Candy Hom of dumpling pop-up Soupbelly and Howard Hsu of Sweet Auburn BBQ will launch food tour company Yum Cha on March 15, exploring metro Atlanta’s diverse and varied Asian food scene.
Named for the Cantonese phrase “yum cha,” which translates to “drink tea,” people will meet at Sweet Auburn BBQ and be greeted with a welcome drink before boarding a bus for a three-hour food tour hosted by Hom and Hsu.
Both Hom and Hsu said the idea for the food tour arose organically.
“I’ve always loved adventuring on Buford Highway or just restaurants in general,” Hsu said, adding that he’s often torn between visiting a tried-and-true favorite or exploring something new. “I’ve worked with Candy for several years now and enjoy her work, her personality and I love her journalism.”
From there, the idea of partnering with Hom popped into Hsu’s head.
Hom, meanwhile, had considered running an independent food tour, but the timing never felt right. When Hsu approached her, she felt the partnership could work — the perfect balance of expertise and charisma. “He draws people out to get them comfortable,” she said.
Yum Cha isn’t Hom and Hsu’s first collaboration. This past October, Hom and her pop-up Soupbelly participated in Sweet Auburn BBQ’s Hurricane Helene relief fundraiser. And Sweet Auburn BBQ hosted a dumpling and noodle workshop with Hom. Last summer, the Poncey-Highland restaurant and Hom’s pop-up joined forces for a series of dim sum dinners.
“The more we work together, the more I’m drawn to Candy’s passion and expertise,” Hsu said. “I just like being around creatives and my mind is always looking for something new and fresh or interesting to do.”
Atlanta’s explosive food scene and community, Hsu added, make the timing ripe for the Yum Cha food tours.
“I remember moving here 14 years ago and we didn’t have this variety,” Hom said. “There needs to be somebody that provides guidance out there — you know, there’s so many Asian food courts and they’re not the typical mall food court, but people wouldn’t know that.”
The first Yum Cha food tour, which will explore Asian restaurants and a food court in Duluth, takes place Saturday, March 15, from 2 to 5 p.m., and will cap at 10 people.
For $100 per person, the Duluth tour itinerary includes dim sum from a Cantonese restaurant, dishes from an Asian food court to include soup dumplings, Xi’an specialties, and traditional Taiwanese fare, along with stops at an Asian grocery store and Japanese boutique, before heading back to Sweet Auburn BBQ.
Other food tours are in the works, too, including a tour of Buford Highway, and Hom and Hsu said they’re open to hosting private food tours.
Hom and Hsu encourage attendees to wear comfortable walking shoes, with the tour open to ages 12 and above. Anyone with allergies or dietary restrictions can participate but will likely pay extra for items not on a restaurant’s set menu.
Yum Cha food tour tickets go live on March 3 and are $100 per person. Tour for ages 12+. Follow Yum Cha, Soupbelly, and Sweet Auburn Barbecue on Instagram for more information about upcoming tours and ticket releases.