Dim Sum translates to “touch the heart” in English…
and since it’s in our name, it’s only fitting that we share a few things with you that touch our heart and give us life.
1. We love having fun.
We live for creating an environment where the vibes are contagious and intoxicating. What’s more fun than good food and good drinks with good people? (hot pink décor surely doesn’t hurt!)
2. We love adventure.
Without adventure, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to share with and learn from each other! As an homage to both the ancient tradition of dim sum being shared among travelers and our own journey and experiences, we pair dim sum style dining with flavors from all over the globe.
3. We love an open mind.
We are admittedly not an authentic or traditional Chinese restaurant, but we hold a sweet spot in our hearts for these places! We’re here to create an experience for everyone that is authentic to us and enjoyed by all.
A little about our start…
Liz and Sean aren’t quite sure how they met.
They started to get to know each other from Sean’s bartending days and Liz’s post-dinner service drinks at his award winning cocktail bar to enjoy the Tom Yum Yum. When Sean kept finding business cards for “And Dim Sum” (just a pipe dream in 2013) slipped in with Liz’s credit card receipts, he wasn’t sure if he was being recruited or courted. The post-shift cocktails led to Liz learning about Sean’s upbringing by a single mother, and how he learned to cook from his Japanese grandmother on a farm in Hawaii. Sean was introduced to Liz’s dream of a modern fusion dim sum restaurant in Richmond where they lived - which finally explained all those business cards.
Somewhere between the DMs and cocktails, they fell in love.
Through that love, they discovered a similar interest in travel and dim sum. Liz had come from working at a dim sum restaurant abroad; Sean from a stint working with the Du family, who opened one of Richmond’s first Chinese restaurants.
Over the next ten years, the couple opened some restaurants and closed some, but never did they create one so connected to their personal journey as And Dim Sum.
Bringing together their shared love of travel, dumplings, small plates and flavors from all over the globe - they blended dim sum style dining, Sean’s culinary talents & childhood nostalgia as well as their love of street style and punk rock aesthetic to create something that wouldn’t be contained within culinary labels. Sean’s love of traditional Japanese cuisine (like dipping chilled soba into mentsuyu) and the other Asian cuisines and dishes prevalent in Hawaii - Korean BBQ, Chinese wontons, and Li Ming Mui to name a few - helped guide the culinary exploration of And Dim Sum. He wanted to show people that these ingredients could be used in varied and new ways, breaking tradition and celebrating creativity. With the addition of a consulting Michelin star chef, the ideation started flowing and And Dim Sum’s menu was born.
With their journey and vision in mind, Liz and Sean knew they needed to bring on a team of people that shared their same interest in learning, exploring and cultivating delight. Each member of the crew at And Dim Sum has proven interest and dedication to the values of the restaurant - whether it’s hospitality, culinary creativity or a never-ending passion for Asian spirits and curated cocktails.
We love sharing with and learning from each other but more importantly with our guests. It helps us grow, touches our hearts and gives us life. There is never a dull day when you’re surrounded by surprise & delight.
Come with an open mind, enjoy a cocktail and most importantly - have fun!
- And Dim Sum
