Where To Eat Dim Sum In London
May 5, 2008 by foodieguide
I’ve been eating dim sum regularly ever since I was a child. Cantonese families love to get together for dim sum, particularly at the weekends. I’m quite particular about what I eat, and therefore where I eat, so being a creature of habit, I tend to go to the same dim sum restaurants in London. Although there’s nothing wrong with the places that I eat at, I couldn’t help wondering if there weren’t perhaps other great restaurants just waiting to be discovered. So I set myself the challenge of broadening my gastronomic horizons and eating outside my comfort zone.
Over the last few months, I’ve sampled countless baskets and plates at a variety of dim sum restaurants. At first I thought I would end up compiling a list of my top ten favourites, but that would be too simplistic.
When I choose a dim sum restaurant, there are various factors that have to be taken into account. Who will be going with me? What’s the most convenient location for everyone? How much can everyone afford? (if it’s family, then one person usually ends up paying). What style of dim sum - traditional or modern?
The single most exciting discovery has got to be Pearl Liang. I only wish I had found it sooner. Hakkasan wasn’t as amazing as I had been led to expect. But as I’m a Yauatcha regular, my standards were already high. Shanghai Blues looked very elegant, but the quality of dim sum wasn’t that consistent, while Imperial China is still my top choice for Chinatown. Royal China’s standards have dropped, and I’m afraid that Royal China Club is nothing special. And I’m disappointed that I couldn’t fit Yi-Ban and Golden Palace in at the end. I do intend to go though, but if you’ve been, then do let me know what it’s like!
Click on the links below for full reviews of each restaurant. Costs are based on my being rather tight-fisted and exercising control when ordering (eg no lobster dumplings or anything overly extravagant!). And do bear in mind that these are dim sum, not dinner, prices.
In no particular order:
- Yauatcha - 9.5/10 Sensational
WHAT: Wonderfully creative modern dim sum; Michelin-starred; formerly Alan Yau-owned
WHERE: Soho location; convenient for most
WHO: Wouldn’t go with my family, as they would complain about the price. Not aimed at large family gatherings. Go with two or three friends - too many people and you won’t get to sample everything, then you’ll have to order double of everything, which means cost will spiral upwards
ORDER: shiitake and duck roll, prawn and date dumpling, beancurd roll with enoki and cloud ear
COST: Expensive, from £25 per person, with tea and service, to £350 for four (including £150 for vintage Dom Perignon!). Really depends on what you order. I’m always very careful to stick to dim sum and noodles, avoiding overpriced main menu items
USEFUL: Very loud music in main restaurant. For a quieter experience, sit upstairs in the teahouse, where tea and heavenly French cakes are also served. Book in advance (for a measly 1 hr 45 mins sitting). Dim sum is served at dinner as well, which is unusual (but you’ll be hungry in a couple of hours…)
VERDICT: For special occasions and entertaining visitors to London
15 Broadwick Street (on the corner of Berwick Street)
London W1F 0DL
Tel: +44 (0)871 2238066 or (0)20 7287 8484
- Imperial China - 7.5/10 Very good
WHAT: Very good quality traditional dim sum; nice modern spacious interior; good service
WHERE: Chinatown location; convenient for most
WHO: Great for family and larger groups, as it’s both convenient and reasonably priced
ORDER: cuttlefish cakes with coriander, pork and preserved egg congee, seafood fried ho fun noodles
COST: Excellent value for money, from £10 - £13 per person, including tea and service. Similar prices to other Chinatown restaurants, but quality is considerably better
USEFUL: They take weekend bookings for dim sum (very handy for larger groups). I’m never made to feel as if I have to leave as soon as I’ve finished eating
VERDICT: My first and only choice for Chinatown dim sum
25a Lisle St
London WC2H 7BA
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7734 3388
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7734 3833
www.imperial-china.co.uk
- Pearl Liang - 8.5/10 Superb
WHAT: Mostly traditional dim sum, but with a modern twist; beautiful modern interior
WHERE: New development in Paddington; not very convenient; car parks not nearby
WHO: Family and friends willing to meet in Paddington. Good for groups as well, with large round tables screened off towards the back. Overwhelming majority of customers for Saturday dim sum were Chinese when I was there
ORDER: spicy prawn ravioli in soup, crispy aromatic duck roll, Shanghai dumplings (xiao long bao)
COST: Amazingly good value for money, considering the decor. From £15 per person including tea and service
USEFUL: Print off essential travel instructions from restaurant website if you’re going for the first time
VERDICT: If this were my local, I’d eat here every weekend (it’s excellent for dinner too)
8 Sheldon Square
Paddington Central
London W2 6EZ
Tel: 020 7289 7000
www.pearlliang.co.uk
- Hakkasan - 8.5/10 Superb
WHAT: Wonderfully creative modern dim sum; Michelin-starred; formerly Alan Yau-owned
WHERE: Down a back alley between Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road; convenient for most
WHO: Not a place to go with my family or large groups of friends, as costs would spiral out of control. Great for friends who love delicious food that is also beautiful to look at
ORDER: pan-fried turnip cake, baked venison puff, prawn and chive dumpling
COST: Expensive, from £25 per person with tea and service.
USEFUL: Order dim sum using the dim sum menu, not the main menu. A few items on the main menu are more expensively priced than on the dim sum menu!
VERDICT: I still prefer Yauatcha to Hakkasan - overall ambience is nicer, and the teahouse is lovely. In terms of dim sum, there are some items that you can only find in either one or the other. But quality seems to be about the same
8 Hanway Place
London W1T 1HD
Tel: 020 7927 7000
mail@hakkasan.com
- Shanghai Blues - 8/10 Excellent
WHAT: Modern dim sum served in serene Chinese surroundings; good service; upmarket
WHERE: High Holborn, close to British Museum and Holborn tube; not so central for everyone
WHO: Two or three friends, to keep the cost down. Your entire family, if you’re loaded. Or clients
ORDER: Shanghai dumplings (xiao long bao), mooli croissant, prawn dumpling (har gau)
COST: Expensive compared to Chinatown, at an average of £4 per item. With very careful ordering, from £20 per person, including tea and service
USEFUL: Tea is charged by the pot, with no free top-ups. Tap water is served with lemon and ice
VERDICT: Quality of dim sum not that consistent. Best vegetarian selection I’ve come across, but shame about the blandness. Exquisite presentation can be deceptive. Pay a little more and go to Yauatcha or Hakkasan instead
193-197 High Holborn
London WC1V 7BD
Tel: 020 7404 1668/9
www.shanghaiblues.co.uk
- Royal China - 7/10 Good
WHAT: Chain of upmarket Chinese restaurants; well known for its traditional dim sum
WHERE: Various branches - Baker Street, Canary Wharf, Queensway and Fulham. Baker Street is convenient for some, Canary Wharf has great riverside views and is recommended in summer-time
WHO: Family and friends who don’t need to meet in Chinatown
ORDER: sesame paper prawn rolls, prawn and chive dumpling, egg custard tart (dan taat)
COST: Moderate, from £15 per person, including tea and service. More expensive than Chinatown
USEFUL: No dim sum reservations, so turn up before opening times at weekends to avoid long queues
VERDICT: Fast moving off my shortlist, as both standards and service seem to have dropped. With so much competition around, they really need to pull their socks up
24-26 Baker Street
London W1U 3BZ
Tel: 020 7487 4688
30 Westferry Circus
Canary Wharf
London E14 8RR
Tel: 020 7719 0888
www.royalchinagroup.co.uk
- Royal China Club - 7/10 Good
WHAT: Two restaurants from Royal China chain offering modern Cantonese cuisine, including dim sum
WHERE: Baker Street, near the standard Royal China, and St Johns Wood
WHO: Family would find this a rip-off. Perhaps a couple of friends…
ORDER: dry fried ho fun noodles with veal, pan-fried duck breast French style, sesame paper prawn roll
COST: Moderately expensive, from £18 per person including tea and service.
USEFUL: On a weekday for dim sum, there were no Chinese customers. Tea is topped up with hot water very frequently. Decor is slightly better than at the standard Royal China. Fresh seafood in a gigantic tank provides some entertainment
VERDICT: Wouldn’t go again. Presentation might be better than standard Royal China, but generally it’s the same. A few different ingredients here and there do not warrant the higher prices, nor two restaurants distinguished by the addition of the word ‘Club’
40-42 Baker Street
London W1U 7AJ
Tel: 020 7486 3898
www.royalchinagroup.co.uk
Apart from Yi-Ban, I also didn’t have time to visit Superstar at ExCel - too far out, China Tang at The Dorchester - way too expensive, or those I haven’t visited in years, including Phoenix Palace at Baker Street. And some aren’t even worth mentioning. Of course I’ll continue to try new places, but I think I need to take a well deserved break before resuming with Part 2…
I’ve also written posts on What is Dim Sum, What Dim Sum To Order and How to Eat Dim Sum, which you may find useful wherever you are.
So where do you like to eat dim sum?
Amazing post! I’m impressed that you went to such efforts for all our sakes
So far in London I’m still impressed by Yauatcha/Hakkasan. Oh, by the way the place near Excel is no longer called Superstar (did I tell you that the other day?) but China Palace. I went last November when it had already changed hands and I think it’s excellent - and also so much cheaper (but then there’s the random location which is the trade off - though lots of Chinese families I noticed just drove there for Sunday dim sum). The service is also very friendly 
There’s a new place opened in Chinatown, Plum Valley I think, their menu didn’t look too special - they seem to be copying the Haozhan dining format, but without the pizazz. But maybe it’s worth checking out their dim sum.
Thanks! I did want to do a lot more research, but I’ve put on a whole kilo, and I have a 13 mile walk to do next Saturday (the Playtex Moonwalk), so I can’t afford to gain any more weight just yet!
Thanks for the tips - my cousin told me about that Plum Valley place recently.
I must think of a new project for the next few months. Look forward to reading about your favourite Vietnamese restaurant, and Spain!
Hi again! Great work on the dim sum piece. I agree that Yauatcha is now my benchmark to all other dim sum places.
On another note, have you heard of or been to a chinese restaurant in Pimlico called Hunan? I’ve read about it in the reviews and it seems expensive (no menu policy?). Wonder if you could shed some lights here. Thanks.
Thanks! Re Hunan, I’ve never been, but Alan Yau appears to like it (http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/food/story/0,,1828691,00.html). Let me know if you ever make it there!
Helen Yuet Ling
Hey! your blog is really good, and funny enough iwent to eat dim sum today haha. I would love to try Yauatcha but the price is so =S, being a young student thats slighty over-budget giggles. Oh but from reading your psot i might try pearl liang that sounds good =) My regular dim sum place is Golden Palace in Harrow and that was quite good today, esp the egg tarts and siu long bao!
=)
Hi Vivi
Thanks for reading! Save Yauatcha for a special occasion, that’s what I do anyway. I’m going to Pearl Liang again next week, but to see what dinner’s like. I’ve heard lots of good things about Golden Palace. Can’t wait to try it and add to the list!
Helen Yuet Ling
Helen,
Thanks for the research. We tried Pearl Liang yesterday lunchtime and really enjoyed the Dim Sum. It is good to know our tastes synch up, and we can trust your views. So we will probably follow more of your recomendations.
Again thanks,
Regards
PhilD
Hi PhilD
Thanks for letting me know! I went to Pearl Liang 2 nights ago for dinner, and was pleased to find that the non-dim sum food was just as great. Not expensive either (obviously this depends on what you order). And the fact that my family liked it was another bonus…
Helen Yuet Ling
Royal China has always been my most favorite years ago when I was still in university, I did not realise that they have already expanded so much. I used to go to the one in Queensway. And now they even have frozen dim sums that I can prepare and enjoy at home. Look forward to revisit again.