The Resy Guide to Dim Sum in New York

Ask any dim sum fanatic where to get dim sum and they’ll likely recommend Ping’s as the go-to spot in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Fans on Chinese-language social media have praised Ping’s dim sum and banquet-style dishes as the closest resemblance to the flavors found in Hong Kong and Guangdong. The restaurant is often packed during weekend brunch hours, but you can order dim sum here all day. Try the classic har gow, braised chicken feet, and spare ribs. If you’re here for more, ask for the catch of the day and have it freshly steamed right out of the fish tank. Pro tip: Bring cash or Amex.

Call (212) 602-9988 to make reservations if you have a party of 10 or more.

Recommended by the Michelin guide as a Bib Gourmand selection, Little Alley entices diners with its refined Shanghainese soup dumplings, shumai, and juicy pork belly buns. You can also find delicacies like sliced pig ear and jellyfish, savored throughout different regions in China but sometimes harder to find in New York (unless you know where to go).

Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan likely needs no introduction. This famed global franchise prides itself on preserving the craft of traditional dim sum from Hong Kong. You can’t go wrong with any steamed items on the menu, and founder and chef Mak Kwai-pui wants customers to savor the dishes on their own without relying on dipping sauces. But the best offerings are the desserts: Try the French toast with custard filling, a spin on the cha chaan teng classic, and the osmanthus jelly with goji berries.

Walk-ins only.

Having served Chinatown since 1978, Jing Fong is arguably the most beloved dim sum purveyor in New York City. After closing its 800-seat location last year, they reopened in a smaller space on Centre Street. You can still find the traditional roving carts serving turnip cakes, roast pork buns, rice rolls, and more. Just make sure you get here before 11 a.m. on the weekends to beat the crowds.

Jing Fong doesn’t accept reservations on the weekends. During weekdays, you can reserve a table by calling (212) 964-5256 for the Chinatown location or (646) 678-5511 for the Upper West Side location.

Few dim sum chefs in New York take dumplings as seriously as Joe Ng, a master dough sculptor. The ‘Pacman’ shrimp dumplings and snow pea leaf dumplings look almost too picture-perfect — their translucent skin allows you to just peek at the filling inside. Even more impressive are the foie gras tarts, which balance the rich, fatty flavors with strawberries and a bit of crunch.

Book a table directly on RedFarm’s website, or call (212) 792-9700 for the West Village location or (212) 724-9700 for the Upper West Side location.

You have to get to Asian Jewels before 10 a.m. on the weekends to compete with hungry Flushing locals and Manhattanites for a table. Prepare to bellow loudly at each other over the table, because it can get loud and chaotic by midmorning — a sign of an excellent dim sum brunch if you ask us. Try the fish balls, flaky durian pastries, and sweet sponge rolls with custard. If you want to splurge, get their signature spicy deep-fried Dungeness crab.

Mostly walk-ins, but you can call (718) 359-8600 if you have a large group.

Popular Chinatown staple Congee Village now has a sister restaurant that specializes in dim sum. Congee Dim Sum House serves traditional dim sum as well as more contemporary creations like lava custard buns with piggy faces. You can even amp up your meal by booking a private karaoke dining room.

This mini takeout spot started as a breakfast joint for locals in Flushing, with workers lining up in the morning for freshly steamed rice rolls. But now, you can see long lines almost anytime. They have something that’s much harder to find in a traditional dim sum hall: plain rice rolls topped with curry fish balls, sesame and peanut sauce, sweet and spicy sauce, and optional hot sauce. There are only a handful of places in New York that serve this classic Hong Kong breakfast dish, and even fewer make it as well as Fu Yuan.

You can call (347) 732-9882 to place your pickup order ahead of time.

Pinch Chinese is founded by Charlie Chen, a former executive chef for Din Tai Fung, the famed Taiwanese dumpling chain. Come here for the soup dumplings and small plates, of course. You can also enjoy great natural wine pairings curated by Miguel de Leon, who won the New York City Michelin Sommelier of the Year Award in 2021.

Walk-ins only.

Formerly known as Delight 28, House of Joy is a 500-seat banquet hall that serves dim sum from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come early, grab a numbered ticket, and prepare to share a table with other parties unless you have a big group. You have to mostly rely on the dim sum carts here, but they come by rather slowly. Do give the shrimp rice rolls and egg tarts a try — those are often the first to go.

Dim sum is walk-ins only. 

You might be skeptical of a fast-casual dim sum spot like this, but AweSum DimSum has received glowing reviews from picky Cantonese diners (myself included) and New York Times food critic Pete Wells. AweSum DimSum makes some of the best har gow in New York City by insisting on using the freshest ingredients. Pay attention to its Instagram, where the team teases new dishes, like black sesame jelly rolls, lobster shumai, and crispy taro dumplings.

Order from a kiosk inside or place a pickup order online.

It’s easy to miss the entrance of Hey Yuet, which has no signage outside. But once you walk in, you’ll time travel to a traditional Chinese tea house. The staff here are attentive, switching plates in between courses to keep the wrong flavors from mixing. Side note: Be careful not to burn your tongue with the piping-hot cream cheese filling in the cheesy pineapple bun, or the gooey salted egg yolk in the black lava bun — both are must-try items on the menu. Make a reservation, as the tables fill up rather quickly during lunch and dinner.

Call (646) 998-4196 for reservations.

Nom Wah is more than a revived dim sum restaurant — it’s a historical landmark that has been operating since 1920, making it New York’s oldest Chinese restaurant. Its history and vintage aesthetics are a part of what makes it so special; unlike most traditional dim sum parlors, Nom Wah resembles a retro Chinese American diner. Get the house special roast pork bun and pan-fried dumplings. Heads up: Nom Wah only accepts Amex or cash.

Don’t judge this restaurant by its gimmicky cat robot server. The dim sum at Dimmer & Summer is on par with, or perhaps even better, than most. Definitely try the har gow and sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves, but don’t miss out on the fusion items like Philly cheesesteak buns and Szechuan style wings.

Call (929) 295-9999 for reservations if you have a party larger than five.

Come to this Brooklyn favorite as early as you can on the weekends before the dishes start running out. Pay attention to the number called, as the announcer may only say it in Cantonese and skip over to the next one. Zhaliang — fried dough wrapped in rice rolls — tends to fly off the carts. The pepper salt fried whitebait is like having a whole plate of crispy French fries in front of you — you can’t stop at just one.

Dim sum is walk-ins only. 

Unlike most dim sum parlors, Park Asia feels spacious and airy with its wraparound windows. Although private rooms are available, you’re better off soaking up sunlight in the main dining hall. You can order from a menu, so you don’t have to be on the edge of your seat waiting for the carts to come by. Baked roast pork buns and egg tarts are the crowd favorites.

Call (718) 833-1688 to book a private dining room.