Best-of Guides Hong Kong

The Best Dim Sum or Yum Cha Places in Hong Kong

8 Restaurants
The yum cha culture in Hong Kong is a rich and enduring one: diners can enjoy refined and diverse styles of dim sum that delight both the eyes and the palate. From nostalgic classics to innovative creations, MICHELIN inspectors have carefully selected their favourite dim sum establishments, and those who delight in exquisite yum cha experiences would not want to miss out on these culinary gems.
Updated on 14 October 2024

Sipping tea and savouring dim sum at yum cha restaurants are a cherished daily ritual for many Cantonese people. In fact, “let’s go yum cha when you’re free” is Cantonese slang and a common way for people to bid farewell to each other.

Today’s Cantonese yum cha restaurants have evolved from traditional tea stalls and tea houses, where food and drinks were served in the “one pot, two items” format (a pot of tea with two styles of dim sum) and became a popular way for the working class to enjoy quick and affordable meals. What once served merely to curb hunger has since transformed into a respected culinary art, crafted by skilled masters who have perfected their techniques. Dim sum has no doubt secured itself as an important element of Chinese cuisine.

The yum cha culture is a rich and enduring one: diners can enjoy refined and diverse styles of dim sum that delight both the eyes and the palate. From nostalgic classics to innovative creations, our MICHELIN inspectors have carefully selected their favourite dim sum establishments, and those who delight in exquisite yum cha experiences would not want to miss out on these culinary gems.

RELATED: The Evolution of Hong Kong's Yum Cha Culture

Ying Jee Club
Shop G05, 107-108, GF & 1F, Nexxus Building, 41 Connaught Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
$$$ · Cantonese

With the experienced chef Siu at the helm, this well-known high-end Cantonese restaurant offers meticulously crafted dim sums that blend traditional techniques with innovative elements. Combined with the use of premium ingredients, its dim sums wow diners with both their taste and presentation. For a fresh take on Cantonese delights, try the whole abalone puff with chicken, and the mushroom dumpling with black truffle and beetroot.

RELATED: Sweet and Sour: Ying Jee Club’s Chef Siu Hin-Chi Reflects on 40 Years in the Kitchen

Fook Lam Moon (Wan Chai)
35-45 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
$$$ · Cantonese

Serving consistently exceptional Cantonese dishes and dim sums since its opening in 1948, Fook Lam Moon (Wan Chai) continues to attract a steady stream of patrons to this day. There is a diverse array of dim sum options here, with signatures including crab roe siu mai and deep-fried glutinous rice dumplings.

RELATED: What To Order At One-MICHELIN-starred Fook Lam Moon

Spring Moon
1F, The Peninsula Hotel, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
$$$ · Cantonese

Nestled within Hong Kong’s most historic hotel still in existence, Spring Moon delights diners with its elegant and luxurious decor. The dim sum chef’s exceptional skills are showcased through a selection of refined and delicious dim sums crafted with top-notch ingredients, such as the intricately sculpted swan-shaped baked turnip puffs and fresh shrimp dumplings with bamboo shoot. Its exquisite steamed lobster dumplings and steamed Sicilian shrimp and minced pork dumplings are also not to be missed.


Yat Tung Heen
B2F, Eaton Hotel, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan, Hong Kong
$$ · Cantonese

Tucked away in the basement of Eaton hotel, this Chinese restaurant offers refined Cantonese dishes in addition to an array of traditional dim sums crafted using premium ingredients. Must-try items include steamed scallop siu mai and prawn dumplings with bamboo shoots. All made to order, each dish is tasty and beautifully presented.

RELATED: Restaurant Secrets: How To Order Char Siu Like An Expert

Tai Wai Dining Room (Tai Wai)
98 Chik Fuk Street, Tai Wai, Hong Kong
$$ · Cantonese

Located in Tai Wai, this Chinese eatery is very popular with gourmets, and queues are commonly spotted outside the restaurant. The lunch menu primarily features steamed-to-order traditional handmade dim sums. Rare and classic items such as quail egg siu mai, ying yang Chinese preserved sausage rolls, and pan-fried glutinous rice with chicken can also be savoured at Tai Wai Dining Room (Tai Wai).

RELATED: Tai Wai Dining Room: A MICHELIN Hidden Gem

Tai Wing Wah
2F, 2-6 On Ning Road, Yuen Long, Hong Kong
$$ · Cantonese

This bustling Yuen Long institution offers a selection of almost a hundred authentic walled-village-style dishes and classic Cantonese fare. Many flock to the restaurant for the traditional dim sums available during lunch, with highlights including the steamed custard cake and steamed Chinese sausage bun.

Tim Ho Wan (Sham Shui Po)
9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
$ · Dim Sum

The owner of the Sham Shui Po branch of Tim Ho Wan has extensive experience from his previous role working in the dim sum department of a high-end hotel’s Cantonese restaurant. Inside the restaurant with a bright and minimalist decor, diners can order from a menu of over 20 styles of dim sum, all steamed to order and at affordable prices. The baked flakey char siu bun is the eatery’s highly popular signature dish. Tim Ho Wan also regularly introduces innovative dim sum creations, ensuring a delightful surprise for yum cha goers.

RELATED: Tim Ho Wan's Chef Mak: In Pursuit of His Own Expression of Cantonese Dim Sum

Luk Yu Tea House
24-26 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong
$$ · Cantonese

Named after Lu Yu, the revered Sage of Chinese Tea, this tea house in Central, with interiors exuding old-world charm, offers a Hong Kong-style yum cha experience featuring classic dim sums made using traditional methods. The menu also features some rare and notable items that require laborious preparation, such as the stuffed pork liver siu mai and chicken buns, which are well worth a try.

RELATED: 5 Must-Order Dishes At Luk Yu Tea House, A MICHELIN Celebration Of Well-Preserved Cantonese Classics

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