Dian Xin
Dim sum restaurant · French Quarter
1218 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Highlights
Authentic dim sum, Sichuan flavors, soup dumplings, jianbing
Authentic dim sum, Sichuan flavors, soup dumplings, jianbing
"Dian Xin has met the French Quarter’s need for excellent, traditional dim sum and fiery Sichuan flavors. From the original owners of Little Chinatown in Kenner, Diane Ceng and her family operate this simple but popular kitchen on Decatur Street with a two-page menu of bao, soups, chive cakes, jianbing, and shu mai, a solid neighborhood comfort food destination. There’s now a second location with new offerings on Conti, also in the Quarter." - Clair Lorell
"You could go to the Westbank for pushcart dim sum, but Dian Xin is the best you’re going to do in the neighborhood. The food here isn’t some consolation prize though. There are great five-spice pork ribs, shrimp chive cakes, and soup dumplings, along with a bunch of rich vegetable dishes like a crepe filled with sesame seed and fried wonton crunches. Bring a friend or two, share everything (including a pot of buckwheat tea), and take something to go." - Megan Braden-Perry
"The joy of having spicy Sichuan food in the French Quarter is boundless for fans of the chili-driven fare from the province in southwest China. Try Dian Xin’s xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, made with ground pork, ginger, and garlic swimming in a searing hot broth — best to coddle the dumpling in a spoon and gently poke it with the chopstick to let the steam out, making it easier to slurp. Also say yes to pan-fried pork dumplings and for heat lovers, the chili chicken is incendiary. A second location in the Quarter serves staples along with a hot pot menu." - Beth D’Addono
"Since its opening in 2019, this Chinese restaurant—still a culinary rarity amid the Creole-laden eateries of the historic French Quarter—has enjoyed panoramic enthusiasm. The restaurant’s name means dim sum, and naturally, it is strong in this area: The Hong Kong-style dumplings come out delicate and chewy, surrounding crabmeat and crawfish, steamed pork, chicken, and kale. They bring a jolt of heat, but nothing intimidating, and there’s plenty of fiery chili sauce at the ready. Dishes such as salt and pepper chicken wings, jianbing (Chinese-style crepes), and walnut shrimp all stand up to the considerable hype." - Paul Oswell
"What’s better for takeout than dim sum? Here, try the xiao long bao, made with ground pork, ginger, and garlic swimming in a searing hot broth, the pan-fried pork dumplings, and shrimp har gow. The wings, popcorn chicken, fried pork ribs, and chive cakes are also particularly to go-friendly." - Clair Lorell
