Dim Sum in Guangzhou: How to Order, Prices, QR Menus

What is dim sum in Guangzhou?

Dim sum (点心, diǎnxīn) are small steamed, fried and baked dishes. In Guangzhou you eat them as part of morning tea (早茶, zǎochá), also called yum cha (饮茶): you sit for an hour or more, drink tea and share plates. It is a social meal and a local habit, not a quick snack. The terms dim sum, yum cha and morning tea mean the same meal, and a Guangzhou local says 饮早茶. The Cantonese tea culture guide covers the teas and the table manners.

How do you order dim sum?

A travel guide describes three ways to order. Which one you meet depends on the restaurant.

One Reddit user wrote in November 2025 that “a lot of the time you’re just guessing at what you’re ordering”. For a tick sheet, camera translation such as Baidu Translate works on paper forms, per China Navigators. Set up payment before you sit. The Alipay and WeChat Pay guide and the apps guide show how.

What is the tea charge?

The tea charge (茶位费, cháwèifèi) is a per-person fee added to the bill. China Navigators says tea is charged separately, usually ¥10 to ¥20 per person.

A city rule now covers it. The Guangzhou Morning Tea Heritage Protection Regulation (广州早茶传承保护规定) took effect on May 1, 2026, per a Yangcheng Evening News interview published by Guangming Online (gmw.cn). Its main points, as reported:

• Operators must list all charges clearly.
• If a restaurant charges a tea fee, it must offer a choice of teas, including black, green, oolong, pu’er and chrysanthemum.
• Menus must say whether each dish is 传统方式现场制作 (made on site in the traditional way) or 非传统方式制作 (made another way).
• Traditional on-site dim sum must be served within 24 hours of being made.
• Prices on the menu, the price tags and the ordering app must match.
• The same dish may be priced differently by method. Sixth Tone’s report on the draft gave an example of steamed dumplings at ¥36 when freshly made and ¥20 when pre-made.

These come from news reports, not the regulation text. Enforcement varies, so check the menu and ask what the tea charge covers.

How much does dim sum cost?

These are travel-site ranges, not official prices.

A table of two usually orders eight to twelve plates, per the same guide. Order a few dishes first and add more.

What should you order?

China Navigators lists these classics. Say the Chinese name or point to the picture.

iPhoto: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 Details

For a sweet finish, double-skin milk (双皮奶) is a common Cantonese dessert.

iPhoto: 钉钉 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Details

Which teahouses are long established?

Chinese-language articles name 陶陶居 (Tao Tao Ju) as one of the oldest tea houses in the city, dated 1880. Its address is 广州市荔湾区第十甫路20号, listed by Wikivoyage near Changshou Road Station on Line 1 (check the exit on a map). Another long-established name in Liwan is 泮溪酒家 (Panxi), a restaurant at 151 Longjin West Road (龙津西路151号, Wikivoyage). We could not confirm opening hours or founding dates for either from an official source, so check before you go.

iPhoto: Michael Gwyther-Jones · CC BY 2.0 Details

Opinions on the famous names are mixed. A Reddit user wrote in July 2026 that places hyped on social media, such as 陶陶居 and 点都德, were “pretty disappointing”. That is one traveller’s view. Older and newer places are both worth a look. For Michelin-listed places, see the Michelin Guangzhou guide.

What are the manners at the table?

China Navigators lists two common signals. When someone pours your tea, tap two bent fingers (index and middle) on the table as a thank-you. When the pot is empty, leave the lid open or tilted so staff refill it.

What about pork, halal and vegetarian needs?

Many classic dim sum contain pork. Muslim and vegetarian travellers should read the halal and vegetarian food guide before choosing a teahouse. For what else to eat, see the Guangzhou food guide.