Alright, so I’ve been meaning to share this for a while because it’s something that had me scratching my head for a bit, and I figure, hey, maybe someone else out there is in the same boat. We’re talking dim sum versus wonton. Sounds simple, right? Well, not always, at least not for me at first.
My Initial Confusion
I remember going to Chinese restaurants, and I’d see “wonton soup” on the menu, and then I’d hear people talking about going for “dim sum” on a Sunday. And in my head, I was kinda lumping it all together. Like, aren’t wontons just a type of dim sum? Or is dim sum just a fancy word for dumplings? Man, it was a muddle.
I’d order wonton soup, and I’d get these tasty dumplings in a broth. Pretty straightforward. Then I’d go for what someone called a dim sum lunch, and it was this crazy parade of little steamer baskets and tiny plates with all sorts of stuff. Some of it looked like dumplings, sure, but then there were buns, rolls, and even sweet things. My brain was like, “Okay, hold up.”
Starting to See the Light
So, I started paying more attention. Like, really looking at what was going on. I realized when I ordered just “wontons,” whether in soup or those crispy fried ones with sweet and sour sauce, I was getting a specific thing: a type of Chinese dumpling. It typically has a pretty thin, almost translucent wrapper, and a filling, usually pork or shrimp, or a mix. Simple, delicious, and very much its own star.
Then, the next time I went for actual dim sum, I made it a point to observe. And it hit me. Dim sum isn’t one dish. That was the key I was missing! It’s more like a whole style of eating, a meal made up of lots and lots of different small dishes. Think of it like Spanish tapas, but the Chinese version. You get a variety of items, and you share.
What Goes into Dim Sum?
This is where it got really interesting for me. I started to see the sheer variety. Yes, you can absolutely find wontons as one of the many dishes offered during a dim sum meal. They might be steamed, or sometimes fried as part of a platter. But dim sum is so much more. I’m talking about stuff like:
- Siu Mai: Those open-topped steamed dumplings, often pork and shrimp.
- Har Gow: Steamed shrimp dumplings with that chewy, translucent wrapper.
- Char Siu Bao: Fluffy steamed buns filled with sweet BBQ pork. Oh man, these are good.
- Spring Rolls: Crispy and savory.
- Cheung Fun: Steamed rice noodle rolls, sometimes with shrimp or beef inside, drizzled with soy sauce.
- Lo Mai Gai: Sticky rice with chicken and other goodies, all steamed in a lotus leaf.
- Egg Tarts (Dan Tat): And then there are sweets! These little custard tarts are a classic.
And that’s just scratching the surface! There are savory cakes, other types of dumplings, steamed vegetables, all sorts of little bites. The point is the variety and the experience of trying a bit of everything.
So, What’s the Big Difference Then?
Basically, this is how I finally wrapped my head around it:
Wontons are a specific type of Chinese dumpling. You can order them as a standalone dish, like wonton soup or fried wontons. They have their own distinct characteristics.
Dim Sum is a meal, a style of cuisine featuring a wide array of small, shareable dishes. Wontons can be one of those many dishes served during dim sum, but dim sum itself is the entire collection, the whole experience. It’s not limited to just dumplings; it includes buns, rolls, meats, sweets, and more.
It’s like saying a “slider” versus “a BBQ platter.” A slider is a specific small burger. A BBQ platter can include sliders, but it also has ribs, brisket, coleslaw, etc. Get it?
So yeah, it took me a little while of eating and observing, but now it makes perfect sense. Next time you see them on a menu or hear people talking about it, you’ll know the score. And honestly, both are delicious, so you can’t really go wrong either way!