Dubai's Chinese brunch scene operates in two distinct registers. There's the traditional — weekend yum cha at Shang Palace or Hakkasan, where dim sum arrives at the table with a reverence bordering on ceremony, and the conversation is quieter than at any other Dubai brunch. And there's the contemporary — Hutong DIFC's Saturday brunch, where Northern Chinese food meets a resident DJ and the energy is considerably more alive.
Both have their place. Here's which one is right for you — and every detail you need to book.
The 5 Best Chinese Brunches in Dubai
Ranked by our team based on food quality, value, atmosphere match to expectation, and the overall experience vs. price paid.
Hutong DIFC — Saturday Brunch
Hutong's Saturday brunch is the most exciting Chinese dining occasion in Dubai. The Northern Chinese food is bold and brilliant — dim sum, barbecue meats, wok dishes — and it arrives in generous, continuous waves throughout the brunch. The Silk Road-inspired interior (all carved timber, red lanterns and dramatic vaulted ceilings) elevates the experience significantly above a typical brunch venue. The resident DJ adds genuine energy without overwhelming the conversation.
The packages are excellent value, particularly the house beverage option at AED 288. The unlimited dim sum offering is the heart of the experience — the truffle siu mai, wagyu beef dumplings and barbecue meats alone justify the price. Book the early Saturday seating for the fullest experience.
| Package | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Beverages | Food + juices, soft drinks, tea | AED 200 |
| House Beverages Recommended | Food + house spirits, cocktails, Prosecco | AED 288 |
| Premium Beverages | Food + premium spirits, selected wines | AED 378 |
| Champagne Package | Food + Champagne, premium spirits | AED 428 |
Shang Palace — Traditional Weekend Yum Cha
If Hutong is the Chinese brunch for the Dubai social crowd, Shang Palace is the Chinese brunch for people who actually care about the food. This is proper yum cha — the Hong Kong tradition of weekend dim sum with tea, family and no particular hurry. The trolley service on weekends means dishes arrive continuously past your table; flagging down the right basket at the right moment is its own small pleasure.
The cooking is Michelin Guide-level — the har gow is translucent and perfect, the char siu bao has a properly glossy top, the egg tarts at the end are the best in Dubai. Expect to spend AED 200–280 per person across a generous selection. No alcohol is served (it's a traditional Cantonese establishment), but the tea selection is extensive and the food quality more than compensates.
| Format | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend Yum Cha Recommended | À la carte dim sum + unlimited tea | AED 200–280pp (avg) |
| Special Dim Sum Set | 6-basket set menu + tea | AED 185pp |
Hakkasan Dubai — Michelin Dim Sum Brunch
Hakkasan's dim sum brunch at Atlantis The Palm is a different proposition from either Hutong or Shang Palace — it's the most formally beautiful Chinese brunch in Dubai. The lantern-lit, midnight-blue interior is extraordinary at any time of day. The dim sum arrives in choreographed sequence, and the technical precision of each piece is Michelin-level: pleating on the har gow so even and beautiful that it seems almost disrespectful to eat it.
The price reflects the setting and the star — expect AED 300pp minimum for the dim sum brunch experience, more if you add wines. Worth it for a genuine occasion brunch, or for when you want to take someone from outside Dubai somewhere that will genuinely impress them. Both Friday and Saturday service are available, which makes it more flexible than most Chinese brunch options.
| Package | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Dim Sum Brunch | Dim sum selection + tea | AED 250pp |
| Dim Sum + Beverages Recommended | Dim sum + house wines, mocktails | AED 350pp |
| Signature Set | Full menu + premium beverages | AED 500pp |
XU (Kempinski) — The Underrated Weekend Pick
XU at Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates is the Chinese brunch that Dubai's food community whispers about but rarely writes up. The weekend dim sum is excellent — the kitchen clearly understands Cantonese technique, the har gow is thin and carefully pleated, the cherry wood Peking duck (pre-ordered) at brunch is a legitimate highlight. The hotel setting is polished without being ostentatious.
The price point makes this the best-value quality Chinese brunch in Dubai — comparable food quality to Hakkasan at a considerably lower price. If you're choosing between XU and Shang Palace for a traditional yum cha experience, the choice comes down to location: Kempinski for Mall of the Emirates access, Shangri-La for Sheikh Zayed Road. Both are excellent.
| Package | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend Dim Sum Recommended | À la carte dim sum + tea | AED 150–220pp |
| Weekend Brunch Set | 5-course set + beverages | AED 280–350pp |
Maiden Shanghai — FIVE Palm Jumeirah Brunch
Maiden Shanghai at FIVE Palm Jumeirah offers a Chinese brunch that's more resort-day than pure restaurant experience — and that's its strength. The poolside-adjacent energy, the shareable multi-region Chinese menu (Cantonese, Sichuan, Shanghai, Beijing all represented), and the MSG-free kitchen make it ideal for groups where not everyone is a dedicated Chinese food enthusiast. The Kung Pao lobster at brunch is exceptional. The Peking duck is solid. The cocktails are strong.
Best for: mixed groups, celebration brunches at Palm Jumeirah where you want the full FIVE resort experience, or when you want Chinese food without the hushed formality of the more traditional options on this list.
| Package | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Package | Food + soft beverages | AED 195pp |
| House Package Recommended | Food + house beverages | AED 295pp |
| Premium Package | Food + premium spirits, bubbly | AED 395pp |
Quick Comparison: All 5 Chinese Brunches
| Restaurant | Day(s) | Style | Price from | Alcohol | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hutong DIFC | Saturday | Northern Chinese + DJ | AED 200 (soft) | From AED 288 | Best Energy |
| Shang Palace | Sat–Sun | Traditional Yum Cha | AED 185 (set) | No alcohol | Best Tradition |
| Hakkasan Dubai | Fri–Sat | Fine Dining Dim Sum | AED 250pp | From AED 350 | Best Occasion |
| XU (Kempinski) | Sat–Sun | Cantonese Yum Cha | AED 150pp | From AED 280 | Best Value |
| Maiden Shanghai | Fri–Sat | Pan-Chinese + Resort | AED 195 (soft) | From AED 295 | Best Groups |
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