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GeoExpat  Lifestyle Bars and Restaurants Dim Sum Restaurants in Hong Kong
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Dim Sum Restaurants in Hong Kong |
Steamed, sautéed, deep-fried or served in stock, what’s your favourite dim sum? There are just too many ways for these classic Hong Kong delicacies to touch your heart (as the name ‘dim sum’ suggests in Cantonese). Dim sum devotee Carmen To makes some recommendations.
To enjoy quality yum cha time with your favourite dim sum and a pot of steaming tea, you have to identify the best dim sum places in town. With such a vast variety of restaurants, that’s easier said than done.
Cha siu bao: barbecued pork buns
Cha siu so: baked barbecued pork pastry
Cheong fun: steamed rice rolls (with various fillings such as prawns, beef, barbecued pork, and more)
Chun kuen: spring rolls
Dan tart: baked egg tarts
Har gau: steamed prawn dumplings with a light translucent wrap
Har kok: deep-fried prawn dumplings
Lou mei gai: glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaf
Ngau yuk: steamed beef balls
Siu mai: steamed pork dumplings |
The Chinese restaurants I recommend here have witnessed the evolution of Hong Kong, for good or bad. Through these changes, some of them have managed to hold onto their traditions and some have moved with the times. But the dim sum stays for as long as the diners keep coming back.
I have always had respect for the oldies and to start with, Lin Heung Lau (蓮香樓) and Luk Yu Tea House (陸羽茶室) are real classics. When I sit in either of these two places, sipping my tea, I feel like I could almost be living in the time of my grandparents and their peers. For years, these tea houses have stood here in spite of all odds and, like a time machine, they allow you a glimpse of life in the olden days. Lin Heung Lau, with its outdated décor and regular local customers, still uses the traditional method of tea service. Instead of having a teapot, you will be given a teacup with which to wash and soak the leaves, letting the pleasing aroma of Chinese tea linger in the air. Luk Yu, on the other hand, was a middle-class teahouse in the past and it still attracts a number of celebrities today. Their techniques of dim sum making are inherited from previous generations and the tastes are exceptional. Although the service might not be as welcoming as you may expect, they are definitely worth your time.
West Villa Restaurant (西苑酒家) serves up its famous ma cha. This is the original Tibetan Lamaists’ snack: deep-fried crispy shortening with walnuts and shredded coconut on top. And if you like shark fin dumpling in stock, then you should go to North Point Fung Shing Restaurant (北角鳳城酒家) to satisfy your craving.
If you want to get closer to the local Hong Kong people and test your taste buds with mixed recipes, both traditional and contemporary, you can visit any branch of the Tao Heung Super 88 Restaurant Group (稻香集團). You can indulge in dim sum which is sometimes so fresh and hot that it might burn your lips. The prices are reasonable. Even though the Causeway Bay branch is the most popular, I would recommend the one in Heng Fa Chuen (further east on the MTR’s blue line), which will save you a lot of time in the queue. Try the turnip cake, barbecued pork pastries or spring rolls. You will love the contrasting textures of crispy shells and tender contents. It’s yummy!
Zen in Admiralty is a restaurant which attracts a lot of fussy eaters. With its emphasis on food quality and bright airy décor, you might fall in love with its modern Cantonese menu. You shouldn’t miss the deep-fried chicken with walnuts and Yunnan ham. Trust me on this one.
To enjoy your meal in luxurious surroundings, you can try Dim Sum in Happy Valley or, even better, T’ang Court at the Langham Hotel in TST. Dim Sum serves food as art in a cosy Shanghai-style ambience. Come as early as 11:45 in the morning to be sure of a seat in this popular dim sum spot. You should go for the steamed barbecued buns and shrimp dumplings. T’ang Court has won some of the best Chinese culinary awards – it has even been cited as one of the ‘World’s Ten Great Hotel Restaurants’ – so it should receive your dim sum seal of approval.
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