"The classic Cantonese dim sum staples at this Richmond restaurant are some of the best in the city. Steamers loaded with plump and meaty siu mai, plates of wiggly XO noodles, and mounds of fried sticky rice fill every table in the big carpeted dining room. There will likely be a line here, especially on weekends when everyone in town wants to prematurely get over the Sunday scaries with a spread of baked, steamed, and pan-fried dishes. But things move quickly, so snag a paper number and wait your turn with the crowds." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"Traditional banquet-style dim sum is at Hong Kong Lounge in the Richmond. The pink-walled restaurant is always packed with groups of families and friends spinning lazy susans full of xiao long bao steamers and plates of glistening char siu. It’s busy most days, but this spot runs as efficiently as a halftime show setup—food arrives within minutes, and staff keep your teapot full at all times. And since Hong Kong Lounge is group and walk-in friendly, it’s perfect for last-minute brunches, or when your party of four suddenly turns into eight." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"One plate of baked pork buns at this dim sum standby in the Richmond (the sister spot of HK Lounge Bistro) comes with three bao with a sugar topping we’d like to harvest and crumble over every future dessert. Plan on ordering more than you think you need for the table—it’s easy to clear off an entire serving alone. If you’d rather not put all of your eggs in the baked bun basket, their steamed version gets filled with the same savory pork and is light enough to float down Stow Lake." - julia chen 1, patrick wong
"Hong Kong Lounge is the sweet spot between the more upscale dim sum experience of Dragon Beaux, and the in-and-out takeout operation of Good Luck Dim Sum. This place leans traditional, serving dim sum staples you’d expect from a spot that looks like a classic Chinese banquet hall and a hotel conference room. Baked pork buns and siu mai are highlights, along with the heartier pan-fried noodle rolls with XO sauce and the lap cheong-dotted fried sticky rice. Hong Kong Lounge is a last-minute group destination, and even though there’s usually a wait on weekends, things move quickly." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez
"This is no-nonsense dim sum. The menu at Hong Kong Lounge in the Richmond covers everything you could possibly want when you wake up with an intense craving for things from a steamer. Plus, you can get in and out for less than $20 per person if you’re with a group. The pink-walled Cantonese spot is always packed with groups spinning lazy susans full of siu mai, sweet baked pork buns, and fried sticky rice. If there’s a crowd huddled in the entryway (there probably will be on weekends), things will move efficiently and that hankering for bao will be satisfied promptly." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez