What is Dim Sum?
To some, it’s the ties that help bring the family together and to others, it’s the occasional food that brings warmth to their souls. According to the Internet, Dim Sum is a “small plated food that is best enjoyed in the company of others with a side of tea”. You should #NeverDimSumAlone - if you’re ever feeling lonely and in need of a friend, we’re here for you!
If it’s your first meal at a Dim Sum restaurant, we’ll be sharing with you the tips for ordering the ideal dishes and ensuring you have the right etiquette. Come inside with us~
Depending on the restaurant, you might see different methods for how the food is being served. One may be on an order-basis while another requires you to step up to the counter and select one to be brought. The place we’ll be visiting today is Min Kok Restaurant where the Dim Sum is brought around the room in a trolley. You’ll have to call the server and choose the dishes you want. Afterward, they will tick off the amount on your order list that will make payment easier at the end of the meal.
So, now you have a plethora of Dim Sum dishes for your choosing. Do you know the difference between the plates and baskets? Once again, we’re here to save you. Here are the types of Dim Sum you can typically find at any Chinese restaurant that serves it:
1. Steamed Dim Sum
(Source: chinasichuanfood.com)
These dishes are commonly cooked in a stackable bamboo basket and served that way but some are cooked in the larger version so when they appear on your table, it’s already served on a plate. There are many types of steamed dim sum and regulars tend to have their favorites in mind when they order. Most of the dim sum uses the technique of having a filling that is wrapped with dumpling pastry, buns or a lotus leaf wrap.
The most famous one right now is Soup Dumplings, Xiao Long Bao, which is a steamed dumpling filled with minced meat (chicken, beef or pork) and a somewhat gelatinous version of a meat broth. The reason for the latter is so that once you cook it, it will turn to soup and be a pleasure to eat. Be cautious when eating this - you have to place it in a spoon, poke a hole to let out the soup, drink it and let it cool slightly before finally eating it. A friend of ours was too excited that he actually burned his tongue by gobbling it up in one bite.
Some other variations of dumplings wrapped in pastry are Shrimp Dumplings known as Har Gaw, Siu Mai, and Vegetable Dumplings. As for the buns (Bao), we will always grab the Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao) or the Salted Egg Yolk Buns (Liu Sha Bao) - it’s very filling so if you plan to order it, be modest and limit the quantity or consider sharing with others. Besides eating in restaurants, buns are excellent for a quick snack during your commute.
(Source: tasteasianfood.com)
Lastly in the steamed sections are the more unique choices - Loh Mai Gai which is glutinous rice with savory selections wrapped in a lotus leaf wrap. Another one is Chicken Feet (Ji Jiao) typically cooked in a spicy sauce; it’s not easily liked because some people are intimidated by the tiny fingers. It wouldn’t be a Chinese Cuisine if there wasn’t a rice noodle-based dish in Dim Sum and the most well-known name is Chee Cheong Fun - a rice noodle roll with a filling of either pork, shrimp, beef or vegetables.
2. Fried / Baked Dim Sum
(Source: uprootkitchen.com)
The next variation involves the process of either frying or baking the food. Firstly, is the Char Siu So which is basically a pork pastry roll. The succulence of pork really balances the crispness of the pastry in this dish and although not as popular as other dishes, remains a nostalgic memory to some. Another fried dim sum is the Rice Dumpling also called Ham Sui Gok - the inside can be rather sticky so make sure to eat it slowly to avoid choking on it. It’s truly a good mix of soft and firm. Another classic would be spring rolls. Definitely a nostalgic dish by people of all ages.
3. Desserts
So, in Chinese cuisine, a cake isn’t the “typical” dessert at Dim Sum restaurants, but they do have pastry-based dishes like Egg Tarts - a custard sweetness with a golden-brown crust that instantly gives you a boost after the many savory dishes. If you’re looking for a more refreshing or smooth dessert, you can still find such in the restaurant in the forms of Fruit Puddings as well as Tau Fu Fah, a Tofu Pudding famous in Malaysia especially around Perak and Negeri Sembilan. It glides in your mouth and is the perfect way to end the meal.
Now that you know the large variety of Dim Sum choices at your average Chinese restaurants, time to understand how to make the most of your experience. Something to take note is that you should always take small bites of the food - to avoid burning your mouth and to properly enjoy the food. In some cultures, it’s also rude to completely stuff yourself with a large dumpling, preventing you from chewing easily or talking.
Another tip would be to try the dish on its own first before you add that bit of soy sauce or chili. You should also never over-order your first round of Dim Sum - you might think you can finish it all because it’s small pieces but it will collectively fill you up before you can finish that third-to-last bite.
Lastly, you should avoid ordering adventurous drinks and instead, enjoy a cup of warm tea. Personally, we would recommend for you to order a black tea like Pu’er or a white tea like Chrysanthemum, maybe even try a mixture of both. It’s a very gentle way of cleansing your palate in between Dim Sums.
Congratulations! You have finished reading OUR guide to fully enjoying Dim Sum at your common Chinese restaurant. If you’re still looking for a place to visit and try such delicacies, come on over to Min Kok Restaurant in Seremban where you can enjoy all of the above and more! Though make sure to bring a companion because you should #NeverDimSumAlone.
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