Dim sum has been gaining steam in Colorado Springs, with this traditional Chinese meal know for consisting of various small bites served up with freshly brewed tea. Think tapas, but instead of Spanish cuisine accompanied by wine, dishes tend to consist of dumplings, bao buns, and rice noodle rolls. Not only does the dim sum dining experience allow eaters to try a wide variety of options, it brings sort of zen and relaxation to the dinner table.

One spot in Colorado Springs – more specifically, the Old Colorado City neighborhood – that offers a memorable dim sum experience is Yellow Mountain Tea House. Despite being a local for more than a decade, I finally gave it a try last week.

My girlfriend and I popped in for Friday night date night, and while we didn’t have the recommended reservation, we beat the crowd and were quickly seated. Seating at Yellow Mountain Tea House varies – some standard tables are present, but the majority of the seating involves sitting on a platform with cushions and removing shoes, placing bare feet in a space below the table. Very rarely have I taken my shoes off in a restaurant, but this more traditional style of seating added to intimacy of the experience.

The meal started off with a ‘tea ceremony,’ which involves picking from a long list of tea options and then having a server brew up your pick tableside. I went with a raspberry black tea option while my girlfriend opted for a blueberry lavender green tea – both were absolutely delicious. It’s also worth noting that among the dozens of tea options, many have a focus on health – teas said to reduce stress, be anti-inflammatory, or promote healthy digestion.

At this point in the dining experience, we had also made several selections from the food menu – juicy chicken buns (with mushrooms and white pepper), chicken dumplings, wonton soup, Cantonese BBQ pork buns, xiao long bao, and red bean and cream cheese buns.

After making it through a few small cups of tea, our food soon arrived. Everything was delicious, reminiscent of a trip to Asia I had taken years ago. Each dish came with three or four of each item for easy sharing and everything was incredible. Both my girlfriend and I agreed that the wonton soup some of the best we’d ever had, but I’d look forward to getting anything I got during that trip again.

It’s also worth noting that the atmosphere of this spot is a peaceful one, quiet and decorated in a way that makes it easy to forget you just stepped off of a street known for its ‘Wild West’ vibes.

Yellow Mountain Tea House carries a 4.5-star rating on Google Reviews, and I’d say that’s well-deserved. The atmosphere was great, the tea and food was delicious, and pricing was fair. The overall experience of our meal is one that will stick with us for a long time and I have no doubt we’ll soon be back.

A few of my favorite dishes: Wonton soup, xiao long bao, juicy chicken buns

Explore the food menu at Yellow Mountain Tea House here.