8 Must-Try Restaurants in KL That Offer Both Unique and Traditional Dim Sum
I still remember how much I would look forward to dim sum Sundays with my family as a kid. It was one of the dishes that captivated my tastebuds because of their interesting flavours and equally captivating looks.
With that being said, one of the reasons that made moving to Kuala Lumpur much easier is its wide variety of Chinese restaurants that offer this comfort food. Hunting for the best dim sum gave me warm flashbacks of when I was a kid, and I ended up discovering tons of amazing restaurants.
So, if you’re planning on going on a dim sum crawl, read on to discover some of the spots that never disappointed me once!
The Qing
– Media credit: theqing_malaysia
Address: Unit P03, Bamboo Hills
Contact details: +60 17-601 6808
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Cost: $$-$$$
The Qing offers one of the most varied dim sum menus we’ve seen in the capital, which can lead to unpredictable experiences—but hey, that’s part of the fun! For starters, you can choose your dim sum to be deep-fried, steamed, or baked, depending on your texture preference.
Choosing the flavour is the tricky part, but we can attest that there are no wrong choices! If you want our advice, we recommend the red koji rice steamed bun with BBQ chicken, as it’s one of the more “entry-level” flavours they offer.
Lastly, since this is a pork-free establishment, you’ll find different flavourful ingredients in these dumplings’ fillings like radish, prawns, mango, quail eggs, etc. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even have sea prawn and caviar as a dumpling filling!
Pro tip:
Don’t leave this place without trying their specialty, the smoked duck! They feature dark and juicy meat and pair perfectly with rice or any of their steamed and deep-fried dim sum.
Lai Ching Yuen
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Address: Level 1, Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur
Contact details: +60 3-2117 4888
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Friday: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$$
Lai Ching Yuen is a fancy dim sum spot we highly recommend for special occasions. This spot won’t only spoil you with authentic Cantonese flavours but with beautiful traditional architecture as well, a true feast for the eyes!
They offer a separate menu for their dim sum variations, which is a telling sign that you’re in for a festival of flavours. For starters, their steamed dim sum selection features a variety of fillings, from prawns to barbequed pork, chicken feet, etc.
We also appreciate that they offer meat-free variations like the steamed spinach dumplings with preserved vegetables. As a sweet tooth, however, I can’t help but crown the lotus paste dumpling as my favourite.
Pro tip:
If you want to eat as many dumplings as humanely possible, we recommend visiting Lai Ching Yuen from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM from Tuesday to Friday or from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on weekends to enjoy their all-you-can-eat dim sum buffet!
Ming Ren Xuan
– Media credit: mingrenxuan
Address: L3-5, Level 3, Avenue K
Contact details: +60 12-688 1646
Operating hours: Daily from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$$
If you want to experience elevated Chinese dining, then Ming Ren Xuan should be on your radar. To call this place a dim sum spot is a bit unfair because they also offer fine-dining dishes like tiger king prawns, foie gras and Australian lamb racks.
As for their Chinese offerings, their dim sum selection takes centre stage, featuring a wide selection of steamed, fried, and baked variations. We recommend the baked bamboo charcoal buns stuffed with barbequed pork the most because of their smoky and savoury flavours.
Also, you can always go for the traditional prawn-stuffed dim sum if you want to try the classic. Lastly, we recommend ending your meal on a sweet note with their creamy baked chocolate cheese tarts—yum!
Pro tip:
You can easily get here by taking the train and dropping off at the KLCC station. This will take you directly to the Avenue K Shopping Mall, where you’ll find Ming Ren Xuan on the third level.
Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine
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Address: 2nd Floor, Podium Block
Contact details: +60 3-2070 9399
Operating hours:
- Monday to Satrurday: 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM
Cost: $$$
As the name suggests, Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine is one of the classiest places you can get authentic Chinese food, especially dim sum. Their dedication to the craft of creating these staple dishes at an elevated level even granted them a Michelin Star!
One of our favourite dishes to order here is the steamed scallop dumplings, which is by far the most flavourful dim sum we’ve tried in the capital. The unique umami flavour of the scallops and the delicate wrapping, paired with the soy sauce, work together to create a satisfying bite.
They also offer exotic flavour combinations like the yam puff with duck, which we love solely because of the tenderness and juiciness of the dark meat. Meanwhile, if you’d much rather have dim sum at the end of your meal, we recommend getting the charcoal custard bun as dessert.
Pro tip:
Visit the restaurant during lunch to be just in time for their twin combo sets, which pairs two of their best-selling dishes such as stuffed chicken, spare ribs, smoked duck breast salad, etc.
Hoong Foong Dim Sum
– Media credit: foodiekuma2012
Address: 77 & 79, Jalan USJ 21/10
Contact details: +60 3-8081 2653
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM, 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $
Hoong Foong Dim Sum is a great option if you’re dim sum hunting on a budget. This no-frills restaurant offers one of the most authentic local dining experiences in the city, featuring plastic chairs, simple wooden tables, and, of course, good food!
As simple as it looks, however, this restaurant doesn’t shy away from innovating the traditional dim sum people have known to love. One of the perfect examples of this is their salted egg mai, which features a perfect balance between rich, sweet, and salty.
However, they’re most famous for their puffs because of the creaminess of the yam mixed with the perfectly baked meat. Speaking of, Hoong Foong is also one of the top places to get sweet yam custard buns!
Pro tip:
If you’re unsure of what drink to pair with your dim sum, we recommend getting their famous thick iced coffee! Sipping on it between different flavours of dim sum helps reset the palate so you can enjoy each bite with a fresh sense of taste.
Jin Xuan Hong Kong Restaurant
– Media credit: kl.foodie and kldirectory
Address: 116b, A32, 36, 34, Jalan 1
Contact details: +60 3-7982 6812
Operating hours: Daily from 7:00 Am to 12:00 AM
Cost: $$
When it comes to variety, Jin Xuan Hong Kong Restaurant may reign supreme, boasting over 60 types of dim sum flavours. Moreover, all their offerings, whether it be their sweet tarts or their savoury siu mai, are made fresh daily!
One of our favourites from their selection is their signature char siew bun, which is filled to the brim with roasted pork. Breaking apart this bun and seeing all the meat inside still smoking is one of the most tantalising moments you can experience before eating!
You can also get the fried salad shrimp dumpling that comes with a nice dressing that balances out its slightly fishy flavour. The best partner you can give this dish, along with any other dim sum in their selection, however, is the sticky garlic fried rice.
Pro tip:
If their branch at Entrepreneur Park is already full or out of the way from your itinerary, you can also check out their branches at Kota Kemuning, Uptown, Cheras, and Kuchai Lama.
Dolly Dim Sum
– Media credit: dollydimsum
Address: Lot 1.102.00 & S1.102.00, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
Contact details: +60 12-578 7842
Operating hours: Daily from 10:45 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Dolly Dim Sum is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, making it a great place to replenish your energy with amazing Chinese food after a day of exploring the capital. Offering a solid selection of fried and steamed buns and reasonable prices, this may be the best mid-tier option out there.
Starting with their steamed section, they offer classics like prawn siew mai, har gao dumplings, and Szechuan dumplings. However, the one that stands out for us is their roasted BBQ buns, mostly because of Dolly’s signature honey BBQ marinate.
As for their fried offerings, their bestseller is the salad prawn dumpling and rightly so. It offers a crunchy exterior with a lump of tender shrimp meat inside—plus, the lemon mayonnaise sauce makes this dish 100 times better!
Pro tip:
If all these meat and seafood flavours left you craving something sweet after your meal, order their mango delight. It’s a refreshing dessert that consists of fresh mangoes, mango puree, and sago.
Ai Authentic Dim Sum Restaurant
– Media credit: myfoodcentury
Address: No.17, Jalan Bunga Kantan
Contact details: +60 12-533 9073
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday: 7:00 AM to 12:30 AM
- Monday: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Cost: $
Ai Authentic Dim Sum Restaurant is a staple for Chinese cuisine lovers in Kuala Lumpur because of its affordable and traditional dishes. For starters, their menu boasts an impressive steamed dim sum section consisting of rice rolls and siew mai.
We’re huge fans of their bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms because they remind us of Korean barbeques. Plus, they’re great to eat with their glutinous chicken rice to complement their porky taste.
Their bao selection never fails to amaze us as well, with its sweet and savoury variations. One thing we love to do here is order their char siew bao for some savoury goodness and end the meal with their lotus bao to satisfy our sweet tooth afterwards.
Pro tip:
We discourage driving here, as there are few to no parking slots available (unless you’re riding a motorcycle). Instead, we recommend taking the bus and departing from Genting Klang Bus Stop, which is only a 3-minute walk away.