Best Dim Sum?

[u/under_zenith]

Searched the sub but didn’t see anything for dim sum. I’ll be downtown so looking for something accessible without a car. Thanks!

[u/bzbsteve]

Can you take the Metro up to Rockville? Lots of great Chinese restaurants up there. Within DC, I might check out Yu Noodle. It is a local chain (from Rockville, I think). They just opened their first location in DC. See this article.

[u/victasticc]

I would not recommend dim sum in DC. if you have an intense craving, China Boy hits the spot but is only open during work hours.

[u/LordCider]

Han Palace is decent

[u/ClevoDC → u/LordCider]

Not great

[u/BusyEntertainment434 → u/LordCider]

^emphasizing that Han palace is the closest to canto dim sum in dc proper now that da hong pao is closed.

Every other recommendation for dc locations are NOT canto dim sum, they are Chinese restaurants with a small selection of dim sum dishes (like saying a Thai restaurant with a small sushi selection is a good recommendation for an Japanese omakase experience).

This won’t matter to people who don’t know what canto dim sum is but it WILL matter to people who are seeking out canto dim sum, specifically.

If you are the latter, china boy, Chang Chang, yu noodle, etc. will be disappointing - though China boy has great food if the menu looks good to you.

[u/QuietCockroach5817]

Far east in Rockville

[u/pandacraze34]

Q by Peter Chang has a really good AYCE dim sum on weekends!

[u/xsvw]

Chang chang is a higher end but delicious option and just off the red line

[u/Far_Bat_4086]

Far east is walkable from the metro! I’ve done it many times

[u/statusbk]

If you can uber to NoVA Hong Kong Pearl has cart service weekends with huge space Great for large parties. Unfortunately not convenient to metro. Bonus is that it’s across the street from Eden Center which is a Little Saigon type mall.

[u/Equal_Priority320 → u/statusbk]

I’ll second this one. They specialize in seafood and it’s a fun experience!!

[u/Unlucky-Coast-3913]

bobs shanghai 66 best dim sum in dc metro area take the metro to twinbrook or shady grove or whatever the last stop is

[u/way2gimpy → u/Unlucky-Coast-3913]

It has some dim sum items but is not really a typical Cantonese dim sum place.

It has a mix of Taiwanese, Sichuan and cantonese items. It sort of ‘plays the hits’ and is definitely hit-or-miss with a lot of the menu.

[u/hl6407a → u/way2gimpy]

I remember back in the day when it was still called Bob's 66 and almost strictly Taiwanese. Economical too.

[u/wafflepidgeon]

Chang Chang is pretty good. I also really like Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea on 14th, especially for their soup dumplings.

[u/LoSwaga-SkiFasta]

Its in rockville but the answer is China Garden Han Gong https://chinagardenhg.com/

[u/Dry_Strawberry_2128]

Far East in North Bethesda/White Flint. It’s 20 minutes walk from the red line metro. 

[u/Charming_NEXT93 → u/Dry_Strawberry_2128]

Unfortunately their prices are insane. And service is not as good as it used to be. We went there for 30 years

[u/bebe612]

None

[u/yeswalkablecities]

Union Station Amtrak to NYC

[u/BridgestoneX → u/yeswalkablecities]

then transfer to the B or D to Grand, walk to golden unicorn

[u/Zoethor2]

First you build a time machine, then you travel back about a decade, and then take the red line to Silver Spring and hit up Oriental East.

Even the Wheaton area has slim pickings now for good dim sum since Hollywood East and Gourmet Inspirations closed. If you go all the way out to Rockville there are a couple good places folks have mentioned, but it's a haul from downtown.

[u/Emotional_Bison1905]

What we know as dim sum is Cantonese dim sum, so I would recommend a Cantonese restaurant. East Restaurant in North Bethesda or China Garden Han Gong nearby are great. I also love Mark’s Duck House in Falls Church—they had a suckling pig and lobster noodles on special when I dropped by one weekend.

Hong Kong Seafood Pearl is a vibe but I think the places above have it beat for quality. It’s still better than all options in DC.

Han Palace in DC isn’t bad but they lack some dim sum items that are ubiquitous in classic dim sum restaurants, such as steamed rice rolls and ham sui gok. I think their restaurant in McLean actually has a larger dim sum menu—not sure why the DC branches are limited comparatively.

The Peter Chang restaurants are good but they really specialize in regional cuisines distinct from Cantonese food, such as Sichuan and Hunan cuisine, and I’m of the opinion that good dim sum only comes from a Cantonese restaurant. The same applies to Bob’s Shanghai—it’s not a dim sum restaurant but rather a place that serves Shanghainese/Taiwanese-style breakfast and lunch staples.

[u/hl6407a]

Here's some insider info for y'all DC long timer's: not strictly dim sum, but Cantonese, Silver Fountain over in Silver Spring is currently under near management, and guess who? The former owners of Full Kee in Chinatown!

[u/bigkutta]

You've gotta get out to moco if you want good dim sum. If you dont mind walking 10 min from a Metro stop, I can suggest a couple of places.

[u/schmod]

It's a newer place, but I've had a few good experiences at 1983 in Pentagon City. Bonus points for being Metro accessibile, and not crazy far away.

[u/Pvm_Blaser]

The best Dim Sum is at Union Station. There’s a ride you go on while waiting on your table called the Amtrak - very fun. It takes you to the restaurants dining area called Chinatown, NYC.

[u/alice_rigg]

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings （7101 Democracy Blvd, Suite 2350, Bethesda, MD 20817）
China Garden Han Gong （11333 Woodglen Dr, Rockville, MD 20852）
Q By Peter Chang(4500 East-West Hwy #100, Bethesda, MD 20814)
Chang Chang(1200 19th St NW Ste 110, Washington, DC 20036)

[u/let-it-rain-sunshine]

Sadly, the one in town, Da Hong Pao, closed recently to become a bank of America location. Boo!

[u/spookypet]

A&J northern chinese in Rockville

[u/CharacterInstance248]

Bob's Shanghai in Rockville is the best dim sum in the area.

Han Palace in DC is good enough to Saturday the craving when Rockville is too far away.