Dim Sum

What a delightful way to snack--choosing whatever you want from carts that move among the tables.

NBC Seafood: This bustling Monterey Park establishment offers more than 40 varieties of dim sum, including har gow (steamed shrimp dumpling), shiu mai (a steamed pork dumpling) and chai fui bao (an airy barbecue pork bun). For more exotic choices, sample the green chai shrimp or the shrimp paste with sugar cane. Daily, 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. $1.90 to $6. NBC Seafood, 404 S. Atlantic Blvd., Monterey Park, (626) 282-2323.

ABC Seafood: ABC offers a crab ball, a flavorful leek and shrimp deep-fried roll and a vast array of dumplings. Daily, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. $1.60 to $8. ABC Seafood, 205 Ord St., Chinatown, (213) 680-2887.

Empress Pavilion: This place seats 600, and it’s packed all day long. Along with egg rolls and pot stickers, its 50 dim sum choices include chicken bolo (an unusual bun) and mango and shrimp fried roll. Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; weekends, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. $2.05 to $4.20. Empress Pavilion, Bamboo Plaza, 988 N. Hill St., Chinatown, (213) 617-9898.

Sea Empress: Including desserts, there are usually around 75 kinds of dim sum. Seasonal spring specials include scallop and shrimp dumpling and golden fish cake. There’s a vegetarian dumpling of bok choy, cilantro and carrots, and fried shrimp in rice paper with sesame seeds. Weekdays, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sundays; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $1.95 to $5.80. Sea Empress, Pacific Square, 1636 W. Redondo Beach Blvd., Gardena, (310) 538-6868.

Seafood Paradise: The 60 varieties here include fried seaweed-wrapped shrimp with plum sauce, crisp fried tofu with “XO” sauce and deep-fried shrimp wrapped in eggplant. Daily, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $1.70 to $6.50. Seafood Paradise, 8602 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, (714) 893-6066.

Typhoon: So you just want some dim sum in the evening? Well, here you can get pork or shrimp shiu mai or bao, a steamed bun filled with pork, shrimp, chicken or vegetables while you’re sipping a cocktail. (Pork shiu mai, $7.75; shrimp shiu mai, $7.95; bao, $1.75.) Typhoon, Santa Monica Airport, 3221 Donald Douglas Loop S., Santa Monica, (310) 390-6565.