The hostess of House of Joy, a traditional Dim Sum restaurant in the heart of Chinatown, stood nervously next to her hostess stand as she tried to devise a plan to lead groups and groups of tourists, locals, and passionate foodies into their medium-sized one-story establishment crammed with tens and hundreds of tables. House of Joy has been open in Chinatown for 33 years, and it has become a go-to place for families to reunite and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Guests dressed in colorful, stylish attire passionately conversed in Cantonese, English, or Mandarin in many different dialects.

At House of Joy, waiters in their professional red chef-isque attire would approach with carts of steamy pork buns and delicately prepared desserts. “This?” The waiters often asked as they carefully opened their bamboo steamers, revealing the exquisitely made translucent shrimp dumplings.

For many Chinese patrons, House of Joy is home, where childhood Dim Sum memories are rekindled, where they can meet strangers who speak the same language, and where they can feel like they belong. For many others, House of Joy is an eye-opening place where cultures clash, a place to enjoy the merriment of taking that first juicy bite of a steamed rice noodle roll.

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