Is there anything quite like the anticipation of lifting the lid on a piping-hot steamer basket? One of China's most popular culinary exports, and a staple of Chinese restaurants in Dubai, dim sum is a dining experience that never fails to delight.
From xiao long bao to chueng fun, spring roll to steamed bao, order up and assortment of small plates, baskets and bowls and you've got a perfect leisurely afternoon meal.
Hankering for har gao? Here's where to find the best Chinese dim sum in Dubai.
An unassuming locale in Deira area of Dubai, no-frills, old-school fave China Sea has gained a sizeable support base for its authentic dishes of Chinese cuisine. While the dumpling section on the food card is small, the actual dim sum is big (almost six inches) and with prices for main dishes coming under Dhs40, it has earned its place on the best Chinese restaurants for dim sum in Dubai. Near Clock Tower, Deira (04 295 9816).
With locations including Mall of the Emirates (always packed) and Nakheel Mall on Palm Jumeirah (easier to get a table), shoppers can take some time out from rifling through the sale rails to experience some moreish dim sum at this Taiwanese eatery. Favoured by many for its laid-back atmosphere and seriously rapid service, these famously speedily hand-made dumplings will see you asking for seconds and thirds. Get the hot and sour soup while you're there. Various locations including Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha, www.chinesepalacegroup.com (04 265 1288).
Tucked away in JLT’s Cluster D is Streetery Food Hall, home to a number of Asian kitchens including Fat Aunt’s, which has a section of the menu dedicated to the deliciousness that is dim sum. Amid a variety of dishes including chicken soup dumplings and stick rice with chicken in lotus leaf, it's the chicken potstickers that keep us coming back here. And the scallion pancake. And the char siu bao. Oh just try it all. Cluster D, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (04 587 3373).
On the go for nearly 25 years in Dubai, Golden Dragon in Oud Metha is one of the oldest home-grown Chinese restaurants in the city. Serving a small but popular dim sum menu, diners can get their chopsticks into shrimp har gao , sui mai, street-style spicy dumplings, char sui bao, dragon dumplings and prawn dumplings from as little as Dhs25. Golden Dragon is not only one of the top picks for dim sum in Dubai but also one of the most affordable. Near Lamcy Plaza, Oud Metha (04 357 7022).
Time Out’s Best Chinese Restaurant in Dubai for 2021 obviously knows its way around rustling up some dynamite dumplings. Plates are packed with taste and imagination, with the steamed dumpling platter taking pride of place on the menu as one of the restaurant's signature dishes. We’re talking two pieces of cumin scallop, squid and shrimp, two pieces of bamboo shoots and shrimp har gao, two pieces of spiced Chilean seabass and two pieces of tea-smoked dried tofu and mixed vegetable for Dhs155. Seriously impressive stuff. Gate Building 6, DIFC, hutong-dubai.com (04 220 0868).
Don’t worry if you can’t make the trip to China for the holidays because this eatery in Business Bay dishes out some of the best dim sum you can get your teeth into in Dubai. To say the dumpling menu is spectacular is almost doing Long Teng a disservice, such is the variety of dim sum on show. Nibble on shrimp and chive, chicken and chilli, assorted mushroom, creamy egg custard and more when you visit one of the best Chinese restaurants for dim sum in Dubai. Try the swan-shaped turnip dumplings for food that's almost too beautiful to eat. (Almost.) U-bora Towers, Business Bay, longtengseafood.co (04 241 1666).
If you’re looking for a classy spot to indulge in dim sum, then longstanding Long Yin is an infinitely reliable choice at the northern end of the city. With some 30 choices on the food card including steamed beef siu mai and shrimp banana waffle roll, Long Yin is one of the best Chinese restaurants for dim sum in Dubai. Plus every Sunday you can get selected dim sum baskets for a set price. Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Garhoud (04 702 2455).
This eatery in the FIVE Palm Jumeirah is a popular hotspot for those who love to have a party while tucking into inventive Chinese-inspired eats. This is a lively joint with slick décor, but the food is just as worth visiting for as the vibes (okay, during brunch this place is at least 90 percent vibe). Diners can tuck into hand-folded dumplings including baked waygu beef puff, mushroom bun and chicken shrimp siu mai from Dhs50. Bundles of fun, you’re guaranteed a great night on every visit to one of the best Chinese restaurants for dim sum. FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, palmjumeirah.fivehotelsandresorts.com (04 455 9989).
It might not be located in the Chinese capital but New Shanghai has dim sum list to rival any other Chinese restaurant in Dubai. Select from 11 dumpling choices that will have the chopsticks quivering as you scan the food card including truffle chicken xiao long bao, chicken pot stickers and crab and chicken xiao long bao. Placed in The Dubai Mall, it is the perfect pit-stop for a weekday lunch, when just Dhs49 will get you both a starter and main course. The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai (04 224 6819).
Bank balance not looking too healthy? Don’t forgo satisfying your dumpling desires just because you haven’t got enough shrapnel in your back pocket. At this petite joint in Satwa, you can dig into dim sum from as little as Dhs18 a serving. While you might not need a fully charged phone for pics (this establishment isn’t here for Insta), bargain dim sum is what you’re here for and in our opinion (and the bank manager’s) this makes Noodle Bowl one of the best (and most off-beat) places for dim sum in Dubai. 2nd December Street, Dune Centre, Satwa (04 345 3381).
You’ll find dumplings fit for a king or queen at Royal China in DIFC, which is home to an almost mind-boggling variety of dim sum options from which to choose. Beloved for its weekly yum cha sessions, featuring unlimited dim sum (though there are penalties for wastage), Royal China's dim sum ranges from the daily staples to showstoppers including black gold yolk lava buns. A truly top pick for dim sum in Dubai. Precinct Building 4, DIFC, royalchinadubai.com (04 354 5543).
Okay, we had to get the rule book out on this one as Sizzling Wok does a pretty comprehensive pan-Asian menu. But due to the quality of its dim sum we have given it the green light to be included in our rundown of top spots for for dim sum in Dubai. Not least because every Wednesday you can get your hands on unlimited bites plus a house drink for Dhs69. Citymax Bur Dubai, Mankhool (04 407 8000).
The China Club has been flying the flag for Chinese cuisine in Deira since it threw opened the doors in 2003, and has earned a respectable reputation for dim sum at the northern end of Dubai. Chic, elegant but definitely not stuffy, dim sum devotees can wrap their lips around as many dumplings and small plates as they want during the daily yum cha feast of unlimited fried and steamed, dim sum with soft drinks for Dhs199 or house drinks for Dhs298. Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek, Deira, radissonhotels.com (04 205 7033).
With a food card that includes teamed vegetable luo han gyoza, prawn spinach, Hong Kong chicken char siu bao and more, it is easy to see why this restaurant is known as one of the best Chinese restaurants for dim sum in Dubai. Prices start from Dhs50 but if you really want to splash out, sample the Dhs105 scallop with lobster, shrimp siu mai that is filled with red onion, water chestnut, black pepper and oyster sauce. Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai (04 5566466).
