8 Must-Try Classic Dim Sum Dishes for Your Next Yum Cha

Yum cha menus are overflowing with options—from dumplings and steamed rice to buns and fried seafood—and there are some classic Cantonese-style dishes that are non-negotiable orders for any dim sum lover. Over years of enjoying yum cha across Asia and Australia with family and friends, I’ve stuck to a go-to lineup of these beloved bites, only occasionally branching out to try something new.

Yum cha is all about sharing: dishes are bite-sized, meant to be passed around the table so everyone gets a taste. I’ve noticed Western diners in Australia sometimes eat individual plates of dim sum instead of sharing, which feels odd from a Chinese perspective but is just a cultural difference in dining habits.

Today, yum cha is evolving: frozen dim sum is widely available in Australian grocery stores, vegetarian options are common (at spots like Red Ginger and Din Tai Fung), and many Chinese restaurants serve dim sum à la carte as a side to main meals—meaning you can enjoy it any time of day. I’ve eaten solo at Tim Ho Wan (the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant) in Australia; while portions are small, the flavor is richer than at many local yum cha spots. During one visit, a Western couple next to me had a mixed reaction: the woman was eager to try everything, while the man fidgeted with his chopsticks and remarked, “It’s like another world in here”—a reminder that yum cha is as much a cultural experience as a culinary one.