Yum Cha is a traditional Chinese dim sum restaurant located in New York near Philadelphia. We are open daily from 9am to 9pm. Our restaurant aims to provide an immersive cultural experience through our food, decor, and entertainment.Brand Logo and IdeaYum cha in the Cantonese language, both literary and vernacular, literally means “drink tea”. “飲” means “to drink”, and “茶” means “tea”. In Cantonese, yum cha refers to having a meal with dim sum dishes. Dim sum is the English word based on the Cantonese pronunciation of 點心. Dim sum is a traditional Chinese meal made up of small plates of dumplings and other snack dishes and is usually accompanied by tea. Similar to the way that the Spanish eat tapas, the dishes are shared among family and friends.Another reason this restaurant is called Yum Cha is that “yum” means “yummy” or “delicious” in English. Even if people don’t know the literal meaning of the Chinese phrase “yum cha”, they will associate the name with the English word “yum” implying tasty food.In my logo, I used the word “YumCha” to form the shape of a teapot.
Many dim sum dishes have specific Chinese names that not everyone may be familiar with. So I decided to draw illustrations of popular dim sum menu items to help customers better understand and visualize the different options.I also designed an illustration for the restaurant. I incorporates dim sum elements to make the picture more visually interesting. The illustration depicts a man selling dim sum dishes on a small boat floating on water, which reflects our restaurant’s open-air waterside seating with views of fish ponds. By adding this culturally-evocative dim sum boat vendor to the illustration, I aimed to showcase a signature feature of our dining space — the tranquil waterside ambiance that allows guests to enjoy delicate dim sum fare while taking in soothing natural scenery. The unique illustration style also helps promote the restaurant’s brand and Chinese aesthetic.My menu is designed using a foldout six-panel layout. When folded, it is a single illustration, but when fully opened, it becomes a complete menu.
As a restaurant serving traditional Chinese cuisine, I wanted the design of my establishment to reflect ancient Chinese styles for an immersive cultural dining experience. Both the exterior building architecture and interior decor incorporate classical imperial Chinese elements, giving guests a sense of being transported back in time. We will also offer traditional Chinese clothing that diners can change into to further enhance their historical journey while enjoying our food. These touches aim not just to satisfy palates but all senses, letting patrons completely immerse themselves in Chinese traditions.
I designed our restaurant’s website to feature menus and an overview of our establishment. This allows guests to learn about us and view available dishes prior to dining, enabling them to preview offerings for a smooth, informed visit. Additionally, I incorporated an online catering request option where guests can book our venue to host private parties and events. This service channel makes hosting celebrations seamless while showcasing our beautiful traditional ambiance.
