Dish Explainer

What Is Har Gow?

Cantonese dim sum · Chinese name · Ordering guide

Har gow is one of the core dim sum dumplings and a useful test of Cantonese dim sum technique.

Quick answer

Har gow is a Cantonese steamed shrimp dumpling with a translucent wrapper and a springy shrimp filling.

Chinese name	Pinyin	Cuisine or format	Usual heat level
虾饺	xiā jiǎo	Cantonese dim sum	Mild

What it tastes like

Har gow should taste clean, shrimp-forward, lightly sweet, and mild, with most of the interest coming from wrapper texture and filling bounce rather than strong sauce.

How it appears on menus

It usually appears in the steamed dim sum section, often near siu mai, rice noodle rolls, and other dumplings. The English menu may say har gow, shrimp dumpling, or crystal shrimp dumpling.

Common variations

Classic shrimp har gow
Shrimp and bamboo shoot versions
Oversized modern versions
Premium versions with whole shrimp pieces

Dietary issues

Har gow is not safe for shellfish allergy. The wrapper may include wheat starch, so it should not be assumed gluten-free.

What to order with it

Order with siu mai, cheung fun, a green vegetable, tea, and one fried or baked dim sum item for contrast.