Having dim sum for Asian New Year?

Dim sum in Hong Kong.  Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Many people in the South Bay are celebrating Asian New Year this week, entertaining friends and family with lots of food and tea.  While the local Filipino and Vietnamese communities are also celebrating, the Asian New Year is primarily associated with the Chinese and Taiwanese communities in the Santa Clara Valley.  The San Jose area has many independent Chinese and Taiwanese food shops and restaurants where locals go, and dim sum is especially popular for the New Year holiday, washed down with lots of tea.  Here are only a few of the favorite local places to buy dim sum to-go; only a few of them offer eat-in amenities:



99 Ranch Market
1688 Hostetter Road #E
San Jose, CA 95131
(408) 436-8899

Dynasty Chinese Seafood
1001 Story Rd, Ste 200
San Jose, CA 95122
(408) 286-6668

King Egg Roll
980 Lundy Ave
San Jose, CA 95133
(408) 729-8307

L and M Bakery & Deli
1741 Berryessa Rd
San Jose, CA 95133
(408) 937-7676

Mayflower Restaurant
222 Great Mall Drive
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 935-6999

Mayflower [not affiliated with the Mayflower restaurant in Milpitas]
1080 Saratoga Ave
San Jose, CA 95129
(408) 246-9550

Ocean Delight Restaurant
5400 Monterey Highway
San Jose, CA 95111-2952
(408) 281-3838

Sino Restaurant and Lounge
377 Santana Row
San Jose, CA 95128
(408) 247-8880

Tai Pan Dim Sum Bakery
1031 E. Capitol Expressway, Suite 30
San Jose, CA 95121
(408) 225-8833

Most, if not all, of these places serve some kind of tea to go with your meal, from Jasmine green tea to Taiwanese bubble tea.  Still, you’ll have fresher-tasting tea with your meal if you make it at home, with loose leaf tea in tea filter bags or using a traditional strainer.  Jasmine and other Chinese teas can be found easily in any Asian grocery store in the San Jose area, and in almost all American supermarkets in the International food aisle. Of course, if you don't want to go out, you could arrange your own dim sum lunch at home!

Copyright 2010, Elizabeth Urbach.

Like what you read?  Leave a comment below, click on “Subscribe” above, visit the San Jose Tea Examiner page on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter @SanJoseTea!

For more info: "Where to buy tea filter bags in San Jose"
"Which foods go with green tea?"
"Which foods go with black tea?"
"Tea tasting 101: characteristics of a good quality green tea"