From humble beginnings as a simple tea treat for travellers on the Silk Road, dim sum has grown into a full-blown Cantonese culinary custom and nowhere does it better than HK. So we’ve forked out the very best dumpling dens the Fragrant Harbour has to offer, from bustling breakfast boltholes to lavish lunchtime lairs.
Luk Yu
While many save their dumpling desires for midday, at Central’s Luk Yu you can get your fix as early as 7am with a power breakfasts of prawn toast and sweet n’ sour pork in a storied teahouse setting.
G/F, 24 Stanley St, Central. +852 2523 5464
Lin Heung
You can expect trolley service and fixtures as old as the clientele at noisy, bustly, unapologetic, warts n’ all canteen Lin Heung in Sheung Wan. The big bun and liver siu mai are gobbled up quickly, so snag a strategic posi near the kitchen for prime pickings.
Tsang Chiu Ho Bldg, 169 Wellington St, Sheung Wan. +852 2544 455
Duddell’s
If you’re looking for dim sum n’ then some, up the ante at artsy Oriental stunner Duddell’s, offering a lavish weekend brunch complete with all-you-can-eat barbecued pork buns, braised E-fu noodles, fried beef ribs and free-flow bubbles on a verdant, breezy rooftop.
3/F, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell St, Central. +852 2525 9191. duddells.co
Tim Ho Wan
The cheapest Mich-starred diner in the world is renowned for its delectable, pint-sized char siu bao. But the lines at both the Kowloon and IFC Mall branches are painfully long at lunch, so aim to come later in the afternoon.
9-11 Fuk Wing St, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, + branch in IFC Mall. +852 2788 1226. timhowan.com
Maxim’s Palace City Hall
Perch window-side for a view of the harbour at this kitsch, old-fashioned banquet hall where a free-flow of bamboo baskets are delivered via brusque but lovable ladies.
2/F, Low Block, City Hall, Central. +852 2521 1303. maximschinese.com.hk
Lei Garden
This Central staple serves up a smorgasbord of flavour-bomb, fried delicacies, as well as an array of more exotic eats including emu’s leg, pig’s face and crocodile skin. Go on, get out of that culinary comfort zone.
3/F, IFC Mall, Central. +852 2295 0238. leigarden.hk
The original version of this article was written by LUXE for Pencities Hong Kong.
Craving more local delights? Check out the delicious Hong Kong Street Food Tour run by our friends at Context Travel, and don’t forget to nab a copy of the LUXE Hong Kong guide…
