The Best Dim Sum in New York City
Where to eat har gow, siu mai, and soup dumplings — from the 1920s parlor that started it all to the Flushing benchmark and a Michelin star.
Dim sum in New York runs from century-old Chinatown tea parlors to Flushing soup-dumpling counters with lines down the block, and the gap between the famous spots and the genuinely great ones is wide. These are the rooms worth the trip — the canonical answers to "where should I get dim sum in NYC," each one scored and verified by Dim Hour, with the dishes that actually justify the order.
A note on terms: classic Cantonese dim sum means small steamed and fried plates — har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork-and-shrimp), rice rolls, turnip cake. Soup dumplings (xiao long bao, or XLB) are a Shanghainese specialty, served scalding with broth sealed inside the skin. New York does both extremely well, and the list below covers both.
Nom Wah Tea Parlor
The oldest dim sum parlor in the city and still the reference point. On a narrow bend of Doyers Street, it has served the Chinatown standards for over a century; a renovation modernized the room without sanding off the character. Start with the original egg roll, the shrimp rice roll, and the pork soup dumplings.
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
The Flushing institution that sets the citywide benchmark for soup dumplings — thin skins, scalding broth, decades of refinement. The crab-and-pork XLB are the order; the line out front is a permanent fixture, so go with patience.
Joe's Shanghai
A Chinatown soup-dumpling fixture from before XLB went mainstream. The pork and the crab-and-pork dumplings are the classic table; the room is loud and chaotic in the best way.
White Bear
People take the 7 train to the literal end of the line for these. The #6 — wontons in chili oil — is the essential order: red oil, tingling Sichuan peppercorn, dumplings with a delicate skin. A no-frills Flushing counter that lands on national best-of lists on the strength of one dish.
Sky Pavilion
The Midtown answer for full cart-and-menu dim sum service in a lavish room — convenient when Chinatown or Flushing is too far. The dim sum and soup dumplings are the highlights, and the Peking duck is carved tableside.
Yingtao
The high end: a Michelin star for modern Chinese fine dining unlike anything in Chinatown. The xiao long bao and Peking duck anchor a tasting menu that spans regions. This is the special-occasion pick, not the walk-in one.
What is the best dim sum in NYC?
Where is the oldest dim sum parlor in New York City?
What are the best soup dumplings (xiao long bao) in NYC?
Where can I get dim sum in Flushing, Queens?
Is there Michelin-starred Chinese food or dim sum in NYC?
What should I order at dim sum?
What is the best dim sum in Manhattan Chinatown?
Where can I get dim sum in Midtown Manhattan?
What are "wontons in chili oil" and where are the best in NYC?
How expensive is dim sum in New York City?
Do NYC dim sum restaurants take reservations?
How many restaurants does Dim Hour cover in New York City?
Dim Hour scores every restaurant on food, service, ambiance, and value, and verifies every listing. This guide is updated as the catalog changes. Explore all New York City restaurants →