Illinois, particularly Chicago, boasts a variety of esteemed dim sum restaurants, each offering unique experiences and culinary delights that set them apart from the rest:
MingHin Cuisine: A staple for dim sum and Cantonese cuisine in Chicago, MingHin Cuisine operates six locations across the city and suburbs. It is recognized for its traditional menu that includes favorites like siu mai, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, and creamy egg yolk buns. MingHin has been acknowledged as a Michelin Guide winner multiple times, underscoring its excellence in offering an authentic dining experience
Imperial Restaurant: Known for its traditional dim sum in a classically opulent setting, Imperial Restaurant is a popular choice for Chinese wedding banquets. Despite its luxurious decor, it offers a comprehensive dim sum menu at reasonable prices. It’s located in Armour Square and serves a variety of dim sum dishes daily
Phoenix Restaurant: This Armour Square restaurant is famous for its dim sum, particularly its bao, Malay steamed cake, and deep-fried red bean dumplings. It’s a go-to place for those looking to avoid the weekend crowds and enjoy savory, sometimes spicy pork dishes
Furama Restaurant: Established in Uptown Chicago since 1985, Furama Restaurant is recognized among America’s best dim sum establishments. It offers a large selection of dim sum items in a banquet space where carts brim with diverse dumplings and buns. The restaurant serves dim sum daily and is known for its consistent quality
Triple Crown Restaurant: A Chinatown favorite since 1996, Triple Crown is known for its extensive dim sum menu served all day. The restaurant emphasizes the balance of sweet, salty, and sour flavors across its dishes, from dumplings to stir-fries, all prepared with fresh, quality ingredients. It’s a must-visit for those seeking an authentic taste of China in Chicago
D Cuisine: Offering a modern take on Hong Kong-style dim sum in Lincoln Park, D Cuisine is the brainchild of a MingHin veteran. The sleek dining destination serves a variety of traditional dim sum dishes, making it a perfect spot for indulging in shrimp dumplings, barbecue pork buns, and more.
Dim sum is a traditional Chinese cuisine known for its small, bite-sized portions served in bamboo steamer baskets or on small plates. This style of eating is popular in Cantonese-speaking regions, including Hong Kong and Guangdong province in China, and has spread globally to Chinese communities around the world.
Dim sum includes a wide variety of dishes, such as dumplings, buns, rolls, and pastries, with fillings and ingredients ranging from pork, beef, chicken, and seafood to vegetables. Some of the most iconic dim sum dishes include siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), har gow (shrimp dumplings), char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), and egg tarts.
Traditionally, dim sum is enjoyed as a brunch or lunch meal, often on weekends, and is accompanied by tea, in a dining experience known as “yum cha” (drinking tea). The social aspect of dim sum, where families and friends gather to share a variety of dishes, is a significant part of the experience.