Dim sum is a cooking practice that has its roots in ancient China. Interpreted as "to touch the heart," dim sum has become an increasingly common option for a casual breakfast or lunch. An ever-present item in Chinese restaurants, dim sum are small portions of specialty food that are offered pushed on trays or carts which are handed over to your table by a server. The attraction of dim sum is that it can be enjoyed by everyone, between two people, to a larger gang of diners. Dim sum allows one to have a small taste from a choice of many dishes. Here are some tips to make the dim sum experience more comfortable for first timers.
Dim Sum Restaurant Selection
For those new to eating dim sum, it is best to check friends and travelers for the best places to eat dim sum. Here's a fact - no two dim sum restaurants are alike. Dim sum foodies tend to scour the place for the best, reserving the best places for special food trips. The maxim that 'the more crowded the restaurant, the better the food', seems to be the law in dim sum. Many restaurants serve dim sum throughout the day, while some only serve it in mornings, only on afternoons, or on weekends only. These restaurants can be very busy on the weekends so be prepared to wait for a table. Although restaurants offer somewhat similar dim sum samples, each will have it's own unique touch to the preparation and presentation. In like manner, a dim sum place may present specialty dishes that can be found nowhere else.
Dim Sum Waiter
Since restaurant servers hop from table to table pushing carts or carrying trays, a waiter is assigned for every table to attend to the tea or drink orders from the diners. On being seated, the waiter introduces himself and begins pouring tea or water for everyone. The waiter can also answer any question regarding pricing and to assist with containers to pack up leftovers.
Pricing of Dim Sum items
For those sampling their dim sum for the first time, probably the most confusing part concerns the pricing of the items. Usually, the menus do not list the prices for the items, and neither do the carts carry a hint of the pricing. Some locations may offer a general price chart near the door that lists prices by dish size such as small, medium, large, or specialty, but often do not indicate which food items are classified into each size group.
At the restaurant, diners are given a card, a brochure with boxes on it. As diners select food items, the server checks off the appropriate boxes to keep a tally of what has been ordered. When the customer is done eating, the card is then presented to the counter where the bill is issued. Unfortunately, it is difficult to calculate the bill total until it has been taken to the register. To have an idea of the prices, ask the server about the pricing for specific items. It's also a good idea to ask the cashier if tips and service charges are already included in bill.
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