Ava GabouryIf you think dim sum is just for old aunties and hungover students, you’re dead wrong. Dim sum is the OG social eating experience. It’s a delicious dance of flavors, and a chance to prove you can handle chopsticks like a boss.
As a fan of dim sum myself, I’ve eaten at my fair share of places in town. Now I’ll share my insights with you.
So, grab your stretchy pants, and get ready to eat more dumplings than you’ve ever had in your life. I’ve listed down the best dim sum spots in Vancouver just for you!
- 1. Fisherman's Wharf Dimsum
- 2. Momo Factory Restaurant and Bar
- 3. Happy Noodle House
- 4. Chef's Choice Seafood Restaurant
- 5. Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
- 6. Sun Sui Wah Seafood Restaurant
- 7. Jade Dynasty Restaurant
- 8. Pink Pearl
- 9. Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant
- 10. Mott 32 Vancouver
- 11. 筷炒 Corner 29
- 12. Po Kong
1. Fisherman’s Wharf Dimsum
– Media credit: fishermanswharfdimsum
Address: 342 East Kent Ave S #101
Hours: Monday to Friday – 8 AM to 5 PM
Phone: +1 604-323-1796
Price: $$
Forget everything you thought you knew about dim sum in Vancouver or any part of the world; Fisherman’s Wharf Dimsum is elevating the game.
Take their steamed chia seed bun, for example. It’s a surprising twist on a familiar favorite: light, fluffy, and subtly sweet, with chia seeds adding a delicate crunch and a hint of nuttiness.
The coconut rice cake is another must-try. It’s chewy and fragrant, with the coconut milk adding this creamy sweetness that’s just irresistible.
But the real showstopper for me is the pork and baby dill dumpling. The savory pork is perfectly complemented by the fresh, herbaceous pop of dill.
| Pro Tip: Order the Hong Kong-style shrimp dumplings. The shrimp bursts with oceanic sweetness, and the wrappers are so thin and delicate that you can almost see the shrimp through them. |
2. Momo Factory Restaurant and Bar
– Media credit: momofactorycanada
Address: 1143 Davie St
Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, Sunday – 11 AM to 11 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 11 AM to Midnight
Phone: +1 604-559-9238
Price: $$
Momo Factory Restaurant and Bar is a true paradise for dim sum in Vancouver.
Their pork soup dumplings are solid and well-made. I usually start by sipping the broth—it’s flavorful with a hint of ginger and scallions. The pork filling is juicy and perfectly seasoned.
Their shrimp and pork sui mai are also good, but I like their truffle mushroom dumplings the most. The earthy aroma of the truffle oil fills your nostrils as soon as the plate arrives, and the mushroom filling is incredibly flavorful and decadent.
| Pro Tip: Try the BBQ pork buns. The buns themselves are so soft and pillowy. The BBQ pork filling is sweet, savory, and slightly smoky. |
3. Happy Noodle House
– Media credit: thylacine.queen
Address: 630 Davie St
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11 AM to 9:30 PM
Phone: +1 604-488-0399
Price: $$
Happy Noodle House takes you to the bustling streets of Asia, and I’m here for it. If you like spice, the hot chili wontons are a must-try.
They’re packed with flavor and heat – just pure yum! The wontons are tender and juicy, and the chili oil is fragrant and fiery. I also love that they add a touch of sesame oil for richness.
And for those who love soup dumplings, the xiao-long bao are a must. Each bun is filled with savory broth and tender pork.
I also think they do a good job with their steamed soft pork buns. I like that the buns themselves are pillowy soft and slightly sweet, and the filling is savory-sweet.
| Pro Tip: Don’t even think about leaving without trying the Cumin Lamb & Flatbread. The spices they use are really fragrant and complex. Plus, the lamb is cooked not too dry or greasy. The flatbread is soft and chewy, perfect for soaking up all the delicious juices. I could honestly live on this! |
4. Chef’s Choice Seafood Restaurant
– Media credit: howoodkuen
Address: 955 W Broadway
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 10:30 AM to 3 PM, 5 PM to 10:30 PM
Phone: +1 604-620-5199
Price: $$$
Chef’s Choice Seafood Restaurant is a one-way ticket to Hong Kong, and I’m always ready to go.
I always start off with their Chef’s Choice Signature Shrimp Dumpling because it’s so fresh and so plump. Plus, I enjoy that the dumpling wrapper is so finely made that it will melt away once in your mouth.
Every time I go, I also need to order the Stir-Fried Daikon Cake with XO Sauce. I only tried it once before, but now, I crave this every time I visit. It is slightly sweet, and with that XO sauce, you get a subtle spicy umami flavor.
However, if you want something a bit heavier, then you’ll want to order steamed pork spareribs. The pork just falls off the bone, and the Chinese olives it comes with are salty and flat-out delicious.
| Pro Tip: Do not miss out on the Poached Bean Curd Sheet Rolls with Goji Berries in Fish Soup. It sounds strange, but it works! The bean curd sheets are smooth, and the goji berries add a subtly sweet touch. |
5. Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
– Media credit: foodnut8
Address: 108-777 W Broadway
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 3 PM
5 PM to 10 PM
Phone: +1 604-876-8388
Price: $$$
Dynasty Seafood Restaurant is seriously a feast for the eyes before you even taste anything. The vibe is calm and elegant.
I always like to get the steamed crab meat and shrimp dumplings. You can taste the sweet, fresh crab. The shrimp has this clean, almost briny taste that I absolutely love.
If you’re feeling extra, the steamed black truffle dumpling is a MUST. The truffle oil infuses every bite with this earthy, luxurious aroma that just elevates the whole experience.
And for something crispy, their deep-fried shrimp toast is a classic, but they do it right. The bread is perfectly golden and crunchy, and the shrimp paste is not too salty and not too bland.
| Pro Tip: Order the durian mochi. I know, I know, durian can be a bit intense. But if you’re a fan, the creamy filling has this pungent, almost custard-like flavor that’s unlike anything else. |
6. Sun Sui Wah Seafood Restaurant
– Media credit: sunsuiwah
Address: 3888 Main St
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM
5 PM to 9:30 PM
Phone: +1 604-872-8822
Price: $$
Sun Sui Wah Seafood is a deeply rooted favorite that has been delighting generations with its authentic, refined Cantonese cuisine.
To be honest, stepping inside this place is like entering a time capsule. You can tell they hold to traditional dim sum styles by their plating and arrangement of dishes.
Most people come here to enjoy all of their handcrafted dim sum, slow-simmered soups, and traditional Hong Kong-style barbecue.
Yes, the chef here actually spends early mornings in the kitchen handcrafting each dim sum from scratch. So, every time I order their shrimp and pork dumplings, I know I’m eating the freshest batch.
I also can’t get enough of their fluffy roasted pork buns. The way the pork carries so much flavour in one bite always leaves me raving about it.
| Pro Tip: While I haven’t tried it yet, several people couldn’t stop singing praises about their chicken feet. Apparently, it’s not chewy but quite crunchy and full of spicy flavour. |
7. Jade Dynasty Restaurant
– Media credit: fanny.yvr
Address: 137 E Pender St
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, Monday – 9 AM to 9 PM
Phone: +1 604-683-8816
Price: $$
Jade Dynasty Restaurant is where you go when you want a taste of authentic Hong Kong-style cuisine without the frills.
I can never get enough of their rice flour rolls with beef and Chinese parsley. I like the way the beef is marinated, and found the parsley the perfect garnish.
Another good dish here is the deep-fried chicken with bean curd. I recommend this one if you like crispy finger-licking dishes.
Those who are after something hearty will enjoy their chicken and salted fish. It’s beautifully served in a clay pot with rice.
| Pro Tip: When I want something sweet, I go for the deep-fried Chinese donut. I love how they fry it just right. It’s not too greasy at all. |
8. Pink Pearl
Address: 1132 E Hastings St
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 9 PM
Phone: +1 604-253-4316
Price: $$
Pink Pearl is a place where generations have gathered to celebrate and savor the flavors of Cantonese cuisine. Every time I come here, I can’t resist the smell of their freshly steamed dumplings that fills the air.
They have plenty of dishes here, but I like the way they do their steamed pumpkin dumplings. The pumpkin doesn’t fall apart into mush inside the dumpling wrapper. The way they season it also leaves you biting into a dumpling full of flavour.
Although I normally don’t go for calamari when I get dim sum, theirs is just too tempting to resist. It’s crispy and always is the first to go when I bring friends with me.
| Pro Tip: Be sure to visit on Saturdays and Sundays between 9 AM and 3 PM to enjoy their famous rice rolls. |
9. Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant
– Media credit: westernlakerestaurant
Address: 4989 Victoria Dr
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, Monday – 9:30 AM to 3 PM, 5 PM to 9 PM
Phone: +1 604-321-6862
Price: $$
Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant has all-day dim sum, so you can get your fix whenever you want.
I always love getting their Shanghai-style pork dumplings. They’re so juicy that with every bite, I am tempted to order three more servings. That’s just how much I like them.
I also enjoy the spareribs with black bean sauce. I like how the black bean sauce is not salty at all. Plus, the spareribs add a savory hint of sweetness to the overall dish.
But if you really want to have something that will have you drooling, try the beef tripe and beef tendon. In my opinion, they’re cooked to perfection, with a satisfying chewiness.
| Pro Tip: Heads up: Dim sum is only available for takeout during dinner. |
10. Mott 32 Vancouver
– Media credit: mott32van
Address: 1161 W Georgia St
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM & 5 PM to 10:30 PM
Phone: +16048610032
Price: $$$
Mott 32 Vancouver is where you go when you want Chinese food that’s not stuck in the past. They take old recipes and make them new with fancy cooking tricks.
Chef Lee’s soft-boiled quail egg siu mai is a Hong Kong hit. It’s got a runny quail egg inside a pork dumpling, and the black truffle makes it taste even better.
You also have to try their traditional Iberico pork Shanghainese soup dumplings. Each dumpling I had was full of their tasty broth and juicy pork.
The scallop dumplings are another good choice. I like how they mesh the flavours of the sweet scallop and salty caviar with the spinach and prawn, adding a nice touch.
| Pro Tip: The lobster har gow with Yunnan ham is what you get if you want to be bougie. The sweet lobster and smoky ham are a match made in heaven, mixing Chinese tradition with luxury. |
11. 筷炒 Corner 29
– Media credit: hax100000
Address: 4488 Main St
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, Monday – 10 AM to 3 PM, 5 PM to 9 PM
Phone: +1 604-559-8660
Price: $$
Corner 29 is the place to go when you crave the taste of Hong Kong without all the fuss.
I like to get the steamed siu mai fish roe dumplings. The savory, seasoned pork is complemented by the briny pop of fish roe. It’s definitely an interesting texture to get used to, but trust me, the taste is good.
They also do really good steamed crystal prawn dumplings. These are a classic, but the way they cook their shrimp to perfection always has me stuffing my mouth with more.
But my favorite dish here has to be the steamed spare ribs. Their tender meat infused with that rich, savory garlic sauce makes it so tempting to lick up every last drop.
| Pro Tip: If you like chicken feet, their steamed version is not that bad. It’s got a savory marinade that is reminiscent of what you would find in Hong Kong. |
12. Po Kong
– Media credit: imnotafattyijusteatalot
Address: 1334 Kingsway
Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 8 PM
- Friday to Sunday – 11 AM to 8:30 PM
Phone: +1 604-876-3088
Price: $$
Po Kong’s savoury, authentic Cantonese dim sum is available from 11 AM to 2:30 PM. I like how they stick to traditional dim sum here. Well, as close as they can.
Their menu does imitate a lot of other dim sum places in town, but there are a few things that I particularly like about how they cook here. Their Thousand Tofu is one of those dishes.
The silken, delicate tofu cubes have a savory, aromatic broth. It’s a rich yet light dish that makes the greasy fried goodness of the deep-fried taro dumpling easier to digest. Taro, if you’ve never had it, it’s subtly sweet and nutty.
| Pro Tip: If you want to try some traditional Cantonese comfort food, I’d say give their Premier Bamboo Pith and Lettuce Congee a go. I like how every spoonful of this rice porridge has the spongy texture of bamboo pith alongside the crisp freshness of the lettuce. |
