NYC - where to have Yum Cha or Dim Sum?
 

Hi, my husband and I are visiting New York City soon and would love to have Yum Cha, or do you call it Dim Sum? We're originally from Melbourne, Australia, where yum cha is very popular and waitresses push trolleys up and down and you take whatever you fancy and the bill is totalled up at the end. It's usually pretty cheap. Occasionally you order from a menu but that's not real yum cha!!

Are there places like this in Chinatown in New York, with the trolleys? Any particular street where there is a concentration of them and we can just pick a place that looks good? Also we'll be there during the week, do they do this then or only weekends?

Thanks for any tips!
Kay

There are plenty, and it's called Dim Sum in NY.

If you have any negative reactions to MSG, beware. The Chinatown restaurants will use it in sizeable quantities.

As for specific recommendations, I have to defer to folks who still live in NYC, not an ex-pat like me.

Current and heated debate on the subject. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/481518
You can find dim sum every day but not at dinner.

This is great, thank you. I'll have a good look at the forum debate. And very handy to know what the locals call it too.

My husband especially loves that you can be sitting for all of half a minute when food appears by the table.

Kay

We prefer Jing Fong were there are few concessions to cciental tastes and is extremely cheap. Try to go to weekdays, is a mad house on weekends. The place holds 800 people and is used for weddings and babay banquets.

Another is Golcden Unicon.

I have 2 favorite Dim Sum places in the city both are very good with lots of choices and you will see alot of locals there.

Mandarin Court on Mott St, just a few doors down from Canal St. Order the shrimp with noodles and ask for more sweet soy sauce. Everything there is good but the shrimp is my favorite.

We used to go to Chinatown almost everyweekend for Dim Sum so done most of the Dim Sum spots many times.

The other favorite is HSF on the Bowery, a few door down from Canal St. This is a big place and mostly locals there. You sit at large round tables with other people so it's fun to meet other diners.

HSF is gone. RIP. It's replacement, Sunshine 27 is supposed to be good but haven't tried it. http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/kim/archives/006786.html

I like Jin Fong, not all of the carts will pass by your table, so grab your ticket and walk around to find the things that look interesting to you.

If you are a rabid dim sum fan, I would suggest taking the #7 train to Flushing and eating there. In general, Chinese food in that area far surpasses that on offer in Manhattan's Chinatown. The eating spots are an easy walk from the subway station.

You can also take the Long Island Railroad from Manhattan to Flushing.

For some info, see:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/482703

For Dim Sum in Chinatown: Ping's.

This is all great info, thanks. If we eat in Chinatown in Manhattan, do they all have the trolley system where food is wheeled around and you take what you fancy? We don't want to order off the menu - we can do that anywhere!

Thanks
Kay

ohhh interesting post - we want to try DimSum in Chinatown too!

Re the trolleys: yes - that's how dim sum is done - trolley comes around and you select what you want - if you want it.

Most of the servers will tell you what's in each dish so all you have to do is ask. Remember to ask for the "sweet soy sauce" so much better and less salty than regular soy sauce.

Not all restaurants have the trolleys. Some offer dim sum on menus.

An option that hasn't been mentioned yet -- Dim Sum Go Go. I like it but some people think it's not authentic. It's usually very crowded. Here you order by checking off items rather than by trolley. I must say thought I haven't been there in over a year.

Someone recommended Grand Harmony on Mott Street to me. The Yelp reviews don't look that good though. I've never been there.

I've had dinner at Ping's and it's a nice restaurant. Never been there for dim sum though. I don't think that you can go wrong with Golden Unicorn, but I must say that the quality can vary. I haven't been there lately either.

Do the servers speak English - i know that when we go out for YumCha in Sydney most of the trolley staff dont speak english so there's always lots of nodding....

Many servers do not speak English, so just point. It is a extremely common occurence.