Dim sum is a style of Chinese cuisine that involves small plates of savory and sweet foods, usually served with tea for breakfast or lunch. Some of the most common dim sum dishes include steamed or fried dumplings, buns, rice rolls, and plates of meat or vegetables. With so many options to choose from, what is the most popular dim sum dish overall?
The Origins and Styles of Dim Sum
Dim sum traces its origins back to the Silk Road, when traders would stop for small snacks and tea along their travels. The term “dim sum” itself means “to touch the heart” in Cantonese, referring to the small bite-sized portions. Dim sum restaurants started becoming popular in Hong Kong in the 1950s and 1960s as local teahouses began serving snacks to patrons.
Today, dim sum encompasses a huge variety of dishes, with influences from various Chinese culinary traditions. The major styles of dim sum include:
- Guangdong style – From the Guangdong province, features delicate dumplings, rice rolls, and fried sesame balls.
- Beijing style – From northern China, features hearty steamed buns, fried bread sticks, and egg tarts.
- Sichuan style – Spicy dishes from Sichuan including dan dan noodles and spicy wontons.
- Shanghai style – Delicate dumplings and stuffed buns featuring crab meat, pork, and soup fillings.
Each region of China has put its own spin on dim sum over the centuries. When Chinese immigrants brought dim sum to other parts of the world, the dishes continued evolving in new environments.
The Dim Sum Experience
Part of what makes dim sum so popular worldwide is the dining experience. Traditionally, servers roll carts of steaming hot dishes around the restaurant, and customers can pick and choose what they want as the carts come by. The small plate style of dining makes it easy to sample a variety of dishes and flavors. Modern dim sum restaurants may skip the carts, using menus and direct table service instead.
Another appeal of dim sum is the social atmosphere. Going out for dim sum is a casual affair, perfect for family get-togethers and chatting with friends over pots of tea. The meal typically takes place from morning to early afternoon.
Top Contenders for Most Popular Dish
When examining the question of the most popular dim sum dish globally, a few contenders stand out above the rest. Keeping in mind regional differences in dim sum style, here are some of the top dishes:
Siu Mai
These steamed open-topped dumplings filled with ground pork and shrimp are one of the most recognizable dim sum dishes. The pork and shrimp filling provides a pleasing blend of textures, and the dumplings can also contain varieties like chicken, crab meat, or vegetables. Siu mai are especially prominent in Guangdong and Shanghai-style dim sum.
Har Gow
Har gow are transparent shrimp dumplings filled with plump, whole shrimp. The translucent, thin skin allows the shrimp to shine as the star ingredient. The sweetness of the shrimp plays off nicely with the savory pork fat and bamboo shoot filling. Har gow take a delicate touch to make properly, requiring nimble fingers to pleat the dumpling skins. This Cantonese dish is a dim sum classic.
Char Siu Bao
Known as barbecue pork buns in English, these baked buns are filled with sweet Cantonese-style roasted pork. The char siu filling could also contain duck or chicken. The white, fluffy exterior perfectly contrasts with the sticky-sweet barbecue pork interior. Char siu bao make for great snacks on the go, and they can be found in dim sum restaurants worldwide.
Spring Rolls
Whether fried or fresh, spring rolls are a staple of dim sum. Filled with ingredients like shrimp, pork, and vegetables, spring rolls provide a satisfying crunch with each bite. The light wrapping keeps these rolls easy to eat and great for sharing. Spring rolls are featured in diverse regional dim sum cuisines from Shanghai to Sichuan.
Egg Tarts
No dim sum meal is complete without something sweet at the end. Egg tarts are classic Chinese pastries featiring a lusciously smooth egg custard in a flaky tart crust. The combination of the sweet filling and crumbly shell makes these tarts hard to stop eating. Egg tarts originated in Guangdong and Hong Kong before becoming popular worldwide.
Regional Favorites
While dishes like siu mai and char siu bao are beloved around the world, some dim sum items reign supreme in their regions of origin. Looking closer at favorite dishes in major dim sum hubs reveals local specialties.
Hong Kong
This glittering metropolis boasts endless options for dim sum. Diners flock to Hong Kong for delicacies like:
- Wu gok – Crispy taro dumplings
- Lo mai gai – Glutinous rice with chicken and mushrooms wrapped in a lotus leaf
- Pineapple bun – A sweet bun with a crunchy crackly topping, shaped like a pineapple
Guangzhou
The capital of Guangdong province, Guangzhou dim sum showcases both traditional dishes and modern fusion. Favorites include:
- Congee – Rice porridge served with side dishes like peanuts, pickled veggies, and roasted meats
- Cheung fun – Steamed rice noodles rolled with fillings
- Bao – Fluffy steamed buns with fillings like barbecued pork or sweet red bean paste
Shanghai
Shanghai dim sum chefs excel at delicate dumplings and buns. Must-try local Shanghai specialties are:
- Sheng jian bao – Pan-fried pork soup dumplings
- Xiaolongbao – The famous soup-filled Shanghai soup dumplings
- Smoked fish and shrimp shrimp with rice vermicelli in bamboo pith
Beijing
As the capital of China, Beijing dim sum incorporates influences from around the nation. Standout Beijing dishes include:
- Jiaozi – Housemade dumplings filled with pork, cabbage, and scallions
- Cha shao bing – Barbecue pork pockets
- Miancha – Steamed fermented millet porridge
Vancouver
With a large Cantonese population, Vancouver boasts some of the best dim sum outside Asia. Creative offerings include:
- Lotus leaf rice with chicken feet in black bean sauce
- Deep fried squid tentacles
- Raindrop cake – A modern jiggly cake with a light sweet flavor
Trends Shaping Current Dim Sum Popularity
Several factors drive which dim sum dishes are currently surging or declining in popularity worldwide:
Increased Appreciation for Authenticity
Diners today have greater access to information about traditional ingredients and cooking techniques. There is more interest in seeking out classic dim sum dishes made with time-honored methods over modern fusion items.
Rise of Foodie Culture
People want to explore and share new adventurous foods on social media. Offbeat dim sum items like chicken feet attract foodies looking for photogenic dishes.
Focus on Quality Over Quantity
Diners pay more attention to sourcing and quality when it comes to dim sum ingredients. They want carefully crafted items made sustainably with ethical, high-end ingredients.
Creative Fusions
While diners enjoy traditional items, they also seek out fusion dishes that put new spins on dim sum. Creative mashups like Korean-Chinese dumplings attract customer interest.
Appetite for Regional Specialties
People travel more than ever before, allowing them to taste beloved regional dim sum specialties firsthand. They look for these hard-to-find dishes at home.
Rise of Vegan Dim Sum
With more people adopting plant-based diets, vegan dim sum has grown in popularity. Expect dishes made with mock meats, vital wheat gluten, and vegetables like jackfruit.
Dim Sum Dishes Losing Favor
On the flip side, a few dim sum classics seem to be declining based on current food ways:
- Jellyfish – The texture turns off some younger diners
- Chicken feet – Seen as more of an adventurous food
- Shark fin soup – Controversial due to unsustainable shark fishing
Dishes that seem outdated or rely on hard-to-source ingredients may slowly fade away from dim sum menus. However, traditions stay alive in regions where these foods remain everyday favorites.
The Worldwide Dim Sum Dining Scene
Dim sum’s global reach continues expanding as people everywhere discover the joys of yum cha. Here’s a snapshot of dim sum trends across major cities worldwide:
| City | Popular dishes | Dining trends |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | Har gow, lo mai gai, pineapple buns | Modern interpretations of classics |
| London | Siu mai, char siu bao, egg tarts | Classic Cantonese with British flair |
| Los Angeles | Xiaolongbao, BBQ pork buns, shrimp rice noodle rolls | Focus on Shanghai-style |
| Sydney | Steamed BBQ pork buns, cheung fun, crispy pork belly | Australian fusion dishes |
| Singapore | Chicken feet, chee cheong fun, carrot cake | Lap cheong sausages, local flavors |
| Toronto | Congee, potstickers, egg tarts | Northern Chinese inspired |
The Top Dim Sum Dishes Around the World
After considering all of the above factors – global availability, regional popularity, food trends, and more – what tops the list as the most popular dim sum dishes worldwide?
The top 5 contenders are:
- Siu Mai – These quintessential steamed pork and shrimp dumplings take the top spot for ubiquity, nostalgia, and versatility. The blend of textures and flavors is hard to improve upon!
- Char Siu Bao – No one can resist the pillowy steamed buns filled with Chinese BBQ pork. Char siu bao satisfies meat lovers and carb lovers alike.
- Har Gow – Har gow show off the craftsmanship of dim sum with their delicate pleated wrappers and plump shrimp. You’ll find these shrimp dumplings on every continent.
- Egg Tarts – Buttery, flaky crust with silky egg custard filling – what’s not to love about this classic pastry? Egg tarts enchant people of all ages.
- Xiaolongbao – Although beloved in Shanghai, these soupy pork dumplings now rank among the world’s favorite dim sum. The flavorful broth inside takes them over the top.
Conclusion
Dim sum’s diversity makes ranking dishes by popularity no easy task. People’s preferences vary by region, culture, and personal tastes. However, some timeless dim sum classics stand out for their crave-ability and ability to delight people across the globe. Dumplings like siu mai and har gow, steamed buns like char siu bao, and sweets like egg tarts seem to have universal appeal. As dim sum continues evolving in the 21st century, these dishes likely won’t fall out of favor any time soon.
So next time you visit a dim sum spot, look for some of these greatest hits. Try them in different restaurants and regions for a taste of local flavors and traditions. With so many varieties to choose from, there’s always more dim sum to explore and savor, one small plate at a time.
