The Resy Guide to Every Type of Dim Sum in L.A.

There’s nothing like a trip to the grand dame of Monterey Park dim sum joints to make your weekend pop, but the real move here is to visit on a weekday, when there’s no wait. (That said, they do run a sister takeout spot next door with to-go options and al fresco tables to help counter some of the Saturday-Sunday crowds.) Snag what you can from the carts, and ask to be seated closer to the kitchen so you can get to the best selections first. From plates of spicy Hong Kong-style fried tofu heaped with scallions to stuffed bitter melon in black bean sauce, you’ll find some more choosy dishes here. It’s hard to go wrong, with shrimp balls on sugar cane and baked barbecue pork buns vying with steamed beef balls and scallop and shrimp dumplings for your attention. 

More info here. 

This superior Arcadia spot boasts an elegantly restrained interior and a (slightly) less busy weekend scene than some of its western brethren. You’ll feast on perfectly-creased crystal har gow with crisp shrimp that lands piping-hot, the kid-friendly zhaliang with a fried cruller snuggled inside silky rice noodles, deliciously chewy tofu skin, and chiu-chao fen guo, an utterly craveable dumpling stuffed with minced pork, dried shrimp, and chopped peanuts. Instead of carts, you’ll check your picks off on a slip of paper and hand it to the server. If the original in Arcadia isn’t in the cards, check out the other Capital Seafood outposts in Irvine and Beverly Hills. 

Call (626) 574-8889 for reservations. 

Less of an institution and more of a convenient and casual pit stop in Chinatown, Tian’s welcomes diners with a sweet, green-painted storefront and a no-frills atmosphere. Come for dumplings of every stripe, a wide variety of buns, scallion ginger tripe, scallion pancakes, and chicken feet with black bean sauce. Try the deep-fried mini buns with condensed milk for a fun dipping experience, or hit a side hankering for seafood fried rice with XO sauce. Congee, all of the noodle dishes, and some standard wok-fried Cantonese classics are also hearty and satisfying here.

No website; call  (213) 680-3888 for more info.

Dignified and composed, the interior at Elite is not as cavernous as some of the other dim sum standbys, and ordering is done by ticket rather than cart as well. The lava buns, or liu sha bao, are called golden cream buns here, and they’re a favorite amongst diners, along with the perpetually popular crispy roast Macau pork belly. Consider the salt and pepper fish, roast duck, almond-coated shrimp balls, crispy-yet-silky zhaliang, snowy mountain bun, chicken feet, and durian pie to round out the table. A basic house wine and beers like Tsingtao are also on offer in addition to the usual tea.

More info here. 

It may be an unconventional setting, but if you don’t mind the almost Chipotle-esque atmosphere (and if you do, you can get it all to-go) and ordering from an iPad on the wall, you’ll get a taste of Gloria Shi and Tony Ying’s freshly-made, well-priced dim sum delights. The staff is exceedingly friendly, the eats are passed off to you in convenient takeout containers, and everything from the gai bao to the shrimp wontons in chili oil are in good form here. There are a few dishes that make ixlb exceedingly approachable for dim sum newbies, too: bao with your choice of chicken, jalapeno pork, or crispy fried fish (our fave), as well as golden dishes like chicken curry puffs, chicken wings, and baked sausage buns that resemble pigs in blankets. For dessert, snag a simple sugar or red bean donut, along with shaved ice in two fruity flavors and pineapple custard bao.

More info here. 

The West side is largely bereft of worthwhile dim sum, though this upscale spot near Beverly Grove aims to change that. (Accordingly, expect to pay more than what you would in the San Gabriel Valley.) Try the bao milk buns, juicy pork XLB, cha siu bao, spicy chicken and shrimp wontons, and turnip cakes with diced ham; and for an Instagram-ready dish, opt for the rainbow-hued six-piece juicy dumpling roulette, with nontraditional fillings including Korean barbecue beef, pork and squid, and spicy chicken. Unlike many other dim sum spots, which cater to large groups, there is a bar and small tables for solo diners as well.

More info here.

Diners from all over L.A. make pilgrimages to this northern O.C. Vietnamese enclave that also happens to serve some of the best under-the-radar dim sum in SoCal. The hustle and bustle is real here, where you have to be on point to grab the hottest xiu mai, har gao, shrimp noodle rolls, chicken feet, and XLB. Don’t neglect the larger plates either, like the succulent house lobster, honey walnut shrimp, spicy spare ribs, crispy tofu, and Peking duck. The wait can be brutal here, even at 9 a.m., so make it worth it with second helpings.

More info here. 

This full-service restaurant, which serves well into the evening, provides a nice pre-Pasadena Playhouse option if you’re craving dim sum for dinner (though there are also locations in Alhambra and Cerritos). Comparatively quiet and cartless, the simple, modern interior is a great place to unwind with a date and a dozen dim sum. If you’re coming with a large group, order pre-set family meals with half a dozen dishes, like spare ribs in black bean sauce, har gao, beef balls, egg yolk buns, and jumbo shrimp siu mai. When in season, Lunasia offers dungeness and king crab, plus east coast lobster. Any time of year, try the deep-fried carrot balls for dessert.

More info here. 

Sidle up to this charming, only-in-L.A. (well, Monterey Park) express dim sum counter where you can quench your cravings seven days a week from early morning til early evening with well-priced, on-demand fluffy baked cha siu bao, pineapple cream buns, egg rolls, potstickers, sesame balls, egg custard tarts, chicken and rice in lotus, turnip cakes, and mango pudding. Everything is served to-go, and unlike at larger joints, you’re able to order by the piece here. When you’re dining solo or want a quick snack, Dim Sum Express can’t be beat, especially with a slightly-too-sweet boba to punctuate your carb-heavy repast.

No website; call (626) 307-5800 for more info.

If you so choose, you could compose an all-black brunch at this more upscale Rosemead spot, which features unique dim sum such as charcoal-black and gold har gao and the black and gold custard buns. Don’t sleep on the black truffle siu mai, black fungus, spareribs with black bean sauce, and lotus-wrapped dishes, either, along with abalone sauce tofu, an assortment of seafood congee, crunchy deep-fried chicken knee, and milk buns. Service is more orderly here than at some of the larger palaces, perhaps due to trays subbing in for carts, but your wait may be lengthy no matter the morning — there’s often a line throughout the week.

More info here. 

Come here for ham sui gok, tastily-fried glutinous rice dumplings that vaguely resemble kibbeh in both their oblong shape and stuffings. The ones at this San Gabriel bakery are absolutely massive, and crafted by chefs who seriously understand the contrasting textural appeal of the molten inside and crunchy outside. Combine that with ma lai goh, a fluffy steamed sponge cake, for a perfectly indulgent breakfast or lunch. Try, too, the glossy curry pork turnover, flaky and buttery dan tat, sumptuous cheung fun, and petite rice cakes studded with red beans. As an added bonus, there’s also an assortment of other global pastries here, including macarons, napoleons, cannoli, and baklava. Before you leave, grab a bag of 50 dumplings for your freezer.

No website; call (626) 308-3532 for more info.

This fast-casual, no-fuss spot tucked away next to a strip mall in Rowland Heights is everything you need when you’re hungry and not in the mood to wait for push carts. Order at the cashier and choose from an assortment of cold drinks, including a not-too-sweet mango or peach iced tea. Melt-in-your-mouth bean curd rolls are a standout, along with lava buns, or liu sha bao, filled with salted egg custard and deep-fried crescent dumplings stuffed with pork, shrimp and veggies, but they also play the hits on-key here, including lo bak go (turnip cakes), pork and shrimp siu mai, har gow, cha siu bao, XLB (soup dumplings), jiandui (sesame balls), and egg tarts.

More info here.

Everyone’s got their favorite Chinese bakery, but not all of them can boast that they also serve dim sum. Enter Long’s in Chinatown. Sweet, savory, and salty have no border here, where trays are filled with an array of sticky rice and chicken wrapped in lotus leaf, cha siu bao, Chinese tamales, yellow bean and walnut cookies, sweet rice dumplings, and big, fluffy hot dog buns. The prices are especially nice here if you’re on a budget, and you can see many of the dishes in the case before ordering.

No website; call (213) 622-5255 for more info.