Six Restaurants for Dim Sum in Shanghai

A kaleidoscope of dim sum from Michelin-starred establishments to fast casual chains. Here are six restaurants in Shanghai for dim sum and my favorite dishes from each.

Sui Tang Li

Address: The Middle House Residence, 2/F, 366 Shimen Yi Lu, near Nanjing Xi Lu 石门一路366号2层, 近南京西路
Tel: 32168068
Hours: 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-10pm

Sui Tang Li is a contemporary Chinese restaurant at the Middle House Shanghai serving Shanghainese, Sichuan and Cantonese dishes. It’s a very polished restaurant in service, ambiance and offerings—they’ve had time to perfect their signatures since opening the hotel in summer 2018. Dim sum is served during lunchtime.

Favorite Dim Sum at Sui Tang Li:

Best dim sum in Shanghai: 5J Ham Xiaolongbao at Sui Tang Li, a contemporary Chinese restaurant at the Middle House Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — 5J Ham Xiaolongbao (¥128)

Best dim sum in Shanghai: Sui Tang Li, a contemporary Chinese restaurant at the Middle House Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — Quail Egg Siumai (¥52) with black vinegar jelly

YEN CHA, W Shanghai

Address: W Shanghai, 5/F, 66 Lvshun Lu, near Dongchangzhi Lu 旅顺路66号5楼, 近东长治路
Tel: 22869965
Hours: 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-10:30pm

YEN CHA at the W Shanghai is possibly the best all-you-can-eat dim sum out there at the moment. The quality is excellent and it’s more than affordable, plus, they have a free-flow deal. I wrote about it here.

The unlimited dim sum deal is ¥268, only on Saturdays and Sundays. If you’re popping in on weekdays, the dim sum is available a la carte.

Favorite Dim Sum at YEN CHA:

Seventh Son 家全七福

Address: Jing’an Kerry Centre, Tower 1, 2/F, 1515 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Tongren Lu 南京西路1515号2楼1号楼, 近铜仁路
Tel: 62663969
Hours: 11:30am-2:30pm, 5-10pm

Dim sum at Seventh Son, a Michelin one-star restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

Seventh Son is a Michelin one-star Cantonese restaurant in the Jing’an Kerry Centre. They’re known for their dim sum. It is expensive. It is good. There is another location in the Pudong Shangri-La, but Jing’an one holds more clout. Dim sum available daily during lunch.

Favorites Dim Sum at Seventh Son:

Signature crispy chicken. Dim sum at Seventh Son, a Michelin one-star restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — Crispy Chicken (¥240/half or ¥440/whole, 七福脆皮鸡) – A signature of the house.

Imperial Treasure 御宝轩

Address: Room 402-403, 4/F, 99 Beijing Dong Lu, near Yuanmingyuan Lu 北京东路99号4楼402-403室, 近圆明园路
Tel: 53081188
Hours: 11:30am-2:30pm, 5-10pm

Dim sum at Imperial Treasure, a Michelin two-star restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

Imperial Treasure is an upscale Cantonese restaurant by way of Singapore. It is also a Michelin two-star restaurant. It’s one of the more consistent high-end restaurants for dim sum for their food. One gripe: service can be a bit disjointed during lunch service. Dim sum is served every day, lunchtime.

Favorite Dim Sum at Imperial Treasure:

Charsiu. Dim sum at Imperial Treasure, a Michelin two-star restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — Charsiu (¥120, 蜜汁叉烧)

Vinegar pork trotters. Dim sum at Imperial Treasure, a Michelin two-star restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — Vinegar Pork Trotters (¥68, 猪脚姜醋蛋)

Taste Paradise 乐忻味之楼

Address: 505-506, 5/F, Plaza 66, 1266 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Shaanxi Bei Lu 南京西路1266号恒隆广场5楼, 近陕西北路
Tel: 62920866
Hours: 11am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm

Where to eat dim sum in Shanghai: Taste Paradise, a Cantonese restaurant in Plaza 66. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

Cantonese restaurant Taste Paradise is another import from Singapore, located in Plaza 66. The original opened in 2006 in Singapore. It’s part of the Paradise Group (Paradise Dynasty, known for their xiaolongbao). The signature item here is the roasted pigeon.

Favorite Dim Sum at Taste Paradise:

Shaomai. Where to eat dim sum in Shanghai: Taste Paradise, a Cantonese restaurant in Plaza 66. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — Prawn shaomai with mushroom and roe (¥32, 香菇鱼籽滑烧卖)

Roasted pigeon. Where to eat dim sum in Shanghai: Taste Paradise, a Cantonese restaurant in Plaza 66. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence. — Roasted pigeon (¥88, 玻璃乳鸽)

Dian Du De 点都德

Address: B125, Zhonghai Huanyuhui, 838 Huangpi Nan Lu, near Madang Lu 黄陂南路838弄中海环宇荟B125, 近马当路
Tel: 63333213
Hours: 9am-10pm

Dian Du De is a chain from Guangzhou that opened in Shanghai in May 2018 to much buzz. You couldn’t get a seat when their Xintiandi location opened. (There are now six locations in Shanghai.) The hype has died down, though, though, there’s still a lunch rush, but it’s fairly easy to get a table and they serve dim sum all day. Dim sum here is real cheap.

Other locations are in Sinar Mas Plaza (North Bund where Colca and Barbarian are located), Century Link Mall in Pudong, and one in the Longemont Mall.