Cart Service vs. Menu Ordering: The Complete Guide to Dim Sum Styles

Ever walked into a dim sum spot and wondered why there's a lady pushing a cart full of steaming baskets? That's cart service dim sum. It's the OG style, the one your grandma probs remembers. Servers push carts around the restaurant, showing off little bamboo steamers filled with dumplings, buns, and all sorts of tasty snacks. You point, they drop it off at your table, and mark your order on a card.

Cart Service Dim Sum: What's the Deal?

But wait—is cart service dim sum actually good? Depends on who you ask. Some people swear by it coz they can see and smell dishes before picking them. My uncle always says he likes carts better 'cause he can see what he's getting—no surprises there. But honestly, sometimes the food gets cold or soggy after sitting out too long. And if you're sitting far from the kitchen, you might end up with lukewarm har gow (shrimp dumplings)—and no one likes that.

Pros & Cons of Cart Service

When I first took my friends from abroad to dim sum at Lin Heung Kui, they loved it. The carts made it easy for them to choose dishes without feeling awkward about asking questions in broken Cantonese. But as an expert foodie living in Hong Kong, I gotta say—cart service is more about nostalgia than quality nowadays.

Menu Ordering (À la Carte): The New Dim Sum Norm?

Menu ordering is pretty much what it sounds like—you tick boxes on a paper menu or order from a digital tablet. In fact, many restaurants in Hong Kong are now adopting a QR Code system for ordering as well. Ideally, you write down what you want, hand the paper to your server, and bam—freshly steamed dim sum arrives piping hot at your table.

Honestly tho, menu ordering is just better if you care about taste and freshness. Ever had siu mai (pork dumplings) that sat too long? Yeah...not great. With menu ordering, chefs steam each basket right after you order it ("即叫即蒸"), so every bite is hot and juicy.

Why Menu Ordering Usually Wins:

• Freshness: Dishes made-to-order mean they're hot when served.
• Variety: More choices available since restaurants don't have to guess what's popular that day.
• Less waste: Restaurants don't need to toss out unsold dishes.

Which Should You Choose? (Expert Advice)

Look—if you're bringing friends who've never tried dim sum before, cart service can be fun. But if you're serious about eating well, menu ordering wins hands down.

As someone who's eaten dim sum literally hundreds of times across Hong Kong (and way too many times at 3 am), I recommend this:

• If you're new or have friends visiting: Cart service places like Maxim's Palace or Lin Heung Tea House are fun and easy.
• If you're picky about freshness or quality: Choose à la carte spots like One Dim Sum or Tim Ho Wan.

And hey—some places offer both! So you get the best of both worlds.

FAQs

In the end though, dim sum's about enjoying great food with good company. Whether it's carts or menus doesn't matter as much as finding a place with skilled chefs who know their stuff.