Dim Sum in Honolulu

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.