Our Favourite Dim Sums: The Best Dim Sum Restaurants In London

London has seen a surge in dim sum venues over recent years. While it still hasn't quite reached the dreamy heights of Asia yet, it's definitely closing the gap.

As people who've lived and travelled across Asia and who were raised regularly eating dim sum on Saturday afternoons, we have made it our mission to find London's best dim sum.

Today, we're sharing our opinion of the best dim sum restaurants in London.

We have personally visited and reviewed all the dim sum restaurants listed below. Our reviews are completely independent and based on our experiences. We have not received any compensation or incentives from these establishments for our opinions.

1. Din Tai Fung (Centre Point, Covent Garden and Oxford Street)

Our love affair with Din Tai Fung began as children in Taiwan where the restaurant started over 60 years ago. We have been fortunate to visit their restaurants in countries including Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Having recently tried their Centre Point location for the first time, we're pleased to say their London restaurants do not disappoint.

The star of the show at Din Tai Fung is the original Xiao Long Bao, which is a pork dumpling with a hot, rich and flavoursome soup inside. In addition to their original, there are several variants making creative use of other ingredients. This includes the likes of mushroom, truffle and chilli crab. Although we do like mixing it up a little, the original Pork Xiao Long Bao is definitely our favourite.

Away from Xiao Long Bao, we also recommend trying their other dumpling dishes. This includes Spicy Pork and Vegetable Wontons, Jiao Zi and Shao Mai, as well as their Pork Chop Egg Fried Rice and Spicy Cucumber.

One of the most memorable parts of the Din Tai Fung experience is being able to watch some of the best dumplings in the world being freshly made by the chefs. Each Xiao Long Bao goes through a 40-minute long process involving six separate hand preparation stations. This experience makes you realise the craftsmanship and care that goes into making every single dumpling. It is also a reflection of their quality. 

Although Din Tai Fung's Xiao Long Bao and dumplings are, in our opinion the best in London, we sometimes think they miss a trick by not offering a wider range of dim sum options. We do however concede that this may not be so easy while maintaining the exceptional quality of their dumplings.

We prefer Din Tai Fung for special occasions, like mid-week birthdays or celebrations as it's on the pricier side and can be hard to get a seat. It's always nice following a meal there, to take a gentle stroll through the Covent Garden area.

2. Phoenix Palace (Marylebone)

If you love a bustling, busy atmosphere with traditional décor, then you will appreciate the Phoenix Palace in Marylebone. This vibrant is situated just a stone's throw away from both Baker Street and Marylebone Stations.

The restaurant is a hive of activity on weekend lunchtimes when it is full of families and friends catching up over a wholesome dim sum meal. The white tablecloth, glass turntables, red decorations, and fish tank all add to a nostalgic vibe which reminds us a bit of our grandparents' house. The staff include several old-timers who are for the majority of the time, friendly and attentive.

A good selection of steamed and fried dim sum is available and you honestly can't go wrong with anything here. However, their BBQ pork buns, BBQ pork puff pastries and Cheung Fun are our personal favourites. There's also a good selection of non dim-sum dishes including crispy belly pork, Peking duck and a variety of noodle dishes which we can vouch for.

 Credit: Phoenix Palace Restaurant

Away from food, it's worth pointing out that the Chinese tea is one of the better ones we have had at a London dim sum house. Better still, they are always happy to top up the water without a fuss. When we're in the mood, we always appreciate the draught beer that is on offer.

We prefer coming here on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, especially for family meals as dim sum is available until 4.45 pm. It's not uncommon for there to be a queue during the early afternoon, so we would recommend booking in advance if possible.

The proximity to Regent's Park makes it a great spot to relax or go for a walk post-meal.

3. Dim Sum Duck (King's Cross)

Dim Sum Duck is a one-of-a-kind, family-run restaurant that gives off a warm, local, street-corner vibe. As a family-run restaurant, the staff are incredibly friendly, and the food is equally delightful.

There is a good selection of steamed and fried dim sum with the vast majority of the dim sum dishes costing less than £5. This makes it great value-for-money especially compared to other dim sum venues in London.

We recommend trying a variety of their dumplings, steamed pork buns, glutinous rice wrap and Cheung Fun, which all hit the spot! If you have space, they also have a good selection of other Chinese dishes. This includes rice and noodle dishes, vegetables and classics including Mapo tofu.

Dim Sum Duck is a great place for social, laidback dining, and we prefer to go during the weekends when we are craving a relaxed dim sum.

However, please be aware that they do not take reservations and as a popular spot, there can often be a 15-30 minute queue. As they are open between 12 pm to 5 pm and 6 pm to 10 pm, our recommendation is to get there a bit early - at around 11:45 am or 5:45 pm - to skip the queue.

4. My Neighbours The Dumplings (Clapton and Victoria Park)

My Neighbours The Dumplings are a pair of delicious, family-run dim sum restaurants in East London. They are popular for fusing dim sum tradition with innovation.

Their dim sum dishes are focused on dumplings. We would strongly recommend their delicious Siu Mai dumplings containing pork, prawn and roe as well as Har Gau prawn dumplings. With their handcrafted dumplings, they've done a great job of transforming simple, homely recipes into gourmet wonders.

Away from dim sum, they also offer some Chinese classics including Mapo tofu and crispy pork belly both of which taste great. If you have space, we would recommend trying their smacked cucumber salad.

We often find ourselves here for casual after-work dining when we're craving good-value dim sum. They also offer takeaway, which is great for those cosy nights. They only have a few dishes on the menu, which allows them to focus on creating each item to perfection. We find these restaurants, true, hidden gems of London.

5. Royal China (Marylebone)

Situated conveniently close to Oxford Street are two Royal China restaurants: Royal China and its more upmarket sister restaurant, Royal China Club.

Royal China is perfect for a pre- or post-shopping meal due to its proximity to Oxford Street. Its spacious interior, adorned with tablecloth and glass turntables, enhances the dining experience.

While it's slightly pricey, the selection and quality of dim sum at both restaurants are worth it, especially for Central London.

We highly recommend their prawn dumplings and roast pork buns, along with prawn fried noodles to round off the meal.

After indulging in dim sum, feel free to continue your shopping spree at nearby Selfridges or wander up Marylebone High Street.

Royal China has other restaurants in Harrow on the Hill, Canary Riverside, Fulham, Chinatown and Dubai.

6. Yauatcha (Soho and The City)

Yauatcha is where you go when you want to impress. It's expensive, but the exquisite interior, coupled with the high-quality dim sum, makes it worth it for the big occasion.

The restaurant offers a first-class dining experience. Each dish is beautifully crafted adding a modern touch to traditional Cantonese dishes. For me, the Venison Puff pastry, soft shell crab, and lobster dumplings are the standout dishes at Yauatcha.

Yauatcha is our top pick for really special occasions and makes for a great date spot. After your meal, don't forget to grab a drink in Soho for the perfect end to your evening.

Credit: thelondonfoodieee

7. Golden Dragon (Colindale and Chinatown)

No list of the best dim sum restaurants in London is complete unless it shares a few in Chinatown. Golden Dragon is nestled in the heart of Chinatown and has a second location in Colindale, North London. It is usually buzzing with a mix of locals and tourists.

We often drop by Golden Dragon when we're hungry and in Soho. Its location makes it ideal for a stop before going for a few drinks with friends or watching a theatre performance. You can hardly go wrong with its dumplings and BBQ pork bun dishes.

Though the staff are quite often not the friendliest, Golden Dragon always delivers on the dim sum front with its great selection. When you combine this with the restaurant's convenient location, it's well worth a visit.

Be sure to take a walk around Chinatown before or after your meal to soak up the vibrant atmosphere.

8. Pearl Liang (Paddington)

We have been visiting Pearl Liang for well over 15 years. On a good day, its dim sum can be amongst the best in London. The main reason why it's not scoring more is its lack of consistency as we're afraid to say we have had a couple less positive experiences over the years.

Located just off the Little Venice canal and close to Paddington station, Pearl Liang is a wonderful spot for a dim sum meal. This is especially so after a leisurely stroll by the canal. When you enter, the peaceful water feature containing fish as well as the stylish interior contribute to a delightful setting.

Pearl Liang's range of dim sum is good and fresh with their prawn dumplings and Cheung fun the must-try dishes. We also find their non dim-sum menu appealing, and can personally vouch for their crispy belly pork and sizzling beef dishes.

Credit: chiggerito

The Final Word

And there you have it - our favourite dim sum joints in London.

So whether you're a seasoned dim sum lover or just starting to explore, We hope this list leads you to some new places to explore. From casual eats to more upmarket dining, each place has its charm, and there's something for everyone in this vibrant city.

Remember, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to dim sum. So feel free to dive in, try a bit of everything, and above all, enjoy the experience. Happy eating!

Stay tuned for the next instalment where we'll be introducing more hidden gems in London and the UK's thriving Asian food scene.

If you are interested in learning more about dim sum why not read our comprehensive guide to dim sum.