New China II in Baltimore: Cantonese Dim Sum and Roasted Meats on East Pratt Street
New China II is a Cantonese restaurant specializing in dim sum and roasted meats, located on East Pratt Street in Fells Point. The dining room seats roughly 100 guests across two levels, with a casual, no-frills setup typical of working Cantonese establishments. It has operated since the 1990s and remains one of Baltimore's few dedicated dim sum venues.
What New China II Actually Is
New China II serves Cantonese cuisine with an emphasis on dim sum during lunch hours and a full menu of roasted and stir-fried dishes at dinner. The restaurant is not upscale; tables are tight, service is transactional, and the space echoes with conversation and carts. This is a neighborhood restaurant where the focus is on food technique rather than ambiance. Cantonese roasted meats and dim sum require specific equipment and skill: a proper roasting oven for char siu (barbecued pork), soy chicken, and roasted duck, and steamers for dumplings that must be made fresh in small batches. New China II has both.
Dim Sum Service and Pricing
Dim sum is served daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with carts wheeled through the dining room. Servers place steamed baskets and small plates on tables; you pay per item consumed. Individual dim sum items typically cost $3 to $5 per basket or plate. A standard dim sum lunch for one person runs $15 to $25 depending on how many items you order. Har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), and char siu bao (barbecued pork buns) are reliable choices; less common offerings rotate, so what is available may vary by visit.
Dinner service runs from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Roasted meats (soy chicken, roasted duck, char siu pork) are sold by the piece or half-portion and cost between $8 and $16. Stir-fried noodle and rice dishes range from $8 to $14. Beer and soft drinks are available; no full liquor license.
How New China II Compares Locally
Baltimore has limited options for traditional Cantonese cooking. Jing Asia Cuisine, also in Fells Point, offers Cantonese and pan-Asian dishes in a more polished dining room, but does not serve dim sum. For dim sum specifically, New China II is the most reliable cart-service option in the city. Alternatively, Oriental Pearl in Timonium offers dim sum from a menu rather than carts; service is quieter and portions can be larger, but the menu is narrower and the neighborhood less walkable than Fells Point.
Choose New China II if you want the traditional dim sum cart experience and are comfortable in a working-class environment. Choose Oriental Pearl if you prefer a calmer meal and do not need the full range of dim sum items. Choose Jing Asia if you want Cantonese cooking in a more polished space but are willing to skip dim sum.
Who This Suits and Who It Does Not
New China II works well for Cantonese food enthusiasts, diners seeking authentic dim sum without pretense, and groups willing to order family-style at dinner. It suits casual weekday lunches and small celebrations. It does not suit diners who need quiet, spacious seating, extensive vegetarian options beyond the dim sum cart, or a visible wine program. Cantonese cooking is pork and seafood-forward; vegetarian choices are limited.
What Your First Visit Involves
Arrive before noon on a weekday for the fullest dim sum selection. You will be seated quickly, and servers will begin circulating with carts within minutes. Flag a cart, point at items you want, or ask the server what is fresh. Dim sum is meant to be ordered piece by piece, so pace yourself; it is easy to over-order. At dinner, request a table by phone during peak hours (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.); walk-ins are accepted during off-peak times. Bring cash or card; both are accepted. There is no reservation system for dim sum service.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
New China II is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for dim sum and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. for dinner daily. It is closed on major holidays; confirm specific closures if planning a holiday visit. The restaurant is located on East Pratt Street in Fells Point, a walkable neighborhood with street parking. Street parking fills quickly during lunch and dinner rush; a parking garage is one block away on Broadway. There is no dedicated lot.
New China II remains relevant in Baltimore because it fills a specific need: authentic dim sum service in a city with few options, and roasted meats made in-house with techniques that most local restaurants have abandoned.
