Dragon City: Myrtle Beach's Chinese Restaurant with Dim Sum and Seafood

What Dragon City offers and where to find it

Dragon City is a full-service Chinese restaurant in Myrtle Beach that specializes in dim sum, seafood, and Cantonese-style cooking. The restaurant operates as a sit-down dining establishment where servers push carts of small plates to your table during dim sum service, a traditional way of eating that lets you sample many dishes in one meal. The kitchen also handles larger orders for groups and takeout.

The restaurant is located in Myrtle Beach's commercial areas where many Chinese restaurants cluster. Like most dim sum venues, Dragon City is busiest during lunch hours, particularly on weekends when families and groups come for the cart service. Dinner service is available but typically does not include the rolling dim sum carts.

Key Takeaways

• Dragon City serves dim sum from carts during lunch hours, where you select small plates as servers wheel them past your table.
• The menu includes Cantonese seafood dishes, rice bowls, noodle soups, and traditional dim sum items like har gow (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (pork dumplings).
• Dim sum pricing is typically per plate or per piece, so the final bill depends on how many items you order rather than a fixed price.
• The restaurant accommodates groups and takeout orders, though dim sum carts are primarily a lunch-service feature.
• Myrtle Beach's Chinese restaurant district has several dim sum options, so calling ahead about current hours and cart availability is useful before visiting.

How dim sum service works at Dragon City

Dim sum is a style of eating where small plates and baskets arrive at your table on rolling carts pushed by restaurant staff. You point to dishes you want, the server marks your check, and you keep the small plates in front of you. The bill is calculated at the end based on how many plates you ordered and their individual prices. This format lets you try many different items without committing to full entrees.

At Dragon City, dim sum carts typically run during lunch service, usually from late morning through early afternoon. The carts rotate through the dining room on a schedule, so if you miss a cart the first time, it may return. Common dim sum items include har gow (shrimp dumplings in translucent rice-flour wrappers), siu mai (open-topped pork dumplings), char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), and cheung fun (rolled rice noodles). Seafood-focused items like shrimp and scallop dishes are frequent offerings.

If you are new to dim sum, arriving early in the lunch service gives you more cart variety, since popular items sell out as the meal progresses. Pointing and nodding works fine if you do not read Chinese characters on the cart labels—staff are accustomed to this. Prices per plate typically range from a few dollars to around ten dollars depending on the ingredient and preparation.

Menu items beyond dim sum

Dragon City's full menu includes dishes you can order from a printed menu or verbally, not just from carts. Cantonese seafood preparations are a strength, with options like whole steamed fish (often seasonal and priced by weight), shrimp with garlic sauce, scallops, and squid. Rice bowls with meat or seafood, chow mein and chow fun noodle dishes, and soups round out the offerings.

Vegetable dishes, tofu preparations, and chicken or pork items provide non-seafood choices. Fried rice in various combinations is standard. Many restaurants in this category also offer house specials that rotate or vary by season, so asking your server what is particularly good that day can lead to discoveries beyond the printed menu.

Practical information for your visit

Dim sum service requires no reservation at most times, but arriving during peak lunch hours (typically 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on weekends) means a wait. Weekday lunches are usually less crowded. If you are bringing a group larger than four or five people, calling ahead to let the restaurant know is considerate and helps them prepare.

Payment is typically cash or card at the table. Tipping follows standard restaurant practice—15 to 20 percent of the bill is customary. Takeout orders can be placed by phone and usually take 15 to 30 minutes depending on what you order. Dim sum is less practical for takeout since the small plates are meant to be eaten warm and fresh, though some restaurants will pack it if you ask.

Myrtle Beach's restaurant hours shift seasonally, with longer hours during peak tourist season (spring and summer) and reduced hours in fall and winter. Calling ahead to confirm current hours and whether dim sum carts are running that day prevents a wasted trip, especially if you are visiting outside the main season.

Dragon City in Myrtle Beach's Chinese dining landscape

Myrtle Beach has a cluster of Chinese restaurants, many concentrated in the same commercial areas. Dragon City competes in a market where dim sum availability is a key differentiator—not every Chinese restaurant in the area offers cart service. The restaurant draws both locals and tourists, with families and groups being the core dim sum clientele.

If you are exploring Chinese dining in Myrtle Beach, dim sum is a distinct experience from ordering off a standard menu. It is social, interactive, and lets you sample many flavors in one sitting. Dragon City's focus on Cantonese cooking and seafood reflects a regional style that differs from Americanized Chinese food or Sichuan-focused restaurants you might find elsewhere.

What to expect on your first visit

Arrive during lunch hours if dim sum is your goal. You will be seated at a table, usually shared with other diners if the restaurant is busy—this is normal and part of the dim sum experience. A server will bring tea (often complimentary or a small charge) and explain the dim sum process if you look uncertain. As carts pass, point to what interests you or ask the server what is in a particular basket.

Pace yourself—it is easy to order too much because the plates look small and the variety is tempting. Start with a few items and order more as you finish. If you do not like something, you are not obligated to finish it. The staff expects this and will not judge. By the end of the meal, you will have a stack of small plates that the server counts to calculate your bill.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average cost of a dim sum meal at Dragon City?

Dim sum plates typically range from three to ten dollars each depending on the item. A satisfying meal for one person usually involves ordering eight to twelve plates, bringing the total to twenty-five to sixty dollars before tax and tip. Prices vary by ingredient—shrimp and seafood items cost more than vegetable or pork dumplings.

Do I need to know Chinese to order dim sum?

No. Pointing at carts as they pass works perfectly fine. Many servers speak English and can describe items. If you want to know what something is before ordering, asking "What is this?" gets you an answer. The experience is designed to be visual and interactive, not language-dependent.

Is dim sum only available at lunch?

At most dim sum restaurants including Dragon City, the rolling carts operate during lunch service only. Dinner service usually involves ordering from a printed menu instead. Some restaurants offer dim sum at dinner on weekends, but this varies. Calling ahead confirms what is available when you plan to visit.

Can I bring a large group to Dragon City for dim sum?

Yes, but calling ahead is helpful so the restaurant can prepare. Groups of eight or more may have a wait during peak hours. Dim sum works well for groups because everyone can order different items and share, making it social and varied. The restaurant will likely seat your group at a larger table or push tables together.

What if I do not like seafood—are there non-seafood dim sum options?

Yes. Dim sum carts include pork dumplings, vegetable items, tofu dishes, chicken preparations, and buns filled with barbecue pork or other fillings. Seafood is popular but not the only option. Asking your server which carts have non-seafood items helps you focus on what you prefer.