Where To Get The Best Dim Sums In Delhi

Although most Dilliwalas reach for the plateful of momos, I admit that I dream of dim sums. The momo, when pitted against the Chinese dumpling enclosed in a thin flour case, pales in comparison for me. And its fillings--savoury, spicy and nuanced--are enough to make me swoon. In the interest of society, and fellow dim sum loving citizens in general, I've compiled a list of restaurants that do them, and do them well. Keep your chopsticks ready.  

Ping's Cafe Orient

Inarguably one of the best-kept secrets in Delhi is Pings Café Orient. In the quiet bylanes of Lodhi Colony, Pings bring Southeast Asian street foods to the table like no one else. And if there’s just one thing you have to order there, it has to be the dim sums. Rich, creamy and served with a spicy dip, pick from options like the spicy chicken dumpling, four season vegetable, pork gyoza, among others.  Our eternal favourite, however, is the Philadelphia cream cheese with mushroom, water chestnut and truffle oil. 

Yum Yum Cha 

Yum Yum Cha is the pan-Asian equivalent of your favourite Indian restaurant you always go to for comfort food. Quick to serve, and with 4 outlets across Delhi NCR, you can be sure of a satisfying meal here. The dim sums come by the basket, with 4 pieces in each. Some classics include the crystal duck, cream cheese and spicy asparagus, and they keep adding new combinations to the menu for the experimental epicure.

Royal China 

Royal China in Nehru Place has a fantastic view of Delhi’s skyline—and that’s only the first thing to love about it.  It is consistently voted one of the best Chinese standalone restaurants in Delhi, and its dumplings section is enough to make heads turn. They offer steamed dim dumplings, Cheung fun (steamed rice noodle rolls), wontons, pan-fried gyozas, and dim sums. Add to this their in-house chilli oil (which packs quite a punch), and you have a complete meal.
Tip: If you can’t get enough of the oil, you can purchase it by the jar from the restaurant to take home.

Dao

Dao in GK1 has been a stalwart in Thai and pan-Asian food in Delhi for years now. And when a restaurant has 4 pages of its menu dedicated to dim sums, you know they’re serious about it too. Offering more than 30 types of dumplings—from the bao to dim sums, to Cheung fun and gyozas—there’s no dearth of options to choose from. And here are a few to tickle your taste buds: chilli garlic dumplings with panang sauce and kaffir lime leaves, spicy seafood dumpling, crab meat dumplings served with a yellow creamy curry, among others. Something more? They also have Japanese style pizza in tow.

Kampai 

Kampai opened in Aerocity, Delhi last year, bringing a permanent cherry blossom season along with it.  The restaurant claims to bring authentic Japanese fare to Delhi at the hands of chef Shoji Morita, and definitely knows how to make its dim sums. The three-mushroom gyoza, in particular, is divine, and the bamboo shoot and bok choy ones too. Meat-eaters will enjoy the chicken, cheese and coriander suimai along with the pork gyoza.

Asian Haus 

What do you do when you can’t make it out to eat dumplings? You make the dumplings come to you. Gourmet delivery kitchen, Asian Haus (also part of the chain with sushi haus and amma haus), does the deed for you. Order in dumplings from the chain, sit back and dig in. Watching Netflix has never been more delicious.