Your Ultimate Field Guide to Chinese Dim Sum

Historically, this Cantonese meal is served from morning until midafternoon, about the same hours as breakfast and brunch. It's also called yum cha, a reference that translates to "drinking tea." Tea is an essential part of the experience: its astringency is a necessary foil to the ritual's rich dishes.

Expect lots of savory dishes, many of which are shrimp and pork-based: steamed dumplings, buns, rolls and pancakes, and meat dishes. You'll also spot certain signature sweets.