Summing up Beijing’s Best Dim Sum Restaurants and What to Order
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Dim sum is a mainstay in Cantonese cuisine, which I will argue – to the death, mind you – is the best subset of Chinese cuisine. So when I moved to Beijing and discovered that dim sum isn't quite as ubiquitous here as it is in Singapore and Hong Kong, I was sorely disappointed. That said, however, there are quite a number of dim sum restaurants in the capital that meet tasty expectations for bite-size steamed, baked, and sometimes fried goodies served in a woven basket. We round up some of these spots, plus give you insider tips on a few of the tastiest options that you should be ordering off the menu, but that you probably aren't...yet.
Jing Yaa Tang's Dim Sum Brunch
Every day at this Michelin-starred restaurant, it's all you can eat dim sum yummies during lunchtime for just RMB 188 or RMB 168 with a coupon from Dianping! The list of endless dim sum – offered from 11am-2.30pm on weekends and noon-2.30pm on weekdays – includes their famous Beijing roast duck, iconic 小笼包 xiǎolóngbāo, and sticky rice balls with 腊肠 làcháng aka sausage, but our top pick would definitely be pan-fried turnip cake in their homemade XO sauce. You can add on the free flow alcohol package during the weekends to pair your dim sum buffet with prosecco, red and white wines, or beer for an extra RMB 168. The chill atmosphere of this subterranean restaurant is great for a lunch break with colleagues or weekend brunch with the family!
Chua Lam's Kitchen
This Hong Kong franchise brings you all the best of dim sum at their many outlets across the city. Think of them as the fast-food name in the dim sum game. They also consistently update their menu with new offerings, so put this restaurant on the list and check back regularly for different flavors. Our must-try dishes here are the crispy barbecued pork buns, fresh shrimp, red rice sausage rolls served with a sauce that you will want to lick off the plate, and the fried wontons. Wash this all down with a cool barley drink, a staple in Southeast Asia. For dessert, kids will enjoy their mango sago pudding – a childhood classic for me – or fried vanilla rolls.
Din Tai Fung
I'm sure you're not surprised to find another Michelin-starred restaurant on this list, but you can't talk about dim sum without mentioning Asia's pioneering restaurant franchise that single-handedly put dim sum on the map. Din Tai Fung is best known for their mouth-watering xiaolongbao, but they have so much more than that. While it might seem like a humble peasant dish, the cucumbers in red oil is highly recommended as an appetizer that balances mild spice with mild sweetness. Do also try their shrimp dumplings and scrumptious double-boiled chicken soup that will warm your insides. Their fried pork cutlet over fried rice is always a winner with kids as well.
Phoenix House
If you read my previous hotpot article, you'll already know about Phoenix House and their extensive menu that covers everything from sashimi to dim sum. Of the latter, their fresh shrimp and red rice sausage rolls are even better than Chua Lam's Kitchen, though their barbecued pork buns aren't quite as crispy or tasty. My local friend also swears by their chicken feet, which I have not yet summoned the courage to try. Their fresh shrimp dumplings are exactly that, fresh, and you have to try the salted egg steamed buns which are a remnant of the salted egg yolk craze that swept Asia not too long ago. Those are usually a big hit with the kids.
KEEP READING: Beijing's Best Family Hotpot Recommendations, According to Locals
Images: Jing Yaa Tang, Meituan, Dianping
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