{ "site": "ChinatownMenu.com", "generated": "2026-05-14", "hub": "/dim-sum-guide.html", "description": "Dim sum hub and 20 common dim sum dish explainers.", "dishes": [ { "name": "Har Gow", "chinese": "虾饺 / 蝦餃", "pinyin": "xiā jiǎo", "category": "Steamed dumplings", "url": "/dim-sum-har-gow-shrimp-dumplings.html", "plain_description": "Steamed shrimp dumplings with a thin, translucent wrapper.", "dietary_signals": "Contains shellfish. The wrapper is not a conventional wheat-flour wrapper, but gluten-sensitive diners should not assume safety because preparation and starch sourcing vary." }, { "name": "Siu Mai", "chinese": "烧卖 / 燒賣", "pinyin": "shāo mài", "category": "Steamed dumplings", "url": "/dim-sum-siu-mai-pork-shrimp-dumplings.html", "plain_description": "Open-topped steamed dumplings, usually made with pork and shrimp.", "dietary_signals": "Usually contains pork, shellfish, wheat, and soy. Not vegetarian and not halal unless a restaurant specifically states otherwise." }, { "name": "Char Siu Bao", "chinese": "叉烧包 / 叉燒包", "pinyin": "chā shāo bāo", "category": "Buns", "url": "/dim-sum-char-siu-bao-bbq-pork-buns.html", "plain_description": "Steamed or baked buns filled with sweet-savory Cantonese barbecue pork.", "dietary_signals": "Contains pork and wheat. May contain soy, sesame oil, oyster sauce, egg wash in baked versions, and cooking wine." }, { "name": "Cheung Fun", "chinese": "肠粉 / 腸粉", "pinyin": "cháng fěn", "category": "Rice rolls", "url": "/dim-sum-cheung-fun-rice-noodle-rolls.html", "plain_description": "Steamed rice noodle rolls, often filled with shrimp, beef, char siu, or fried dough.", "dietary_signals": "Filling determines the risk: shrimp contains shellfish, beef may use soy, char siu contains pork, and fried dough contains wheat." }, { "name": "Lo Mai Gai", "chinese": "糯米鸡 / 糯米雞", "pinyin": "nuò mǐ jī", "category": "Rice", "url": "/dim-sum-lo-mai-gai-sticky-rice-lotus-leaf.html", "plain_description": "Savory sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, usually with chicken, sausage, mushroom, and sauce.", "dietary_signals": "Often contains pork sausage, chicken, soy, and cooking wine. It is not usually vegetarian." }, { "name": "Turnip Cake", "chinese": "萝卜糕 / 蘿蔔糕", "pinyin": "luó bo gāo", "category": "Pan-fried", "url": "/dim-sum-turnip-cake-lo-bak-go.html", "plain_description": "Pan-fried radish cake made from shredded daikon and rice flour.", "dietary_signals": "May contain pork, dried shrimp, soy, and shared griddle contact. Vegetarian versions must be confirmed." }, { "name": "Chicken Feet in Black Bean Sauce", "chinese": "豉汁凤爪 / 豉汁鳳爪", "pinyin": "chǐ zhī fèng zhǎo", "category": "Braised", "url": "/dim-sum-chicken-feet-black-bean-sauce.html", "plain_description": "Braised chicken feet in fermented black bean sauce.", "dietary_signals": "Contains chicken, soy, fermented black beans, and possibly wheat in soy sauce. May be mildly spicy." }, { "name": "Steamed Spare Ribs with Black Bean Sauce", "chinese": "豉汁排骨", "pinyin": "chǐ zhī pái gǔ", "category": "Steamed meats", "url": "/dim-sum-spare-ribs-black-bean-sauce.html", "plain_description": "Small pork rib pieces steamed with fermented black bean sauce.", "dietary_signals": "Contains pork and soy. May contain wheat through soy sauce and possible cooking wine." }, { "name": "Steamed Beef Balls", "chinese": "牛肉球", "pinyin": "niú ròu qiú", "category": "Steamed meats", "url": "/dim-sum-beef-balls-dim-sum.html", "plain_description": "Springy steamed beef balls, often served with a light Worcestershire-style dipping sauce.", "dietary_signals": "Contains beef and usually soy. May contain wheat, egg, or shared steamer risk depending on kitchen." }, { "name": "Bean Curd Skin Rolls", "chinese": "腐皮卷", "pinyin": "fǔ pí juǎn", "category": "Rolls", "url": "/dim-sum-bean-curd-skin-rolls.html", "plain_description": "Rolls wrapped in tofu skin, usually filled with meat, shrimp, vegetables, or mushrooms.", "dietary_signals": "Contains soy. Fillings often contain pork or shrimp. Vegetarian versions must be verified." }, { "name": "Wu Gok", "chinese": "芋角", "pinyin": "yù jiǎo", "category": "Fried", "url": "/dim-sum-wu-gok-taro-dumplings.html", "plain_description": "Deep-fried taro dumplings with a lacy crisp exterior and savory filling.", "dietary_signals": "Often contains pork, shellfish, wheat or starch blends, soy, and shared fryer risk." }, { "name": "Sesame Balls", "chinese": "煎堆", "pinyin": "jiān duī", "category": "Sweet fried", "url": "/dim-sum-sesame-balls-jin-deui.html", "plain_description": "Fried glutinous rice balls coated in sesame seeds, often filled with lotus seed or red bean paste.", "dietary_signals": "Contains sesame. May be made in a shared fryer and may contain wheat or other allergens depending on kitchen." }, { "name": "Egg Tarts", "chinese": "蛋挞 / 蛋撻", "pinyin": "dàn tà", "category": "Sweet baked", "url": "/dim-sum-egg-tarts-dan-tat.html", "plain_description": "Small custard tarts with a flaky or cookie-like crust.", "dietary_signals": "Contains egg, wheat, and usually dairy. Not vegan." }, { "name": "Pineapple Bun", "chinese": "菠萝包 / 菠蘿包", "pinyin": "bō luó bāo", "category": "Sweet buns", "url": "/dim-sum-pineapple-buns-bo-lo-bao.html", "plain_description": "Sweet bun with a crackly topping; it usually contains no pineapple.", "dietary_signals": "Contains wheat and often egg or dairy. The name does not imply fruit filling." }, { "name": "Xiao Long Bao", "chinese": "小笼包 / 小籠包", "pinyin": "xiǎo lóng bāo", "category": "Soup dumplings", "url": "/dim-sum-xiao-long-bao-soup-dumplings.html", "plain_description": "Soup dumplings filled with meat and hot broth.", "dietary_signals": "Usually contains pork, wheat, and gelatinized meat broth. Crab versions contain shellfish." }, { "name": "Custard Bun", "chinese": "奶黄包 / 奶黃包", "pinyin": "nǎi huáng bāo", "category": "Sweet buns", "url": "/dim-sum-dan-taat-custard-bun-lai-wong-bao.html", "plain_description": "Steamed bun filled with sweet egg custard.", "dietary_signals": "Contains wheat, egg, and dairy. Not vegan." }, { "name": "Fung Zao and Spare Ribs", "chinese": "凤爪与排骨 / 鳳爪與排骨", "pinyin": "fèng zhǎo yǔ pái gǔ", "category": "Comparison", "url": "/dim-sum-fung-zao-vs-spare-ribs.html", "plain_description": "A comparison of two classic black-bean-sauce dim sum meat dishes.", "dietary_signals": "Chicken feet contain chicken and soy; spare ribs contain pork and soy. Both may contain wheat through soy sauce." }, { "name": "Spring Rolls", "chinese": "春卷", "pinyin": "chūn juǎn", "category": "Fried", "url": "/dim-sum-spring-rolls-dim-sum.html", "plain_description": "Crisp fried rolls filled with vegetables, meat, or shrimp.", "dietary_signals": "Often contains wheat and may contain pork, shellfish, egg, soy, and shared fryer risk." }, { "name": "Congee", "chinese": "粥", "pinyin": "zhōu", "category": "Rice porridge", "url": "/dim-sum-congee-jook-dim-sum.html", "plain_description": "Rice porridge served plain or with meats, seafood, preserved egg, or other toppings.", "dietary_signals": "Stock and toppings matter. Ask about pork, seafood, chicken stock, soy, and preserved egg." }, { "name": "Ma Lai Go", "chinese": "马拉糕 / 馬拉糕", "pinyin": "mǎ lā gāo", "category": "Sweet steamed", "url": "/dim-sum-malai-go-sponge-cake.html", "plain_description": "Steamed brown sugar sponge cake.", "dietary_signals": "Contains wheat and egg, and may contain dairy." }, { "name": "Salt and Pepper Squid", "chinese": "椒盐鱿鱼 / 椒鹽魷魚", "pinyin": "jiāo yán yóu yú", "category": "Fried seafood", "url": "/dim-sum-salt-pepper-squid-dim-sum.html", "plain_description": "Fried squid seasoned with salt, pepper, chile, and aromatics.", "dietary_signals": "Contains seafood and may contain wheat or shared fryer risk." } ] }