The list in my order
5 I’d go back to and 2 only if it suits you. My verdict on every one, and the ones nearby from my other lists.
Nom Wah Tea Parlor
- Cost$35-45 for two
- AddressDoyers Street
Nom Wah has been open since 1920 on Doyers Street, which makes it the oldest dim sum parlor in the city. Let that sink in. This place has been serving dumplings since before your grandparents were born.
The space is small and retro, with those classic red booths and a counter that looks like it hasn’t changed since the Eisenhower administration. They don’t do cart service here. You order off a checklist menu, which honestly makes it easier for first-timers.
Order the OG egg roll. It’s the original recipe and it’s crispy and porky and perfect. The turnip cake is excellent, pan-fried until the outside is golden. And the shrimp rice rolls (cheung fun) are silky and delicate. Most plates are $5-7. Two people can eat extremely well for $35-45 total.
The downside. It’s become very popular with tourists, so weekend waits can hit 30-45 minutes. Go on a weekday or get there before 11am on Saturday.
Golden Unicorn
- Cost$4-6 plates, $30-40 for two
- Address18 East Broadway
If you want the full chaotic cart-service dim sum experience in Manhattan, Golden Unicorn at 18 East Broadway is where you go. It’s a massive banquet hall on the third floor, and on weekends it’s absolutely packed with families who’ve been coming here for decades.
Here’s how cart service works if you’ve never done it. Women push metal carts through the dining room loaded with bamboo steamers and plates. They stop at your table, open a steamer, and show you what’s inside. You nod yes or no. They stamp your ticket. That’s it. No menus, no deliberating, just point and eat.
Get there by 11am on weekends or you’ll wait 30+ minutes. The har gow (shrimp dumplings) are excellent. The siu mai (pork dumplings) are classic. And the chicken feet, if you’re feeling adventurous, are genuinely good. I was skeptical for years and now I order them every time.
Most plates run $4-6. A full dim sum meal for two will cost about $30-40 before tip.
Dim Sum Go Go
- Cost$5-8 plates
- Address5 East Broadway
Dim Sum Go Go at 5 East Broadway takes a more modern approach, and it works surprisingly well. The snow pea leaf dumplings are something you won’t find at traditional spots, and they’re genuinely great. The chive and shrimp dumplings have a brightness that the heavy hitters sometimes lack.
This is a good spot if you’re bringing someone who’s dim sum-curious but might be overwhelmed by the full cart chaos at Golden Unicorn. The menu is in English, the ordering is straightforward, and the food is excellent. Plates $5-8.
Jing Fong
- AddressElizabeth Street
I need to be honest about Jing Fong. The original location on Elizabeth Street was massive. Like, 800-seat banquet hall massive. It was the most classic dim sum experience in Manhattan and it closed during the pandemic in a way that genuinely hurt.
They’ve reopened in a smaller space, and it’s still good. The food quality is solid and the vibe is still lively. But if someone told you about the “old Jing Fong” and you’re expecting that, you’ll be slightly disappointed. It’s a very good dim sum restaurant now instead of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Spoiler alert. The siu mai and har gow are still excellent. That counts for a lot.
Flushing. Where the Serious Eaters Go.
If you really want the best dim sum in New York City, you need to take the 7 train to Flushing, Queens. I know it sounds far. It’s about 40 minutes from Times Square. But the dim sum out here operates on a completely different level.
Asian Jewels (133-30 39th Ave) is the one. It’s a massive banquet hall with full cart service on weekends, and the quality is consistently higher than anywhere in Manhattan. The crystal shrimp dumplings here are translucent and perfect. The roast pork buns are flaky and sweet. And the prices are lower than Chinatown because rent in Flushing is lower, which means your meal costs less. $20-30 per person.
Jade Asian (136-28 39th Ave, literally down the block) is also excellent. The taro puffs here are the best I’ve had in the city. Flaky, crispy, with a savory filling that makes them feel like they should cost $14 at some trendy restaurant instead of $5 at a table in Queens.
While you’re in Flushing, walk around the food court in the basement of New World Mall. It’s the best cheap eating in all five boroughs.
Dim Sum Etiquette. What You Should Know.
A few things that will make your dim sum experience better.
When someone pours you tea, tap two fingers on the table to say thank you. This is a Cantonese tradition and people notice when you do it. It’s a small thing that shows respect.
Order dumplings first. They come out fastest and you’ll want something to eat while you wait for the heavier dishes. Start with har gow and siu mai. Then go for the rice noodle rolls (cheung fun), turnip cake, and whatever else catches your eye.
If you’re at a cart-service restaurant, don’t be shy about flagging down carts. They’ll pass you by if you look like you’re still deciding. Make eye contact. Point. Nod. That’s the whole interaction.
And don’t fill up on rice or noodles early. That’s a rookie mistake. The dumplings and small plates are the whole point. Save the fried rice for last if you’re still hungry, which you probably won’t be.
When to Go
The best time for dim sum is Saturday or Sunday between 10am and noon. That’s when the cart service is in full swing and the selection is widest. By 1pm, the popular items start running out and you’ll be stuck with the stuff nobody else wanted.
Weekdays are quieter and sometimes cart service isn’t available, but the food quality is the same and you can actually get a table immediately. If you just want to eat great dumplings without the chaos, a Tuesday lunch is perfect.
Make no mistake. A proper dim sum meal in New York is one of the best food experiences in the city. For $25-40 per person, you’ll eat like royalty. Just bring cash for the smaller spots in Chinatown, because some of them still don’t take cards.
Asian Jewels
- Cost$20-30 per person
- Address133-30 39th Ave
Jade Asian
- Cost$5 per taro puff
- Address136-28 39th Ave
New World Mall food court
It’s the best cheap eating (/nyc-on-a-budget/) in all five boroughs.
