By Betty Richardson
Fancy doing brunch Hong Kong style? Shanghai has more than a few options to satisfy your har gau craving, both cheap and upmarket. Here are our picks of the best of the best dim sum in Shanghai, conveniently organized into two sections depending on your current mood (and the current status of your bank account).
All-You-Can-Eat Deals
1. Lynn
Lynn’s popular RMB88 all-you-can-eat deal is one of the best value in town. The selection is short, but the quality reasonable and consistent, making this casual restaurant a good choice for small groups or the exceedingly hungry. Reservation essential.
Sat and Sun, 11am-2pm, RMB88. Lynn, 99-1 Xi Kang Lu, by Nanjing Xi Lu.
2. Si Ji Xuan, Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai
One of the city’s oldest dim sum eateries, the Four Seasons’ Si Ji Xuan offers a fantastic all-you-can-eat deal on the weekends. It’s impossible to go wrong on this menu, so knock yourself out. We recommend the sublime crispy shrimp chang fen, delicate ‘Four Seasons’ har gau and egg tarts.
Mon-Sun, 11.30am-3pm, RMB188 per person plus 10 percent service charge. Si Ji Xuan, 500 Weihai Lu, by Shimen Yi Lu.
3. Dynasty at the Shanghai Renaissance Yangtze Hotel
Serving up great quality dim sum for all you Changning and Hongqiao residents, Dynasty is a great quality choice for those who like their dim sum in large quantities. Little touches like the housemade XO sauce (a Canto condiment involving luxurious delicacies like dried shrimps, scallops and chilies) make Dynasty a good choice, particularly if you're in a larger group.
Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm; Sat-Sun 11.30am-2.30pm; 30 percent off all a la carte orders on weekdays, RMB193 for all-you-can-eat on weekends and public holidays.
Shanghai Renaissance Yangtze Hotel, 2099 Yan'an Xi Lu, by Zunyi Nan Lu.
4. Sheraton Shanghai Waigaoqiao Hotel
We're always a sucker for all-you-can-eat deals, and no list would be complete without the deal found at Sheraton Shanghai Waigaoqiao. We recommend starting off with the the classic steamed shrimp dumplings and congee. The 'cherry on top'? With over 50 items of savory pastries (how cute are these pumpkin ones?), you really can't go wrong.
Sat-Sun (until August 31), 11.30am-1:30pm, RMB108 per person, subject to 6 percent VAT
Sheraton Shanghai Waigaoqiao Hotel, 28 Jilong Lu, Waigaoqiao Bonded Area.
5. Yi Long Court, at The Peninsula
Easily the most expensive dim sum on this list, The Peninsula’s Yi Long Court's dim sum is uncompromising and set in one of the most opulent dining rooms in Shanghai. A good choice for striking an impression with visiting in-laws. Their Signature Dim Sum Lunch includes tasty traditional dim sum offerings such as steamed barbeque pork buns and minced beef balls with water chesnut.
Mon-Sun, 11.30am-2.30pm, RMB298, plus 16.6 percent surcharge.
Yi Long Court at The Peninsula, 2F, The Peninsula Shanghai, 32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, by Beijing Dong Lu.
Treat Yo Self...
6. Jade Garden (Jing'an)
Arguably Shanghai locals’ favorite dim sum, getting a reservation here is nigh on impossible – the wait list stretches for months. Luckily, some tables are kept for walk-ins. Arrive at 10am (we recommend earlier – 9.30am on weekends) and prepare to wait for an hour until a spot opens up. Excellent mix of creative and classic dim sums, but only for the truly persistent.
Mon-Fri 11am-3pm; Sat-Sun 10am-3pm, RMB200-300 per person.
Jade Garden, 4/F, Jing'an Kerry Centre, 1238 Yan'an Zhong Lu, by Changde Lu.
7. Hakkasan
Turns out, it is possible to dim sum in luxury without breaking the bank at this Bund-based Canto palace by eating only from the traditional à la carte menu with dishes that start from RMB28. We recommend the char siew bao (RMB28), scallop topped siew mai (RMB38) and chicken feet in black bean sauce (RMB28). Some people are squeamish about eating chicken feet, but we say eat them at least once so you can tell the folks back home you've tried.
Fri-Sun and all public holidays, 11am-3pm, RMB100-200 per person.
See our complete Hakkasan brunch review here. Hakkasan, 5F, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, by Nanjing Dong Lu
8. Seventh Son (Pudong)
One of the city’s best dim sums, Seventh Son in the Pudong Shang-ri La Hotel is worth its price for big groups, becoming more economical with more people. A beautiful dining room and impeccable service make Seventh Son a special treat for any dim sum connoisseur. We recommend the roast pork pineapple buns, textbook har gow shrimp dumplings and steamed layer cake.
Mon-Sun,11.30am-2pm, 5-10pm, RMB250-380 per person plus 16 percent service charge.
Seventh Son Pudong, 2/F, River Wing, 33 Fu Cheng Lu.
9. Seventh Son (Jing'an)
Same same but different from its sister restaurant in Pudong, Seventh Son's Jing'an branch is a little more contemporary and conveniently situated within the Jing'an Kerry Centre. The dim sum menu here is classic and refined, with consistently good har gao (crystal shrimp dumplings), roasted goose and charsiu bao (bbq pork steamed buns).
Open Mon-Fri, 11am-2.30pm, weekends and public holidays: 11am-3pm. From RMB250-350 per person
Seventh Son (Jing'an), 2/F, Tower 1, Jing An Kerry Centre, 1515 Nanjing Xi Lu, by Tongren Lu.
10. VUE Dining, at Hyatt on the Bund
VUE Dining’s Dim Sum Brunch has a congee station and dozens of perfectly packaged, delicate southern Chinese dumplings. All tea and soft drinks are inclusive, too. Look elegant while stuffing your face!
Saturday and Sunday, 10am-3pm, RMB188 plus 10 percent service charge and 6 percent VAT. Half-price for children aged six-12 years old, and complimentary for children under six years old.
VUE Dining at Hyatt on the Bund, 30/F Hyatt on the Bund, 199 Huangpu Lu, by Wuchang Lu.
11. The Crystal Garden, at The Westin Bund Center
The Crystal Garden at The Westin Bund Center Shanghai's new Yum Cha menu features over 50 varieties of traditional Shanghainese and Cantonese dim sum freshly made by the hotel's Dim Sum Sous Chef Sammi Shen and her team. Highlights of the newly launched weekend menu include truffle dumplings with foie gras, golden scallop dumplings and Boston lobster dumplings. The experience is made complete with live tea performances.
Saturday and Sunday, 11am-2pm, RMB18, RMB28, RMB38 and RMB48 per item plus 10 percent service charge, and subject to 6 percent VAT.
The Crystal Garden, 88 Henan Zhong Lu, by Guangdong Lu.
12. Jing Cai Xuan
With beautiful temple-like interiors and great quality dim sum, the only thing unlikeable about Jing Cai Xuan is its bizarre English name, 'Exquisite Bocuse.' Don't be put off by the name here, the dim sum is worth a trip and the expentiture, and make sure to get the melty egg yolk custard buns (liusha bao, 流沙包). Best visited with a group of up to four people. Be prepared for a wait on weekends as they don't take reservations and it's hella popular.
Dim sum served daily, 11-2pm, from RMB280-320 per person (service charge included)
Jing Cai Xuan, 3F, Reel Mall, 1601 Nanjing Xi Lu, by Changde Lu.
13. YUE1525
A reliable choice for dim sum that won't break the bank, YUE1525 is situated on the second floor of the New World hotel on Dingxi Lu. Specialties include a cast of classic dim sum dumplings, pastries and delicacies, plus a roster of Cantonese-style roasted meats like barbecued crispy pork (RMB68) and roasted goose (RMB80).
Mon-Fri, 11.30am-2.30pm, Sat-Sun, 11.30am-4.30pm, from RMB100-150 per person for dim sum, plus 10 percent service charge.
YUE1525, 2F, 1525 Dingxi Lu, by Changning Lu.
14. Mr. Pots
Catering to the late night crowd, Mr. Pots serves decent quality dim sum until 2am. They're also open during daylight hours from 11am.
Mon-Sun, 11am-2.30pm, 5-12am, RMB20+ per item (service charge included)
Mr. Pots, 802 Yan'an Zhong Lu, near Maoming Bei Lu.
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