With food tours of Chinatown being the talk of the town right now, we’ve rounded up the most mouth-watering Dim Sum in NYC.
If you didn’t take a “candid” picture strolling around Mott Street with your vintage band tee and upcycled Fendi bag, did it even really happen?
And let’s not forget about your “spontaneous” Instagram slide of your half-eaten chicken dumplings and spilled soy sauce. Totally making Instagram casual again.
See Also: The 49 Best New York City Restaurants You Must Try In 2022
Perfect for locals and tourists alike, here are the best places for Dim Sum in Chinatown and beyond.
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46 Bowery, Manhattan/Website
Not putting Joe’s Shangai on this list is the equivalent of omitting Katz’s on a list of the best pastrami—most definitely sacrilegious. While many people come here for the soup dumplings, we come here for the Cold Peanut Noodles. It may have been the multiple glasses of white wine we pregamed with, but these noodles were the most delectable treasures we have ever put in our mouths. You did it, Joe!
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13 Doyers St, Manhattan/Website
The second you enter the colorful fantasy world of Doyers street, you are transported to a land far far away. But the rainbow-colored streets aren’t the only magical thing about this vintage dim sum parlor. Not to be dramatic, but eating Nom Woh’s Pork Bao Suns is truly a euphoric experience. The sweet cloudlike dough houses sweet, sticky pork that explodes with flavor on your tongue.
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5 E Broadway, Manhattan/Website
If you’re a die-hard Dim Sum lover, you need to go go here. You really can’t go wrong with ordering anything on the menu, but the Dim Sum Sampler is an absolute must. The sampler comes with ten varieties of steamed dumplings, so you really get the full experience.
Pro Tip: This is a great thing to order if you’re with your indecisive friend who always tells the waiter “she needs another minute.” Come on Jessica, we’ve been intermittent fasting since Tuesday.
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133-30 39th Ave, Queens/Website
This ultra-traditional Chinese restaurant is truly a hidden gem (jewel pun very much intended). Every dish here is top-notch, but it’s actually illegal if you don’t get the Sticky Rice wrapped in Banana Leaves. We know it doesn’t sound too exciting, but the coconut taste and melt-in-your-mouth texture are undoubtedly divine.
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21 Mott St, Manhattan/Website
We would go here 21 times in a row if we could. Maybe 22 if we were super hungry. In addition to the soup dumplings, the Fried Scallion Pancakes are out of this world. The insanely crispy outer layer is perfectly complemented by the soft warm inside. Rest assured, the Scallion Pancakes are flakier than Jason, your last Hinge prospect. Yes, Brittany, that’s somehow possible.
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380 Amsterdam Ave, Manhattan/Website
This glitzy Cantonese restaurant is a theatrical performance in itself. The gaudy gold decor and curtain-covered walls make for an unforgettable dining experience. But of course, we’re in it for the food. Although they may not appear to be the most appetizing thing on the menu, the Shrimp Rolls deserve a spot in the Dim Sum Hall of Fame. Light and airy, this is a perfect dish to pair with the rich and buttery Crab-Fried Rice.
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103 Mott St, Manhattan/Website
This authentic Chinese restaurant serves food that is good enough for royalty. And for your incredibly picky in-laws, we promise. If you wanna try something a little different, order the Crispy Pork Chops and Stuffed Peppers Fish Cake. You won’t regret ordering any of the classics either, but these slightly less basic dishes are worth writing home to mom and dad.
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Multiple Locations/Website
You absolutely can’t go wrong with Tim Ho Wan. Hey, that rhymed! Nom Wah may have some competition because these baked BBQ Pork Buns are hard to beat. The BBQ sauce offers the perfect blend of sweet and savory you didn’t know you needed. It’s like having your favorite baby back ribs, but ten times better. 10/10 would recommend.
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Multiple Locations/Website
If the King and Queen aren’t at Royal Seafood, they’re stuffing their faces at Dim Sum Palace. The Sticky Rice wrapped in Lotus Leaf is the Palace’s claim to fame, and rightfully so. The earthiness of the Lotus nicely balances out the sweetness of the rice and the tanginess of the pork. New York may be shutting down soon, but with this award-worthy dish, we know everything will be ok.
Photography by: Bao Menglong
