Jing Fong -- A Must See (er, Eat) for Dim Sum Lovers.

Various Dim Sum Items

You haven't really lived the New York dream until you've gone to Chinatown on a Sunday morning for a "dim sum" brunch. Dim sum is a Cantonese tradition that, at least in America, involves a smorgasbord of dumplings, shumai, pork buns and other small Chinese dishes that are typically wheeled around on push-carts from table to table while brunch patrons pick and choose their favorites. Most restaurants that offer dim sum also include hot tea, and the dim sum dishes range from $2-5 each. Each plate is designed to be shared, and chances are, on a busy weekend, you will even end up sharing a table with some strangers (although you do not typicaly share your food with them, you may be expected to engage in some pleasant small talk).

Sunday Dim Sum Lovers Wait 20+ Min for Jing Fong

One of the best places at which I have enjoyed the dim sum experience is Chinatown's Jing Fong restaurant, located at 20 Elizabeth Street, just south of Canal. The dim sum is served piping hot, and the meat and seafood fillings are tasty and fresh. And, despite a dining room that can hold more than 700 people, the wait staff is fairly attentive, at least when it comes to serving food. While you may have to search out a waiter with enough patience to bring water for your table, when it comes to food dishes, you will practically feel accosted by the aggressiveness in which servers try to convince you to try whatever is on their cart.

Opulent 750+ Person Dining Area

Jing Fong is the largest restaurant I have ever been to in Chinatown, and by far has the best dim sum around (runner up: Ping's Seafood). My favorite dish is "dim sum 64." I have no idea what the actual name is, whether in Cantonese or English, but it is basically a sweet beef confit cooked into a thin, crepe-like wrap, and smothered in something that looks like soy sauce but is even more delicious. Many people also enjoy the "pork buns," fluffy dough balls filled with minced pork.

Although the dim sum experience itself may be fast-paced, be prepared to wait 20 minutes or more at popular restaurants like Jing Fong. I promise the wait is worth it.

Pork Buns

UPDATE: Thanks to commenter, Yvonne, I now know what "dim sum 64" is -- a rice noodle roll! Yum!