Bamboo Steamer Shop

One of the few traditional shops remaining in Yaumatei. This one obviously specializing in bamboo steamers.

It was said that traditionally all dim sum were cooked in big steamers all over China. A customer’s order was then taken out from the big steamer and served on a dish. After the war, a Hong Kong restaurant came up with the idea of individualized service by cooking each dish in a small steamer, and then serving the food in the steamer itself. This practice was very popular among customers and gradually became the norm that we are familiar with today. Now Hong Kong style dim sum is popular all over China.

Nowadays, these bamboo steamers are all imported from mainland China, of course. These bamboo steamers themselves are actually rather intricate artifacts and make very nice decorations.