When many people in America hear the words dim sum, they may picture a Chinese restaurant filled with small bamboo baskets, carts carrying dozens of different dishes, and families gathering around a large table. While this is certainly one beautiful part of dim sum culture, my memories of dim sum began in a much simpler way.
When I was young, dim sum was not always a big restaurant experience. In some neighborhoods, there were small stands or little shops that specialized in just one or two kinds of dim sum. You might find a place selling only siu mai (烧卖), xiaolongbao (小笼包), or steamed dumplings (蒸饺).
On my way to work, I would often stop by and pick up a small portion for breakfast. Sometimes there was a nearby shop selling warm soy milk (豆浆), making it an easy and satisfying morning meal. These small dim sum shops added more variety to everyday breakfasts and made mornings a little more enjoyable.
Of course, there are also traditional dim sum restaurants where people sit down, drink tea, and enjoy many different kinds of dishes together. This is the experience many people are familiar with — yum cha (饮茶), or “drinking tea,” where friends and family gather around the table, order several small plates, and share everything.
One thing I find interesting after coming to America is that I rarely see small street-side shops selling only one or two types of dim sum. Here, dim sum is usually connected with a full-service Chinese restaurant experience. But I think the idea behind dim sum has something that fits perfectly with American dining too.
Dim sum is made for sharing. Each dish comes in a small portion, which means everyone at the table can try many different flavors instead of ordering only one meal for themselves. It turns eating into a social experience — choosing dishes together, passing plates around, discovering new flavors, and enjoying the conversation.
Perhaps that is the true charm of dim sum. It is not only about the food. It is about connection, sharing, and the joy of enjoying many little bites together.
Whether it is a quick breakfast from a small shop, a weekend tea gathering with friends, or a family meal around a restaurant table, dim sum brings people together one small dish at a time.