Far East Restaurant

Chinese restaurant · North Bethesda

Far East Restaurant

Chinese restaurant · North Bethesda

1

5055 Nicholson Ln, Rockville, MD 20852

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Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null
Far East Restaurant by null

Highlights

Local landmark preparing classic Sichuan & Mandarin fare plus dim sum in a quiet setting since 1974.  

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5055 Nicholson Ln, Rockville, MD 20852 Get directions

thefareastrestaurant.com
@fareastrockville

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

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5055 Nicholson Ln, Rockville, MD 20852 Get directions

+1 301 881 5552
thefareastrestaurant.com
@fareastrockville

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Jul 12, 2025

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@eater

"There’s not the same demand to jostle for prime seating on the mezzanine level of Far East, which has been owned by founder Shing Wai Wong’s family since 1974. Regulars who don’t want to dine inside can place a takeout order for hearty sticky rice in lotus leaves, or rice noodle crepes stuffed with a crisp savory cruller (youtiao)." - Jamie Liu

Where to Find Delectable Dim Sum Around D.C. - Eater DC
View Postcard for Far East Restaurant

Eddie K

Google
Really happy they renovated the interior of the restaurant when they reopened awhile back, It needed the refresh. We've been coming here since I was a kid and the restaurant was located in the strip shopping plaza next door. We've had many private party functions upstairs when Stanley was the manager. These days we dine here mainly for their dim sum. It opens at 11 AM on Saturdays and 10:30 AM on Sundays. Get there early to avoid the wait. It's not as large as China Garden and New Fortune so you will have to wait if you come 15 minutes after opening. Can't go wrong with any of the dim sum offerings.

David Parajon

Google
This place is a gem. On weekends, they serve dim sum — no reservations, but the ~20 minute wait is absolutely worth it. Everything we tried was fresh and flavorful. During the week, they offer a regular menu that’s just as delicious. I’d highly recommend the yu xiang qie zi (garlic eggplant) — perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. We also had the whole red snapper fried fish, served with a rich garlic, onion, and pepper sauce that was amazing. They also have big tables, so it’s a great spot for larger groups. Highly recommended for both weekday meals and weekend dim sum! The decorations also were breathtaking.

Connie Kwok

Google
Solid dim sum! We're out of towners, and our Chinese family recommended this place, and we were pleasantly surprised and happy with the dim sum. On a Sun morning, folks stood outside until the doors promptly opened at 1030a. Your entire party MUST be present to be seated. Inside was clean, elegant and welcoming, and plenty of carts offering the classic variety of classics. All the dishes were solid and congee were the stars of the show. The har gao were huge (3 shrimp per wrapper)! Plenty of staff around to make sure you get what you need if you don't see it, also taking plates and refill teas were quick. Enjoy!

Jon Doyle

Google
Service: A+. Atmosphere: A+. Food: D Greeted warmly and seates right away at 1130a on Sunday. Swarms of polite staff came and got us going... $14 for a been shoet rib dimsum thwt was mostly a pool of oil and tons of fat? Some cold food? Tea that tastes like blah water? Again. Service was top notch. $160 for 4 people, including tip, who didnt pig out is excessive. So disappointing.

Christina Yu

Google
The food is soooo fresh and in huge portions that I didn't get to try all the dim sum plates I wanted! Oh well, I guess I have to go back 😆. I especially loved the sesame balls. They were so much better than at other dim sum places I've been to, trust. The service was top notch and I overall had a great time eating at this family owned gem!

Thi Herrera

Google
Had lunch here on a weekday and service was quick. The restaurant looks very nice - haven’t been inside since they remodeled. We ordered dim sum off the menu and a lunch special. There was no push cart dim sum during the week but everything was made to order and came out fresh, hot, and delicious. Would definitely come back and eat here again.

Kay Chor

Google
Authentic dim sum in town! The food served their reputation. Great and quick service.

Allen Lin

Google
Came here for a random lunch and wow was I surprised that the food was really good. There is a Chinese American menu with the typical fake Chinese food like orange chicken and stuff like that, don’t order from that menu. Order from the dim sum menu, basically all of the dim sum was really good. Most certainly will come back again

N L.

Yelp
tried this dim sum restaurant on a quiet friday afternoon and was not disappointed. the atmosphere wasn't as chaotic as other places and the decorations were lovely. the server that spoke english to us was very polite and attentive. shrimp dumplings (5/5) - probably the best i've had in the dmv. suuper juicy and fresh so we HAD to order two servings chicken feet (5/5) - also a dim sum staple, and it was hot and fresh spare ribs (4/5) - meat wasn't tender as we would've liked it to be, but flavor was still good salted egg yolk buns (4.5/5) - not the best i've tasted from dim sum, but still a solid choice! shrimp rolls (4.5/5) - we both agreed that the shrimp was very tender and goodd if this restaurant were any closer to us we'd definitely go back every weekend!

Sallie W.

Yelp
Came for dimsum on a weekend and the wait was quick to get seated. The servers were friendly. Food was pretty average. Some of the items didn't taste fresh. A lot of the flour-y items like the cha siu bao and shrimp rolls were "dehydrated" as if it's been reheated in the microwave. We ordered the salt and pepper squid from the menu and while it looked crispy it was more mushy :/

Cathy M.

Yelp
I went to Far East a few years ago and thought it was good. The most recent experience was underwhelming. I wanted to eat Peking duck, so I ordered one for takeout. The duck was packaged with too much sauce and spring onion. The skin was not packaged separately from the meat, which is not a big deal just got a little soggy. The pancakes were fine. The duck skin was sloppily prepared. I found several pieces with duck hair on it, which I didn't want to eat. The sauce was overly sweet. I don't know if it's different when dining in, but my take out order did not include the duck carcass. When I ordered Peking duck at other restaurants, it comes with the carcass. I hope that when paying $65 for a duck, I'm getting the whole duck, so was a bit disappointed. Next time I want Peking duck, I'll visit elsewhere.

Whitney L.

Yelp
My family and I have been coming to this establishment for over 5 years and I'm a bit amazed I haven't written a review since. We recently went for dinner on Sunday and it was packed at 6 PM. Service was quick and we were seated almost immediately after entering. For dinner, we ordered the smoked duck (house special) and peaking duck. Although pricier that other Chinese restaurants, their peaking duck hit the spot. The skin was crispy and the meat was salted perfectly. Well worth it in my opinion. I usually like to order salt and pepper squid but that was just average for me so I probably wouldn't order it again unless I was craving it. Their fish with veggies dish was pretty good as well. For dessert we purchased small sized egg tarts and received a complimentary coconut dessert. The restaurant looks a bit run down but the decor and plants are nice.

Tommy Y.

Yelp
There's a good amount of Dim Sum options in Rockville, but lately Far East Restaurant has been getting a lot of recognition on clout on DMV Foodie Instagram lately! I've been meaning to check it out in Rockville for a while now, but dim sum isn't something you eat alone, so definitely had to bring along a group. As with any dim sum outing, you have to get a good plethora of dishes, here's all we got at our latest visit: Steamed Shu Mai Steamed Shrimp Dumpling Rice Noodle Crepe w/ Shrimp Char Siu Pork Puffs Steamed Chicken Feet Steamed Spareribs w/ Black Bean Sauce Beef Tripe Fried Shrimp Stuffed Eggplant Tofu Pudding Egg Tarts Pineapple Buns Everything was super delicious, quality and presentation were fantastic, and the service is quick and friendly! If a Dim Sum cart was out of a certain item, the server would be sure to come back to us with that item next time around, which I appreciate. My favorite items were definitely the Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (Har Gow), some of the best I've had, super tasty and plentiful with the shrimp filling. Pineapple buns were also a fantastic dessert item. Dim Sum Cart Service typically runs through 11AM - 3PM on weekends, and it will be busy so be sure to come a bit earlier!

Andrew P.

Yelp
Dim sum is one of those things that I only get to enjoy once or twice a year. The first 2024 opportunity has come about -- and I couldn't be happier! I met a bunch of friends at this spacious and beautiful restaurant. From the outside, it doesn't look like too much, but the sign is quite easy to see from the main road. But once you enter... the decor, the vibe... YES!!! Once you enter, there's a staircase right in front, a cozy waiting area to the right, and a small bar to the left. Apparently there was an event going on upstairs, and I was able to find my party at a table further inside on the current floor. The table was sadly full, but it was no difficulty starting a new one! As soon as some others arrived and we got settled, the food started coming! We didn't get a menu -- staff just started coming around and asking if we wanted anything on the cart. Pineapple buns, egg tarts, shumai and dumplings of all kinds, shrimp crepes, and for the first time ever... chicken feet! There wasn't one item I didn't thoroughly enjoy. After a while (as the dim sum time was winding down), the carts slowed down and we got in some last minute orders before leaving. I got to try durian rolls for the second time... WHEW are they pungent! But the taste is delectable!!! I had a great time, and my table made it easy to pay at the end -- with something like this, just splitting it evenly makes the most sense. I hope for more yummy dim sim in the future!

Maria L.

Yelp
Coming here was a fun experience-- you can smell deliciousness from the parking lot! A line does start before they open at 11am on Saturday. Soo get there a little early! My friend and I were amazed with all the choices and how well organized they were about being various carts of food and how they cleared items away! We tried: Sesame balls- my friend enjoyed Shrimp rolls: these were delicious!!! And you get three! Steamed pork bun: my friend enjoyed these and said they were filling. Eggplant with shrimp: yummmy, slightly oily but still good Shumai: yum! Steamed Shrimp dumplings- a little too gelatinous for me but my friend really enjoyed them. I enjoyed the insides!! Crab claw balls: $12.95 for three, very tasty! Items ranged from $5.50 to $7.50 with certain exceptions on the red carts. Would definitely come back!!

Byron T.

Yelp
Far East Restaurant is THE place to be for dimsum in the DMV! While their menu might not be the most expansive, the quality and authenticity of their offerings will leave you wanting more. Step into Far East and prepare to embark on a culinary journey through the world of dim sum. From the moment you take a steamer basket's lid off, you'll be greeted by a symphony of aromas and textures. Their shu mai, for instance, are plump and bursting with savory flavor. Be prepared to be surprised by the steamed chicken feet, surprisingly tender and exploding with savory goodness. And the shrimp and bean curd rolls? Crispy on the outside, packed with delicious fillings on the inside - a textural and taste bud party in every bite. Even the unassuming egg tarts deserve a mention - light, flaky pastry cradling a silky smooth custard center, the perfect sweet ending to a savory feast. Now, before you rush out the door, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. With a smaller staff, you might encounter a wait during peak hours. Patience is key, as their efficient team works tirelessly to turn tables over. Additionally, the price point for dim sum here leans towards the higher end, with individual plates ranging from $5.50 to $12.50. Despite the potential wait and steeper price tags, Far East Restaurant offers a truly delightful dim sum experience. The quality of the food shines through, making it a perfect destination for a special occasion or a celebratory weekend brunch. Just be sure to manage your expectations and you'll be rewarded with an authentic and delicious dim sum adventure.

Shirley D.

Yelp
I recently hosted a gathering here and we all left with our hearts and stomachs full. Far East is the OG for me and brings back many fond memories of family get togethers and celebrations. We had an incredible spread and a joyous time!

Judy R.

Yelp
Great fun place for dim sum especially on Saturdays! We got there when they opened at 11am, there was a line to get in. Were promptly seated, the carts were quickly serving the steamed and fried dumplings/buns. My favorite is the "football" shrimp meat pork dumpling. It has great flavor and is crispy on the outside. I also love their shrimp egg rolls. Great local restaurant, a staple in rockville that never disappoints!

Micah C.

Yelp
Delicious dim sum in the Rockville area. I was satisfied with the food, the options and the service. Came here on a Saturday morning with as a group of 5 around 11:15 and the parking lot and restaurant were already packed. We had to wait longer than expected because our party wasn't complete and so we couldn't be seated, but we didn't mind. They let us sit at a smaller table and pulled up an extra seat for us so we didn't have to wait longer, which I appreciated. There are servers pushing carts or holding trays of delicious dishes. It was my first time getting dim sum from a cart, so it was definitely an experience. It is a little hard to figure out what each dish is because it's hard to hear the servers in a loud banquet room. Luckily I had a friend who was more familiar with the dishes and was able to order for our table. Now for the food. Delicious and many came out fresh or still warm. My favorites were the pan fried chive and shrimp dumplings, steamed shrimp dumpling (har gow), shrimp rolls, shumai and roasted pork bun. I also enjoyed the fried rice with Chinese sausage. I loved the desserts like the pineapple bun, durian roll and egg tart. Our group was stuffed. The price was reasonable - around $30 each person when we split it. Loved the food so I will definitely be coming back, probably at an earlier time.

Jon T.

Yelp
Excellent service and flavorful duck. Salt and pepper shrimp was perfect. Sim sum on weekend has been a treat!

Camsie M.

Yelp
This place is amazing! The quality of the dim sum is excellent - ranking high among sososo many places I've been to around the world. The space is lovely with typical Chinese decor. The food was so so so yummy -The har gow are HUGE! We ate too fast to take any pics but I'm already planning my next trip. The service was super friendly and efficient. A bonus is easy parking, clean restrooms and easy to get to from the highway.

Ketsanee P.

Yelp
Far East Restaurant is a Chinese restaurant that serves some of the best dim sum in Montgomery County. They also have a regular menu for lunch and dinner. The flavors and textures are more authentic than other restaurants in the area. Everything is well seasoned. We ordered shrimp and pork shu mai, shrimp in rice wrapper, barbecue pork bun, and fried spring rolls, among others. We went on a Sunday at lunchtime. It was crowded, but we only waited about 5 minutes for a table. The decor resembles a formal Chinese style and the space is average size. Dim sum is served from carts or can be ordered separately from the menu. Food arrived quickly. This is a good place to bring family, friends, coworkers, etc. They have a large parking lot and parking is free. The prices are slightly higher than similar restaurants, but the quality is very good.

Nicole L.

Yelp
It was ages ago I went to this restaurant and it had since renovated. There was a long line we waited for 40 min or more. I was disappointed the chasui so was 86 by the time we sat down. We ordered a bunch of dishes durian puffs and several dishes were good. The staff was walking around at the end with two small plates of hot fried pork chops I caved in but was shocke by the price of $15.95 or so. It was expensive. The renovation was definitely worth it but there was a strange stench when we first walked in.

Joe S.

Yelp
I recently visited Far East Restaurant for dim sum with a friend, and despite the place being busy, there was no wait for a table. The ambiance was classic but inviting, adding to the dining experience. The service was impressively fast, and the overall quality of the food was solid. My favorite dish was the fried pork, which was delicious. However, some of the other dishes were hit and miss. Nonetheless, it was a satisfying experience overall and I will definitely be back.

Min Z.

Yelp
A very popular Chinese restaurant for its dim sum. There was a long waiting line when we arrived. We waited for about 30 minutes before we could get a table. The dim sum dishes were freshly prepared and they were worth waiting for. We got a bit carried away and ordered many small dishes and they were all good. The service was pretty good considering how crowded it was. Each dish was small and priced moderately. We will definitely come back for more.

Paul S.

Yelp
Came during a busy weekend and waited for about 30-40 mins for a table. Once we were seated, we started picking off the dim sun carts. Most items were still pretty warm and a few came out the kitchen steaming hot. Since it was prime serving time, I kinda wondered where some of the dishes were: no Cantonese BBQ meats, no Chinese broccoli, no stuffed eggplant or tofu. We saw Beef chow foon, but it was after we were stuffed. They did have salt pepper pork chop which was fresh and hot. Don't see that on many dim sum carts and it was very good. Service was actually pretty good; it was busy, but still fairly easy to flag someone down for water or order something specific. Still my favorite dim sum place in MoCo.

Starr D.

Yelp
It is been a while since we came to far east. This is our first time back for dim sum after they reopened. As for dim sum , Far East is by far the best in Maryland, from quality, taste to authenticity. If you don't know what to order, just try it all, & be adventurous. However, even after reconstruction, the inside of the restaurant is still kinda crowded, not much changed. The line to get in for dim sum is still long, & you will only be seated if all parties are there. And during dim sum time the whole place is chaotic , it's difficult to find a server to add hot water to the tea or ask for more napkins. But, I guess if you want authentic Chinese dim sum, you have to suffer from the other things Do recommend by @winedinenvacay

Jolny J.

Yelp
Food: Undoubtedly the best dimsum in the maryland area, been going here for as long as I can remember. Every dish tastes fresh and is always on point -- not overly sweet (for example: chicken feet) or overly salty like I've experienced before. Service: If you value good service and having servers catered to you at all times, this place may not be right for you. There are a lot of people during lunch any day, and their main goal is to serve food out as quickly as possible. It may be hard to get a hold of them but that is the culture. Ambiance: nothing out of the ordinary, a standard family friendly environment, on the more bustling environment side as it is always packed.

KC W.

Yelp
3.5 stars. Far East is pretty decent by DC standards, but it wouldn't be able to compete if it was located in SF where I'm from. My party of 7 arrived around 1130 on a Sunday and there were quite a few parties waiting outside, but we ended up getting seated faster than the 30 min that the hostess estimated. We were seated at the high top tables in the middle of the restaurant, which felt a bit like a fishbowl, and unfortunately it also took the carts a while to navigate through so they were often half empty by the time they got to us. One friend tried going directly to the cart to see if we'd be able to get served faster, but she got shot down LOL luckily one of the managers was able to help us out and brought food to us quickly. All the food was decent but nothing wowed me. The shrimp in the ha gao and cheung fun tasted super fresh and sweet, so those were prob my favorites out of everything. Otherwise, some dishes were lacking in flavor while others needed more balanced flavors. They did have a pretty good variety of dishes though, which was nice. All in all, Far East is probably one of the better dim sum spots I've had in the DMV, but I would probably only go if I was really craving dim sum and wouldn't go every weekend like I do back home.

Victoria S.

Yelp
Went on a weekend for dim sum. Not surprisingly it was crowded and we were told it would be a 25-30 minute wait. In less than 15 minutes we were seated. The interior had a spacious waiting area with seats. I saw a staircase behind the front desk and wondered where it led to. We were seated at the main dining room, which looked like a good-sized Chinese banquet hall. Many dim sum choices on carts circled around. We inquired about vegetarian options. Though not many were available the staff were helpful, patient and transparent. From the cart we picked out sesame balls and pineapple buns. Both were really good, and still warm. From the a La carte menu we ordered vegetable dumplings, vegetable chow ho foon and fish with black bean sauce. The fish was tender and cooked with peppers and onions in a savory black bean paste. It was not too oily or heavy. The chow ho foon had a ton of crunchy veggies (bean sprouts, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms) and reminded me of the cuisine from Manhattan's Chinatown. The portions were huge and easily 2 more meals. The veggie dumplings were fist-sized and stuffed with dried tofu cubes, scallions, garlic and bean thread noodle shreds. Will be back for more dinner options one day :).

Boris W.

Yelp
Our party of four adults and two babies had a pretty good lunch experience here. In total, we spent $98 post-tax and tip. The restaurant applies an automatic 18% tip to parties of 5 or more. Super fair price. There were many good selections that were priced at either $5.50 or $5.95. For reference, we ordered five of the $5.50 dim sums and five of the $5.95 dim sums. I believe the dishes were the dumplings, the buns, the chicken feet, the tripes, and some other pastry dishes. They were all pretty good. We ordered two chicken wrapped in leaves and sticky rice. They were priced at $7.5. While the price was more than reasonable, the taste was beyond subpar. The service was pretty good too! I would highly recommend all of the dishes not wrapped in the lotus leaves!

Nou Nou S.

Yelp
My brother and I went on a Sunday, easy to find because of the big sign above the building. The parking lot was small and limited but manageable. There was a line but it was expected. The restaurant's decor was simply amazing. The front entrance has two white large statues, the front doors are mesmerizing to look at, as you step inside there's a secondary level but only use for private parties. There's a full bar on the left, an empty large fountain under the stairs, a panoramic wall decor and a gorgeous chandelier. The dim sum was delicious of what was push on the carts but unfortunately certain items were off the menu. Our server was great, fast, attentive and friendly. All staff was friendly and had great team work. We had shrimp dumplings (har gow); pork shumai, turnip cakes, shrimp rice crepes, stuffed sesame balls, soften tofu with hot ginger simple syrup, char sui sauté in light brown sauce, stir-fry garlic green beans, stuffed bbq sweet buns, baked pineapple custard buns, hot jasmine tea and beef chow fun. Their char sui was different and a bit dry possibly because it was slice thin. The garlic green beans were over cooked but tasty. The stuffed bbq sweet buns were very sticky on top. The beef chow fun was the dry version and not with the gravy. The surroundings were very noisy and busy. If and when you are ready for your check, just grab the first server you see if not you will find yourself waiting for a while. We only saw 3 main servers with a full house.

Ngan D.

Yelp
Went here after some friends recommended to us. We have been to many dim sum places in the area but forgot about this one. It's not in a convenient location for us but we decided to give it a try. We came as they opened so it was very empty. It looks like they have an upstairs as well. The dim sum menu they have is limited. One page with no back. But they had some of the items that we love from dim sum places so we were good. All the dishes we got including spare ribs, chicken feet, crepe, etc. were all delicious and comparable to other places we have been. One of the dishes we didn't see at some other places is the durian dessert. I don't eat durian but my husband loved it and said he would come back for that lol

Stella H.

Yelp
Far East is one of the best dim-sum restaurants in Rockville area. They offer the traditional dim-sum cart service with solid selection of the regular fare such as shumai, har-gao, cha shu bao, chicken feet, sticky rice bun, shrimp in rice noodle, etc. The place is nicely decorated, all the waiters and servers wear a mask and their waiters speak English well. I am originally from Southern California (for context) which has amazing selection of dim-sum and sadly still not find a place here that can compete with what I am used to there, but this place is definitely a solid choice for when you are craving dim-sum!

Tamarah C.

Yelp
Get there early! We stood in line for a few minutes before the restaurant opened. The line grew quickly. We had a great selection of food. The time before, we arrived shortly after 11am, there was a long wait and little to choose from

Kevin A.

Yelp
My experience at Far East Restaurant in Rockville, MD, left much to be desired, especially considering it was meant to be a celebration for my birthday. A party of six arrived on a weeknight to find the restaurant relatively empty. Service: The service was a significant letdown throughout the entire evening. Our server seemed disinterested and inattentive, making the celebration less enjoyable. Empty water glasses and neglected requests became the unfortunate norm. Food Quality: We ordered a variety of entrees, including orange beef, Peking duck, General Tso's chicken, lo mein, and sweet and sour fish. Unfortunately, not a single dish stood out as memorable or truly satisfying. The flavors were mediocre at best, and the presentation lacked the finesse one would expect. Peking Duck: The Peking duck, priced at $69.95 for the whole duck, was a major disappointment. The portion size was surprisingly small, especially compared to other Peking duck establishments. To make matters worse, when it finally arrived, it was not only cold but downright chilly. This raised concerns about the freshness and how long it had been sitting out before reaching our table. Leftovers: The lackluster quality of the dishes led to an abundance of leftovers, highlighting the overall disappointment in the dining experience. In summary, Far East Restaurant fell short of expectations. Slow and inattentive service, coupled with subpar food quality, made for a lackluster birthday celebration. The cold and underwhelming Peking duck, along with forgettable entrees, makes it difficult to recommend this restaurant for any occasion. There are certainly better options in Rockville for those seeking a more enjoyable and memorable dining experience.

Janet L.

Yelp
I had a lovely experience at Far East after their reopening. There was a healthy wait on a weekend during lunch, which is typical at any dim sum place. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that they had many different teas to offer and was excited to get chrysanthemum tea with sugar blocks. The food carts came around quickly and the food was fresh and hot. My one comment about the food I got was that the crepe rolls with shrimp were a little thicker than I would have liked but otherwise it tasted great. The service was positive as well!

Alexis T.

Yelp
The ambiance stands out above many of the dim sum restaurants in the metropolitan area. This place is popular and early arrival is a must for the best experience. Be prepared with cash only as their systems go down periodically. The variety of dim sum options are slightly limited compared to other front runners but all of the core staples are there. I prefer standard menu items but I would recommend this establishment for the experience especially for newbies. The waiters were patient in sharing what items were inside of the various items while bringing the food carts around. Pineapple buns were a nice ending The stuffed jalapeños were our favorite over the stuffed eggplant. There was more shrimp with just a hint of jalapeño flavor. The eggplant can be mushy for some and had less filling. The shrimp dumpling is just a whole shrimp without seasonings. The shrimp and chives dumpling was ok. The pork/shrimp dumpling was a favorite of the group offering good flavor. Durian has a unique smell and aftertaste but don't smell it if you choose to try it It was like a mild, odd sweet potato to me.

Heather B.

Yelp
We arrived about 12:30pm on a Sunday with a party of 6. I knew we'd probably be waiting a bit and made sure my kids understood that. As expected, there were people waiting - maybe half a dozen or so. When I checked in at the hostess stand, she confirmed we were all present (we were), and then asked me to wait a moment, pointing out that the others waiting were smaller groups and there might be a 6-top ready. To my delight, the table was available and we got to sit immediately. I noticed that the vast majority of the diners were Asian - always a good sign! Even better, within moments of sitting down, carts started coming by. The first was not something we were familiar with so we passed on it, but the second had essentially all of our favorite (steamed) dishes. We had a table full of food less than five minutes from the time we walked in the door! We were absolutely delighted with how the whole meal went. The dishes were all as good or better than our favorite dim sum from back home in Houston. Food was fresh, quick, and while there was no menu, we saw almost everything we were looking for come by. Servers were friendly and helpful, and communication was not hampered by our lack of Chinese language skills. Ambiance was very nice, with white fabric table cloths, goblet water glasses (same kind our favorite place in Houston used!), and tasteful Chinese decor. The place felt clean, neat, and high quality. We drove over an hour from our (new) home to this restaurant and will absolutely be back! Highly recommended!

Sung Hee K.

Yelp
I had heard so much about this restaurant and their dimsum I decided to give it a try. We went on a Sunday afternoon right after the first lunchtime crush. It was very busy and we had to wait 30 minutes to be seated. We got seated at a corner table. It took a while for the carts to come around to us. There was not much variety and we had to ask for dishes we like to get. They said it would be coming in 5-15 minutes. The restaurant was not that busy by this time. I asked for chili oil three times but no one brought out any. I finally complained to a server saying that I had already asked three times and then we finally got some chili oil. But I asked four times by then. Because we waited so long between getting dishes we got full by the time they brought out some things we had originally wanted. In terms of taste it was good but not better than China Garden. The space looks large from the outside but that's because it is two floors. Just the bottom floor was open for dimsum and it was cramped, stuffy, and overly warm in there. The place seemed to have a loyal crowd since it has been around for ages. But I've had better dimsum in this area with better service and air circulation. It was worth a try but I won't be back.

HaLena L.

Yelp
The food is delicious but is very busy. The service is a little slow, due to a lot of customers. I highly recommend making a reservation in advance if you want to get seated right away. Definitely a great place for a family or friends gathering. The decor inside is super nice and they have a lot of family gatherings. Food was amazing!! We had order the pork pan fried dumplings, the sliced bbq pork, the beef chow foon, and the sweet and sour chicken. The portions are a decent size so we did have leftovers. Super flavorful and delicious! I would definitely recommend this place but just know that the service can be a little slow.

Jade M.

Yelp
*DELIVERY REVIEW* - will update in person *employee on the phone did not understand us trying to communicate that we have a peanut allergy but employee also was very hard to hear and it was very loud *most flavorless and greasy fried rice- self explanatory- go to Peter Chang across the street for a good fried rice. *waited a long time at 10pm? *Orange chicken was just a sugar bomb and the chicken tasted like it was refried and hard under the sauce

Monica N.

Yelp
This dim sum spot has some standout dishes like the superb shumai and delectable shrimp chive dumplings. The interior is newly done, creating a pleasant atmosphere. However, be prepared for a slightly higher bill, and the service could use a speed boost on weekdays. Also they did not have dim sum carts (on a weekday), but the quality of the food made up for it.

Anna Q.

Yelp
Review is for dim sum on weekend. It is a truth universally acknowledged...that the quality of a good dim sum joint can make or break a Sunday family brunch. Ok, maybe it's a universal truth for me. Far east will satisfy any itch for dim sum but won't be my go to with family or friends just yet. Likelihood for return: 6.5/10 Ambience: picture bustling, busy, loud and lots of families. If you want quiet and intimate, this is not it and def not the vibe for dim sum period. Come for the buzzy energetic quintessential Chinese brunch experience. Reservation: if you're coming with a large group please please call ahead. The restaurant opened at 11 am and by 11:10 most of the seats were filled for dim sum. And then it's put your name down and pull a number game. Coming at peak around noon could mean you would wait quite some time. So come early, call ahead or come later past 1 pm. Food: +10000 they have carts! And +10000 dishes are served nice and warm. Also nice that you can look and point at what you want as there's no menu. Feast with your eyes and mouth! The usual dumplings, shu mai, spareribs, shrimp dumplings, pan fried turnip cake, stuffed eggplant, fried sesame balls are all there. One unique dish is the durian pastry if you're brave enough to try! Service: decent. But can be slow if you want something specific. Everyone is nice, but don't expect exceptional service during rush dim sum times. Price: slightly higher for dim sum prices. Most dishes are 5.5-9.5 which is higher than the 4.5, 5.5, 7 most other places charge for tiers of food. Expect to spend around 60 bucks for 2 ppl here

Edwin D.

Yelp
We went there on a Saturday for dim sum. This was my first time after Far East reopened and probably be my last time. I was excited to check them out after a long hiatus. Their dim sum menu is similar to most dim sum menus in other restaurants. I could only rate their dim sum. I never tried their dinner menu so I could not rate them for dinner. The selection was good and they had a side dish such as salt spicy pork chop and durian rolls which is less common. The taste and menu are comparable to their competitors such as China Garden in Rockville and Silver Fountain in Silver Spring for dim sum. The har gow shrimp dumpling was very good. The dim sum side dishes portion such as beef chow foon and steamed broccoli with oyster sauce were small considering the price charged. The selection in my opinion is not as expansive as China Garden down the street. The price is on par with China Garden but more expensive than Silver Fountain. The quality and taste are comparable to their two competitors. The restaurant and restrooms are clean despite the restaurant being very busy. The service is good. Far East has on-site parking which is convenient. Please note that Far East accepts cash only, no credit cards. I find this appalling for a restaurant of this size. Before the remodel, they always accepted credit cards, what changed and why? Most restaurants would prefer cash payment for many reasons but not mandatory. Forcing customers to pay cash will eliminate a portion of customers who will not patronize an establishment that does not care about their customers or make it inconvenient for their customers. I guess Far East is making too much money and does not need or want more business. Go somewhere else that appreciates their customers. China Garden and Silver Palace happily accept credit cards and have free parking and the food is good also. A restaurant should keep customers in mind and make it convenient for customers. That is a lot of cash to carry around to go out. The average cost for five people without drinks is about $175. This restaurant also slaps 18% tip on the check, no questions asked. Keep in mind customers decide the tip not the restaurant. I could easily order them to take the 18% tip off but choose not to. Don't waste your time and money on Far East. You are not missing anything. My ranking would be Silver Fountain is number one for quality and price. Second place would be China Garden for the wide array of dim sum and ambiance. Far East if you don't mind the inconvenience, have to carry a wad of cash and get slapped with 18% tip!

Sue R.

Yelp
We are long-time customers and we love Dim Sum. I mean over 15 years customers prob. longer. First time back in the new dining room. And I am so sad. We have fantastic memories of family time dim sum at Far East. Pros, Far East sources shrimp best in the area. Their food when made fresh is amazing. Shrimp egg rolls, Crystal shrimp dumplings, Pork & Veggie dumplings, and taro are all fantastic. Today, Tofu & shrimp are old and gross and cold, eggplant was cold, and shumai meh, Chive dumplings were old & cold. However..... We will not be back. 1. No water on tables anymore they didn't even ask. 2. Food was cold and old today. UGH. If you do go wait til the second round of carts at least because the first round was leftover from yesterday. 3. Pricing is seriously too high. I would ignore this given covid and our long time coming here however today see #4. 4. They have one staff member who must be family she is so rude not worth going and paying when she can not do her job with common courtesy. So sad we have been coming here for years. We will not return and after our experience today I will suggest people go elsewhere.

Susan W.

Yelp
Since their dimsum had been good, we decided to go there for supper. We really had high hopes that this place would have some terrific Cantonese food. We thought their excellent dimsum standards would translate to some awesome authentic Cantonese entrees. Boy were we disappointed! IMO Far East's dinner menu does not represent authentic Cantonese cuisine at all. I am not the only reviewer who has said this. It offers only American- Chinese style food at night. Among the dishes we ordered were a shrimp dish that was ok, a chicken dish which had too much sweet brown sauce, a lamb dish which was passable. All the dishes were just average in quality- something you would be able to get at a local Chinese take-out place for far less money. If you want authentic Cantonese supper do not come to this restaurant! Additionally, service was appalling. It was not very busy, yet it took at least 15 minutes before any server came to our table. And throughout our time there, we literally had to wave down other servers to get any service at all. Not once did our server, who was not at all friendly, come over to ask if the food was ok. The decor is elegant and comfortable with table cloth and even a bar, but unfortunately the decor cannot compensate for average quality food and dismal service. Overall, it was a disappointing experience, which we don't plan to repeat.

Trung T.

Yelp
At long last, Far East has reopened and it is just as delicious as I remember it pre-COVID! As evidenced by the long line out the door, the word has gotten out, so be prepared to take a number and wait inside/outside for your number to be called. Seating area is pretty much the same and is very lively. Carts will very quickly swarm you as soon as you're seated but boy do they have all of the staples like the crystal shrimp dumplings, rice crepe rolls, black bean riblets, pork siu mai, rice porridge, beef chow fun, etc. But the real star of the show are the warm and delicate durian custard rolls! Make sure you save room for these babies! Cart pushers also speak English well and will cater to any special requests that we didn't see on the carts like steamed Chinese broccoli, too. Definitely recommend Far East for consistently good true cart service dim sum!

Peter L.

Yelp
I have been going to Far East for over 40 years and it has always been a favourite and still is but I have noticed and experienced some things that may change my mind. The food is great - the dumplings and all the main dishes are superb, but I was very astounded by the prices! $20 for a dish that was $12 two years ago - A 66% increase in 2 years is ridiculous and frankly outrageous. The dining room was closed for 2 years due to water damage and they are passing all of that to the customers! I know the supply chain was disrupted and businesses died due to the pandemic, but most businesses took advantage of federal help and I am sure Far East did also and a 66% increase is far fetched. The ambience is the same as it always has been, but that changed when I opened the menu and lost my appetite! I hate to say this, but all the other restaurants in the area have elevated their prices about 20% but 66% is out of line. Until the management gets with the program I will get Chinese and Asian food somewhere else. HEADLINE: Far East Restaurant loses loyal 40 year customer because of greed!

Angelica D.

Yelp
BEST DIM SUM I'VE HAD IN A LONGGGGGGGG TIME!! When I heard they reopened for indoor dining, I was so excited! I had come for dim sum pre-covid and it was always a pretty good option. I also order take out from here but just regular dinner dishes. I knew I was overdue to visit this place. As you walk in, it's a completely different place. They definitely did renovations and it looks clean, bright, and open. I will say that the servers are much more attentive than before. The waiters, not the push carts, would come over often to check to see if you needed anything. I'm not sure if it's because we went at opening and the dishes weren't sitting in the carts for a while, that they were so good. Honestly every dish we had was steaming hot and really fresh. Some places, the shrimp dumplings are hard or the tofu is dry and cold - NOT HERE! I was in food heaven. Since this place closed down, I've been dreaming about the durian rolls. I got them and they were beyond amazing. Better than I remembered. The inside was warm and fragrant but what I really loved was that they didn't use a paste. There were actual pieces of durian inside and had the same consistency as if you bit right into the fruit. Prices are typical to what you would find for dim sum around Eden Center or in Boston. I can see why they increased price to cover being closed for in dining for over two years, renovations, and paying new staff. Honestly, I don't mind because this place did not disappoint! This has become my number #1 dim sum spot in the area. My tip is to visit early just so you get dishes as they come out the kitchen and always ask for chrysanthemum tea!

ivy ..

Yelp
We moved from Hong Kong and was really craving good dim sum. After reading all the raving reviews we decided to give this place a try. We first came on a weekday when it's quiet and you get to order dishes from the menu. Service was a bit slow but the food we excellent. We came again for dim sum on Sunday when they had dim sum carts going around. The place was packed by 10:30, but we were able to get most of the food we want really quickly. 10/10 experience

Paul L.

Yelp
We had a nice dim sum brunch here while we were out in Rockville replacing a refrigerator. Many of the standards came by and I was sad that there were only two of us, so the variety of dishes we could sample was limited. Look forward to coming back with a group so we can try more. The spare ribs were particularly meaty and flavorful. I missed seeing the lotus leaf stuffed with rice and savories -- apparently they have to be special-ordered.

Brooklyn B.

Yelp
The one hour wait on a Sunday at 12:30pm for a table of 6 is the reason for 4 stars vs 5 stars. Good quality dim sum, but not much variety. The basics were available but didn't see any pork spare ribs or some others (don't know the English name). Service was subpar as expected for dim sum. No one offered us any water so I had to flag somebody down to get a couple glasses. They added a 20% tip for themselves, which I don't think they deserved. Still, the food was enjoyable and glad to have the old-school experience of dim sum from a cart.

A. K.

Yelp
Ate here a couple of weeks ago and ordered the garlic eggplant dish. It came with at least a 1/4 cup of oil in the dish. It was so greasy! I spooned aside to show how much oil was in this dish. I hope the cooks use less oil or at least drain it before you serve customers. I can't really comment on the taste without getting a spoonful of oil. They were great years ago, we use to eat here a lot. The food now is not the same at all.

Teresa C.

Yelp
Far East Dim Sum is back to pre Covid standards! We were quoted 30 min wait for 2 people at 12:15 on Saturday but got in 15 min later. The service was really good - smiling and helpful wait staff, folks stopping by to ask if there was something they could bring over. I was a bit taken aback at how considerate the dim sum experience was. (Usually it's more cart yelling, steamer slamming, and rushed at most restaurants, haha.) Very little wait for the carts to get around. Favorites were the eggplant and shrimp paste, salted egg yolk bun, spare ribs, and the salty dumpling (could have been more meaty, but the dough was so good, like mochi.). Great dim sum experience, glad to see the classic restaurant back on its A game.

Samantha T.

Yelp
Visited for Saturday dim sum (cart service). The restaurant opens at 11 am but the parking lot starts getting full at around 10:45 am and people start forming a line at the door. Doors open at exactly 11 am and depending on the crowd it can be a bit chaotic to get seated in that first half an hour of opening. Once seated the service is very fast and they're very efficient with replenishing the popular items. The food was delicious and everything was hot and fresh. It's a large space and it's nicely decorated.

Arista W.

Yelp
This is some good ass Chinese food. Super fresh and authentic. Everything came out hot and the service was great! We stopped in last night randomly because I was craving lo mein and Far East definitely delivered! We got the steamed dumplings which were so juicy and meaty, literally bursting with flavor and juices. The combination Lo Mein was amazing! It had beef, chicken, and shrimp in it with lots of veggies. We also go the general tso chicken and it was also bursting with flavor! The fried wontons were even good. My only complaint were the chicken wings, they were good but a little bland just a little more seasoning and they would have been perfect. Outside of that everything was delightful. The place was clean and it's very roomy. Lots of decor on the walls and the menu is very easy to read. In my honest opinion this is one of the best Chinese spots in Rockville and I'm not sure why the reviews don't say that. I was highly impressed, there portions are huge, and the prices are pretty good. We shared all that food as a family and have plenty of left overs. The staff was also super friendly from the time we were seated until we left. I'll be back because this food was tasty!

Lee Z.

Yelp
The food was good. Prices are a bit more higher than other dim sum/ Cantonese restaurants we typically patronize. Service was pretty good. The decor was done well.