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A trip to Hong Kong isn’t complete without dim sum — a traditional Cantonese meal that involves small plates of sweet and savoury foods for sharing, accompanied with tea. From generations-old joints to the city’s plusher venues that serve up creative dim sum, these 9 Hong Kong restaurants offer bite-sized delights that will amaze even the fussiest of eaters.
Dim sum in its most traditional form involves various types of steamed and fried dishes served using old-school cooking techniques, often coming from generational family recipes. The setting is typically casual and no-frills for a real local experience.
Tim Ho Wan
Tim Ho Wan has come a long way since it first opened in 2009, with multiple outposts across Hong Kong and internationally. The brainchild of Chef Mak Kwai Pui, formerly of the prestigious Michelin-starred Lung King Heen at the Four Seasons Hong Kong (also featured on our list), and Chef Leung Fai Keung, this dim sum chain was once hailed as the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant. Today, it continues to attract crowds with delectable offerings like the BBQ pork bun, which is an all-time favourite dish.
LockCha
Get ready for a trip back in time at LockCha, a traditional teahouse that celebrates the art of tea drinking with some seriously delicious vegetarian dim sum. There are two venues in Hong Kong: one at Hong Kong Park in Admiralty and the other in Central’s revitalised Tai Kwun compound. Both offer beloved classics like the sizzling Deep-fried Salt and Pepper Plant Beef Ball and delicate bean curd rolls. Enhance your experience with Chinese tea — each cup has a tale to tell, so feel free to ask the staff about the intriguing backstory behind your chosen brew.
Lung King Heen
Expect world-class dim sum with a fine dining edge at Lung King Heen. Nestled within the opulent Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, this restaurant proudly boasts the distinction of being the first Chinese restaurant worldwide to attain three Michelin stars. Delighting patrons with its five-star service and daily dim sum offerings, it serves up an array of steamed, baked, fried and boiled delicacies, all while basking in the breathtaking vistas of Victoria Harbour. Crowd-pleasers like the baked whole abalone puff with diced chicken and steamed lobster and scallop dumpling with shrimp roe perfectly showcase Chef Chan Yan’s mastery in utilising premium ingredients prepared in traditional forms.
Ying Jee Club
Upscale traditional dim sum takes centre stage at Ying Jee Club in Central. The opulent restaurant’s name aptly translates to ‘prosperity, success and business’ in Chinese. You know you’re in for an unforgettable dining experience when you meet Executive Chef Siu Hin Chi, a culinary maestro who has amassed an astounding 24 Michelin stars over the past decade, including two coveted stars at Ying Jee Club. Signatures include the king crab noodle roll with pork, shrimp paste and Chinese celery, preserved egg and coriander and baked custard buns, with dishes complemented by over 300 wine selections.
Hong Kong restaurants and diners love to experiment with new cooking techniques, international ingredients and the presentation of food. Contemporary dim sum, usually enjoyed in a fancy setting, redefines dishes with a modern spin.
Duddell’s
Not many restaurants can claim to boast the double-barrelled title of art gallery and Chinese restaurant, but Duddell’s can — and it offers a feast for the senses. This Michelin-starred, high-end restaurant at 1 Duddell Street mixes fine art with Cantonese cuisine in a lush setting that sprawls across two floors and a green garden terrace. While the salon entices guests with delectable dim sum options available throughout the week, it is the weekend’s unlimited brunch extravaganza that truly steals the show, attracting crowds of eager diners who book weeks in advance. Diners can indulge in unlimited dim sum — from har gao to spicy wonton — and lavish dishes like Peking duck and add-on champagne. Psst, here’s a tip for travellers: a Duddell’s outpost is located right at the Hong Kong International Airport, offering the perfect snacks to satisfy your cravings before takeoff.
Mott 32
Mott 32 is a Chinoiserie-inspired sanctuary inspired by 32 Mott Street in New York, the city’s first Chinese convenience store that opened in 1891. In Hong Kong, the restaurant’s refined and creative approach to dim sum has ignited a culinary revolution that propels modern dishes to dazzling new heights. The journey begins with a descent down a dramatic spiral staircase, leading guests to an elegant den meticulously crafted by renowned designer Joyce Wang. Beyond the lavish interiors, this beloved urban gem serves up dim sum delights featuring ingredients from around the world, such as caviar-adorned xiaolongbao, Australian Wagyu beef puff, lobster har gao with Yunnan ham, and soft quail egg with Iberico pork and truffle siu mai.
The Chinese Library
Inspired by Aqua group founder David Yeo’s impressive personal library of Chinese cookbooks, The Chinese Library celebrates the diversity of the nation’s regional cuisine. The restaurant is set within a grand banquet-style hall that could be considered a work of art in itself. Tucked away in the former police headquarters in Tai Kwun, this fine diner takes a contemporary approach to its menus including the dim sum dishes. Swing by at lunchtime to try the restaurant’s East-meets-West takes on classic dishes like black truffle har gao, Hokkaido king crab and sea urchin spring roll and Sichuan ma la fish bun. Or, secure a weekend reservation and embark on an unlimited dim sum extravaganza paired with bubbly.
Madame Fu
Dress to impress at Madame Fu, which allures patrons with its opulent interiors and enchanting pink aesthetic, spanning an expansive 8,000 sq ft within Tai Kwun. The restaurant boasts distinct sections, from the lush rainforest green ambience of the Grand Cafe to the delightful al fresco veranda, perfect for an indulgent afternoon tea. Embracing a reinvented approach to dim sum, this restaurant serves up traditional dishes with a twist, featuring unexpected ingredients such as mozzarella, curry chicken and truffle.
Mian
Treat yourself to a luxurious dim sum experience at Mian, nestled within The Murray on the historic Cotton Tree Drive in Central. This exquisite dining destination draws culinary inspiration from eight regions of China, presenting a lavish feast that can be enjoyed both indoors and al fresco. The lunch menu tantalises with a wide array of bite-sized delights, including fresh winter melon, beef ball in a delectable supreme broth and steamed rice rolls with pork liver and wolfberries. And if you visit in late spring, you may even be enchanted by the majestic Cassia javanica tree as it bursts into a mesmerising display of pink and white, providing a beguiling backdrop to your meal.
All images courtesy of individual restaurants
Hungry for more local foodie experiences? Here are 10 cha chaan tengs to visit in Hong Kong.
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