No matter how many times you’ve had dim sum, the experience never fails to evoke a sense of excitement, especially at a place like Ming’s in Palo Alto. With an endless array of savory buns, dainty dumplings, mouthwatering spring rolls and more, it’s no wonder Ming’s dim sum dynasty has lasted for more than 50 years.
Housed inside a palatial pagoda-style building, complete with roof tiles and two foo dogs at the entrance, Ming’s offers two spacious dining rooms, a large bar area, and a number of private rooms. While Ming’s is renowned for its vast menu of Cantonese, Shanghainese and Szechuan-style dishes, at lunchtime dim sum is the main draw. Groups large and small—from family gatherings to business meetings—fill the bustling dining room while busy servers push carts laden with small plates and baskets of scrumptious-looking food.
Rich aromas swirl in the air as the carts pass your table, and as you crane your neck trying to decide which tasty treats strike your fancy, it’s hard to resist the urge to order one of everything. Try starting with 
the usual dim sum favorites, like ha gau, round steamed dumplings with a succulent shrimp filling enrobed in delicate rice-flour wrappers; char siu bao, steamed buns filled with a sweet Cantonese barbecued pork filling; siu mai pork dumplings; or the fried prawn egg rolls.
Along with the usual dim sum staples, Ming’s goes one step further with a wide variety of more unusual options. Don’t miss the refreshing seaweed salad, the superb honey walnut prawns, or the delightful scallion pancakes.
The chow fun noodles—wide rice noodles stir-fried with soy sauce, bean sprouts and scallions—are also a treat, as is the Shanghai noodle soup with shredded pork and preserved cabbage. Polish off your experience with a bowl of fruit or an egg custard tart. Whatever you do, though, be sure to drink plenty of tea with your meal—it’s an essential dim sum tradition.
Afterward, you may swear to your companions that you’re too full to even think about more food, but deep down, you’ll secretly be looking forward to returning for another delectable Ming’s experience. —Stephanie Soong
DIM SUM ESSENTIALS
When you are seated, an order card will be left on your table. Each dish falls into a different price category; for every dish you order from a cart, your server will stamp your card according to the dish’s price group. At the end of the meal, all the stamps are tallied and you are charged accordingly.
If you don’t see your favorite items on the carts, ask your server—he or she will probably be able to have it made to order for you.
Don’t be afraid to try something new—if it looks good, it probably tastes good, too.
Since tea is essential to dim sum (the act of eating dim sum is yum cha, which means “tea drinking,”) Ming’s charges a small fee per pot. While jasmine tea is usually served, you can request another such as green or oolong. Of course, you can also order other drinks, including beer and wine from the full bar.
Location:
1700 Embarcadero Rd., at East Bayshore off Hwy. 101, Palo Alto
Hours:
Open 365 days a year: Mon-Sat, 11-9; Sun, 10:30-9. Dim sum daily until 3pm.
More Info:
650/856-7700
www.mings.com
