Menu decisions
How to order dim sum from a paper menu: quantities and dish numbers
Read a dim sum tick sheet, distinguish baskets from pieces, check price categories, and confirm that your paper order has reached the restaurant staff.
Reviewed by SeEat editorial ·
Start here
First ask whether the blank beside each dish is for a tick or a numeric quantity. Choose the dish number, enter the number of orders the restaurant requires, and hand the sheet to staff. One order may be a basket with several pieces; it does not necessarily mean one dumpling.
Choices to compare
Match the item number
Use the printed dish number to connect a translated name with the order line. Dim Sum Guide describes a paper checklist ordering method.[1] Confirm the filling of unfamiliar dishes before marking them.
Confirm the quantity unit
Ask: “If I put 1 here, does that mean one basket?” Then ask how many pieces are in it. Do not fill the form with a piece count unless the restaurant has explicitly told you that is how its sheet works.
Check the order was submitted
A completed sheet left on the table may not reach the kitchen. Ask whether staff collect it, you hand it over, or the restaurant has a digital alternative. Keep track of any second sheet to avoid repeating an earlier order.
A worked example without assuming the form
Suppose item 12 is a shrimp dumpling and staff confirm one order is a basket of three. To request one basket, write “1” in the order field—not “3.” To request two baskets, write “2.” This example applies only after staff have confirmed the sheet’s unit.
Cross out a changed item clearly or ask for a fresh sheet. Do not leave an ambiguous tick beside a new quantity. If a dish is sold individually, use its own unit rather than carrying the basket rule across every line.
Separate prices, quantities and tea
Small, medium or large categories may organise prices rather than count pieces. Read the key or ask for the actual quantity. A more expensive category does not automatically mean a larger shareable portion.
Check whether drinks or tea are ordered on the same sheet and whether they are charged per person. Confirm those items directly instead of assuming the food checklist covers the whole bill. Keep the submitted order distinct from a bill or cart stamp card.
Build your order
Suggested starting plan; adjust to the restaurant’s portions and your appetite.
- Ask how to mark orders and which unit the quantity field uses.
- Select dish numbers, confirm fillings and record basket or item quantities.
- Submit the sheet and check how to add another round without duplicating it.
Ask your server
- Do you want ticks or numbers in this column?
- Does “1” mean one basket, and how many pieces are in it?
- Do we give this sheet to you, and how do we add more later?
Before you order
Can I just point to a dish?
Ask staff whether they can take the order that way. The sheet is a tool; you can clarify a name or filling before writing anything.
Is a cart stamp card the same as a paper order sheet?
No. A record of dishes already accepted and a form requesting new dishes serve different purposes. Ask which one you have.
Sources
- Dim Sum Guide. The ultimate guide to dim sum. Accessed
Choose from the menu in front of you
SeEat reads menus and helps you compare dishes with your taste. Confirm undisclosed ingredients and portions with restaurant staff.