Yum cha (饮茶 / 早茶) is a Cantonese morning of small steamed dishes and a pot of tea. Sit, choose a tea, accept the normal tea charge, and order in small waves — har gow, siu mai and rice rolls first, while they are hot. Pour for others, and tap two fingers as a quiet thanks. An approximate range for two people in 2026 is often ¥150–400, depending on the room. We will name teahouses after we have eaten in them.
最終確認日 · 初出 · 出典 1 件
重要な事実
| What it is | A Cantonese tea-and-dim-sum session, often a weekend family morning |
|---|---|
| Tea charge | Normal and listed, per person — not a scam |
| Order first | 虾饺 har gow · 烧卖 siu mai · 肠粉 rice rolls |
| Approximate cost for two, 2026 | Often ¥150–400, more in a hotel dining room — a band, not a quote |
| Manners | Pour for others first; two fingers tapped on the table as thanks |
What yum cha actually is
Yum cha (饮茶, literally “drink tea”) is a Cantonese morning — and often brunch — session of small dishes, usually from steamers: har gow (虾饺, shrimp dumplings), siu mai (烧卖), rice rolls (肠粉), steamed spare ribs, egg tarts, and a pot of tea that is refilled for as long as you sit. In Shenzhen it is a weekend family habit as much as a visitor activity. The room is loud. That is correct.
We will name specific teahouses after we have eaten in them and can date the visit. Until then, this is how the session itself works, so you can walk into a room in Luohu, Futian or a hotel and not feel lost.
How a session works
Sit, and get the tea right first
You will be asked what tea you want — often pu’er, jasmine, or a house oolong. There is a tea charge per person. It is a normal, listed charge, not a scam: it is how the table is yours. Pour for others before yourself. A quiet thanks is two fingers tapped on the table.
Order in small waves
In some rooms a cart comes by; in many Shenzhen rooms you tick a paper form or tap a QR menu. Start with two or three baskets for two people, then order more. Dishes come when they come. Har gow and rice rolls go first because they are at their best hot.
Pay at the end
The server counts the stamps or the baskets on the table, or the QR bill appears on your phone. Pay with Alipay or WeChat. An approximate range for two people in 2026 is often ¥150–400, depending on the room and how enthusiastically you tick the form — a hotel dining room will sit at the top of that, or above it. Treat this as a band, not a quote.
A short, useful order
- 虾饺 har gow — translucent shrimp dumplings. The test of a kitchen.
- 烧卖 siu mai — open-topped pork (often with shrimp) dumplings.
- 肠粉 rice rolls — wide, soft, with shrimp, beef or fried dough, soy over the top.
- 凤爪 chicken feet — a classic; skip them if you would rather, without commentary.
- 叉烧包 barbecue-pork buns — baked or steamed.
- 蛋挞 egg tarts — take them last, while you still have a little tea.
If you need “not spicy” or a vegetarian plate, say so with characters on your phone. Dim sum is not generally chilli-hot, but sauces vary. More manners, and what is not a scam: etiquette. A wider food map: what to eat in Shenzhen.
This is a manners and ordering guide, not a restaurant review, and not a government rule. Tea charges and menu prices are set by each teahouse; confirm at the table.
よくある質問
Is the tea charge at dim sum a scam?
No. It is a normal, listed charge for the tea and the table. Ask what it is if you like, then enjoy the pot.
What should I order first?
Har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai, and rice rolls, while they are hot. Add chicken feet, barbecue-pork buns and egg tarts if you want them. Order in waves, not all at once.
When should I go?
Weekend mornings fill up. Opening time, or a weekday, is the calmer version. Some rooms run into mid-afternoon; confirm on the day.