Emily offers a thorough menu description and recommendation of Dian Du De

Pinkish-red rolls rest on delicate, lacquered plates. Inside, cuts of shrimp are tucked away in burnished flakes fried in egg yolk. Crunchy yet delectable, these “golden sea shrimp sausage rolls” melt in the consumer’s mouth. On another plate, one may find transparent bulb-like buns enveloping a cushiony inside of shrimp and onion seasoning. Noted for its transparent goodness, these “crystal shrimp dumplings” and “golden sea shrimp sausage rolls” are favored delicacies in 点都德, or Diǎn Dū Dé, a Cantonese restaurant rightfully famous for its delicious and aesthetic dim sum.

Diǎn Dū Dé originates from Guangzhou, China. Its founder, Shen Zhihui, inherited several restaurants from his father and decided to renovate one as a teahouse in a Western-style in 2014. This teahouse was named Diǎn Dū Dé and has spread across mainland China from areas in the Pearl River Delta region of China–Shenzhen, Foshan–to more cosmopolitan districts such as Shanghai and Beijing. 

Moreover, this restaurant serves dim sum as the morning, afternoon, and night courses–a stark contrast to others of its ilk. To facilitate the supply of traditional delicacies, the same menu is used–although modifications such as the Japanese mustard salmon tart and Thai iced durian have been added.

If you enjoy a palatable Cantonese-styled meal with adorably minuscule portions that resonate with Southern Chinese cooking, then this restaurant is for you.