Dim sum is the grazer’s holy grail. A little of this, a little of that, some tea — sorted. Rendered as tenshin in Japanese, the Chinese term either means “touching or close to the heart,” or alludes to a small snack or light meal.
Though the dishes are believed to have originated in Guangdong province, today they include foods and traditions from around the country, ranging from a myriad of dumpling varieties to fried delights and sweet treats. To list them all — over a thousand — would be insanity.
Dim sum can be found in every echelon of Tokyo dining. The Mandarin Oriental, Grand Hyatt and The Westin all offer dim sum, for those who can afford the price tag. At the other end, there are the big-player chains — a handful of Din Tai Fung branches; homegrown franchise Jin Din Rou; internationally renowned Tim Ho Wan even has two locations in the city. But there’s a raft of delicious dim sum diners hidden in plain sight in many a Tokyo neighborhood. Here’s five of the best, chosen for their cost-effectiveness and authenticity.
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