Have a yearning for some local flavor? Little Steps' foodies have eaten their way through the city to share the best dim sum and authentic Canto restaurants for families. Whether you're after modern, MSG-free Cha Chaan Tang favorites, traditional dim sum cart service, or al fresco vegetarian cuisine, Little Steps has you covered. Go get (Dim) Sum!
Hot off the press! Chifa is one the latest ventures of the Pirate Restaurant Group. Chifa is a culinary tradition based on Chinese Cantonese elements fused with traditional Peruvian ingredients and traditions. So be prepared for dim sum with a South American twist, which will blow your taste buds away. The restaurant is child-friendly but would work better as a date night when mom and dad can enjoy an evening by themselves. Little Steps Tip: Definitely order the violet xiao long bao
Dim sum – but not as you know it. Dim Sum Library (from the creative folks at Aqua Group) offers dim sum favorites with a twist, incorporating new ingredients, unusual textures and surprising flavors, all creatively presented. Dim sum is served all day long in this comfortable yet elegant setting in Pacific Place. Why not stop by for a game of Mahjong? Tables are set up at the back of the restaurant just for the purpose. Cool! Little Steps Tip: Make reservations as this place gets quite busy and make sure to try the Wagyu beef puffs as shown in the picture, delicious!
Dim Sum Library, Shop 124, Level 1 Pacific Place, Admiralty, +852 3643 0088, www.dimsumlibrary.com.hk, www.facebook.com/dimsumlibrary
If you are looking for yummy dim sum with plenty of entertainment while eating them - head to Yum Cha! Famous for their Hot Custard Buns with googly eyes - you poke the “mouth” with chopsticks and lava proceeds to flow out of the little character. They also do Doggy Sausage Rolls and BBQ Piggy Buns. A kid-favorite in Hong Kong - be sure to bring your camera!
Yum Cha - Central, 2/F, Nan Fung Place, 173 Des Voeux, Central, Hong Kong | Yum Cha - TST, 3/F, 20-22 Granville Road, TST, Kowloon, Hong Kong, +852 3708 8081, yumchahk.com. Open 11:30am - 10:30pm.
There is always a cue at Dim Sum Square in Sheung Wan, especially during lunch hours. This little corner dishes out all the local treats fast! It is a favorite amongst locals and expats alike. The dim sum is freshly made in the back and then straight into a basket on your table for you to devour. This place has no frills, but the menu is offered both in English and Cantonese. Ideal for when you have visitors. Little Steps Tip: Avoid peak hours, because they don't take reservations.
Dim Sum Square, 88 Jervois St, Sheung Wan, +852 2851 8088
This favorite in Central is popular with families for its adorable dim sum themes. In the past, they have done Gudetama, Little Twin Stars, and more. Currently, they are doing an emoji-themed dim sum in the shape of the favorite Miffy characters. Enjoy Deep Fried Chocolate Poo Emoji Buns or Steamed Egg Yolk Buns in the form of your favorite characters.
Dim Sum Icon, B/F, Century Square, No.1 D'Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2885 1345, www.facebook.com/DIMSUMICON/
Make your way over to The Centrium and enjoy the stellar all-you-can-eat dim sum brunch from Dragon-i. There is plenty of space in the front for the kids to run around, you can try anything your heart desires from the menu (including special requests), and they have stroller space + highchairs are available. This is a go-to for families, mom & me playdates, and when guests visit from out of town and you want to take your whole clan for Dim Sum!
Dragon-i, UG/F, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 3110 1222, [email protected], www.dragon-i.com.hk
With whirring ceiling fans, ancient wall clock, bird cages, and dim sum carts, Lin Heung Tea House, established in 1918, transfers diners back into Old Hong Kong. Join the crowds of early-riser seniors that head to the teahouse after their morning stroll, and join the hoards rushing to the pushcarts as soon as they roll out the freshly-made dim sum. The restaurant serves dim sum from 6am-4pm.
Lin Heung Tea House, 160-164 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2544 4556, [email protected], www.linheung.com.hk
Social Place offers contemporary Chinese cuisine in a hip yet laid-back environment. Dishes are fresh, healthy and of high quality. Kids will love the chicken spring rolls, seared Chinese pancakes, and steamed custard buns. And for the grownups, peppered eggplant, truffle shiitake buns, and thousand-year-old eggs are just a few of the delights on offer, perfect when paired with a glass of wine or locally brewed beer! While you're waiting for your meal, take on the kids at the restaurant's ping pong table!
Social Place - Central, 2/F The L Place, 139 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, +852 3568 9666, [email protected], www.socialplace.hk | Social Place - TST, Shop 303, Silvercord, 30 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Open for lunch and dinner every day of the year including Public Holidays.
Savor the three Michelin starred contemporary Cantonese cuisine and dim sum with harbor views at Lung King Heen, one of the city's finest. The private dining room for 14 is perfect for family celebrations. Do your best and head to the first Chinese restaurant in the world to receive three Michelin stars! Children aged 3 and up are welcome. Different dim sum lunches are served on weekday and weekends, plus there is an attractive children's menu on offer.
Lung King Heen, Four Seasons Hotel, 4/F, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 3196 8880. Reservations recommended, Website.
Enjoy delicious all-day dim sum served in a faux antique art deco setting at Dim Sum The Art of Chinese Tidbits. The Cantonese delights are MSG free and are popular among tourists and locals alike. Don't miss out on the huge har gao, sago pudding, and deep-fried pork served with bamboo shoot rice. Little Steps tip: Avoid the long lines on weekends and opt for weekday dim sum.
Dim Sum The Art of Chinese Tidbits, 63 Sing Woo Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong, +852 2834 8893
One of the best samples of Hong Kong's unique east-meets-west culture is the Cantonese-inspired afternoon tea offered at Above & Beyond of Hotel Icon. Swap the scones with jam and clotted cream with seven dim sum specialties including a Crispy-fried Puff stuffed with Prawns, Pork Dumpling with Halibut and Black Mushroom, etc. as well as pastries like the Chilled Jelly with Lychee and Osmanthus. Be sure to reserve a table by the window for panoramic views of Hong Kong.
Above & Beyond, 28th Floor, Hotel ICON, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong, +852 3400 1318, [email protected], website
LockCha Tea House is an elegant spot for a relaxing tea and dim sum experience. Enjoy a selection of over 100 teas (kids love the Jasmine flower tea that opens), amazing vegetarian dim sum, and sweet treats in a traditional and serene Cantonese tea house ambiance. It is a perfect choice after a stroll through Hong Kong Park. The tea and tea wares are available for purchase – great for gifts! Little Steps Tip: Join the tea tasting program if you want to know more about tea!
LockCha Tea House, G/F, The K.S. Lo Gallery, Hong Kong Park, Admiralty, Hong Kong. (opposite the fish pond), +852 2801 7177, www.lockcha.com. Open 10am to 8pm everyday, except 10am to 9pm on Saturdays. Closed every second Tuesday of the month. Parking available at Pacific Place and Queensway Government Offices.
It can be crowded and noisy, but the kids and visitors alike enjoy this Hong Kong institution that still features dim sum carts filled with bamboo baskets. Kids will love watching the trolleys whiz by, all the while digging into authentic steamed goodies from spring roll to steamed hao gao, and from egg tarts to char siu bao. Little Steps tip: No reservations, so arrive before noon or after 2pm to avoid the crowds. Even better, download this app to collect your ticket in advance - no waiting - score!
Maxim's Palace City Hall, 2/F, Low Block, City Hall, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2521 1303, www.maxims.com.hk
Head over to Ritz-Carlton for refined authentic Cantonese cuisine and traditional dim sum from barbecued Iberian pork to egg custard tarts, with stunning 102nd-floor views of Hong Kong Island at the smart Tin Lung Heen. High on glitz and glamour, the restaurant is one of the world's highest Chinese restaurants and has private rooms that are great for family celebrations. High chairs are available so even the youngest can check out the views.
Tin Lung Heen, Level 102, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong, +852 2263 2270, [email protected], Website.
Kids can’t sleep? Stroll over to Sun Hing Restaurant, a pint-sized traditional Chinese dim sum restaurant where old-fashioned carts start rolling with treats in the early am until late at night. Celebrities, students, and neighbors mix and chat over midnight snacks and morning tea. Try the signature shrimp dumplings, runny custard bun, and legendary deep-fried milk! The restaurant is self-service from finding a table to getting the food - help yourself!
Sun Hing Restaurant, Shop C, G/F, 8 Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, +852 2816 0616. Open 3am - 4pm.
True to its name, Michelin two-star Shang Palace is nothing short of Eastern glamour. Feast your eyes on the ornate décor and the Chinese paintings on the wall, and spend a peaceful afternoon with your family on the selection of exquisite lunch-only dim sum made with premium ingredients like lobster, foie gras, and abalone. There is ample space between tables for strollers, or just for more privacy.
Shang Palace, Lower Level I, Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel, 64 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong, +852 2733 8754, website
The hip Nanhai No. 1 is where you and your family can take in sweeping views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island while enjoying classic Chinese dishes and the signature fresh seafood caught daily in the South China Sea in contemporary fashion. Chair cushions are available for children. Arrive early or stay late to enjoy afternoon cocktails or coffee on the outdoor terrace with stunning views.
Nanhai No. 1, 30/F, iSQUARE, 63 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, +852 2487 3688, www.elite-concepts.com/en/nh1/. Valet parking service available.
Named as one of the 101 Best Places to Eat In The World by Newsweek in 2012, DimDimSum offers deftly prepared dim sum dishes from traditional to creative in a casual setting across four outlets in the city. Must-try house specialties include pan-fried stuffed eggplant with Teriyaki sauce, pan-fried tofu skin and chicken with cumin and steamed tripe with black pepper sauce, as well as steaming-hot piggy custard buns for the kiddos.
DimDimSum, 7 Tin Lok Lane, Wan Chai, Hong Kong | 21-23 Man Ying Street, Jordan, Kowloon, Mong Kok: 112 Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon | Shop 108, 1/F, Citylink Plaza, Shatin, Website
Cute alert! For the dim sum that will please both the eyes and the stomach, look no further than Super Star Seafood Restaurant's signature cartoon dim sum. Little ones will love the dumplings in the shape of penguins, rabbits, crabs, buns like chicken, pandas, as well as coconut marshmallow bunnies, all very adorable and yummy. There is also a wide range of classic dim sum staples and delights for moms and dads.
Super Star Seafood Restaurant, view locations, www.superstargroup.com.hk
*Tim Ho Wan - cheap Michelin-starred dim sum
*Lei Garden - upscale Chinese restaurant chain
*Mott 32 - dim sum with a luxurious twist
*Duddell’s - fancy dim sim in an artful setting
*Jumbo Kingdom - world-famous floating restaurant
*Tao Heung - cheap local joint
*Chau Kee - famous for their Golden Lava French Toast
*Lo Dim - fabulous local dim sum
*One Dim Sum - tiny and cheap local resto close to bird/flower market
*Tyfun Dim Sum - Causeway Bay!
*Hello Kitty Chinese Cuisine - Famous for...Hello Kitty!
*LoYe Dim Sum - Wanchai favorite
*Tim's Kitchen - On the Michelin Star Guide
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