How to order dim sum in Guangzhou
Morning tea, or yum cha, is the meal Guangzhou is most proud of. Here is how it works, with the Chinese names to point at.
How it works
- Choose your tea first. Staff will ask what tea you want. Pu’er (普洱) and jasmine (香片) are safe choices. A small tea charge per person is normal.
- Tick the order sheet or scan the QR code. Many restaurants have a paper sheet with dishes in Chinese. Others use a QR code on the table. Show staff the names below if you get stuck.
- Order in rounds. Dishes come in small baskets of three or four pieces, so order a few, then order more.
- Want more hot water? Leave the teapot lid tilted open or resting on the handle. Staff will refill it.
- Say thanks without words. When someone pours you tea, tap two fingers on the table. It is a local way of saying thank you.
Dishes to know
| Dish | Chinese | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Shrimp dumplings | 虾饺 | Har gow. Translucent wrappers around whole shrimp. The classic test of a dim sum kitchen. |
| Pork and shrimp dumplings | 烧卖 | Siu mai. Open-topped, often with a dot of roe. |
| Barbecued pork buns | 叉烧包 | Char siu bao. Fluffy steamed buns with sweet roast pork. |
| Rice noodle rolls | 肠粉 | Cheung fun. Silky rolls with shrimp, beef or fried dough, dressed with sweet soy. |
| Molten custard buns | 流沙包 | Lau sa bao. Salted-egg custard that runs when you bite. Careful, it is hot. |
| Turnip cake | 萝卜糕 | Lo bak go. Pan-fried squares of radish and rice flour. |
| Chicken feet | 凤爪 | Fung zao. Braised in black bean sauce. Loved locally, an adventure for many visitors. |
| Egg tarts | 蛋挞 | Dan tat. Flaky pastry and wobbly custard, usually the last order. |
Where to try it near the fair
Near the fair, Star River Bay Xingjing and Bingsheng Pinwei, both in the Pazhou business district, serve dim sum at lunch. See restaurants near the fair for addresses, hours and prices.
Go early. Popular places fill up quickly from about 10:00 on weekends.