China House in Oklahoma City: Cantonese and dim sum specialist in Midtown
China House is a full-service Cantonese restaurant in Oklahoma City's Midtown area that emphasizes dim sum service and traditional cooked dishes rather than Americanized takeout fare. The restaurant operates a sit-down dining model with a menu that shifts between dim sum carts during lunch service and a full Cantonese repertoire at dinner.
What the restaurant serves
The kitchen focuses on Cantonese cuisine, with dim sum as the primary draw during midday hours. Dim sum arrives via cart service, where servers roll selection baskets table-to-table. The menu includes steamed pork buns, shrimp dumplings, egg custard tarts, and prepared items like chicken feet and pork ribs. Dinner service shifts to wok-cooked entrees: chow mein, lobster dishes, seafood clay pots, and roasted meats. Signature items tend toward Cantonese standards rather than fusion or Sichuan approaches.
Pricing and service format
Dim sum pricing runs roughly $3 to $6 per plate depending on complexity; three to four people typically spend $25 to $35 on dim sum alone before beverages. Dinner entrees range from $12 to $28. Dim sum service is available during lunch hours on weekdays and weekends, though exact timing should be confirmed directly with the restaurant. Dinner service operates daily. Tea is complimentary during dim sum service.
How it compares to other Cantonese options in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City has limited Cantonese dim sum alternatives. Most Chinese restaurants in the metro area operate as Americanized Chinese-American establishments focused on fried rice and lo mein. China House stands apart by maintaining traditional cart service and a Cantonese-specific kitchen, making it the primary option for diners seeking authentic dim sum in the city. For comparison, other Chinese restaurants in the area typically offer dine-in service but without the dim sum cart model or Cantonese menu emphasis.
Who should and should not visit
China House suits diners comfortable with adventurous offal and organ meats, those seeking dim sum in a traditional cart-service format, and Cantonese-food enthusiasts. The restaurant draws both lunch crowds on weekdays and families during weekend dim sum hours. It does not suit those seeking exclusively boneless, breaded, or heavily sauced Americanized Chinese dishes, or anyone with a very narrow ingredient tolerance; the menu assumes familiarity with or willingness to try items like chicken feet, tripe, and shrimp in the shell.
What to expect on a first visit
Arrive during midday hours (roughly 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) for dim sum cart service. A hostess will seat you and pour tea immediately. Carts begin circulating within minutes. Flag down a cart, point to items you want, and the server marks your paper check. Continue selecting plates as carts pass. Pace matters: carts circle continuously, so there is no rush. If visiting at dinner, order from a printed or digital menu; the server will confirm spice level and cooking method for dishes involving whole seafood.
Hours, parking, and access
China House operates during traditional restaurant hours; lunch service typically begins around 11 a.m. and dinner extends into evening. Verify exact hours directly, as dim sum service times can shift seasonally. Parking is available on-site or in Midtown street parking near the location. The restaurant accommodates groups and accepts reservations, which are recommended for larger parties during weekend dim sum hours.
China House fills the specific niche of Cantonese dining in Oklahoma City by maintaining a dim sum cart service that most local competitors have abandoned in favor of simpler, faster-turn establishments. For anyone seeking this regional style, the alternative is a significant drive to Dallas or Tulsa.
