Dim Sum Item Carts

Dim Sum is a culinary practice that can be traced back to ancient Cantonese origins. Translated as “to touch the heart,” Dim Sum has become an increasingly popular option for a casual breakfast or lunch. Offered in many authentic Chinese restaurants, Dim Sum consists of small portions of specialty foods that are offered on carts or trays that are brought to your table by a server. Part 1 of this series offered tips and suggestions regarding restaurant selection and pricing. Part 2 will provide an introduction to food items as well as offer other helpful tips.

Dim Sum Item Carts
Although there are a variety of items to choose from, many Dim Sum restaurants have basic staples. From experience, one cart usually contains a variety of dumplings that are each uniquely prepared. The dumplings are usually filled with pork or shrimp and steamed in a special casing. A separate cart contains small portions of dishes including spare ribs, squid, tripe, and chicken feet. These items can take some getting accustomed to, but may be worth sampling.

Many diners have a soft spot for fried foods and there is a cart that caters to patrons who likes things crunchy. This cart contains items such as deep fried shrimp balls, shrimp wrapped crab claws, and egg rolls along with other fried items. Other items include sticky rice, sticky buns, turnip cake, fried taro, and stuffed rice noodles. Many locations also serve soup or congee. One thing that is very apparent is the lack of vegetable based dishes. Fortunately, many restaurants will off some type of vegetable dish such as Chinese broccoli. (Jacob Seykans - suite 101)

See also:
Hanamasa
Soto