Most tourist guidebooks would tell you the famous places to go for a certain local delicacy, but those also usually burn a big hole on your wallet. In Hong Kong, dim sum places are a dime a dozen, but not all of them offer the same kind of finesse and traditional tea house experience.
That’s why we’ve rounded up the best dim sum spots for all budgets, so you can take your pick knowing you’ve done the research!
1 Go Local @ One Dim Sum
This Michelin recommended restaurant is legit! No matter day or night, there’ll always been a queue outside, and that’s how you know this is a place well loved by both tourists and locals. The slightly cramped restaurant serves up a small but quality menu, with classic dishes like steamed rice pots and prawn dumplings, as well as their signature item – a sweet char siu bun.
Address: Kenwood Mansion, 15 Playing Field Road, Mongkok
Telephone number: +852 2789 2280
2 Go Retro @ Lin Heung Tea House
Take a trip back in time when you visit one of the last remaining traditional tea houses in Hong Kong. The old school Chinese menus and the busy atmosphere may be intimidating for non-Canto speakers, but the chance to grab dim sum off a passing cart is once in a lifetime. Note that there isn’t much service there, but that’s the way we locals eat.
Just make sure you bring along a local friend to get the whole experience!
Address: Tsang Chiu Ho Building, 160 Wellington Street, Sheung Wan
Telephone number: +852 2544 4556
3 Go Glamorous @ Fook Lam Moon
If it’s a business trip you’re taking, this decadent Chinese restaurant makes the perfect setting. All the dim sum there are delicately made to perfection, and you will notice as soon as you order their shrimp dumplings. Juicy, bouncy shrimps wrapped up in a thin, almost translucent skin, their har gau is just that much better than the usual thick-skinned MSG-laden dumplings elsewhere.
Don’t forget their lau sa bao either, the sweet Chinese bun that oozes sweet golden goodness.
Address: 35-45 Johnston Road, Wanchai
Telephone number: +852 2866 0663
4 Go Vegetarian @ Pure Veggie House
Veggie lovers, this is your calling. Even though most dim sum dishes are originally made wit plenty of meat and lard, Pure Veggie House have turned this around with their vegetarian-friendly and healthy dishes. Without artificial colouring and MSG and made from tofu and mushrooms, their siu mai and dumplings are just as good as their meaty counterpart, if not better.
Address: 3/F, Coda Plaza, 51 Garden Road, Central
Telephone number: +852 2525 0552
5 Go modern @ Social Place
Situated in a nice and new business building in Central, you know Social Place isn’t just any ol’ Chinese restaurant. This place is known for their modern dim sum and Chinese dishes, with no MSG and plenty of healthy ingredients used. It’s not your usual stuff for sure, but it’s definitely something you should try if you’re looking for a new take on the traditional.
Don’t miss their signature dishes like truffle steamed mushroom buns and roasted pigeons.
Address: 2/F, The L. Place, 139 Queen’s Road Central, Central
Telephone number: +852 3568 9666
A third culture kid in Hong Kong, Karen loves to explore cities one bite at a time, preferably also with a glass of wine. A fashion blogger turned lifestyle writer, you’ll find her reading digital marketing books, refreshing her socials and looking for the next new restaurant to try.
