OLDEST DIM SUM RESTAURANT IN LONDON

When it comes to food that has humble origins and a fancy modern day reputation, I can't help but to chuckle a little bit. To let you in on a secret, dim sum really started out as a teahouse accompaniment while stopping for a tea break! You see, during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) people would be travelling on something called the silk road. This was a global network of trade routes that connected China to the rest of the world. Thirsty work right? So a teahouse would have been a God-send, especially if it comes with a snack to boost energy. If you want to see a deep dive, I quite enjoyed this video over on YouTube.

"To start with, Dim Sum consisted of only seeds and nuts, but it began to evolve into steamed buns and dumplings as time went on and as culinary skills advanced." - School of wok

Thanks to the evolution of a once humble teahouse snack, to a now globally loved intricate meal, I was able to track down the oldest operating dim sum restaurant in London. It happens to be in Chinatown which is a plus, as it meant I could pick up another size bamboo steamer while there! Steamer takeaway basket in hand, I headed a road over to the restaurant Joy King Lau. Once outside at opening time, I could see inside had a nice ambiance and calm setting. I strolled inside and was seated right away, followed by a quick glaze of the menu and I was on my way to ordering. Making sure to keep it traditional, I ordered a pot of Chinese tea alongside 3 dim sum plates and a soup for good measure.

In the pictures you'll see deep fried custard buns, deep fried shredded duck rolls, Shanghai

steamed pork dumplings and a minced beef and egg drop soup. Let me tell you. Every dish on the table made my mouth drop, and while I could blame the light breakfast the flavours really cuddled me. Having the tea was so refreshing, I could see how the tradition made sense. The deep fried custard buns were the perfect dessert for me, super light and fluffy but with a lightly crispy exterior. The soup was so well balanced, and not overly filling that I couldn't enjoy the rest of the meal without feeling bloated.

"Yum cha (飲茶) literally means ‘to drink tea’, whilst dim sum (點心) refers to the small plates of food. In English, if you are to have dim sum or go to yum cha, they are understood to be the same thing." - Hong Kong tourism

The one I wish I tried was the classic char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), soft and pillowy filled with deliciously soft filling. Because I've had it many time I chose different dim sum options this time and it paid off. Highly recommend venturing into Chinatown at noon to avoid the crowds later in the day!

Happy historical eating! T x