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Dim Sum Discoveries
Hong Kong
In the age of travelers treading the Silk Road in Hong Kong, teahouses offered rest and respite to the weary. To nourish tired bodies, they began serving small plates of ready-to-eat dishes made out of leftovers from the night before. This became known as “Dim Sum” in Cantonese. Since then, Dim Sum has become a quintessential part of Hong Kong culture: people gathering and sharing bite-sized food—some fried, some steamed—while drinking tea, also known as “Yum Cha” (飲茶, Cantonese for “drink tea”). Below are places that, together, create the diverse, colourful Dim Sum palette of Hong Kong.
Updated 3 years ago
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Glowing neon signs mark this eatery, often packed with locals hankering for baskets of Black Truffle and Crab Dumplings and Pineapple Buns. Not to mention, piggy-shaped Salted Yolk Custard Buns that look too cute to eat! The atmosphere is welcoming, with the clatter of dishes and friendly conversation surrounding diners as they indulge and satisfy their cravings for good Dim Sum!
- +852 2891 7677
7 Tin Lok Lane, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, China
灣仔天樂里7號地下- http://www.dimdimsum.hk
Dine on reimagined classics in this Instagram-worthy restaurant! Cute, quirky dumplings of all kinds—BBQ Piggy Buns, Doggy Sausage Rolls, bird-shaped Baked Pineapple Puffs—make for an unforgettable meal while paying heed to the traditional flavors that inspired them. Priced competitively, Yum Cha’s dishes interpret local favorites like no other.
- +852 2751 1666
Third Floor, 20-22 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, China
尖沙咀加連威老道20-22號瑞生尖沙咀酒店3樓- https://www.yumchahk.com/
One Dim Sum is a cozy hole-in-the-wall that never fails to surprise customers with their variety of wallet-friendly Dim Sum. The sound of chattering customers beckon passersby to join in the food frenzy, to sample the array of simple yet authentic steamed dishes, baked buns, and fried dumplings. Classic favorites include Baked Barbecued Pork Buns, Steamed Vermicelli Rolls, and Egg Custard Buns, so don’t miss out on these!
- +852 2677 7888
Ground Floor, 209A-209B Tung Choi Street, Prince Edward, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, China
太子運動場道15號京華大廈地舖1-2號
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Ling Heung Kui, one of Hong Kong’s oldest teahouses, is a culinary institution in the city. Beloved by locals and tourists, they preserve tradition by continuing to serve Dim Sum in trolleys—just as they did back in the day. The staff who have worked there for decades may not speak English, but they promise a true taste of old Hong Kong within their busy walls.
- +852 2156 9328
Second and Third Floors, 46-50 Des Voeux Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, China
上環德輔道西46-50號2-3樓
Ding Dim serves up Dim Sum that come with added twists and surprises. Established in 1968, this understated restaurant serves Quail Egg Siu Mai, Foie Gras Dumpling, and Xiao Long Bao with Secret Broth, among others. Run by the mysterious, popular, but anonymous Master Black and Master Tong, their menu is all sorts of exciting to try!
- +852 9698 1968
59 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, China
中環蘇豪伊利近街14D號A舖- http://www.dingdim.com
This unsuspecting little Dim Sum spot holds a secret: it’s a Michelin-awarded restaurant and part of a growing culinary empire. One of the cheapest establishments to receive the coveted Star, Tim Ho Wan promises exceptional Dim Sum at affordable prices. Diners who brave the hours-long queues are rewarded with some of the best in Hong Kong. Aside from the succulent dumplings, their Baked Buns with BBQ Pork—crunchy, light buns packed with sweet barbecue pork—are a must-try, and absolutely worth the wait. As branches in other countries have begun popping up, the clamor for Tim Ho Wan’s Dim Sum just keep getting bigger!
- +852 2788 1226
Ground Floor, 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, China
深水埗福榮街9-11號地下- http://www.timhowan.hk/
Established in Taiwan in 1958, Din Tai Fung first began as a cooking oil business before becoming a steamed dumpling and noodle restaurant some 20 years later. Today, it boasts locations in major cities across the globe. In Hong Kong, Michelin has awarded stars to both their Causeway Bay and Canton Road branches where there is always a stretch of people waiting eagerly to dig into some great Dim Sum, most especially their Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) that have become synonymous to Din Tai Fung.
- +852 3160 8998
Shop G3-11, Ground Floor, 68 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, China
銅鑼灣怡和街68號地舖- http://www.dintaifung.com.hk
Maxim’s Palace is the ultimate destination for upscale Dim Sum dining. Underneath an ornate ceiling and crystal chandeliers, small plates of these Chinese delights are still served in pushcarts, almost like a mobile buffet—a foregotten practice due to the cramped spaces that characterize urban Hong Kong eateries. The dumplings at Maxim’s bring old Hong Kong to present day without losing authenticity, presentation, and flavor. They never skimp on quality, each dish a delight to the tastebuds. Favorites include steamed dishes like Shrimp Dumpling, Glutinous Rice with Assorted Meat Wrapped in Lotus Leaf, and Chinese Sponge Cake!
- +8525211303
Second Floor, City Hall, 5-7 Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong, China
中環愛丁堡廣場5-7號大會堂低座2樓
At any time of the day, Dim Sum Square has your cravings for dumplings and things covered. An assortment of Chinese delights await you at this small, old-fashioned restaurant where you can binge on Beef Meat Balls, Pork and Shrimp Dumpling, and Bean Curd Sheet with Fish for a satisfying and filling meal!
- +852 2851 8088
Ground Floor, Fu Fai Commercial Centre, Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, China
上環禧利街27號富輝商業中心地下
The cutest cast of characters, from Garfield to Spongebob Squarepants, take their Dim Sum form at Dim Sum Icon. It’s impossible to keep yourself from playing with your food with cartoon-themed delights looking up from the plate! Drop by to check out their featured toons, which they change every three months. Don’t forget your camera to take those Instagram-worthy shots!
- +852 2885 1345
Shop L308, Level 3, The One, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
尖沙咀彌敦道100號The ONE 3樓L308號舖- https://www.facebook.com/DIMSUMICON/
A heartbeat away from King’s Road, Mak Kee is a convenient stop to make for a quick bite in the middle of your city prowl. This small hawker is Michelin-recommended, known for their Xiao Long Bao and Pan-Fried Pork Dumplings. As far as street food goes, this humble stall has definitely endeared itself to locals and tourists alike!
- +852 2887 7851
Ground Floor, May Ka Mansion, 21-23 Fort Street, North Point, Hong Kong, China
北角堡壘街21-23號美嘉洋樓地下
Trendy, upscale Mott 32’s inventive take on spicy stir-fry and quirky Dim Sum speaks through decades of Hong Kong ingenuity. Its mix of Eastern and Western influences celebrates the legacy of the very first convenience store in New York's Chinatown—this place's namesake. This fusion has also produced a range of Dim Sum items that are anything but ordinary. Often recommended is their signature Barbecue Pluma Iberico Pork with Yellow Mountain Honey, of which only eight portions are made per day. Make sure to reserve ahead and prepare to splurge. Prices are steep, but well worth it!
- +852 2885 8688
Standard Chartered Bank Building, Basement 4-4A Des Vouex Road, Central, Hong Kong, China
中環德輔道中4-4A號渣打銀行大廈地庫- https://www.mott32.com/
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