Generally considered a breakfast, brunch or lunch meal, the dim sum experience is as much about how the food is served as it is about the food itself. Trolleys filled with different choices are continuously wheeled out from the kitchen and pass each table..Customers choose the dish they want, and the server marks the price on a running tab kept on each table.
You’ll recognize dumplings among the offerings, but dim sum is much more than dumplings. Barbecued pork buns, spring rolls, and rice noodle rolls are served 3-4 pieces to a dish. Because Dim Sum restaurants tend to be loud and boisterous scenes, it’s an ideal meal for a large group of family and friends.
Here are my favorites:
Jing Fong 20 Elizabeth Street (212) 964-5256 http://jingfongny.com
Ping’s Seafood 22 Mott Street (212) 602-9988
Nom Wah Tea Parlor 13 Doyers Street (212) 962-6047 http://nomwah.com
The Golden Unicorn 18 E. Broadway (212) 941-0911