Just when I thought push-cart dim-sum was traditional. Boy, it must be hard (and heavy) to wear that strap over the shoulder, and at the same time raising their voice calling out "Siew mai, siew mai"..."Chai Siew Bao, chai siew bao"...Har Gaw, har gaw" - dim-sum items sitting on their over-the-shoulder-tray. The waiters/waitresses have to climb steep stairs up and down, making sure customers in each level (there are two storeys to this teahouse) are served. And they are not youngsters but gentlemen and ladies in their 40s and up, perhaps.
Visiting Luk Yu Teahouse 陸羽茶室, in Central District, Hong Kong was more for the experience and not so for the dim-sum. Some say it's a reminder of old Hong Kong where teahouses were places to settle disputes harmoniously, over tea. Well, others see teahouse tradition as companionship and enjoying tea.
Whatever it is, it is not just about eating.
These were some standard dim-sum items we ordered. No fancy items available.
Pan-fried yam cake, egg tarts
Steamed pork dumpling (siew mai in Cantonese), top; steamed shrimp dumpling(har gau in Cantonese), bottom
Don't mix them up. A tea cafe is not a teahouse in Hong Kong understanding. If you have some time to immerse in the teahouse culture and tradition, do drop by:
Luk Yu Tea House
24-26 Stanley Street, Hong Kong
Nearest MTR: Central Station
Tag: hong kong eating, teahouse, dim sum
this is not so fair!! i miss so much to eat chinese goodies :-(love the last shot specially the siew maii
ReplyDeleteI am missing all that good dim sum!
ReplyDeletei want dim sum too...
ReplyDeleteyou hvae tagged. hope you can play along. Please check out my blog
yum i love yam cake! :D
ReplyDeleteThis is still how some dim sum restaurants in M'sia carry the dim sum too. They just carry the whole tray and set it on the table and let us pick (back in 2005).
ReplyDeleteOoooh....all my favorites are there. I also always get some rice dish, either the lo mai fun (sticky rice with Chinese sausage) or chuk (rice porridge), esp. those with the thousand year eggs.
ReplyDeletethis is truely Dim Sum!
ReplyDeleteI've heard so much about Dimsum but never eaten it!! might have to look out for it now:)
ReplyDeleteoh oh! this is the true authentic dim sum. ahhhh...
ReplyDeleteOh, now I'm craving dim sum. Har gau are my favorite - I could eat dozens of them!
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather went to Luk Yu at least four times a week for about 50years. When I used to go with him as a kid, it was slightly less glamorous and even more traditional, with spittoons at every table and old men would bring their tiny companion birds in little cages with them.
ReplyDeleteI can also remember going to less salubrious establishments as an adult with him to have dim sum for breakfast at 6am with him, or I would tumble out of night clubs in Lan Kwai Fong with friends and have a fix before heading home to bed.
Thankfully, some of Hong Kong's best Dim Sum chefs have migrated to Melbourne, Australia where I now live and we are spoilt for the great variety of Yum Cha available.
dhanggit, but you can cook so well!
ReplyDeleteeast meets west, missing dim sum already? Did you have that back in SG?
cocoa, I will try too. Thanks. But it may take me some time.
buddingcook, I wanted pan fried carrot cake but they did not have it.
But the yam cake is good for a change.
little corner, oh is it? Hmm....I think I have tried something like that.
Dont remember about the tray though. Only remember they put on the table and let us choose.
ming, lo mai fun is one of those I wld order too!
big boys oven, oh yes?
mansi desai, you must try it.
daphne, seems its true. Standard fare and no fancy items.
lydia, me too prefer har gau to siew mai. Coz i prefer shrimp to pork when steamed this way.
stickyfingers, thanks so much for sharing your story. I enjoy this so much and to know so much.
You are lucky to be in Mel!
Hey Tigerfish - it seems that you go to Hong Kong a lot lately (envy you :P). Maybe next time when you are there, try a dim sum place in Tsuen Wan - Hak Ka Hut, Hakka style dim sum.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled upon this place last year when I was visiting HK. Yes, it has history for sure! However, I found the prices a lot more then most other dimsum places. Just a note here, Canada(where I live) has very good dimsum and very reasonable in cities like Vancouver and Toronto. In fact, when I'm back visiting in KL, I do try and discourage relatives to "yum-cha". I much prefer kopitiam!!
ReplyDeleteI'll be in HK in a few months and will definitly have yum cha, but where?
ReplyDeleteCan you recommend a traditional yum cha place, I don't mind it not being fancy, but I want interesting traditional items - its all about the food (chicken feet, tripe etc) love steamed dumplings and buns...
where should I go?
Cheers
Jack