China House Restaurant in Baltimore: Cantonese Standards and Dim Sum in Fells Point

China House is a full-service Cantonese restaurant in Fells Point that has operated since the 1980s, serving dim sum, roasted meats, and noodle dishes from a dining room that seats roughly 100 and maintains the casual, no-frills aesthetic typical of neighborhood Chinese establishments in Baltimore.

What China House actually is

Located on the block between Thames and Fleet Streets, China House operates as a sit-down Cantonese spot rather than a takeout counter. The kitchen specializes in roasted duck, pork, and chicken hung in the window, alongside hand-pulled noodles and a dim sum service that runs during lunch hours. The space itself is narrow, with tables close together and decor that prioritizes function over design. Service is straightforward and staff-guided; dim sum does not arrive by cart but is ordered from a printed menu or called out by servers moving through the room.

Menu, dim sum service, and pricing

Dim sum runs daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with standard basket pricing between $3 and $5 per order. Shumai, har gow (shrimp dumplings), char siu bao (pork bun), and egg custard tarts are consistent offerings. A typical dim sum visit for one person costs $12 to $18 with tea included.

Roasted meats are ordered à la carte: half roasted duck runs $16 to $18 depending on size, served with a side of rice or noodles. Cantonese-style chow mein and lo mein entrees range from $9 to $14. Rice and noodle bowls with roasted meat top out at $15. Lunch specials, available 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., reduce many entrées to $8 to $11 with fried rice or noodles included. Verify current pricing by phone, as restaurant pricing adjusts seasonally.

How China House compares to other Baltimore Cantonese options

Dim sum in Baltimore operates at two speeds: sit-down service like China House's menu-order system, or cart-based dim sum at larger Cantonese houses in the Northeast. New Golden Gate on Eastern Avenue runs a cart service with higher volume and lower per-basket prices ($2 to $3), but the dining room is larger and less intimate. Jade Garden in Pikesville also offers cart service and a broader menu of sit-down dishes, but sits outside central Baltimore. For Fells Point diners, China House's proximity and consistent roasted meat quality make it practical for lunch or casual dinner; for dim sum enthusiasts seeking cart service and wider selection, New Golden Gate in Northeast Baltimore is the conventional choice. China House suits a meal tied to Fells Point's geography, not a dedicated dim sum crawl.

Who it suits and who it doesn't

China House works for Fells Point residents and workers seeking lunch-hour dim sum without traveling, for diners comfortable with table-close seating and minimal decor, and for those ordering roasted meat dishes in a Cantonese style. It does not suit guests expecting upscale presentation, Americanized Chinese food, or extensive vegetarian selections. The dim sum menu, while adequate, is narrower than cart-service venues; order roasted meat if dim sum feels limited.

What the first visit involves

Arrive during dim sum hours (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for the most active experience and widest basket selection. A server will seat you, pour tea (usually complimentary), and hand you a printed menu or recite available baskets. Mark items on the paper menu or point to what you want. Plates arrive in stacks; pay as you go, with the bill tallied at the end by counting plates. Entrée orders are placed separately and arrive within 10 to 15 minutes. The meal is efficient rather than leisurely; expect to finish dim sum and tea in under an hour.

Hours, parking, and logistics

China House opens at 11 a.m. daily and closes at 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 p.m. Sunday. Dim sum service ends at 3 p.m. Street parking on Thames and Fleet Streets is metered; the Fells Point garage is a half-block away. The restaurant does not take reservations for dim sum but accepts them for groups of six or more ordering entrées only. Call ahead during slower weekday mornings to confirm dim sum baskets are being served.

China House fills a practical role in Fells Point's restaurant landscape: reliable roasted Cantonese meat and working-hour dim sum without the drive to Northeast Baltimore or the upscale pricing of newer Chinese establishments downtown.