This guide is part of our review of the Best Dim Sum Restaurants in America. Sign up for our newsletter to get recipes, dining tips and restaurant reviews throughout the year!
Boston’s best dim sum restaurants remain concentrated in the city’s historic urban Chinatown. Despite the growth of the Chinese American community in the areas surrounding Boston, great dim sum has yet to make its way to the ‘burbs like it has in cities such as San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles.
Boston has the oldest Chinese community in New England, dating back to 1870 when hundreds of laborers were contracted from San Francisco to break a strike at a North Adams shoe factory. The newcomers made their way to Boston, where they opened laundries and restaurants near Beach Street and took jobs in the garment industry that persisted well until the 1990s. While newer immigrants ring Boston in the suburbs and university towns, Chinatown remains the community’s social and cultural core.
» Read more: Our Ultimate Dim Sum Menu Guide with Pictures and Translations
Boston’s dim sum scene is dominated by three large “dim sum palaces,” China Pearl Restaurant, Hei La Moon and Empire Garden Restaurant. Online reviewers agree that these culinary arenas can range from good to very good depending on the day, but they remain fairly interchangeable. They’re perfect for large parties or for those who want the full dim sum experience of carts and cacophony, but they’re not necessarily the places to go for the best food.
Though not true everywhere, restaurants with menu cards rather than dim sum carts are better bets in Boston. Though not as visually impressive perhaps, hot spots like Winsor Dim Sum Cafe, Great Taste Bakery & Restaurant and Bubor Cha Cha are the places to find the best fresh dim sum, prepared right to order.
» Read more: The Best Teas for Dim Sum
Read on! Here are the five best dim sum restaurants to try in Boston, listed in alphabetical order and shown on a map to help you find them.
Where To Find The Best Dim Sum in Boston
Restaurant Key: Classic — big and boisterous, the full dim sum hall experience. Elevated — exceptional views or ambiance create a more refined dining experience. Modern — fusion or innovative takes on dim sum classics. Hole in the Wall — the food’s the only reason to go, and that’s a good thing.
A. Bubor Cha Cha — Hole in the Wall
45 Beach St
Boston, MA 02111
“Luckily, the traditions of the most widespread Chinese culinary tradition are alive and well at Bubor Cha Cha Restaurant in Chinatown where they serve old-school Cantonese food.” – Simmer Magazine
B. China Pearl Restaurant — Classic
9 Tyler St
Boston, MA 02111
“This used to be the go-to spot for dim sum way back before newer spots started popping up all over Chinatown. But despite the new competition, China Pearl still boasts an incredible variety of dim sum. So if you’re looking for an oldie-but-a-goodie, this is your place.” – Thrillist
C. Great Taste Bakery & Restaurant — Hole in the Wall
63 Beach St
Boston, MA 02111
“This cramped space is divided down the middle, tables on one side, bakery counter on the other. And though the name doesn’t give any indication, it happens to serve some of the best dim sum in the neighborhood. Because it’s cooked to order, rather than wheeled around on a cart, the food always tastes fresh.” – Boston Globe Magazine
D. Hei La Moon — Classic
88 Beach St
Boston, MA 02111
“Hei La Moon is perfect for family style dining and large groups. The dining room is very large and has the space for dim sum carts to manuvuer between the tables.” – Baking Me Hungry
E. Winsor Dim Sum Cafe — Hole in the Wall
10 Tyler St
Boston, MA 02111
“Winsor Dim Sum Cafe is a favorite, serving dim sum all day. Dumplings are well made here, with delicate skins. And the chicken congee is the ultimate comfort food, a gentle rice porridge one yearns for when sick with a cold.” – Boston Globe
Let us know what you think! Do you have a better restaurant to recommend? Comment below!
JoAnne
The China in Quincy best dim sum ever
Dim Sum Central
Thanks for the tip, JoAnne! Must say that I’m intrigued by a place billed as a sports bar, pizza parlor, and authentic Chinese dim sum shop all under one roof!
Maurice
Winsor has the consistently best authentic Cantonese dim sum in Boston. It’s a small place but they turn the tables reasonably quickly. The dishes are cooked to order so they always come to you piping HOT! For me (I am 1st generation Chinese from Guangzhou), the mark of a top notch dim sum restaurant is in the quality of the wrappers for the har gow. It should be thin and translucent but holds together when picked up with chopsticks. Winsor excels on this dish. Some of their dishes are better than others but they are all good to very good. Keep in mind that it’s not on the level of Hong Kong, New York, Toronto, San Francisco, Vancouver or some other major cities, but this is the best that Boston has to offer.
Check out
http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/americas-best-dim-sum
Dim Sum Central
Thanks for contributing, Maurice. Totally agree with your comment about the quality of the har gow wrappers. Definitely a great shortcut for determining a restaurant’s quality!
June Sweeney
Sadly Chau Chow City has closed. Building owner upped the rent too much, so very sad.
Dim Sum Central
Oh, that’s too bad! Rising rents are sadly a fact of life. ~Wes
Mike Connelly
Chau Chow in Dorchester remains open.
Erin McMann
Sometimes it’s great to find places outside the city. China Star in Lowell is awesome!
Dim Sum Central
Woot! Thanks for your suggestion! ~Wes
Diane S Snow
China Star in Lowell Ma is the best I’ve found in north Mass and New Hampshire. I did visit the China Garden I believe the name is on Washington St in Chinatown Boston. I love the “real” places. So much more fun waiting for the carts to come around. I can go anywhere and order off a menu.
Wes Radez
Thanks for contributing your experience, Diane! ~Wes
Mike Connelly
We’ve eaten dim sum in and around Boston for more than 40 years. While the surviving big joints in and near Chinatown remain serviceable we think the best dim sum in Boston is not in Boston any more. Chau Chow at 699 Morrissey Blvd in Dorchester has been our go-to dim sum destination for a number of year (on site free parking, immediate cart service, good quality dim sum) but we have found an even better place on the other side of town, Sun Kong at 275 Eastern Ave in Malden. (also on site free parking, immediate cart service, and really great dim sum!) They’re both really good, and unless you’re in Chinatown anyway, these are better dim sum options.
Wes Radez
Thank you for adding your on-the-ground insights! ~Wes
Jackclyn
I agree with the other commenters that the best dim sum places in the greater Boston area are no longer in Chinatown, particularly as the majority of the Chinese population also doesn’t live in downtown Boston either.
As a Cantonese person, my personal favorite place is Yong Yong in Malden.
Jade Palace in Watertown is pretty good, also. And my friends give another vote for Windsor in Quincy.
Wes Radez
Great on the ground report! Thanks, Jackclyn. ~Wes