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Where To Try the Best Dim Sum in Hong Kong (and What To Order)

Discover bamboo baskets filled with classic Cantonese treats at Hong Kong’s most-loved dim sum spots.

Friends tuck into various dim sum in Hong Kong with chopsticks.
Hi, I'm India-Jayne!

India-Jayne Trainor is a London-based writer and photographer specialising in travel, food, and sustainability. Her writing has appeared in AFAR, TripSavvy, SCMP, and more. When she isn’t enjoying copious amounts of dim sum or exploring new places, she can be found working remotely on copy for hotels and travel brands, usually from somewhere by the ocean.

Dating back to the 10th century in the Chinese port city of Guangzhou, dim sum—small dishes of dumplings, buns, and other snacks—quickly migrated to nearby Hong Kong and developed into an integral part of the region’s culture. From tiny teahouses and streetside stalls to modern restaurants and inventive dining concepts, in the 21st century, makers are just as likely to provide a traditional char siu bun as they are foie gras dumplings or taro puffs.

Lai Ching Shing, the Michelin-starred executive chef at Jade Restaurant, who began his career more than 40 years ago, says that when curating dishes for a younger generation, modern twists and creativity are just as important as authenticity.

Friends share dim sum in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is the place to be for dim sum lovers.Foto: twinsmom / Shutterstock

The origins of dim sum

In the Chinese Tang Dynasty, Guangzhou saw more and more travelers pass through the city, leading to teahouses serving small bites and hot tea, a central concept of dim sum known as yum cha (tea drinking). Its popularity quickly grew across the country and expanded in Hong Kong, with local teahouses opening along with larger banquet halls. In the city’s most populous neighborhoods, such as Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan, dim sum would be served regularly from early morning until lunch.

“Chinese culture focuses a lot on family,” says chef Lai. “Today, dim sum remains popular amongst the elderly and has become a regular Sunday morning ritual, where grandparents can connect with grandchildren, and parents can educate kids on culinary culture.” This enduring activity perfectly encapsulates the meaning of “dim sum,” which translates as “to touch the heart.”

Steam baskets filled with various dim sum in Hong Kong.
There's plenty of options if you're looking for dim sum in Hong Kong.Foto: joesayhello / Shutterstock

The culture of dim sum

There are over 1,000 unique dim sum dishes, with many more created every day. Siu mai (steamed pork dumplings) and har gow (shrimp dumplings) are the “crown jewels of dim sum” according to Lai; along with char siu bao (barbecue pork buns) and dan tat (egg tarts), these four dishes are known as the Four Heavenly Kings, and should be top of the list on any visit to Hong Kong.

Traditional teahouses with plastic stools are scattered throughout the city’s skyscraper-lined streets, while hotels and fine-dining restaurants offer a more sophisticated experience. According to Lai, “Younger generations now expect dim sum with an exciting spin that not only impresses their taste buds, but also their eyes,” which is why Hong Kong now has a range of innovative, quirky outlets. At casual spots, be prepared for long lines outside and signs in Chinese, and once you’re in, don’t be surprised to share your small table with a friendly family of Hongkongers.

Sheung Wan in Hong Kong.
Dim sum is served regularly in the Sheung Wan neighborhood in Hong Kong.Foto: Francesco Bonino / Shutterstock

Where to find dim sum in Hong Kong

Dim sum can be found almost everywhere on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, as well as the outlying islands like Lantau, Lamma, and Cheung Chau. Some of the best old-school options can be found around Soho and Sheung Wan or hidden down side streets in Mong Kok. High-end options are found in two places: in the sky or on the water, so head to skyscrapers like the IFC Tower and Hotel ICON, or stroll along Victoria Harbour.

Lots of dim sum dishes on show at Sun Hing.
Sun Hing is a famous dim sum spot in Hong Kong.Foto: Junericee / Tripadvisor

Hong Kong’s best dim sum

Sun Hing

Tucked away down a street in Kennedy Town, and still going strong after 50 years, Sun Hing serves every type of fried, steamed, and roasted dim sum. Famously open from 3am until 4pm like clockwork—ideal for those craving a very late-night snack—it has small shared tables and chefs diligently handcrafting buns in the back. The barbecue pork bao and custard buns are particularly renowned.

Man Mo Dim Sum

Named for the revered Man Mo Temple just down the road in Sheung Wan, Man Mo Dim Sum fuses traditional dishes with European flavors, and is known as the world’s first contemporary dim sum restaurant. The kitchen’s unusual dumplings are filled with ratatouille, truffle Brie, and foie gras, while the deep-fried dessert balls contain gooey Nutella instead of red bean paste–renditions that aim to satisfy purists and newbies alike.

Jade

Relatively new to Hong Kong’s food scene, Jade is in the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel, with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountains and the South China Sea. The menu highlights seafood from the local Aberdeen area in delicate bites such as steamed sea cucumber dumplings and baked abalone puffs. Jade also has an extensive premium tea menu, or you can defer to the in-house tea sommelier to find the perfect pairing.

Cute, animal-shaped dim sum in Yum Cha.
Yum Cha is the place for adorable dim sum.Foto: Alysha / Tripadvisor

Duddell’s

An art gallery and restaurant rolled into one, with beautiful velvet and jewel-toned interiors, Duddell’s brings a sense of playfulness to its salon dim sum menu. Plates include truffle fried pork dumplings shaped like tiny pigs, and shrimp dumplings with termite mushrooms, intricately molded to look like swimming goldfish. The multi-floor restaurant in Central hosts regular screenings, exhibitions, and art talks, and has a leafy garden terrace hidden from the crowded streets outside.

Saam Hui Yaat

Saam Hui Yaat One is an enduring local shop continuing the yum cha tradition, complete with heavily laden food trolleys and a tiny kitchen where dishes are handmade. The towers of bamboo baskets that stack up quickly are filled with simple, filling, and inexpensive classics like siu mai, xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), and fung zao (chicken’s feet). Set up with plastic stools, metal tables, and tiled walls, this hole-in-the-wall offers a quintessential dim sum experience.

Yum Cha

Just one of an ever-growing group of novelty dim sum restaurants, Yum Cha serves dishes just as suited to your Instagram as your palate. The menu includes adorable char siu piggy buns, sausage bao rolls decorated like dachshunds, and fun yellow nai wong bao (steamed custard buns) with eyes, which spout custard when you squeeze them. Conveniently close to the Star Ferry Terminal in Central, it’s a great place to introduce children to dim sum.

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