Dim Sims vs Dim Sum: What’s the Difference?

Clearing Up the Confusion

The names sound alike, and both involve dumplings. But dim sims vs dim sum is a comparison worth making, because they’re very different things.

What Is Dim Sum?

Dim sum is a traditional Cantonese dining style, featuring delicate dumplings, siu mai, and other bite-sized dishes. It’s usually eaten as part of yum cha, shared with family and friends over tea.

What Is a Dim Sim?

A dim sim, by contrast, is an Australian invention. Created in the 1940s, it’s larger, peppery, and wrapped in thick skin. Sold individually, it can be fried or steamed, and it’s found everywhere from markets to fish and chip shops.

Cultural Differences

Dim sum is eaten in restaurants as part of a meal. Dim sims are more casual, grab-and-go food you’ll find at takeaways, sporting grounds, and supermarkets.

Two Foods, Two Stories

Understanding dim sims vs dim sum highlights how a Chinese-inspired snack was adapted into something uniquely Australian. Both are delicious, but only one is a true Aussie icon.