Canton House Restaurant in Atlanta: A Practical Guide to Classic Dim Sum and Cantonese Dining

If you ask Atlanta locals where to find traditional dim sum on carts, Canton House Restaurant in Doraville often comes up. For many, it is a familiar spot for weekend brunch-style gatherings, shared plates, and family celebrations centered around Cantonese cuisine.

This guide walks through what to expect from Canton House Restaurant in Atlanta, how dim sum service works, what typical dishes look like, and how to make the most of a visit, especially if you are new to this style of dining.

What Makes Canton House Stand Out in Atlanta

Canton House sits on Buford Highway, a corridor known for its range of Asian and international restaurants. Within that landscape, it is commonly recognized for:

A focus on Cantonese-style dim sum
A large, banquet-style dining room suitable for groups
Cart-based service during busy dim sum periods
A full menu of seafood and classic Cantonese dishes beyond dim sum hours

Rather than a trendy or fusion-style restaurant, Canton House leans toward a traditional Chinese banquet hall atmosphere: round tables, white tablecloths, shared dishes, and a focus on group dining.

Understanding Dim Sum at Canton House

Dim sum is often described as a Cantonese brunch built around small plates, tea, and sharing. At Canton House, this typically appears in the form of carts pushed through the dining room, especially during peak hours such as late mornings and early afternoons on weekends.

How Dim Sum Service Usually Works

When you sit down for dim sum:

You are given a ticket or order sheet.
Each time you select a dish from a cart, the server marks your ticket.
Carts circulate with different categories of food.
These might include steamed items, fried items, buns, desserts, and specialty dishes.
You choose visually.
You can point to what looks appealing; staff often describe dishes simply if you ask.
Total is calculated from your ticket at the end.
The final bill is based on how many items and which categories you selected.

This style of service allows you to try a variety of small plates without committing to one large entrée.

Popular Dim Sum Dishes to Look For

While actual offerings vary, many visitors encounter a core set of classic dim sum dishes at Canton House.

Steamed Favorites

Shrimp Har Gow (shrimp dumplings)
Translucent wrappers filled with shrimp. Often considered a benchmark dish for dim sum quality.
Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings)
Open-topped dumplings, usually yellow-skinned, with a savory filling.
Char Siu Bao (barbecue pork buns)
Soft, white buns with sweet-savory roast pork inside.
Steamed Spare Ribs with Black Bean Sauce
Small pork rib pieces seasoned with fermented black beans and peppers.
Chicken Feet (phoenix claws)
Braised and marinated; appreciated by diners familiar with traditional Cantonese textures and flavors.

Pan-Fried and Deep-Fried Options

Turnip Cake (Lo Bak Go)
Savory cakes made from shredded radish and rice flour, pan-fried for a crisp exterior.
Spring Rolls
Crispy rolls, often filled with vegetables and sometimes meat.
Fried Taro Dumplings
Mashed taro root filled with meat, then deep-fried to a lacy, crisp texture.

Rice, Noodles, and Rice Rolls

Cheung Fun (rice noodle rolls)
Silky rice rolls wrapped around shrimp, beef, or barbecue pork, served with soy-based sauce.
Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf
Glutinous rice wrapped and steamed in lotus leaf, usually with meat and mushrooms inside.

Sweets and Desserts

Egg Custard Tarts
Flaky pastry shells with smooth, lightly sweet custard.
Mango Pudding
Soft, chilled dessert with a fruity flavor.
Sesame Balls
Glutinous rice dough filled with sweet paste (commonly red bean or lotus) and deep-fried, coated in sesame seeds.

📝 Tip: If you are new to dim sum, starting with har gow, siu mai, barbecue pork buns, and egg tarts offers a gentle introduction to classic flavors and textures.

Beyond Dim Sum: Cantonese Dishes and Banquet-Style Dining

Canton House also operates as a full-service Cantonese restaurant, particularly outside busy dim sum hours or for evening meals.

Common categories on the broader menu include:

Seafood:
Whole fish, salt-and-pepper shrimp, clams or mussels in black bean sauce, stir-fried squid.
Meat Dishes:
Roast duck, crispy pork, beef with broccoli, sweet and sour pork, and Cantonese-style steak or short ribs.
Vegetable and Tofu Plates:
Stir-fried Chinese broccoli (gai lan), mixed vegetables with tofu, eggplant with garlic sauce.
Rice and Noodles:
Yangzhou fried rice, chow fun (wide rice noodles), lo mein, and crispy pan-fried noodles topped with sauce and toppings.

These dishes are typically served family-style, intended to be shared across the table.

Atmosphere and Setting

Canton House’s interior follows a traditional Chinese banquet hall layout:

Large round tables, often with lazy Susans for easy sharing
Bright lighting and straightforward décor
A focus on functionality and capacity rather than elaborate design

Because of its size, the restaurant often hosts:

Family gatherings
Holiday meals
Group celebrations
Work or community events

During busy times, the dining room can be lively and loud, which many diners associate with a classic dim sum experience.

Practical Tips for Visiting Canton House in Atlanta

To make a visit smoother—especially if you are going on a weekend or with a group—these practical points can help.

When to Go

Weekends late morning to early afternoon typically bring the most active dim sum cart service and the highest energy level.
Weekday visits may offer a quieter space, with more focus on ordering from the menu rather than heavy cart circulation.

Wait times can build during peak hours, especially on popular holidays or weekends, so some diners choose to arrive earlier in the day.

How to Navigate the Menu and Carts

Scan the room when you sit down.
Notice which carts are circulating and what other tables are selecting.
Ask brief questions if you are unsure.
Simple questions like “pork or shrimp?” or “spicy?” often receive quick clarifications.
Pace your selections.
It is easy to pick too many dishes early; allowing carts to pass a few times helps you see the full range of options.
Mix textures and cooking styles.
Balancing steamed, fried, and braised items creates a more satisfying experience.

Group Dining Logistics

Larger groups often benefit from a round table with a lazy Susan, which the staff commonly provides when available.
Sharing dishes family-style is the norm; most plates are not designed as single-person entrées.

Canton House vs. Other Dim Sum Options in Atlanta

Atlanta’s restaurant scene includes a growing number of dim sum and Cantonese-inspired spots, ranging from small eateries to modern, upscale spaces. Within this context, Canton House is often perceived as:

More traditional in style and atmosphere than trend-focused
Geared toward large groups and families rather than intimate dining
Centered on classic dishes and cart service instead of heavily modernized interpretations

Some diners gravitate toward this style when they want familiar, classic dim sum in a bustling setting, while others explore newer restaurants for fusion or contemporary twists on Cantonese flavors.

Location Context: Doraville and Buford Highway

Canton House is located in Doraville, just northeast of central Atlanta, in a shopping center along Buford Highway. This corridor is known for:

A wide range of Asian restaurants, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and more
Grocery stores, bakeries, and specialty shops catering to different communities
A generally casual, everyday-dining atmosphere

Because of this, many visitors pair a trip to Canton House with:

Visiting nearby markets and bakeries
Exploring additional restaurants on Buford Highway over multiple visits
Making it part of a broader food-focused tour of the area

Quick Reference: Planning Your Visit to Canton House 🧾

Here is a compact summary of key points to keep in mind.

Canton House at a Glance

📍 Area: Doraville, along Buford Highway
🍽️ Cuisine: Cantonese, with a strong focus on dim sum
🧧 Style: Traditional banquet hall, family-style dining
🍵 Best Known For: Cart-based dim sum service, especially on weekends
👥 Ideal For: Groups, families, shared meals

Practical Tips for Diners

⏰ Timing:
- Go earlier in the day on weekends to experience the full dim sum atmosphere.
- Expect more energy and potential wait times during peak brunch periods.
🧺 Ordering:
- Use the visual approach—select items directly from carts.
- Start with a mix of steamed dumplings, buns, and one or two fried items.
- Leave room for dessert carts later in the meal.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Group Strategy:
- Share everything family-style.
- Let everyone pick at least one dish from the carts to keep the table engaged.
🍵 Tea:
- Tea is a central part of dim sum; many tables choose jasmine, oolong, or pu-erh style teas based on preference.

Making the Most of a Dim Sum Experience at Canton House

For many diners, Canton House functions as both:

A gateway to dim sum and Cantonese cuisine for those trying it for the first time, and
A familiar, consistent gathering spot for those who grew up with or regularly enjoy this style of dining.

A few ways to get more out of the experience:

Approach the meal as a tasting session rather than a single-entrée lunch.
Involve the whole table in choosing dishes, especially if you are with friends or family.
Observe which dishes seem popular among regulars; these often reflect long-standing favorites.

By taking time to explore the carts, sample a variety of plates, and enjoy the lively atmosphere, visitors often gain a clearer sense of traditional Cantonese dining culture as it is expressed in Atlanta.

Canton House Restaurant in Atlanta occupies a particular place in the city’s food landscape: a large, bustling, and time-tested dim sum hall where the emphasis remains on shared dishes, familiar flavors, and community-style dining.