10 Best Dim Sum Dishes You Need To Order (Alongside 5 You Should Avoid)
Dim sum isn’t just food—it’s a delicious adventure where small bamboo baskets reveal steamy treasures that tell stories of Chinese culinary traditions.
Whether you’re a dim sum newbie or a seasoned chopstick wielder, knowing what to order can make or break your experience.
I’ve eaten my way through countless dim sum parlors to bring you the absolute must-haves and the dishes that might leave you disappointed.
1. Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings)
Translucent pleated pouches hiding plump, juicy shrimp? Yes, please! These dainty dumplings are the true test of any dim sum chef’s skill.
The wrapper should be thin yet sturdy, with a perfect bite that’s not too sticky or too firm. When done right, har gow delivers a snap of freshness that’ll have you reaching for seconds.
2. Siu Mai (Pork And Shrimp Dumplings)
Open-faced and proud, siu mai flaunts its savory pork and shrimp filling like it’s on a culinary runway. The yellow wrapper cradles the meat mixture, often topped with bright orange fish roe.
Biting into a properly made siu mai releases a burst of umami goodness that epitomizes comfort food. No dim sum cart should roll by without these beauties on board!
3. Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Buns)
Fluffy clouds of steamed bread revealing a treasure of sticky-sweet BBQ pork inside—these buns are pure magic! The contrast between the pillowy exterior and rich filling creates a textural wonderland.
Some places offer baked versions with a glossy, golden top, but I’m team steamed all the way. Nothing beats that first tear into the soft dough to reveal the savory-sweet pork hiding inside.
4. Cheung Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls)
Silky rice noodle sheets wrapped around fillings like shrimp, beef, or BBQ pork then doused in sweet soy sauce—cheung fun is textural poetry. The noodles should glide across your tongue like satin.
My favorite moment? When the server scissors these delicate rolls tableside..
5. Egg Tarts (Dan Tat)
Golden sunshine captured in a flaky pastry shell! These sweet finishers feature silky egg custard nestled in buttery crust that shatters delicately with each bite.
Served warm, the contrast between the crisp exterior and the wobbling center creates pure dessert magic. I’ve seen grown adults arm-wrestle for the last egg tart on the table—they’re that good!
6. Lo Bak Go (Turnip Cake)
Don’t let the name fool you—these savory squares are comfort food royalty! Shredded daikon radish mixed with rice flour, dried shrimp, and Chinese sausage, then pan-fried to crispy-edged perfection.
The outside gets deliciously caramelized while the inside remains soft and slightly chewy. A dab of chili sauce on top? Absolute flavor fireworks!
7. Chicken Feet (Phoenix Claws)
Bear with me on this one—chicken feet are the unexpected superstar of dim sum! Braised and steamed in black bean sauce until fall-off-the-bone tender, they’re a textural adventure worth taking.
Yes, they look like, well, feet. But the collagen-rich skin becomes gelatinous and absorbs all that savory sauce. True dim sum aficionados judge a restaurant by their phoenix claws—they’re that important.
8. Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings)
The magic trick of dim sum! These dumplings somehow contain hot soup INSIDE the wrapper alongside a pork filling. First-timers beware—there’s a technique to eating these without wearing the soup.
Nibble a small hole, slurp the soup, then enjoy the dumpling. The wrapper should be thin yet strong enough to hold that precious porky broth!
9. Wu Gok (Taro Dumplings)
Imagine biting through a crispy, lacy exterior to discover creamy mashed taro surrounding savory minced pork. These football-shaped fritters are textural wonderlands!
The outer shell shatters like delicate coral, giving way to purple-tinged taro that’s both sweet and savory. Somehow both ethereally light and satisfyingly rich, wu gok represents dim sum artistry at its finest.
10. Sticky Rice In Lotus Leaf
Unwrapping these fragrant parcels feels like opening a culinary present! Glutinous rice studded with mushrooms, Chinese sausage, and chicken, all perfumed by the lotus leaf it’s steamed in.
The leaf imparts an earthy aroma that transforms simple sticky rice into something magical. Each forkful delivers chewy rice and savory treasures, making this substantial dish perfect for sharing—though you might not want to!
11. AVOID: Stinky Tofu
The name says it all—this fermented tofu dish announces itself to your nose long before it reaches your table. While beloved by some dim sum enthusiasts, newcomers often find the pungent aroma overwhelming.
Think of a gym sock left in a locker for weeks, then deep-fried. The flavor is actually milder than the smell suggests, but why ruin your appetite? There are too many delicious options to waste stomach space on this divisive dish.
12. AVOID: Chicken Liver Siu Mai
Regular siu mai? Delightful! The liver version? A metallic-tasting trap for the unwary diner. These innocent-looking dumplings hide an intense, mineral flavor that can overwhelm your palate.
Unless you’re specifically a liver enthusiast, this variation tends to dominate the taste of everything else you’ll eat afterward. Even liver lovers often find the texture in these dumplings off-putting.
13. AVOID: Century Eggs In Congee
Century eggs—preserved duck eggs with blackish-green yolks and translucent dark jelly-like whites—are an acquired taste many never acquire. Their ammonia-like aroma and creamy-yet-gelatinous texture can be jarring.
When mixed into congee (rice porridge), they impart their strong flavor throughout. Start with regular congee before venturing into this advanced-level dish.
14. AVOID: Beef Tripe
Honeycomb tripe (cow stomach) requires serious culinary commitment that most casual dim sum goers aren’t ready for. The chewy, slightly rubbery texture combined with its distinctive funk makes this a challenging choice.
While perfectly prepared tripe can be tender and flavorful, mediocre versions—common even in decent restaurants—can be tough and gamy. Your dim sum adventure has better paths to explore.
15. AVOID: Durian Pastries
The infamous durian fruit—banned in many hotels and public transport systems—finds its way into innocent-looking dim sum pastries. One bite releases its notorious aroma, often compared to rotting onions mixed with turpentine.
Even durian lovers admit these pastries can be overwhelming in the close quarters of a dim sum restaurant. Your tablemates might never forgive you!
