Top 5 Places to Get Dim Sum
By: Karen Le
With globalization comes an abundance of choices. There are an infinite amount of places to eat nowadays, especially in a metropolitan hub like Toronto. Here are the top 5 places to get dim sum in the Greater Toronto Area! Each of the places on our list is praised for their taste, so make sure you try them all!
1. Skyview Fusion Cuisine:
Featured: Steamed Mushroom and Vegetable Dumpling
Rating: 3 Stars
Location: 8261 Woodbine Ave #8, Markham, ON L3R 8Z5
Located at 8261 Woodbine Ave in Markham, this restaurant is best known for its BBQ pork. Also notable is their large dim sum menu with lots of variety. You’ll definitely get your money’s worth with their generous portion sizes. On top of all that, they have excellent service and the food comes out almost immediately.
2. Dragon Boat Fusion Cuisine:
Featured: Baked Egg Tart Portuguese Style
Rating: 5 Stars
Location: 160 East Beaver Creek Rd, Unit 4-6, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4A7
Try something new at this dim sum spot in Richmond Hill. They specialize in fusion cuisine meaning they mix the tastes of different cultures. A popular dish is their Baked Egg Tart Portuguese Style. Like a Chinese dan tat and a Portuguese cheese tart! You will be sure to get your fill with their large portion sizes and special deal! Early birds before 11 am pay only the price of a small dish for any dim sum dishes.
3. The ONE Fusion Cuisine:
Featured: Thousand Layer Cake
Rating: 4 Stars
Location: 9019 Bayview Ave, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3M6
The name is absolutely appropriate. If you are looking for the best dim sum they are the ONE! Not only is their dim sum amazing, but the presentation and decor are also Instagram-worthy. Make sure you show off your next dining experience at The ONE Fusion Cuisine and make all your friends jealous. On top of great taste, their seafood dim sum is a definite must-try. Make sure you order their Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (Har Gow) and Five Spice Squid Tentacles in Nest.
4. Yu Seafood:
Featured: Bamboo Charcoal & Egg Yolk Bun
Rating: 5 Stars
Location: 270 West Beaver Creek Rd, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3Z1
You and seafood. It’s in the name! Their wide selection of dim sum dishes is to die for, like their Bamboo Charcoal & Egg Yolk Bun. Beyond dim sum, this restaurant also serves a variety of sushi and seafood. Come for breakfast, lunch or dinner and experience their towering lobster platters!
5. Casa Imperial Fine Chinese Cuisine:
Featured: Stuffed Tofu & Lily Bulb
Rating: 3 Stars
Location: 4125 Steeles Avenue East, Toronto, ON M1W 3T4
Casa Imperial offers a twist on classic Chinese dining. Enjoy morning dim sum in a Renaissance Europe environment feeling like a royal. Some of their must-try dim sum dishes include their sui mai, superjumbo har gow, scallop and spinach dumpling, and crispy taro rolls.
What is Dim Sum?
All this talk about dim sum, but what is it really? What qualifies a food as “dim sum”?
Dim sum refers to the time of the meal. Traditionally, dim sum is eaten as early as 5 am at some restaurants to mid-afternoon. The food is generally prepared as small bite-sized portions, served in small bamboo steamer baskets or on a small plate. Dim sum is also commonly viewed as Cantonese cuisine, although other varieties exist. Dim sum dishes are usually served with tea and together they form a full tea brunch. It’s the equivalent of British sandwiches and tea in the afternoon! Due to the Cantonese tradition of enjoying tea with this cuisine, yum cha, which means “drink tea” in Cantonese, is also synonymous with dim sum. Dim sum traditionally is served as fully cooked, ready-to-serve dishes. In some Cantonese teahouses, the dim sum is served on carts that are pushed around the restaurants. Certain restaurants will also serve their own specialty dish so the possibilities are endless.
If you try any of these restaurants let us know on social media!
