Taste Of China in Baltimore: Dim Sum and Szechuan in Fells Point

Taste Of China is a full-service Cantonese and Szechuan restaurant in Fells Point that specializes in dim sum service during lunch and dinner preparations of regional Chinese standards. The menu runs across two cuisines with distinct prep styles: Cantonese dim sum arrives by cart during service hours, and Szechuan dishes emphasize chili heat and numbing Szechuan peppercorns. It occupies a mid-size dining room on Eastern Avenue and serves both walk-ins and parties at moderate price points.

What the restaurant actually is

The space functions as two separate operations within one kitchen. Dim sum service follows the traditional model of servers pushing carts laden with small plates of dumplings, buns, and rolls past seated tables; diners flag down the cart and point to items they want. Entrees from the main menu arrive plated and cooked to order. The dim sum format means you eat as you go rather than ordering everything upfront. Weekend lunch draws the largest crowds for dim sum; weekday service is quieter.

Dim sum and Szechuan menu with pricing

Dim sum plates cost between $3 and $6 per item, depending on the protein and complexity. Shrimp dumplings, pork siu mai, and char siu bao (barbecued pork bun) are standard carts staples. Chicken feet in black bean sauce and sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf appear regularly. Entrees from the Szechuan and Cantonese sections of the menu run $12 to $22. Mapo tofu (silken tofu in numbing chili oil with ground pork) and chungking chicken (cubed chicken in a dry chili sauce with peanuts) are signature Szechuan dishes. Cantonese preparations include salt-and-pepper squid, steamed fish with ginger, and roast duck by the pound. Rice and noodle dishes cost $10 to $15. Verify dim sum availability and specific entree offerings when calling; the menu rotates with ingredient availability.

How Taste Of China compares to other Baltimore Chinese restaurants

Dim sum in Baltimore centers on two models: carts (Taste Of China, Jade Garden in Fells Point) and order-from-menu (most other Cantonese spots). Cart service moves faster for large groups but gives less control over what you receive; Jade Garden offers both, though cart availability depends on time of day. For pure Szechuan numbing-spice cooking, Taste Of China competes primarily with Dynasty in Canton, which emphasizes the same ingredient base but sits in a more formal room. Taste Of China's Szechuan heat is direct and accessible, not refined toward a white-tablecloth audience. For dim sum alone without wanting a full Szechuan menu, Jade Garden may be the better pick if cart service aligns with your timing. For Szechuan entrees without dim sum, Dynasty offers deeper kitchen depth but higher prices.

Who this restaurant suits and who it doesn't

Dim sum works for groups of four or more, families with young children (small plates, quick pace), and first-timers comfortable with pointing at carts rather than reading descriptions. Solo diners often feel awkward during peak dim sum service because the carts keep moving and portions are meant for sharing. Weekend lunch is the dim sum sweet spot; dinner dim sum operates on a narrower schedule. Szechuan entrees suit heat-tolerant eaters and anyone wanting peppercorn numbing sensation; if you dislike chili or prefer mild flavors, the Cantonese and noodle sections offer milder alternatives. The restaurant does not accommodate reservations for dim sum during peak weekend lunch, so expect wait times on Saturday and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

What the first visit involves

Arrive early on weekends or expect a 20 to 40 minute wait during peak hours. Once seated, servers begin circulating with carts immediately. Learn the names of a few items you recognize (siu mai, har gow for shrimp dumplings, bao for buns) and point or nod. Each cart staff member marks your table's check card with each item; the final bill is tallied by count and item price. Bring cash if possible; card processing can slow the checkout. If ordering from the Szechuan menu instead of or in addition to dim sum, specify your chili tolerance when ordering; the kitchen can adjust heat on request.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Taste Of China operates Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday noon to 10 p.m. Closed Mondays. Dim sum service typically runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 3 p.m. on weekends; call ahead to confirm cart availability. Street parking on Eastern Avenue and surrounding blocks is first-come, first-served; a paid lot sits two blocks north. The restaurant does not have reserved parking.

Taste Of China holds its place because dim sum carts and Szechuan peppercorn heat both demand in-person execution; neither translates to takeout. It delivers exactly what it promises within reasonable price tiers.