New Peking in Charleston: Cantonese Cooking and Family Recipes Since 1981

What New Peking Offers

New Peking is a Cantonese restaurant in downtown Charleston that has operated since 1981, known for dim sum service and traditional Cantonese dishes prepared from family recipes. The restaurant occupies a modest storefront on King Street and draws regulars who come for lunch dim sum carts and dinner entrées that reflect cooking methods passed down through the owner's family. The menu centers on seafood, roasted meats, and vegetable dishes typical of Guangdong province cooking, rather than Americanized Chinese-restaurant fare.

The dim sum service runs during lunch hours, when servers push carts through the dining room offering small plates of dumplings, buns, rolls, and other traditional items. Diners point to what they want, and the server marks your check. This format—common in Hong Kong and Guangdong—lets you sample many dishes in one meal and try things you might not order by name from a menu. The restaurant also serves full dinner service with larger plates, soups, and rice or noodle dishes ordered from the printed menu.

Key Takeaways

• New Peking serves dim sum from a cart during lunch hours, allowing you to sample many small dishes in one sitting.
• The restaurant specializes in Cantonese cooking—seafood, roasted meats, and vegetable preparations—rather than Americanized Chinese food.
• Dinner service offers full entrées, soups, and rice or noodle dishes ordered from the menu, separate from the dim sum carts.
• The restaurant has been family-operated since 1981 and remains a neighborhood fixture on King Street in downtown Charleston.

Dim Sum Service and What to Expect

Dim sum at New Peking works differently from ordering off a menu. You sit at a table, and servers circulate with carts holding 8 to 12 different items at a time. Point to what you want, and they place it on your table and mark your check. The carts rotate, so different items appear throughout the meal. Common offerings include har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork dumplings), char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), spring rolls, and egg custard tarts. Portions are small—typically three to four pieces per order—so you can try many dishes without overcommitting to any single one.

Dim sum lunch typically runs from late morning through early afternoon. Arrive early if you want the widest selection; popular items sell out as the meal service progresses. The pace is casual—you eat as the carts come by, and there is no rush to finish. Bring cash or confirm the restaurant accepts cards, as payment methods can vary. The cost per dish is modest, and your final bill reflects how many items you ordered.

Dinner Menu and Cantonese Specialties

At dinner, New Peking shifts to full entrée service. The menu lists Cantonese preparations of seafood—whole fish steamed with ginger and scallions, shrimp with black bean sauce, squid with garlic—alongside roasted meats like Peking duck and char siu (barbecue pork). Vegetable dishes, soups, and rice or noodle plates round out the offerings. Many dishes come with steamed white rice or can be ordered over fried rice or chow mein noodles.

Cantonese cooking emphasizes the natural flavor of ingredients and lighter sauces compared to other regional Chinese styles. Steaming, stir-frying, and roasting are the primary techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the menu, ask your server for recommendations or describe what you like—seafood, meat, vegetables, spice level—and they can suggest dishes suited to your taste. The restaurant caters to both diners seeking authentic Cantonese food and those new to the cuisine.

Location and Hours

New Peking sits on King Street in downtown Charleston, within walking distance of the historic district and other restaurants and shops. Street parking is available along King Street, though it can be tight during peak hours. The restaurant occupies a corner storefront with a modest interior—simple tables, straightforward décor, and a focus on the food rather than ambiance.

Hours vary by day and season. Dim sum service typically runs during lunch, and dinner service begins in the late afternoon or early evening. Call ahead to confirm current hours before visiting, as restaurant schedules can shift. The restaurant is closed on certain holidays and may have reduced hours during slower seasons.

Cantonese Cooking and Its Place in Charleston

Cantonese cuisine comes from Guangdong province in southern China and has shaped Chinese cooking worldwide. Cantonese chefs emphasize ingredient quality, minimal seasoning that masks natural flavors, and cooking techniques that preserve texture and color. Dim sum originated in Guangdong teahouses and remains central to Cantonese food culture. The tradition of pushing carts through a dining room—still practiced at New Peking—reflects how dim sum was historically served in Hong Kong and mainland China.

In Charleston, New Peking represents one of the city's longest-running Chinese restaurants and one of the few offering traditional dim sum service. The restaurant's longevity and family operation reflect both the owner's commitment to authentic cooking and the neighborhood's support for the business over four decades. For diners interested in exploring Chinese regional cooking beyond the standard American Chinese takeout menu, New Peking offers a direct connection to Cantonese tradition.

What to Order and How to Navigate the Menu

If you are visiting for dim sum, arrive hungry and ready to try multiple items. Start with a few dumplings or buns, then branch out to items you do not recognize—the variety is part of the experience. Har gow and siu mai are good entry points if you are new to dim sum. Egg custard tarts and other sweet items often come near the end of the meal.

For dinner, seafood dishes are a strength at New Peking, particularly whole fish prepared simply with steaming or light sauce. Roasted meats like char siu and Peking duck showcase the kitchen's technique. If you are uncertain what to order, mention your preferences to your server and let them guide you. Many diners build a meal by ordering one or two protein dishes, a vegetable dish, and rice or noodles to share, which allows you to sample the restaurant's range in a single visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does dim sum service start and end?

Dim sum typically runs during lunch hours, starting late morning and ending in early afternoon. Exact times vary by day and season, so call the restaurant to confirm before you visit. Arriving early gives you access to the widest selection of items on the carts.

Do I need a reservation for dim sum?

New Peking operates on a walk-in basis for dim sum, though calling ahead during busy times can help you understand wait times. Dinner service may accept reservations; ask when you call about hours.

What if I do not recognize a dish on the dim sum cart?

Ask your server what an item is and what it contains. They can describe the filling, preparation, and flavor profile. Dim sum is meant to be exploratory, and servers expect questions from diners unfamiliar with the dishes.

Is New Peking good for groups or large parties?

Yes. Dim sum works well for groups because everyone can order different items and share. Dinner service also accommodates larger tables. Call ahead if your group is very large to ensure seating is available.

Does New Peking offer takeout?

Many Cantonese restaurants offer takeout for dinner entrées. Call to confirm whether New Peking provides this option and what items are available for takeout. Dim sum is typically dine-in only, as the carts are part of the service format.