The Ultimate Dim Sum Menu Guide
Are you headed to the dim sum restaurant? This is your complete guide to help you have a great meal with your friends and family.
The sort of dim sum served in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia originated in Hong Kong during the 1950s. The vast restaurants filled with rolling carts and a cacophony of voices so familiar to diners in the West take their inspiration from Hong Kong dim sum parlors where families gathered regularly to drink tea, play mahjong and catch up with friends.
You’re very likely to find all of the dim sum selections pictured below at the restaurant you’ve chosen. These are the traditional dishes that originated from Guangdong Province, timeless favorites with plenty of options for both newcomers and regulars alike.
This menu guide is divided into sections for steamed items, fried and baked offerings, noodles and other specialties and desserts. Each entry includes a picture to help you identify the dish, a detailed description, the pronunciation in Cantonese, the Chinese characters for the English name and a link to additional information.
Bookmark this page on your smartphone, then take advantage of these other resources we’ve designed to enhance your meal:
- What is Dim Sum? A Beginner’s Guide
- The Best Teas for Dim Sum
- The Best Dim Sum Restaurants in the United States
- Free Downloadable Dim Sum Menu Guide
We hope this guide helps you enjoy a delicious dim sum meal with your friends or family! Comment below with any questions.
Steamed Dishes
Steamed Sausage Rolls
Description: Savory Chinese sausages wrapped in sweet pastry dough and steamed.
Translation: Djing Lahp Cheung Goon
More about Steamed Sausage Rolls >>
Steamed Soup Dumplings
Description: Dumplings filled with pork, crab meat and broth.
Translation: Siu Luhng Bao
More about Steamed Soup Dumplings >>
Shrimp Dumplings
Description: Whole shrimp in a translucent wrapper.
Translation: Har Gow
More about Shrimp Dumplings >>
Pork Siu Mai
Description: Open-topped dumplings filled with ground pork and shrimp.
Translation: Siu Mai
More about Pork Siu Mai >>
Steamed Pork Ribs
Description: Pork rib tips steamed with whole black beans and oil.
Translation: Pai Gwut
More about Steamed Pork Ribs >>
Steamed Chicken Feet
Description: Chewy chicken feet that are fried, marinated and steamed.
Translation: Fong Djau
More about Steamed Chicken Feet >>
Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf
Description: Pork, chicken, sausage and mushrooms wrapped in a lotus leaf.
Translation: Nor Mai Gai
More about Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf >>
Steamed Pork Buns
Description: BBQ pork wrapped in sweet dough and steamed.
Translation: Djing Char Siu Bao
More about Steamed Pork Buns >>
Fried & Baked Dishes
Baked Pork Buns
Description: BBQ pork wrapped in sweet dough and baked.
Translation: Gohk Char Siu Bao
More about Baked Pork Buns >>
BBQ Pork Puffs
Description: BBQ pork wrapped in puff pastry.
Translation: Char Siu Soh
More about BBQ Pork Puffs >>
Glutinous Rice Dumplings
Description: Savory pork and shrimp in a sweet glutinous rice shell.
Translation: Hom Sui Gok
More about Glutinous Rice Dumplings >>
Taro Root Dumplings
Description: Crunchy mashed taro filled with ground pork and shrimp.
Translation: Wu Gohk
More about Taro Root Dumplings >>
Pan Fried Turnip Cake
Description: Grated turnip with dried shrimp and Chinese sausage.
Translation: Lohr Bahk Go
More about Pan Fried Turnip Cake >>
Fried Sticky Rice
Description: Glutinous rice with dried shrimps, scallops and mushrooms.
Translation: Nor Mai Fahn
More about Fried Sticky Rice >>
Stuffed Eggplant
Description: Chinese eggplant filled with ground shrimp in XO sauce.
Translation: Djeen Yeung Cay Djee
More about Stuffed Eggplant >>
Spring Rolls
Description: A thin, crispy wrapper with shrimp and vegetables inside.
Translation: Cheun Goon
More about Spring Rolls >>
Noodles & Special Dishes
Shrimp Noodle Rolls
Description: Shrimp wrapped in a rice noodle sheet with soy sauce.
Translation: Har Cheung
More about Shrimp Noodle Rolls >>
Beef Noodle Rolls
Description: Minced beef wrapped in a rice noodle sheet with soy sauce.
Translation: Ngau Cheung
More about Beef Noodle Rolls >>
Chinese Donut Noodle Rolls
Description: A fried cruller wrapped in a rice noodle sheet with soy sauce.
Translation: Dja Leung
More about Chinese Donut Noodle Rolls >>
Dried Shrimp Scallion Noodle Rolls
Description: Dried shrimp wrapped in a rice noodle sheet with soy sauce.
Translation: Chung Fah Har Mai Cheung
More about Dried Shrimp Scallion Noodle Rolls >>
Clams in Black Bean Sauce
Description: Whole clams stir fried in black bean sauce.
Translation: See Djup Chow Dai Heen
More about Clams in Black Bean Sauce >>
Steamed Beef Tripe
Description: Springy tripe with chopped garlic and black bean paste.
Translation: Ngau Paak Yip
More about Steamed Beef Tripe >>
BBQ Pork Noodle Rolls
Description: BBQ pork wrapped in a rice noodle sheet with soy sauce.
Translation: Char Siu Cheung
More about BBQ Pork Noodle Rolls >>
Garlic Pea Sprouts
Description: Tender pea greens steamed in chicken stock.
Translation: Soon Yung Dai Dou Miu
More about Garlic Pea Sprouts >>
Dessert Dishes
Deep Fried Egg Puffs
Description: Deep fried egg dough sprinkled with sugar.
Translation: Djah Daan Cao
More about Deep Fried Egg Puffs >>
Deep Fried Twisted Egg Puffs
Description: Deep fried egg dough knots drizzled with honey.
Translation: Djah Daan Sahn
More about Deep Fried Twisted Egg Puffs >>
Egg Tarts
Description: A flaky pastry crust filled with creamy egg custard.
Translation: Daan Taat
More about Egg Tarts >>
Fried Sesame Balls
Description: Fried dough covered with sesame seeds and filled with a sweet red bean paste.
Translation: Djeen Dui
More about Fried Sesame Balls >>
Steamed Sesame Balls
Description: Glutinous rice balls filled with ground sesame paste.
Translation: Loh Sah Tong Yuen
More about Steamed Sesame Balls >>
Sponge Cake
Description: A simple steamed cake made of eggs, sugar and flour.
Translation: Mah Lai Goh
More about Sponge Cake >>
Mango Pudding
Description: A rich pudding made from mangos, evaporated milk and sugar.
Translation: Heuhng Mong Dung Boh Deen
More about Mango Pudding >>
Sweet Tofu
Description: Silky tofu in a sweet syrup made from ginger and rock sugar.
Translation: Dow Fu Fah
More about Sweet Tofu >>
HT: Photo by Passion Dim Sum.