small pocket book, which gives a comprehensive over-view about the most famous Dim Sum varieties. You shall be able to find it easily. Just browse the displays at bookshop cashiers (@Dymocks i.e.) and look for a reddish pocket size book. 
Some must tries/signature dishes:
- Fluffy pork buns (Char Siu Bau)
- Shanghainese soup filled dumplings (Shiao Loong Bao)
- Steamed rice flour rolls, available with different fillings (Cheung Fan)
- Steamed shrimp dumpling (Ha Gau)
- Taro cake
- Deep fried Wontons with Shrimp (Tsa Wonton)
- Deep fried Squid (Tsa Jau Ju)
- Egg tarts and chilled Mango pudding for dessert.
Some recommendations for Dim Sum places from my end:
Luk Yu Tea House – 24, Stanley Street – Central:
One of the places which are considered as “traditional”. Kind of overpriced, but well worth going for tourists or if you have visitors in town. Interior design is a simple/traditional/classy Chinese. Waiters are as rude as they can get, and do not expect any support for gweilos. Always look around your neighbouring tables to find some daily specials, which will not be in the menu. To have the full expereince it is useful to have a native speaker with you. It shall help to discover the little gems, we are all looking for. Food is outstanding!
Maxim’s Palace in HK City Hall (go in and make your way upstairs, ask the info counter for help, if you like):
Maxim’s is a restaurant/bakery chain in HK. This is sort of their “flagship store”. Huge place with a minimum waiting time of 15 minutes, if you go on a week-end, during the “rush hour”, between ten in the morning and noon. Kind of overpriced, but a very nice place to take visitors, so they can enjoy the scenic view of Victoria Harbour. Ideal start point to explore HK Central by foot, as well. One of the few places where waiters are still running around with push carts. A very convenient way to choose your favourites. The waiter will stop at your table and show the treats. Ordering by menu is possible, of course. Nice selection of fresh fruit juices, which are a nice alternative add on to the tea. Nice selection of sweets, too. Food is well above average!
Lin Heung Tea House – 160, wellington Road – Central:
I usually try to find new places all the time, but this is a joint, that I visit regularly. My favourite. The place exists since 1918 and seems to be a favourite hotspot for the elderly HK island crowd. Every time I go, it is packed with senior citizens enjoying their food, tea, newspapers and chats. Food is available from push carts and tea/hot water is served out of huge metallic tea pots. Sort of difficult to describe the spot – just go for your own experience. Expect 5-15 minutes waiting time on week-ends. Do not wait to be seated, just go in and see who is leaving, or if there might be a table that you can join. Dishes that can be found here, might be hard to find in other places. Food is outstanding!
entrance lin heung
I am off for lunch!
