There's a particular joy to dim sum that doesn't exist in other dining rituals. The small bamboo steamers arriving in sequence. The clatter of trolleys. The ritual of tea selection. The way the table becomes more chaotic, more laden, more abundant as the meal progresses. Dubai has finally, properly, embraced this tradition — and the dim sum available here now rivals what you'd find in Hong Kong or London's Chinatown.
We've tried them all. Here's everything you need to know.
The Essential Dim Sum Dictionary
Before you walk into any dim sum restaurant in Dubai, you need to know what you're ordering. These are the non-negotiables — the dishes that define whether a kitchen can actually cook.
Har Gow
虾饺 · Shrimp Dumpling
The benchmark dish of any dim sum kitchen. Translucent rice-flour skin, whole shrimp filling. The wrapper must be thin enough to see the pink shrimp through it, yet thick enough to hold together when lifted with chopsticks. If a restaurant's har gow is good, everything else will be too.
AED 55–90 for 4 pieces
Siu Mai
烧卖 · Pork & Prawn
Open-topped dumpling with a pork and prawn filling, topped with fish roe or carrot. Meaty, juicy, slightly chewy. Often the most satisfying single bite in any dim sum spread. Order one basket and immediately order another.
AED 55–85 for 4 pieces
Xiao Long Bao
小笼包 · Soup Dumpling
Shanghai's great gift to the world. Thin dough folded around seasoned pork and a spoonful of gelatinous broth that melts into hot soup when steamed. You eat them in one bite — bite the corner, slurp the soup, consume the rest. Magnificent and treacherous.
AED 65–95 for 6 pieces
Char Siu Bao
叉烧包 · BBQ Pork Bun
Fluffy steamed or baked bun filled with sweet-savoury char siu BBQ pork. The baked version (with a golden, slightly cracked top and glossy glaze) is a particular joy. Look for the one with the most butter-like shine — that's usually the best kitchen.
AED 45–75 for 3 pieces
Cheung Fun
肠粉 · Rice Noodle Roll
Silky rice noodle sheets rolled around various fillings (prawns, char siu, crispy dough). Drizzled with sweet soy sauce. Deceptively simple — good ones have a specific silkiness that bad ones completely lack. Shang Palace does the definitive Dubai version.
AED 50–80 for 3 pieces
Lo Mai Gai
糯米鸡 · Sticky Rice in Lotus
Glutinous rice packed with chicken, mushrooms and Chinese sausage, steamed inside a lotus leaf. Unwrapping it at the table releases a fragrant cloud. One of the most satisfying and filling items on any dim sum menu — order one between two people.
AED 55–85 per parcel
How to Order Dim Sum in Dubai
Whether you're a first-timer or a regular, this is the ritual.
The Dim Sum Ordering Sequence
Choose your tea first. This is yum cha — "drink tea." Tell your server your preference (jasmine, oolong, pu-erh, chrysanthemum) before anything else arrives. The tea is refilled free throughout the meal; lift the lid of the teapot to signal a refill needed.
Start with steamers, not baked. Order har gow and siu mai first — they set the tone. If these are excellent, order more from the same kitchen's strengths. If they're disappointing, stick to the robust fried and baked items.
Mix textures across the table. Aim for a balance of steamed (har gow, siu mai), fried (spring rolls, radish cake), baked (char siu bao), and large items (lo mai gai, roasted dishes). Three to four items per person is typically about right.
Pace yourself — more arrives. In traditional yum cha, dishes arrive continuously. Don't fill up on the first two baskets. The cheung fun, the turnip cake, the egg tart at the end — these are worth saving room for.
Finish with egg tarts. Dan tat (蛋挞) — flaky pastry filled with silky baked egg custard — is the classic dim sum dessert. The Portuguese-influenced version (with slightly caramelised tops) is the superior form. Non-negotiable at the end of any dim sum meal.
Best Tea Choices for Dim Sum
Jasmine (茉莉花茶)
Light and fragrant. The classic choice for first-timers. Pairs beautifully with delicate steamed dumplings.
Pu-Erh (普洱茶)
Earthy, aged, bold. The traditional dim sum tea choice for its ability to cut through fat and aid digestion. Requested by the regulars.
Chrysanthemum (菊花茶)
Floral, slightly sweet, caffeine-free. A lighter option that works beautifully with baked items and egg tarts.
The Best Dim Sum Restaurants in Dubai
Ranked based on quality of steamed dumplings, consistency across multiple visits, and how well the kitchen handles the classic benchmarks — particularly har gow and siu mai.
Shang Palace — Shangri-La Hotel
Dubai's finest traditional dim sum experience. The har gow is translucent and perfect. The cheung fun silky. The pu-erh tea selection serious. The trolley service on weekends means you can flag down baskets as they pass — which is the authentic experience. Hong Kong expats eat here. That is the highest endorsement possible.
⭐ Must order: Har gow, siu mai, cheung fun, egg tarts · Weekend yum cha from 12:00pm
Hakkasan Dubai — Atlantis The Palm
Hakkasan's dim sum is the most technically impressive in Dubai — these are tiny works of precision. Har gow with pleating so tight and even it looks almost machine-made (it's not). The dim sum at Hakkasan is best experienced at their weekend dim sum lunch, where dedicated sets allow you to work through the menu methodically. More formal than Shang Palace; more beautiful too.
⭐ Must order: Har gow, lychee lobster dim sum, baked venison puff · Weekday dim sum lunch
Hutong — DIFC
Hutong's dim sum has a Northern Chinese boldness that differentiates it from the more delicate Cantonese tradition. The flavours are more intense, the wrappers slightly more substantial, the fillings more aggressively seasoned. The Saturday unlimited dim sum brunch (from AED 288 with drinks) is one of the best value propositions in Dubai's Chinese restaurant world — and the atmosphere, with the resident DJ, is unlike any traditional yum cha.
⭐ Must order: Wagyu beef dumplings, truffle siu mai, crispy taro dumplings · Saturday brunch AED 288
Dim Sum Brunch Options in Dubai
Weekend brunch and dim sum have merged into one of Dubai's best dining habits — here's the comparison:
| Restaurant | Day / Time | Format | Price (Soft Drinks) | Price (Alcohol) | Our Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shang Palace | Sat–Sun, 12–3pm | Traditional à la carte yum cha | AED 180–280pp | N/A (no alcohol) | Best Traditional |
| Hutong DIFC | Saturday, 12:30pm+ | Northern Chinese brunch + DJ | AED 200 | AED 288–428 | Best Brunch Vibe |
| Hakkasan Dubai | Fri–Sat, 12–3pm | Dim sum set menus | AED 250 | AED 350–500 | Best Quality |
| XU (Kempinski) | Sat–Sun, 12–3pm | Cantonese dim sum à la carte | AED 150–220pp | AED 250–350 | Best Value |
Dim Sum FAQ: Everything You Need to Know
What is the difference between dim sum and yum cha?
Dim sum refers to the individual dishes — the dumplings, bao and rolls. Yum cha (饮茶, "drink tea") is the full ritual experience: eating dim sum while drinking tea, typically at weekend lunch with family or friends. In Dubai, both terms are used interchangeably, but technically you go to yum cha and eat dim sum.
What should I order at dim sum if it's my first time?
Start with: har gow (steamed shrimp dumpling), siu mai (pork and prawn), char siu bao (BBQ pork bun, baked version), cheung fun (rice noodle roll with prawns), and one lo mai gai (sticky rice in lotus leaf) per two people. Finish with egg tarts. This covers the full spectrum of textures and techniques and costs roughly AED 200–250 for two.
Is dim sum halal in Dubai?
Yes — all major dim sum restaurants in Dubai serve halal menus. The pork traditionally used in many dim sum dishes (char siu, siu mai, char siu bao) is replaced with chicken or beef alternatives. Many menus note which items contain no pork. Always confirm with the restaurant if you have specific requirements.
How much does dim sum cost in Dubai?
Expect to spend AED 150–300 per person at quality restaurants. Individual bamboo steamer baskets typically cost AED 45–95 for 3–4 pieces. At Hakkasan (Michelin star), budget AED 300pp minimum. At Shang Palace (Shangri-La), AED 200–280pp for a proper yum cha spread. Budget options in International City area exist from AED 80–120pp.
Do I need to book for dim sum in Dubai?
For weekend yum cha at Shang Palace or Hakkasan, yes — book at least a week ahead. Hutong's Saturday brunch fills up quickly and requires advance booking. For weekday dim sum lunches, most restaurants have walk-in capacity but it's advisable to call ahead, especially for larger groups.
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