My first experience with Dim Sum was in Chinatown in Los Angeles. What I did not know at the time was that those Hong Kong restaurants were the models for the American restaurants their dim sum, the Chinese restaurant in LA would not have been there if it were not for those that came before on the other side of the world, where it is hand down the best of the Dim Sum. All Dim Sum restaurants are usually large wide open rooms, filled with the waiters pushing the carts around and a noisy clang and clatter. It is a bit of a chaotic experience.
When it is your first experience at Dim Sum, it may serve you well to bring a group of friends along with you. This is after all a group meal traditionally, and in this way, you and your friends order a bit of everything, allowing you to taste more of the variety that is offered on the menu. One of the restaurants that is known throughout the city as being one of the best of the best is Cuisine Cuisine. Many of the top chefs of Hong Kong are making the dishes here that are traditional Dim Sum recipes. However, the setting is very modern, set atop one of the skyscrapers of downtown, close to some of the best Hong Kong hotels, and the view of the harbour is spectacular.
Menus have become more popular in Dim Sum restaurants, and the push carts are no longer as commonly used as they once were, so the menu could be a bit intimidating for anyone who does not speak the language. Most restaurants now operate in the same way that sushi restaurants do, by handing you a card that you tick off what it is you would like to order. The menus, written in a foreign language, are also quite expansive, and while some may offer English translations, many do not.
At Cuisine Cuisine most of the staff are fluent in English, so for the English speaking customers this is a plus. There are many dishes that are vegetarian, however there are many that are made with a variety of meats. So it is best to consult the waiter, for you may not be interested in accidentally getting a plate of deep fried chicken feet set in front of you. There are of course many other restaurants to choose from in Hong Kong for Dim Sum, this is the birthplace of the traditional feast, so you really can not go wrong with any choice you make.