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Yum cha literally means “drink tea” in Cantonese, but this has evolved to a brunch where you are fed tons of delicious Chinese dim sim or dim sum (點心). One sign of how cosmopolitan Sydney is how Sydneysiders (and Australians in general, even those not of Chinese ancestry) have embraced the yum cha culture.
Every weekend, dim sum restaurants all over Sydney will be packed to the brim with families, friends, all congregating outside the restaurant waiting to eat char siew bao, custard buns, rice noodles, etc.
If you’re wondering where to go for a taste of good authentic dim sum, here’s a list of 15 best places to yum cha in Sydney.
This is the first of two dim sum restaurant recommendations that are located in the most unassuming of places, in a League Club! Once you’re at Canterbury League Club in Belmore, walk past the cascading waterfall and cross over the tiny indoor bridge and you will be in dim sum heaven. All dim sum is made in house. On weekdays, you have to use a paper form to make your orders but on weekends, all dim sum will be served on trolleys.
Two of the most highly raved dishes here at Dynasty are their deep fried chicken feet and their fried pork dumplings (sui gok), but everything else is equally good. For dessert, we love the tofu fah (a soybean milk pudding) and flaky egg tarts.
Reservations are highly recommended. Also, if you find yourself coming to Dynasty regularly, do sign up as a member of the Canterbury Leagues Club to get 10% off the bill and various discounts at the other restaurants in the club as well.
Address: Canterbury Leagues Club, Ground Floor, 26 Bridge Rd, Belmore NSW 2192
Yum Cha Hours: Weekdays 11am to 3pm | Weekends 10am to 3pm
Golden Times is another restaurant to go to if you are living in the inner West. Located inside the Wests Ashfield RSL, Golden Times is rather fancy with its glittering chandeliers and tables draped in laundered white linen.
They do beef well here – remember to try their beef balls and beef rice noodles. We also love the fried dough crullers and mango pancakes. Do remember to sign up for membership at only $3 a year and enjoy 10% off your bill every time you visit!
Address: Wests Ashfield Leagues, 115 Liverpool Road, Ashfield NSW 2131
Yum Cha Hours: Weekdays 10.30am to 3pm | Weekends 10am to 3pm
One of the oldest dim sum restaurants around, East Ocean turns 30 years old this year. They are currently undergoing renovations but will be back in July. Must try dishes include the roasted duck, any seafood dumpling or dim sum and the zha leung, a deep fried dough fritter encased in a silky rice noodle and bathed in a soy based sauce.
Ordering here is done via paper forms, with a pictorial menu for those of you who might not know the name of your favourite dim sum dish. This also means that dishes such as the zha leung are freshly made and not soggy after doing rounds on the trolley.
Address: Kien Hay Centre, Level 1/421 – 429 Sussex St, Haymarket NSW 2000
Yum Cha Hours: Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm, 5pm to late | Fridays 10am to late | Weekends 9am to late
Din Tai Fung usually does not score a mention if you want to go for dim sum (as there are so many restaurants specializing in just dim sum), but I find their dim sum to be top notch as well. Plus, if you find the dim sum not filling enough, you can always order a plate of their fried rice or la mian (handmade noodles) to fill your tummy up.
The best thing I like about Din Tai Fung is the live theatre – you can watch the chefs at work pulling noodles and making your dim sum. Never leave this place without ordering their xiao long bao (Shanghainese pork dumplings filled with pork soup).
Address: Level 1, World Square Shopping Centre, 644 George Street, Sydney. Also at Westfield Chatswood, Central Park, Westfield Sydney, The Star and Greenwood Plaza
Yum Cha Hours: Visit their website here to check opening hours of each outlet
The inner West has a wide array of brunch options, and Hung Cheung definitely tops the list for yum cha in the inner West. As with most other yum cha places, the service is not something to be raved about, but the quality and variety of dim sum served here is top notch.
This is definitely a place to go if you feel like having dim sum but don’t wish to head into the city. Don’t miss out on their salt and pepper chicken and their chili tripe.
Address: 338 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
Yum Cha Hours: Daily 10am to 10.30pm
Iron Chef is one of the largest yum cha restaurants in Cabramatta, and when you’re in Sydney’s “Little Vietnam”, opt for Vietnamese iced coffee instead of your usual Chinese tea. Trust us, you will love it!
Their siu mai, steamed dumplings (of the pork, prawn or vegetable variety) are fresh, equally well made and seasoned. If you are hankering for some fried or roasted food, try their roast pork belly (their peking duck is only available on certain days) and their fried calamari.
Address: 84 Broomfield Road, Cabramatta, NSW 2166
Yum Cha Hours: Weekdays 10am to 3pm | Weekends 9am to 3.30pm
LL makes it on our list because they have all-you-can-eat dim sum on Sundays for just $30! This is serious value for money as quality is not sacrificed – the steamed dumplings all have the requisite thin translucent skin with juicy filling, and the pork spare ribs are finger licking good!
To top it all off, pair your dim sum with a handcrafted cocktail instead of the usual Chinese tea, and enjoy the live jazz music in the background.
Address: 42 Llankelly Pl, Potts Point NSW 2011
Yum Cha Hours: Dim Sum only on weekends, 12pm to 4pm
Although not exactly a dim sum restaurant, Mr Wong deserves special mention for serving award winning Cantonese cuisine and a humble dim sum menu for lunch. There’s no trolley here in this 1930s Shanghainese inspired restaurant, and prices may be slightly more than the usual run-of-the-mill dim sum restaurant, but you are paying for ambience and quality here.
Try their shumais – the beef and burdock root is exquisite, and also leave space for some duck spring rolls and cheung fun (rice rolls).
Address: 3 Bridge Lane Sydney NSW 2000
Yum Cha Hours: Monday to Sunday 12pm to 3pm | Weekends 10.30am to 12pm
Not to be confused with Golden Star Palace or Golden Palace, Palace is the place to go to if you are hoping for a more sedate yum cha with less crowds as this is located a little further north of Chinatown.
Do keep a lookout for their fried items trolley, because Palace is one of the few places you can get your yau zhar kway (fried dough crullers) and other variants with filling inside. Their ham sui gok, wo gok, and salt and pepper squid (unusual for dim sum but definitely something to try) are all standouts.
Address: Piccadilly Tower, 38/133-145 Castlereagh St, Sydney NSW 2000
Yum Cha Hours: Weekdays 11am to 3pm | Weekends 10.30am to 3pm
Don’t be put off by the fact that the Phoenix Group operates 5 Phoenix restaurants serving dim sum in NSW (Westfield Sydney, Castle Hill, Zetland, Rhodes and Parramatta), because Phoenix serves consistently good quality dim sum in all their restaurants.
Our favourite however has got to be that in Manly, with its beautiful harbour views. Must tries here include their ham sui gok (deep fried pork dumplings) and their char siew paus, although we find that generally everything here is good and prices are very reasonable too.
Address: Visit their website here for a list of outlets
Yum Cha Hours: Weekdays 11am to 3pm | Weekends 10.30am to 3pm
The Eight is the largest Chinese restaurants in Sydney with one of the largest dim sum selections available. To top it off, they also have super friendly dim sum trolley ladies. Be sure to secure a table close to the kitchen so that you always get the freshest and quickest service. We especially love their mango pancakes and har gows (steamed prawn dumplings).
Address: Level 3, Market City, 9-13 Hay St, Haymarket NSW 2000
Yum Cha Hours: Weekdays 10am to 3.30pm, 5.30pm to 11pm | Weekends 9am to 3.30pm, 5.30pm to 11pm
Foodies who have been to Hong Kong will definitely know Tim Ho Wan. A Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant with its first Australian outpost, one thing’s for sure — be prepared for long queues. Helmed by Eric Koh, the former dumpling chef over at Mr Wong’s, you can be assured that the dumplings here will be delicious, as are their signature MUST-TRY baked bun with BBQ pork.
If you want to beat the queue, make a reservation for the private room (10-12 pax), but you will have to spend a minimum of $300 and have a maximum of 2 hours to finish your yum cha.
Address: Level 3, Market City, 9-13 Hay St, Haymarket NSW 2000
Yum Cha Hours: Daily 10am to 9pm
My first yum cha experience in Sydney was in Marigold, and I was suitably amused by the waiters who are all garbed in black suits. Prices here are reasonable, and the quality of the food is above average.
Marigold is also open every day 365 days a year, including public holidays. We love the greens with oyster sauce, which is blanched on the spot by the trolley lady and then drenched with oyster sauce. Other must tries include their Teochew pork and peanut dumplings and egg custard tarts.
Address: Level 4 & 5, Citymark Building, 683-689 George Street Sydney 2000
Yum Cha Hours: Daily 10am to 3pm, 5pm to midnight
Fancy a dim sum after your surf or swim at Maroubra or Coogee? Then head down to Golden Unicorn, which is the best yum cha restaurant in the vicinity. Head down early on the weekends, or else you will find a snaking queue all the way down the stairs as the restaurant is not as large as the ones you find in Chinatown.
This also means that the dim sums on the trolleys are hotter, and you can get the attention of the trolley ladies more easily. Definitely try their siu mai, duck pancake and zha leung.
Address: 2/193 Maroubra Road, Maroubra NSW 2035
Yum Cha Hours: Weekdays 11am to 3pm | Weekends 10am to 3pm
Bodhi makes it on my list because it is unique – it serves Buddhist vegetarian dim sum, that is, no chives, no onions, no garlic in addition to no meat, and it manages to do so beautifully. It also markets itself as a vegan restaurant using organic produce, and is definitely one place that should be on your place if you have vegan friends.
If it’s a warm summer day, do dine out under the fig trees and you will be rewarded with a tranquil green view of the park. Try their vegetarian dumplings and spinach rice noodle rolls and be amazed at how they can taste even without meat.
Address: Cook & Phillip Park Leisure Complex, 2-4 College St, Sydney NSW 2000
Yum Cha Hours: Daily 11am to 4pm
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