Finally, Dim Sum Hits Sanlitun in the Sweet Form of Chua Lam's

For all its international cuisine and restaurants representing regions throughout China, Sanlitun has suffered from a distinct lack of classic Dim Sum, with the closest thing up to now being Ying Chinese, which rather offers a broader spread of Cantonese cuisine. That’s left a hole wide open for Chua Lam’s to fill, and based on the dining crowds the chain's new branch has attracted so far, this casual spot is going a ways toward filling bellies as well.

Chua Lam’s is relatively casual dining compared to some fancier dim sum places around, making it a welcomed addition for seekers of affordable lunches as well as anyone craving standard dim sum fare: your sui mai, your cheong fun, your custard buns, your chicken feet, yes, all that and more line the (naturally) rather lengthy menu.

But the restaurant also stands out in certain ways that go beyond the price tags. For one thing, the staff are as helpful as they are plentiful, and customers benefit from a service culture that only falls just short of what one would expect at Haidilao. (And, though no one will be swinging any noodles in front of you, a waiter will come out and make a show of cutting your Cantonese sponge cake with a pair of scissors.)

Moreover, Lam’s makes no secret of the fact that it carries its own specialty dishes, displaying images of them prominently on the walls, and, although sweet-tooths will rejoice, proponents of savory flavors should be forewarned that many of the less familiar dishes may be unexpectedly sugary.

First and foremost are the hawthorn barbecued pork balls (RMB 22), which are packed with flavor, albeit a sweet flavor inside and out – the hawthorn sauce-covered meat on the inside and the sugar-topped crust in which it is encased.

Other saccharine choices include the vanilla cream rolls (RMB 22), the glutinous rice chicken in bamboo leaf (RMB 18), and, most Instagrammably, the avocado and crab in sweet cookies (RMB 18), served on a plate of powdered sugar.

On the savory side, Lam’s specializes in finely prepared egg whites with just the right crumbly texture, which can be found topping the open-faced crab dumplings (RMB 28) as well as inside crispy spring rolls (RMB 28).

As you might guess for a dim sum spot, there’s far more to try as well, and most everyone will find something pleasing regardless of their tolerance for sweetness. In fact, for the first such place in the neighborhood, we couldn’t ask for a more broadly appealing style.

Chua Lam’s Dim Sum
South Sanlitun Topwin Center, F1 Chaoyang District
朝阳区南三里屯通盈中心一楼

READ: Take a Walk Down a Revamped Instreet, Packed with Fresh Openings

Images: Joey Knotts