Sportful Garden

Let’s get this straight right away: Sportful Garden has nothing to do with sports and everything to do with dim sum. To make sure you don’t get confused, you’ll see and smell a variety of freshly cooked dishes from the demonstration stands as soon as you walk through the restaurant. The crispy golden abalone pancakes are solid, and so are their deep fried tofu and cheung fun. Daily 8am-midnight. $$
Golden Centre, 188 Des Voeux Rd. Central, 2851-8013.

Loong Toh Yuen

This elegant Canto fine dine offers a regular dim sum buffet that includes champagne-tinted har gow, deep fried shrimp rolls with thousand-year-old eggs and mayonnaise, and a selection of classics such as BBQ buns and steamed mince beef balls—all for $198 per head. Mon-Fri noon-3pm, Sat 11:30am-3:30pm, Sun 11am-3pm, daily 6-11pm. $$$
3/F, 1881 Heritage, Hullett House, 2A Canton Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui. 3988-0000.

Tin Lung Heen

Soaring high above the city on the 102nd floor, Tin Lung Heen serves refined Cantonese dim sum that’s fit for a king. Even the floor-to-ceiling windows showing Hong Kong’s breathtaking views won’t distract you from tasty dishes like gold-dusted har gow and caviar-topped siu mai. Mon-Fri Noon–2:30pm, Sat–Sun 11:30am–3pm, daily 6pm–10:30pm. $$$$
102/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Rd. West, West Kowloon, 2263-2270.

Dynasty

Dynasty Restaurant is a grand yet airy space with tall palm trees adding to the breezy atmosphere. The place is famous with locals, and no wonder—it serves some kickass dim sum. It also serves the most succulent barbecue pork; it’s so good that it’s worth ordering in advance—it sells out regularly. Mon-Sun noon-3pm, 6-11pm. $$$
3/F, Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai. 2802-8888.

Spring Moon

You’ll be very well taken care of indeed at Spring Moon, the Chinese restaurant at the Peninsula. In keeping with the hotel’s 80-year history, this refined eatery is decorated in art deco dark woods and stained glass. Visit for luxurious dim sum or classics such as osmanthus pigeon and Peking duck. Mon-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm; Sun 11am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm. $$$$
1/F, The Peninsula Hong Kong, Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2315-3160.

Cuisine Cuisine

Cuisine Cuisine at The Mira serves both traditional and contemporary dim-sums-with-a-twist. Delectable shrimp and pork dumplings and taro balls with foie gras are just some of the innovative dishes you’ll find here. The ambiance is superb too; you won’t find the dreaded cacophony of elbow-to-elbow diners here. Mon-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm; Sun 10:30am-3pm, 5:30-10:30pm. $$$
3/F, The Mira Hong Kong, 118 Nathan Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2315-5222.

Tim Ho Wan

If you’re looking for Tim Ho Wan dim sum restaurant, just head over to Kwong Wah Street and look for the place with the giant line of people waiting outside. Opened by three-Michelin-starred Lung King Heen’s former dim sum chef, Pui Gor, it’s not hard to see why this relatively new restaurant has been generating so much buzz in the dining circuit (Tim Ho Wan has also a one Michelin-starred restaurant). Must-try items include the baked barbecue pork buns and steamed shrimp rice rolls, both of which will leave your stomach and your wallet happy. Daily 10am-10pm. $
Mong Kok Location: 2-8 Kwong Wah St., Mong Kok, 2332-2896.
IFC location: Podium Level One, Shop 12A, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St., Central, 2332-3078.

Jade Garden

Jade Garden is a large Chinese restaurant which gives the authentic dim sum experience with dishes served from trolleys that are pushed from table to table. Unlike in some restaurants these come round frequently and are well-stocked with goodies. Must-tries include the excellent har gao (steamed shrimp dumpling) and the delightfully crunchy fried scallops.
4/F, Star House, 3 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2730-6888.

Jumbo Restaurant

Built in 1976, Jumbo Kingdom floating restaurant is an icon of Aberdeen Harbor and a great place to take visitors for a slap-up dim sum lunch. While the food itself isn’t the most amazing dim sum you’ll ever taste and the prices are a little high, your tourists will love the over-the-top décor and quintessential Hong Kong-ness of this venue.
Shum Wan Pier Drive, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, 2553-9111, www.jumbo.com.hk.

Maxim’s Palace

Overlooking Victoria Harbor, City Hall Maxim’s Palace’s dim sum is as much sought-after as its window-side tables. You’ll most likely have to queue for a while, but once you’re in, the atmosphere is really something with young and old enjoying traditional dim sum from fully-laden trolleys. It’s worth noting that you may have to wait a while for your favorites, as they tend to bring out a lot of the same thing.
City Hall, 2/F, City Hall, 5-7 Edinburgh Place, Central, 2521-1303

Check out our handy guide to ordering dim sum!