With Media’s solid reputation of authentic cuisine from around the globe, Tom’s Dim Sum is the newest spot offering traditional dishes. Located at 13 E. State St., Tom’s Dim Sum is a revival of the original Dim Sum Garden in Philadelphia’s Chinatown. Walk through the doors and you’ll immediately notice the Asian-inspired decor, including a beautiful mural spanning the wall.
The staff is friendly and pleased to assist diners, especially those who might not be familiar with dim sum. The traditional style of Chinese cuisine is prepared as bite-sized portions served in steamer baskets or on small plates. Originally a Cantonese custom, dim sum is linked to the Chinese tradition of drinking tea. Tea houses sprung up to accommodate tired travelers and farmers toiling in the fields, and eventually the simple snacks became the main focus of the meal. Tea is still the traditional beginning of the Chinese meal. When choosing a meal, it’s customary to order family-style for sharing dishes among everyone. That way, everyone can taste a wide variety of foods.
I sampled quite a few of Tom’s Dim Sum specialities with the following results.
The Dumplings
The thin-skinned, fragile dumplings come in many varieties, including chicken, beef, seafood and pork. The dumplings have pursed tops and there’s a particular practice when eating them. Place one dumpling into the pho spoon, which may be challenging. The rich, sweet broth and minced pork and spices nestled inside the delicate skins were steaming hot. Thank goodness the server warned me. To cool it down, he suggested I put a small hole in the dumpling to allow the broth to flow into the spoon. The next and final step is to sip it all down in one shot or so.
Interesting to note, dumplings are a representative Chinese cuisine, and both the shape and filling have cultural meaning. During China’s annual Spring Festival, dumplings express some people’s aspiration for a better life and hopes for certain blessings.
The Spring Rolls
One of dozens of dim sum selections are the spring rolls. They’re miniature in size and come in pairs. They’re flaky and filled with crispy cabbage, carrots and onion. Did you know? Also named “spring pancakes” or “thin pancakes,” spring rolls are a traditional Chinese New Year food.
The Soups
I’ve always enjoyed a savory, brothy Chinese-style soup. There are many on the menu at Tom’s, including Shanghai wonton, roast duck and braised beef. I chose the shredded pork and pickled cabbage noodle soup, which can be eaten as a meal all by itself. Tom’s Dim Sum offers a large bowl filled with a slightly spicy broth, thin pork strips, pickled cabbage, bok choy and scallions. The soup highlight comes in the thick, hearty Chinese noodles. Simple and delicious.
The Stir-Fried Noodles
The thick Chinese noodles are also featured in the stir-fried noodle dishes. As with the other entrees, Tom’s Dim Sum has a wide array of flavors, including vegetable, chicken and shrimp stir-fried noodles. I went with the Shanghai stir fry. The soft noodles, crispy, fresh vegetables, strips of pork and spicy sauce complement each other well, and I was most delighted with this part of my meal.
The dishes at Tom’s Dim Sum are very fairly priced for such generous portions, especially when dining with a group. And, a quick side note—it’s customary to eat with chopsticks at Tom’s Dim Sum, but don’t feel awkward asking for a fork.
Find Tom’s Dim Sum at 13 E. State St. in Media; phone: (610) 566-6688.
- Photos: Lauren Avellino Turton
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