Dim Sum Fun

As long as I can remember, trips to Chicago always revolved around dim sum. Family time was, and still is, spent at crowded dim sum restaurants with cheeky decor and a symphony of clanging chopsticks on plates. Hosts clear tables just as they usher you over and hurried wait staff carry towers of bamboo steamers filled with the Chinese version of soul food.

What can be described as a unique dining experience is actually a game of guessing, quick action and spin the wheel. It begins when you ask for a table—usually located on the other side of the restaurant and if lucky, next to the kitchen where you can hear the shouting match between the chefs and servers. The host will try to lose you as they sprint around tables, while you’re left dodging old folks, kids and wait staff trying to keep up. Once seated, you’ll have the chance to play guess what’s in the cart. (Note: this game is only applicable to restaurants with rolling food carts.)

If they give you a paper menu, then the challenge is figuring out how to fill it out properly. Some use a tally system while others employ a standardized test version that require completely filled bubbles. Incomplete bubbles will be returned with questions and will cost time in getting your badly needed fix that seems to develop soon after your arrival. Once the dishes arrive, it’s placed on the spinning wheel of no return. Here you must spin the wheel to determine the dish to eat. Be careful not to knock down any of the water glasses that are often placed near the wheel or it’s game over.

When the wheel comes to a complete stop, you must use your ninja-like chopstick abilities to pick up the slippery item before the wheel is taken for another spin. Act quick, but take care in transferring the delicate goodness to your plate. Dropping it on the table will cost you a shake of the head and a long “aiya.”

While stuffing your face, you must also monitor all tea cups on deck. The two-ounce cups must remain filled to the top at all times. Only when someone covers their cup with their hand, should you allow it below the acceptable tea line. If your cup gets filled by someone else, you must immediately perform the secret signal by tapping the index and middle fingers together—bent at 90 degrees—while making eye contact.

The final challenge is paying the bill. Your goal is to pay for the meal. Beware of sneaky moves. Some will feign the need to visit the bathroom when actually they are paying the bill before it arrives to the table. Others will secretly signal the host and are prepared to make the cash handoff. Still some may just outright grab the “Dan” from your eager fingers. Be sure to have enough cash as most Chinese restaurants accept no other forms of payment. If you win the battle over the bill, but fail to pay, it will cost you loads of laughter and a face as red as chicken feet.

One last thing—if you don’t know the names of the dishes in Chinese, this introduction with audio should help. It’s not comprehensive, but it will give you a starting point. (Tip: you may want to say the names a bit faster when ordering so as not to be mistaken for being slow.)