Okay, let’s talk about dim sum food names. This wasn’t some grand project, really, just something I sort of fell into.
My Little Naming Quest
It started pretty simply. I found myself going for dim sum more often, maybe meeting up with folks or just craving it myself. But honestly? I felt a bit silly just pointing at things on the cart or the menu. Sometimes I’d try to say a name I thought I knew, and it came out completely wrong, or I’d get something totally different. Got tired of just saying “that one” or “the shrimp thing”. It felt clumsy.
So, I figured, alright, I should probably learn some of these names properly. Not like becoming an expert, just enough to order without sounding like a complete beginner every single time. My first step was pretty basic: next time I went, I decided I’d actually pay attention.
I pulled out my phone, not very subtly I guess, and started taking quick pics of the dishes I ordered and the little paper slip they mark. Sometimes the menus had English, sometimes not, often it was just a transliteration that didn’t help much with pronunciation. I tried matching the pictures to the names on the bill later.
This was harder than I thought.
Seriously, so many dumplings look kinda similar if you’re not paying close attention. Was that Har Gow or Fun Gor? Was this a steamed bun or a baked one? The names often didn’t give obvious clues if you didn’t already know them.
- Har Gow (Shrimp Dumpling) – Okay, this one’s usually distinct.
- Siu Mai (Pork and Shrimp Dumpling) – Also pretty recognizable.
- Cheung Fun (Rice Noodle Roll) – The shape helps, but the fillings vary!
- Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Bun) – Steamed or baked? Gotta specify.
- Lo Mai Gai (Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf) – Easy enough once you know it.
But then you get into the less common stuff, or variations, and my little matching game fell apart. I started jotting things down in a little notebook. Just the name I saw on the menu, maybe a quick scribble of what it looked like, and what was inside if I could figure it out. I tried saying the names out loud quietly to myself, hoping to get the hang of it. Sometimes I’d ask the server, “What is this called again?” They were usually nice about it, though sometimes too busy to really explain.
I kept this up for a few months, just adding to my notes whenever I went for dim sum. Didn’t use any fancy apps or websites, just my own messy handwriting and phone photos. It was slow going. Some names stuck, others just wouldn’t stay in my head. I realized the same dish might have slightly different names or preparations depending on the restaurant too, which added another layer of fun, right?
Eventually, I built up a decent little personal list. It’s not comprehensive, not perfect, but it’s practical. Now, I feel a bit more confident ordering. I still point sometimes, let’s be honest, especially if it’s noisy or I’m unsure. But I can usually get the basics out – the Har Gow, Siu Mai, Char Siu Bao – without too much trouble. It just took actually doing it, paying attention, and making my own little cheat sheet. No magic involved, just repetition and eating a lot of dim sum, which wasn’t exactly a hardship.