Looking for a place to have dim sum with a modern twist? Here are the best places to get funny and cute dim sum in Hong Kong.
Finding the best dim sum in Hong Kong is a huge part of daily life in The 852. But if you’re bored with your regular yum cha and tea houses, why not add a bit of fun to your next dining sesh? These restaurants throughout the city are doing things a little differently by using playful or lavish presentation, modern ingredients, or even fictional characters to make their food both tasty and Instagram-worthy. Chopsticks at the ready – it’s time to indulge in these tasty and cute dim sum treats in Hong Kong.
Where to go for cute dim sum in Hong Kong
1. Yum Cha
If you’re looking for a modern experience of Chinese dining, head to Yum Cha, where you can enjoy Cantonese dim sum with a twist. Using playful presentation and quality ingredients, the chefs aim to modernise the age-old Chinese cuisine by fusing both old and new cooking techniques without compromising with the food’s authenticity. We are big fans of the Hot Molten Custard Buns with faces and the BBQ Piggy Buns. The restaurant currently has three branches in Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok, and while you’re at Yum Cha, don’t forget to also enjoy their Shanghainese cold cuts and dumplings and Szechuan spicy chicken! Yum Cha is a heavyweight when it comes to cute dim sum in Hong Kong.
Yum Cha (飲茶) has locations across Hong Kong.
2. Crystal Lotus
Crystal Lotus is definitely a must-try for Disney lovers. Located at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, the Chinese dining venue offers signature Disney dim sum and desserts that resemble some of your favourite Disney and Pixar characters like Mickey Mouse, Three Little Pigs, Baymax and Olaf. The kids are guaranteed to love it too.
Crystal Lotus, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, p. 3510 6000, 大嶼山香港迪士尼樂園酒店晶荷軒
3. Social Place
Enjoy contemporary Chinese dim sum paired with a glass of wine or locally brewed beer at Social Place, where you can get social and play a few games at the central ping pong table accompanied with cool, hip music or jazz in the background. Another exciting activity you can do here is joining their dim sum workshop, where you can learn to make cute floret rose buns, rabbit-like shrimp dumplings, and crab meat and vegetable dumplings. Sounds like fun, right?
Social Place (唐宮小聚) has locations across Hong Kong.
4. Tong Kee Bao Dim
Those of you out and about in the city would’ve seen the many branches of Tong Kee in the MTR stations. Not only is Tong Kee the perfect place to grab and go some steamed buns and dim sum, the brand also collaborates with cartoon franchises from time to time. This means limited-edition releases of cute and unique buns, such as My Melody and Sumikko Gurashi. With affordable prices, convenient locations, and utter adorableness, there’s no excuse for you to miss out on this one!
Tong Kee Bao Dim (唐記包點) has locations across Hong Kong.
5. Dim Sum Icon (under renovation)
If you love fictional characters and cute dim sum, make sure you try the famous Dim Sum Icon, where you can find adorable characters like Gudetama and Spongebob Squarepants on your custard buns, rice rolls, dumplings and many more. Located in Tsim Sha Tsui and Central, the restaurant changes the theme every three months, and although the service can be slow sometimes, it’s still worth the visit considering the cuteness of their food!
Dim Sum Icon, L308, 3/F, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, p. 2885 1345, 尖沙咀彌敦道100號The ONE 3樓L308號舖点心代表
Hello Kitty Chinese Cuisine (closed)
Another Chinese restaurant where you can find cute cartoon characters is Hello Kitty Chinese Cuisine, which, just like the name suggests, is a Hello Kitty-themed restaurant. It is the world’s first Hello Kitty dim sum restaurant, which serves buns and dumplings modelled after the famous Japanese cat, making it the perfect place to feed your belly and your Instagram feed.
Hello Kitty Chinese Cuisine, Shop A-C, G/F, Lee Loy Mansion, 332-338 Canton Road, Jordan, Hong Kong, 佐敦廣東道332-338號利來洋樓A至C地舖
Super Star Seafood Restaurant (closed)
With many locations across Hong Kong, Super Star Seafood Restaurant is a Chinese restaurant famous for their dim sum, especially the rice rolls. They also have some animal shaped dim sum like the Marshmallow Rabbits and Custard Duck Buns.
Super Star Seafood Restaurant, Shop 601A, 6/F, Moko, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Mongkok, Hong Kong, p. 2628 0890, 旺角太子道西193號新世紀廣場6樓601A號舖
Zhen Restaurant Contemporary Dim Sum (closed)
Animal shaped dim sum can also be found here at Zhen Restaurant Contemporary Dim Sum, where the dishes are modelled after cute animals like birds, pigs, pandas and dogs. Located in Nam Cheong Building, the restaurant also has non-character dim sum that are offered at a discounted price during the afternoon tea session.
Zhen Restaurant Contemporary Dim Sum, Shop C, G/F, Nam Cheong Building, 48 Hill Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, p. 2811 2568, 西環西營盤山道48號南昌大廈地下C舖
