The Best Dim Sum in NYC

Dim sum is not just a meal. It is a sport. You have to wake up early on a weekend. You have to aggressively flag down servers pushing metal carts. You have to know when to ask for chili oil and when to order a plate of Chinese broccoli to break up the pork fat. The reward is a table covered in bamboo steamers filled with shrimp dumplings, barbecue pork buns, and turnip cakes. New York has three distinct centers of gravity for this ritual. Manhattan offers historic banquet halls and made-to-order tea parlors. Queens brings massive dining rooms right off the 7 train. Brooklyn counters with the massive halls along 8th Avenue.

The strategy is simple. Bring a group. Show up before 11 in the morning if you want a table. If a cart rolls by with something that looks good, point at it and nod. We mapped out the best places to do exactly that.

Manhattan

Golden Unicorn

Chinatown · 18 East Broadway · $$ Website

This is the classic New York pushcart experience. You take an elevator up to a dining room decorated in red and gold. The noise hits you immediately. Families crowd around large circular tables while servers navigate the aisles with steaming metal carts. Grab the pork pastries, which are flaky and savory, and the sweet egg tarts before they run out.

Go for: the true cart-chasing weekend brunch rush. Know before you go: expect a wait, but large groups move surprisingly fast.

Jing Fong

Chinatown · 202 Centre Street · $$ Website

The old 800-seat Elizabeth Street dining room closed during the pandemic, but Jing Fong successfully downsized into a smaller, sleeker space on Centre Street with 125 seats. They rely heavily on a checklist menu now, but the kitchen still produces the same excellent siu mai and spare ribs that made them famous. The quality of the ingredients feels higher in the tighter space.

Go for: high-quality classics without the overwhelming scale. Know before you go: dim sum service usually stops around 3:30 in the afternoon.

Nom Wah Tea Parlor

Chinatown · 13 Doyers Street · $$ Website

Nom Wah has been operating since 1920. You sit in vintage booths under old signage on the crooked curve of Doyers Street. They switched to a made-to-order menu years ago, which means every rice roll and pan-fried dumpling arrives completely fresh. The original egg roll features an egg crepe wrapper that sets it apart from typical takeout versions.

Go for: a slice of New York history. Know before you go: wait times can be long on weekends, so aim for a weekday afternoon.

Dim Sum Go Go

Chinatown · 5 East Broadway · $$ Website

This corner spot focuses strictly on made-to-order dim sum. The wrappers are delicate. The fillings are generous. They offer an exceptional vegetarian dumpling platter wrapped in pink and green dough, making this the best choice for groups with dietary restrictions.

Go for: the roast duck dumplings. Know before you go: there are no carts here, just a calm dining room and a checklist.

House of Joy

Chinatown · 28 Pell Street · $$ Website

A massive banquet hall that keeps the traditional pushcarts rolling across carpets under bright chandeliers. The energy is pure chaos in the best way possible. Order the siu mai and the durian puffs if you want something sweet and pungent.

Go for: big portions and old-school cart service. Know before you go: arrive before 11 in the morning on weekends to avoid waiting an hour or more.

Ping's

Chinatown · 22 Mott Street · $$ Website

Ping's is a slightly smaller, more focused seafood restaurant that serves excellent dim sum all day. The fish tanks in the wall remind you what the kitchen does best. They use smaller trays instead of massive carts, which means the food arrives hotter and fresher. The steamed seafood shumai and the crispy fried chicken with garlic are stellar.

Go for: perfectly executed seafood dumplings. Know before you go: it is cash only, but there is an ATM nearby if you forget.

Tim Ho Wan

East Village · 85 4th Avenue · $$ Website

The New York outpost of the famous Hong Kong chain still draws a crowd in the East Village. The room feels modern and efficient. Everything is made to order. You are here for the baked barbecue pork buns. They have a sugary, crumbly crust that gives way to hot, savory pork. You will want to order two plates of them immediately.

Go for: the famous baked pork buns. Know before you go: they offer a deep-fried vegetable spring roll and French toast dessert exclusive to the New York menu.

Dim Sum Palace

Chinatown · 27 Division Street · $$ Website

Dim Sum Palace has expanded rapidly across Manhattan, but their Division Street location stands out. They steam everything to order and maintain a chic, old-world atmosphere. Finding fresh, hot dim sum after midnight in the city used to be a struggle, but their Midtown locations stay open past 1 in the morning.

Go for: late-night soup dumplings and steamed buns. Know before you go: call ahead if you have a large party on the weekend.

Queens

Asian Jewels Seafood Restaurant

Flushing · 133-30 39th Avenue · $$

Asian Jewels is the undisputed heavyweight of Flushing dim sum. The room is vast, outfitted with heavy chandeliers and giant round tables. The carts come fast and furious. The fried shrimp dumplings are a standout, and the jellyfish with black vinegar is perfectly seasoned. The chaotic energy is exactly what you want on a Sunday morning.

Go for: the absolute peak of the Flushing pushcart scene. Know before you go: arrive before 11 in the morning, or you will be waiting outside.

Royal Queen

Flushing · 136-20 Roosevelt Avenue · $$ Website

Located inside the New World Mall on the third floor, Royal Queen is an elegant banquet hall. It is a popular spot for weddings, but on weekend mornings, it transforms into a dim sum powerhouse. The carts offer crystal shrimp dumplings, rice rolls, and even lobster congee.

Go for: a sophisticated room and great steamed ribs. Know before you go: after you eat, you can walk off the meal by wandering through the massive Asian supermarket downstairs.

New Lake Pavilion

Flushing · 6015 Main Street · $$

New Lake Pavilion offers a more classic experience with chandeliers and Greek columns. They serve dim sum the traditional way, with waiters pushing carts from table to table. The selection is vast, and the staff is attentive with tea refills.

Go for: traditional cart service in an expansive dining hall. Know before you go: there is a private parking lot available, which is a rarity in Flushing.

Ocean Bay Seafood Restaurant

Elmhurst · 83-02 Queens Blvd · $$ Website

Ocean Bay is a reliable spot just outside the main Flushing crowds. The dim sum carts roll daily until 2 in the afternoon. Stick to the classics like har gow and pork ribs in black bean sauce, but do not skip the sesame balls. They are light, chewy, and perfectly fried.

Go for: excellent sesame balls and a slightly shorter wait. Know before you go: they offer a massive menu of Cantonese seafood if you want something heavier.

Brooklyn

East Harbor Seafood Palace

Dyker Heights · 714 65th Street · $$

This is widely considered the best dim sum in Brooklyn. The scale of the room is staggering. A host shouts numbers over a microphone while crowds wait patiently by the door. Once you sit down, the carts arrive loaded with pork dumplings, stuffed crab claws, and perfect egg custard tarts. The turnover is so high that nothing sits on a cart for long.

Go for: the most energetic dim sum room outside of Manhattan. Know before you go: the wait can be brutal, so bring a patient group.

Park Asia

Sunset Park · 6521 8th Avenue · $$ Map

Park Asia offers a slightly more refined aesthetic, with floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows that let in plenty of sunlight. You order from a menu here, so there is no need to aggressively flag down carts. Baked roast pork buns and egg tarts are the crowd favorites.

Go for: a calmer, sunlit weekend brunch. Know before you go: you can book a private dining room if you have a large party.

Affable Eatery

Sunset Park · 912 65th Street · $$ Map

A reliable and welcoming spot in the Brooklyn Chinatown corridor. The carts roll constantly, and the staff is genuinely friendly. The shrimp har gow is fantastic, and the siu mai comes topped with red goji berries. It is a favorite for local neighborhood families, which is always the best endorsement a dim sum hall can get.

Go for: great dumplings and a warm atmosphere. Know before you go: they host community galas in the evening, so daytime is best for dim sum.

Bamboo Garden

Sunset Park · 6409 8th Avenue · $$ Website

Stepping into Bamboo Garden feels a bit like crashing a glitzy wedding. They serve excellent har gow filled with sweet shrimp. You order straight off the dim sum carts, and portions are massive. They also have a roast meats counter up front selling char siu and roast duck by the pound.

Go for: massive portions and quick cart service. Know before you go: go before noon on weekends, as cart service slows down once the room completely fills.

The Shout NY take Dim sum rewards the bold. Do not wait for the perfect cart to come to you. If you see a tray of fresh egg tarts passing three tables away, stand up, take your ticket, and go get them. And if you are looking to explore more of the neighborhoods where these halls reside, check out our Chinatown Guide, our Flushing Guide, and our Sunset Park Guide for what to do after you finish your last pork bun.