GBA Lifestyle News
Lin Heung is dead: long live Lin Heung. In celebration of the iconic tea house’s survival — it reopened soon after it announced closure earlier this year — we’ve rounded up a list of the best restaurants for dim sum in Hong Kong.
Nestled in a cozy space in Sheung Wan, Dim Sum Square churns out tasty food at high speed. There’s a reason why there is nearly always a line at this joint, which is particularly famous for its char siu buns. Just don’t expect great service, or time to hang around after you’re done eating.
G/F, Fu Fai Commercial Centre, 27 Hillier Street, Sheung Wan, 2851-8088
For dim sum with a quirky twist, head to Social Place, a contemporary Cantonese restaurant that offers a modern take on much-loved favorites. Try Insta-friendly dishes like the truffle shiitake bun, turtle-shaped char siu buns, and “sweet potato piggy buns”. There’s an emphasis on healthy eating here, too — we like the peppered eggplant and and fish maw and veggie sprouts in soup.
2/F, The L Place, 139 Queen’s Road Central, 3568-9666
There’s a reason why this always lands at the top of list of good dim sum places in Hong Kong. Maxim’s Palace does just about every dim sum dish pretty well: siu mai, char siu bao, taro puffs, pork spare ribs in black bean sauce, ma lai go sponge cake, glutinous rice dumplings and egg tarts are all worth your time. The decor is nothing to write home about, but you’re here for the food — as long as you have time to wait in line.
2/F, Low Block, City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central, 2526-9931
Half-restaurant and bar, half-art gallery, Duddell’s has established itself as a top spot for Cantonese classics in a posh setting. Here you’ll find luxury versions of much-loved dishes: siu mai with caviar and scallops; dumplings with foie gras; and steamed char siu bun made with Iberico pork.
3/F, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell Street, Central, 2525-9191
Cuisine Cuisine offers an excellent selection of dim sum in a stylish setting for affordable prices. Think honey-glazed char siu pork with smoked assorted vegetable wrapped in beancurd sheet; steamed har gow shrimp dumpling topped with gold leaf, to name a few. On weekdays, there’s a six-course set lunch menu that gets you the above and more for $438 per person.
3/F, The Mira Hong Kong, 118-130 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2315-5222
Just because you’re vegetarian doesn’t mean you should miss out on dim sum. Three Virtues Vegetarian Restaurant offers alternatives like har gow stuffed with vegetarian “crab meat” and asparagus; cheung fun rice rolls with a vegetarian paste and mushroom filling; and meat-free dim sum like shredded radish pastry.
Multiple locations including 1/F, 395 King’s Road, North Point, 2856-1333
Finally, we have Lin Heung Tea House, an institution in Hong Kong that first opened 100 years ago. In February, the restaurant announced its imminent closure, only to reopen again in March — everything remains the same, except that dinner service is no longer available. Lin Heung is most famous for its old-school dim sum service. Staff offer fresh-out-the-steamer har gow, siu mai and other delicious dim sum dishes on pushcarts, and diners jostle to get their hands on a plate. Pretty much everything on the dim sum menu is worth ordering, though the Chinese-style thousand-layer cake in particular is rarely found elsewhere in the city.
162 Wellington Street, Central, 2544-4556
Looking for more in-depth stories about Hong Kong? Check out our city living section.
