Where to Find the Best Dim Sum in Manila
Do you also find yourself excited when a dim sum cart rolls in and starts showing off baskets filled with freshly steamed bites? Do you drool at the image of an extra chunky siomai, plump hakaw, or glimmering kuchay? Do you make advanced orders of steamed spareribs in black bean sauce, chicken feet, or shrimp noodle rolls even before sitting at your dinner table?
Then you are a certified dim sum fanatic, who has to have their fill of these delicious morsels on every visit to a Chinese restaurant. Luckily, there are more than a handful of options in Manila to get high-quality dim sum. From top luxury hotels to hole-in-the-wall spots, finding a good dim sum source never poses a problem. Here, find a definitive list of outlets to get the yummies dim sum!
Also Read:
A Definitive Guide to the Best Chinese Restaurants in Manila for a Proper Lauriat
Underrated Chinese Restaurants in Manila
1| King Chef
What started as a small outlet in Banawe, Quezon City, is now regarded as one of the dim sum empires in Manila. What every true dim sum lover watches out for is King Chef’s happy hour deals, which usually happens mid-afternoon or late in the evening. During this promo, most dim sum offerings are at 50-percent off. Same excellent quality for half the price. Score!
Esquire Recommends:
- Siomai
- Beancurd Roll
- Kuchay Dumplings
238 Banawe Centre, Panalturan, Quezon City
2| Summer Palace
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One word: hakaw. Here you will find hakaw with huge, fresh, plump, pinkish shrimp, simply seasoned with ginger and wrapped in a crystal-like wrapper. It’s pure bliss. It’s a taste of heaven. Once you get over that, you can move on and try its other delicious dim sum items, ranging from scallop dumplings to bird’s nest tarts. But how to get over that hakaw?
Esquire Recommends:
- Steamed shrimp dumplings
- Steamed rice roll with shrimp
- Fried lobster rolls
2/F EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
3| Choi Garden
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Ever judged a dim sum by the size of the shrimp tucked in each morsel? Then Choi Garden is sure to pass with flying colors. Its shrimp-based dim sum is filled not only with chopped shrimps but actual whole prawns. They’re far from being one-bite creations, too, so you don’t have to hide a whole basket all to yourself.
Esquire Recommends:
- Shrimp and Pork Siomai
- Steamed Tausi Spareribs
- Crispy Shrimp Puff
12 Annapolis Street corner Purdue Street, Greenhills, San Juan
4| Jasmine
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In the middle of Makati’s busy central district, within the high walls of New World Hotel, you will find a plush Chinese restaurant that offers an excellent yum cha buffet. The place might seem intimidating at first, but once you take a bite of your first dim sum, it’s easy to let loose and even unbutton your pants. The same dim sum are offered as a la carte options, but where’s the fun in that?
Esquire Recommends:
- Shao Mai with Quail Egg
- Bean Curd Skin Rolls
- Chiu Chow Steamed Dumplings
2/F New World Hotel, Ayala Center, Makati City
5| Tim Ho Wan
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No one leaves Tim Ho Wan unsatisfied. Brokenhearted maybe, but only for not having enough stomach space to consume all the heavenly items on the menu. Originally from Hong Kong, this Michelin-starred restaurant is most known for its Baked BBQ Pork Bun, but a long list of hard-hitting dim sum is also up for grabs. Pro tip: The BGC branch is open until three in the morning for some late-night munching.
Esquire Recommends:
- Beancurd Skin Roll with Shrimp
- Steamed Egg Cake
- Steamed Spinach Dumpling with Shrimp
UG/F Uptown Mall, 36th Street corner 9th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
6| Gloria Maris
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Excellence is what Gloria Maris purveys all these years. After so many years peddling all plethora of Chinese specialties, this top restaurant still aces the basics without much fanfare. Take its dim sum for example. Wrappers are made strong and firm, fillings are bursting, fried options are done to golden perfection. Nothing else compares!
Esquire Recommends:
- Hakaw
- Taro Pork Siomai
- Fried Lobster Ball
Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City
7| Lung Hin
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Care to splurge a little? Will truffle sauce on your siomai do? Or how about a gold leaf atop your hakaw? These two are just some of the iconic dishes that Lung Hin has been known for. And they’re not just accoutrements actually! The creative twists get the job done of leveling up classics into one-of-a-kind creations.
Esquire Recommends:
- Steamed Shrimp Dumpling with Gold Leaf
- Steamed Pork Siomai with Truffle Sauce
- Steamed Taro with Roasted Pork Belly
44/F Marco Polo, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City
8| Xiu Fine Cantonese Dining
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Xiu comes from the same minds behind Lugang, so you’re assured of only excellent offerings and ace servings on every visit. Not exclusive to this is its dim sum selection, offered every lunchtime. The classics remain loveable: seasoned fillings, quality wrappers, unadulterated flavors. Watch out for its uber-satisfying unlimited offerings every now and then!
Esquire Recommends:
- Beef Ball
- Ham Sui Kok
- Pork Spareribs with Tausi
115 Connecticut Street, Northeast Greenhills, San Juan
9| Canton Road
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A relative newcomer compared to the other restaurants on this list, Canton Road is a welcome addition to Manila’s growing list of Chinese restaurants. But Canton Road is not just another Chinese restaurant offering versions of authentic dishes. It purveys actual classics done with refinement and precision. Think Crystal Dumpling with Peanut and Dried Shrimp, U.S. Angus Beef Meatball, Spinach Dumpling with Black Fungus.
Esquire Recommends:
- Steamed Pork and Shrimp Dumpling with Mud Crab Roe
- Steamed Crystal Skin Shrimp Dumplings
- Steamed Custard and Salted Duck Egg Bun
2/F Shangri-La Hotel at the Fort, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
10| Causeway Seafood Restaurant
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Causeway is a typical choice for birthdays, anniversaries, or any sort of celebration. But what this seafood restaurant also makes possible is celebrating every single day possible. After a long day’s work, around nine in the evening, head over to Causeway and have your fill of its discounted dim sum. Nothing like tucking into orders and orders of siomai and hakaw after a tiring day, right?
Esquire Recommends:
- Crab Roe Siomai
- Minced Beef Ball
- Seafood Roll
24 Timog Avenue, Laging Handa, Diliman, Quezon City
11| Ying Ying
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A list of the yummiest dim sum is never complete without an entry from Manila’s Chinatown, Binondo. This area is teeming with dim sum options, ranging from the classics to the more modern. But one outlet that stands out is Ying Ying Tea House, which offers classic dim sum sans the frills. Have a go at its siomai, probably the biggest and chunkiest you’ll find around the metro.
Esquire Recommends:
- Pork Shrimp Siomai
- Crabstick Roll
- Radish Cake
244-235 Dasmarinas Street corner Yuchengco Street, Binondo, Manila
12| Li Li
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Find yourself in the Manila area around lunchtime, maybe after a trip to the National Museum or a U.S. Embassy appointment? Go ahead and treat yourself to an all-you-can-eat dim sum lunch at Lili! You’ll be more than satisfied with the abundance of options here. Steamed and fried dim sum are both up for grabs, and so are hearty wok-cooked dishes. You deserve nothing less!
Esquire Recommends:
- Steamed Black Truffle Dumpling
- Steamed Fresh Scallop Dumpling
- Steamed Minced Fish Dumpling
5/F New Coast Manila, Malate, Manila
13| Le Ching Tea House
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It’s the Spareribs Rice Bowl that everyone lines up for at Le Ching Tea House. This classic never fails to satisfy and so do Le Ching’s selection of dim sum actually. The siomai is a must every visit, but there are also other interesting items on offer that one should try. Order the beef tripe or steamed tofu and extra cups of rice, too!
Esquire Recommends:
- Siomai
- Steamed Beef Tripe
- Seafood Roll
GH Shoppesville, Greenhills, San Juan
14| Oriental Palace
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Don’t be surprised that many Chinese families occupy many of Oriental Palace’s tables. This is proof of the restaurant’s dedication to authenticity. This applies to all items on the menu, including classic Cantonese dim sum. You can’t go wrong with these succulent steamed creations prepared the old traditional way.
Esquire Recommends:
- Hakaw
- Siomai
- Xiao Long Bao
148 Tomas Morato corner Scout Gandia, Quezon City
15| The Dimsum Place
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A lengthy list of dim sum items makes up The Dimsum Place’s menu. It might get confusing, but the truth is, you won’t go wrong with anything on the list. Find yourself hankering for something more adventurous? Try the Steamed Pork Tito, Beef Tendon, or Steamed Beef Balls with Beancurd Sheet.
Esquire Recommends:
- Sea King Roll
- Stuffed Eggplant
- Steamed Shrimp Balls with Crabstick
2/F Fisher Mall, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
16| Red Jade
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Crispy-fried Shrimp with Cheese Roll? Steamed Seafood Crystal Bao? Pan-fried Taro Cake with Sausage? These are out-of-the-box options you will only find at the Manila Hotel’s Cantonese restaurant, Red Jade. But before all these creative dishes, it does a fine job with the classics, too. Its hakaw? An absolute work of wonder that every dim sum lover needs to try in their lifetime.
Esquire Recommends:
- Steamed Shrimp Dumpling “Hargao”
- Crispy-fried Shrimp with Cheese Roll
- Steamed Pork and Shrimp “Siomai”
Manila Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Manila
17| Wai Ying
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There’s no denying the clamor for Wai Ying, especially by millennials who crave excellent food at reasonable price points. This is exactly what the Binondo classic offers: close-to-authentic Chinese fare at a fraction of the price found at other restaurants and mall outlets. Siomai, beef ball, goto, curry beef siomai, taro cake—they’re all sold under a hundred bucks.
Esquire Recommends:
- Beancurd Roll
- Siomai
- Hamsiokok
810 Benavidez Street, Binondo, Manila
18| DEC
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If you constantly pass Wilson Street to get to Greenhills, then you’ll know the one oriental store so many people frequent that traffic always builds up around it. DEC has been an institution in purveying top-quality Chinese fare and this definitely includes dim sum. Here, you can purchase trays of ready-to-eat dim sum and enjoy them in your own home.
Esquire Recommends:
- Pork Siomai
- Truffle Siomai
- Hakaw
203 Wilson Street, Greenhills, San Juan
19| Red Lantern
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One of the best dim sum buffets in the country is offered by Solaire’s Red Lantern. The selection is filled with classics, but that’s something you can never go wrong with. Go for a long leisurely lunch and find yourself speechless.
Esquire Recommends:
- Shrimp Dumplings with Coriander
- Mashed Yam Puff Dumpling with Minced Pork
- Deep-fried Rice Paper Rolls with Shrimp and Mango
Solaire Resort and Casino, Aseana Avenue, Paranaque
20| Kopi Roti
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Surprise! Wonder what an outlet specializing in Singaporean fare is doing here? Well, Kopi Roti offers more than just a good kopi bun, a satisfying kaya toast, or a refreshing Milo dinosaur. It does excellent siomai, too! And it’s one that’s easy to pop in your mouth that you won’t notice you already finished off a dozen. Try it!
Esquire Recommends:
- Siomai
226 Katipunan Ave., Blue Ridge, Quezon City
