Hong Kong’s Yum Cha: A review/excuse to showcase the best Dim Sum ever

As with many things Chinese, Dim Sum and Yum Cha has traditions. But dining at Yum Cha in Hong Kong delivers those traditions with a twist. 

If you want some supremely tasty dumplings and bao, without tackling the rigid traditions of Chinese culture all in one go… Yum Cha is where you need to be. 

Adorable? Exciting? Photogenic? Fun? I mean, tea is nice; but who can refuse a characterised bao! 

The Chinese culture of Yum Cha

Yum cha is a much loved ritual that dates back to the 10^th century during the Sung Dynasty. Evidence of enterprising stall holders setting themselves up along main roads in Chinas expanding empire to serve weary travelers a cup of tea and light snacks. 

The translation of ‘Yum Cha’ is Cantonese and it literally means “drink tea”.  But, it can also be known as going for dim sum.  

What is Dim Sum? 

The term ‘dim sum‘ refers to a Cantonese style of dishes prepared in small, almost bite-sized portions.Dim sum is typically eaten over a long brunch and served with tea. 

Dim Sum dishes can be prepared in a number of ways (steamed, baked or fried) and can be either savoury or sweet. 

Dumplings are often the most iconic and associated dim sum delicacy, but there is so much more. Buns, wraps, puff tarts, noodle rolls and puddings all feature in dim sum too.

And as if that is not already reason enough to rush out and try dim sum; the linguistic origins definitely are. ‘Dim sum’ (??) literally translates to ‘touch the heart’. 

The (highly recommended) Yum Cha menu

You couldn’t get a much more creative menu. Every dish is instgarammable. 

(Ps. I’m slightly concerned on reflection in posting these recommendations as we do take it seriously… And that means we have tried them all. But hey; we did go twice!). 

1. BBQ Piggy Buns

These are a typical Cantonese dim sum dish that is often served with yum cha. In mainstream settings, these would be known as cha siu bao. Here, these pillowy white bao are barbecue-pork-filled buns shaped like cute little cartoons piglets. 

2. Hot Custard Buns

Theres no other way to describe these molten hot custard buns but as bao that look like perfectly orange emoji faces. Liu sha bao; in case you need their maiden name, are the dim sum equivalent of molten chocolate cake.

Be careful taking too big a bite… These need a warning in deliciousness to equal the overflow of hot yolky lava that is about to burst out. (I mean, obviously, these were another dish thoughtfully ordered on our second visit, for the kids…). 

[The truth? We didn’t actually order liu sha bao on our first visit to Yum Cha. But the boys excitement at what we had ordered was contagious right around the restaurant. Two ladies at the table next to us were so taken by their squeals of joy that they insisted we try these too. Xie xie!].

3. Green Tea Custard Buns 

Tiny green bites of sweet heaven. These are the brothers of the orange liu sha bao and it wouldn’t be fair to leave without trying them too.

4. Shrimp Rolls

A fancy sounding dish of prawns in a crunchy coating covered with sesame. (Psst – order this one post filling the kids up on bao! All the more for the adults…). 

5. Steamed Cabbage and Pork Buns

If you’re debating the validity of ordering cabbage for kids, don’t doubt these. (There’s no boring boiled cabbage here).  These are a fun little faces with topped with pork floss mimicking a fairly assigned wild hair. 

6. Dragon Beard Kale

This just sounds exciting! A tastier version of non-bearded kale, served with chilli and garlic for extra flavour.

7. Watermelon, Chocolate and Matcha Desserts

The desserts at Yum Cha are next level! The dry ice with chocolate ice cream balls probably takes the cake. But watermelon jellies and sago pudding are not far behind…

Expert tip: (From some newly churffed-to-be-experts here)… Most dim dum dishes are served in sets of three. So plan ahead when ordering to make the most of sharing. 

The restaurant 

Walking in the restaurant is a modern humble. I’m talking chic décor meets art deco Asia with stylings of grey and perfectly considered splashes of egg blue and shades of green. Its enticing and relaxing. But don’t expect solidity and a place to recluse and sip your tea. Yum Cha is popular. 

It’s popular in Hong Kong. But it’s social media reach crosses continents. In other words, it has the perfect combination of niche. Popular with locals and curious tourists like us. And of course it’s a magnet for those wanting to rank in Instagram with the cutest of piglet style dumplings. Patrons sit poised to take a photo at any given moment. And you honestly can’t blame them. 

Experiencing Yum Cha Hong Kong with kids

The theory behind our style of dining at Yum Cha in Hong Kong is surprisingly more crafty than one might expect as first timers in this Asian city state…

But in this instance, trust me. Techniques for dining at Yum Cha with kids comes down to good old parenting savvy. Fill the kids up on bao and buns (they won’t refuse. Look at them!) and then order the shrimp rolls and crab roe sesame spinach. They’ll be too full to even disturb your indulgence. 

And desert? It’s a winner in all our books!

The truth about Yum Cha though? It’s cute, and it’s tasty. Instagrammble even. But theres no point trying to pretend it’s just a treat for the kids. I’ve got a 6’2” tattooed husband from New Zealand who was just as excited about spewing orange bao buns and the excuse to eat enough bamboo baskets of dim sum to claim himself a fan too. 

Find Yum Cha in Hong Kong

Tsim Sha Tsui
3/F 20-22 Granville Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon 

Central 
2/F Nan Fung Place
173 Des Voeux Road, Central Hong Kong 

In conclusion (why you need to go)

Just say I was reviewing Yum Cha for a famous international cuisines magazine (on request of course). I would describe Yum Cha as a fun and modern twist on timeless tradition. Albeit your camera eats first (that’s agreed). But in all honestly, Yum Cha is the complete Dim Sum experience that will delight the senses, and more importantly; the whole family. 

Have you been to Hong Kong’s Yum Cha? I hope my review/excuse to showcase the best Dim Sum ever has tempted you!

More useful links for your travels in East Asia and beyond…

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

• Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally. 
• Hostelworld– The largest inventory of hostel accommodation in the world. 
• Skyscanner – This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.  
• GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
• SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country. 
• World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). 

Read more about travel in East Asia

• The ultimate travel guide for Japan with kids.
• Fushimi Inari Shrine: Walking up Mount Inari.
• Taiwan with kids: A complete Travel Guide.
• Visiting Taroko Gorge, Taiwan.
• Taiwanese food: The real deal traveling in Taiwan.
• Visiting Busan’s Jagalchi Market, South Korea.
• Hong Kong: Mount Davis (accidentally) and the Monster Building.