Dim sum is a popular form of Chinese cuisine, particularly in Guangdong province and Hong Kong. The dim sum are usually prepared small portion in the steamer baskets and on the plates. The traditional way of Yum Cha, which means drinking the tea in Cantonese, includes having the tea and dim sum as a Chinese style brunch. In the local teahouses in Guangdong province and Hong Kong, people can order food by looking at the carts with dim sum in it. The carts will be served around and people can just take whatever they want. People treat having dim sum in the mornings on the weekends as family activities to gather people together and enjoy the free time.
Compared with other Cantonese restaurants in the China Town in Central London, Orient London is young because it just opened two years ago. However, the taste of the dim sum is the best and the most authentic. Their menu is so long that it covers almost everything for dim sum.
Figure 1 - Har gau (steamed prawn and pork dumplings)
Figure 2 - We can see at least one entire prawn inside
There are two main types of dim sum, the steamed dim sum, and the fried (or baked) dim sum.
The har gau is the one that everyone will order in the teahouse. The most interesting part of it is the appearance of the wrappers.
Many people will ask, why does the outside of the car gau look almost transparent? The magic tool they use when cook it is the wheat flour that can change the transparency of the wrapper. This wrapper doesn't taste different from the normal one.
Figure 3 (right) - Siu mai (pork and prawn dumplings topped with crab roe) ​
​The Orient London offers more than 15 delicious and steamed dim sum, ranging from rolls to dumplings. Most of them are salted. The average price is around 4 pounds per portion. Although it will be very hot, it is better to eat them as soon as possible because the best time is right after they're done.
Figure 4 (below) - Deep fried custard buns
Figure 5 (left) - The "egg yolk" inside of the custard buns
Most of the fried or baked dim sum are sweet. There are 17 different fried or baked dim sum offered in Orient London. And the average price is 3.50 pounds per portion. Overall, even though those dishes are deep fried or baked, they are not really oily as people may assume.
Figure 6 (below) - Spring onion & deep fried dough cheung fun
Besides, there are other types of dim sum for Yum Cha. Cheung fun takes a huge part in the meal. Cheung fun refers to the wrapper in the photo. Because it is made by the steamed rice, it's also called steamed rice rolls. Depending on the stuffing in it, the name of the dish changes. For example, the prawn cheung fun means that it's the prawns that are wrapped inside. The spring onion & deep fried dough cheung fun is high recommended because it is amazing that the taste of the soft cheung fun combines with the crispy dough.
Figure 7 (left) - Green tea mocha with azuki bean as dessert
Figure 8 (below) - It's very sticky.
Almost all of the dishes are small-sized. It's better to share with friends than ordering them individually if you want to try different dishes. However, if you have a few targets, the best choice is to order by yourself so that you can eat more, instead of just picking up one from each portion. Dim sum is provided until 4:45 pm.
