Yummy Yum Cha
Niki Bezzant
Yum cha literally means "to drink tea". At traditional Yum cha restaurants, diners sit with tea, and are offered an array of dim sum from roaming servers bearing bamboo baskets. Pick and choose what you like; refuse what you don't want - it's a very civilised and social way to eat, expecially with a large group. many Chinese families gather for Sunday lunch at Yum Cha restaurants.
'Dim sum' means 'to touch the heart', and with the importance of round and sweet food items at New Year especially, it's easy to see why Yum Cha is a very popular way to celebrate the occasion.
Here's a roundup of places to find Yum Cha around the country.
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| Ocean City Restaurant |
There are many great places to get yum cha in Auckland. We're spoiled that way. But for sheer scale and entertainment value, I like the Ocean City.
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| China Town Seafood Restaurant |
Adrienne Rewi checks out the Yum Cha experience in Christchurch - and finds it touches her heart.
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| King Wah |
Courtenay Place’s former status as the Chinatown of Wellington may have been eclipsed by all the new European restaurant developments over the past decade. But come late Saturday or Sunday morning, the Chinese restaurants are the busiest places on the block, as the Capital indulges in its new-found but venerable custom of weekend yum char.
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| Tell us your favourites! |
Got a favourite yum cha haunt? Let us know - and we could feature your review here.
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