Restaurant Resource

Copyable Dim Sum Menu Descriptions

Dim sum descriptions should clarify wrapper, filling, preparation method, and common shellfish, pork, wheat, and egg signals.

Copyable descriptions

Dish Menu description
Har Gow Steamed shrimp dumpling with a translucent wrapper.
Siu Mai Open-topped steamed pork and shrimp dumpling.
Char Siu Bao Steamed bun filled with sweet-savory Cantonese barbecued pork.
Cheung Fun Soft rice noodle roll served with soy-based sauce. Filling varies by item.
Turnip Cake Pan-fried savory radish cake. May contain dried shrimp or Chinese sausage.
Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf Glutinous rice steamed in lotus leaf with savory filling.
Chicken Feet Braised or steamed chicken feet in savory sauce.
Egg Tart Small custard tart with pastry shell.
Sesame Balls Fried glutinous rice balls with sweet filling and sesame coating.
Congee Rice porridge with savory toppings.

Description rules

  • State the preparation method when it changes diner expectations.
  • Mention common hidden ingredients such as pork, shellfish, wheat, sesame, soy, egg, peanuts, and cooking wine.
  • Keep most descriptions to one sentence.
  • Use Chinese names and pinyin when they preserve dish identity.
  • Avoid vague labels such as house special without explanation.

Related guides

Dim sum hub

Dim sum guide

How to order, how the format works, and explainers for 20 common dim sum dishes.

Har gow

Shrimp dumplings with translucent wrappers.

Siu mai

Open-topped pork and shrimp dumplings.

Cheung fun

Steamed rice noodle rolls with shrimp, beef, pork, or fried dough.