Dim Sum literally means “touch the heart”. And Yum Cha literally means “drink tea.” Put them together and what do you get? A delectable assortment of parcels of deliciousness comprised of assorted buns, rolls, dumplings all washed down with a piping hot teapot full of the Chinese drink of choice. Add some cute photogenic little faces on those buns and what do you get? YUM CHA, a Dim Sum restaurant with 4 outlets in Hong Kong. It may be a Millennial’s Instagram dream, but the Dim Sum was actually delicious!
And with toddlers in tow, food with faces (animated faces–not necessarily real animal faces though the latter doesn’t seem to phase my toddler) is a real draw. Combine that with 30% off the bill for settling before 12:30 (aka, nap time) and you have a winner!
First up, BBQ Piggy Buns. Always a crowdpleaser. Shredded pork covered with a sweet BBQ sauce and wrapped in a pillowy bun? Add a snout and cute little ears and we are in!
Next, the more elegant shrimp and veggie dumplings with gold dust. These were lovely and pretty much the only thing we ordered that didn’t have a face…
Finally, our own personal Dim Sum army including a steamed red bean and Mochi bun (hair bow), a Chinese steamed cabbage and pork bun (head full of hair) and lastly a delicious mango hot custard bun (bald).
Each of them had a distinct flavor profile, but the highlight for me, surprisingly, was the Mango Hot Custard bun. If you stick your chopstick in its mouth, the mango custard oozes out. Dinner and a show!
Although incredibly gimmicky, YUM CHA delivers a solid Dim Sum product. It’s obviously fun for kids, but as an adult I was impressed with the creativity and the consistent execution of the dishes. This will not be my “go to” for traditional Dim Sum, but I’ll be sure to stop in when I need to stop taking my culinary self too seriously. Or when I want to get in a fun lunch before nap time 🙂
Good to Know:
Closest MTR: Sheung Wan (to YUM CHA Central)
Hours: M-F 11:30-23:00; Weekends and Public Holidays 11:00-23:00
Cost: Dim Sum HK$49-$69; Chef Specialities HK$59-$239 with most in HK$79-$119 range.
Dress Code: Casual
Reservations?: Yes
Kid Friendly?: Yes (the dishes look like cartoon characters), but there is a LOT of breakable china on the table upon sitting down, including a breakable spoon. Rearrange accordingly.
Insider Info: If you settle the bill before 12:30pm, you can receive a 30% discount.
