In late November, a new Chinese eatery is set to open in the hustle and bustle of Tsim Sha Tsui. Featuring an interactive open-kitchen with a dining area that’s eloquently decorated with traditional wares, such as birdcages, grey and gold colours and hexagonal shapes that symbolise balance and union, YUM CHA, literally means ‘drink tea’. It provides an ambiance of East-meets-West and offers contemporary Chinese dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients without any added MSG.
Goldfish bowl plate
金魚碗
To get started, we are presented with three different appetisers that are neat and tidy in their presentation. There is pickled cucumber, cucumber wrapped garlic shrimp and winter melon. The winter melon impresses the most with its refreshing taste and tasty notes of a scrumptious orange-scented dressing.
Orange wintermelon
橙棍冬瓜
Pickled cucumber
小花青瓜
Shrimp rolls
青瓜皮蝦
Apart from the emphasis on the use of high quality ingredients, they promise many camera-worthy moments from their dishes and a complete dim sum menu. The classic sticky rice is unusually shaped like trigonal pyramids and the ha gao is very appetising due to it being enveloped in a colourful wrap.
Sticky rice dumplings
尖筒糯米
Shrimp & vegetable dumpling
有色蝦餃
Signatures include hot custard buns that are bursting with a decadent custard cream filling and baked pineapple puffs that resemble mini yellow birds.
Hot custard buns
睇住流奶
Crispy pineapple puff
鴿吞鳳梨
Yet the most adorable moment would have to be the barbecue pork piggy buns. They are visually interesting and are meant to inspire many camera-eats-first moments. They are so aesthetically pleasing that you’ll feel bad eating them!
BBQ piggy buns
一籠八戒
Next we are presented with the mains for the evening including an interesting nutrient-packed organic kale that is stir-fried with goji berries and a lily bulb and then a dish of braised Chinese cabbage complete with generous portions of rose-shaped Parma ham.
Organic kale with garlic
羽衣甘蘭
Baby cabbage with Parma ham
花腿娃娃
Some of our favourites were the spicy butter prawns with the added crunchiness of oatmeal, the juicy and tender Wagyu beef cubes, that come coated in a flavourful pepper sauce and the egg white-fried rice that they cook in squid ink for an interesting twist on a classic dish.
Spicy butter oatmeal prawns
麥皮塘蝦
Black peppered Wagyu beef
黑椒和牛
Egg white & seafood fried-rice
近墨者黑
The delightful evening draws to an end with the presentation of a traditional egg tart, with a puff pastry case and a cinnamon-dusted apple topping. The puff is served with a very generous serving of mango pudding, which is equally delicious.
Mango sago + cotton cloud
楊枝甘露 + 棉花雲
Apple-rosette egg tarts
蘋果花撻
Throughout our YUM CHA experience, this new dim sum spot has been full of classy inspirations and creative dishes. They are also opening a second location, together with their sister restaurant – Urban Park in Sheung Wan, so make sure to drop by in early December, you surely won’t regret it!
Hot custard buns
睇住流奶
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YUM CHA
Website or Tel: 2751 1666
Open Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30-15:00, 18:00-23:00
Source: Spot The Food – Your Camera Moments
