From Chinatown pushcarts to all-day plates beyond Waikīkī, here are independent, locally rooted spots serving dim sum in Honolulu right now. Expect rolling carts, family kitchens, and modern takes that still honor Cantonese tradition.
Dim Sum in Honolulu
9 Places
From Chinatown pushcarts to all-day plates beyond Waikīkī, here are independent, locally rooted spots serving dim sum in Honolulu right now. Expect rolling carts, family kitchens, and modern takes that still honor Cantonese tradition.
Mei Sum Dim Sum
Chinese restaurant
Beloved by downtown families for hand-made classics and all-day dim sum, with carts from late morning. Honored by Honolulu Magazine readers and revisited by its editors in 2025, who praised the har gow, siu mai, and lotus-wrapped sticky rice.
Fook Lam Seafood Restaurant
Dim sum restaurant
A Cultural Plaza anchor where locals queue for XO-sauced turnip cakes, look fun rolls, and custard buns. Recommended by Food & Wine’s Lee Anne Wong and spotlighted by local editors for its lively, Hong Kong–style vibe.
Legend Seafood Restaurant
Chinese restaurant
Since 1990, this Chinatown Cultural Plaza institution has done old-school cart service at lunch and banquet-style seafood at night. Frequently cited by local critics; it sits in a neighborhood Condé Nast Traveler calls the creative heart of urban Hawai‘i.
Happy Days Chinese Seafood Restaurant
Chinese restaurant
Kaimukī’s community gathering spot still rolls carts from breakfast hours, drawing multigenerational crowds. It landed in Honolulu Magazine’s Top 5 dim sum list, a testament to its neighborhood roots and enduring appeal.
Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
Seafood restaurant
Large, locally owned banquet house known for weekend crowds and an extensive menu—snow mountain char siu buns included. Recognized by local polls and community programs; Localicious lists daily dim sum service deep into the afternoon.
Kapiolani Seafood Restaurant
Seafood restaurant
A modern room for all-day dim sum—think translucent har gow and salted-egg custard buns—run by a Hong Kong–born local owner. Honolulu Magazine praised its contemporary touch and generous portions.
Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood Restaurant
Chinese restaurant
Family-run and spacious, this 2023 addition revived the former Golden Palace space with all-day dim sum and banquet fare. Highlighted on KHON2’s Living808, where the owners shared signatures like crispy char siu bao and siu mai.
Harbor Village Cuisine
Chinese restaurant
East O‘ahu’s go-to for families after hikes and beach time, serving dim sum all day with easy parking in Hawai‘i Kai. Noted by Honolulu Magazine’s dim sum poll as a reader write-in favorite; a steady, locally owned standby.
Tai Pan Dim Sum
Chinese restaurant
A no-frills Cultural Plaza counter serving steaming baskets from early morning. Recommended in Honolulu Magazine’s Chinatown dim sum crawl and listed by Localicious, it’s a fast, affordable way to taste everyday Cantonese snacks.
