The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (2024)

2 May 2020

Last updated by Wes Radez on | 10

57 Shares

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!

Hong Kong-style dim sum in Las Vegas? It’s a natural fit to imagine a cultural transfer between two modern cities bathed in neon lights. In fact, the presence of Chinese cuisine in Nevada extends back nearly 200 years to when immigrants from southern China first arrived in the region as miners and rail workers.

The Chinatown that was developed in the early 1990s to preserve Asian heritage in Las Vegas offers only an echo of this deep history. During the 1860s, in fact, many Chinese communities naturally popped up across Nevada as the Central Pacific Railroad crept eastward through the territory.

» Read more: Our Ultimate Dim Sum Menu Guide with Pictures and Translations

Canvasing the Las Vegas dim sum scene today requires picking through references to wild nights on The Strip, earnest attempts to recover from hangovers and the anguish of losing money at the poker table. It’s enough to make a modest diner blush.

The general consensus online is that Las Vegas dim sum is good, though not great. It provides a welcome attraction for tourists and a surprisingly authentic dining experience for locals in the know.

Like most things unrelated to gambling in Las Vegas, commenters note that the local dim sum scene plays on a second stage. Servers can be distracted, food quality can be uneven.

That said, as you’ll see below, there are some standouts in town, including a few distinctly Las Vegas experiences. Dim sum in a casino? Try KJ Dim Sum and Seafood at the Rio or Ping Pang Pong at the Gold Coast. Dim sum 24 hours a day? There’s Orchids Garden.

» Read more: The Best Teas for Dim Sum

Read on! Here are the five best dim sum restaurants to try in Las Vegas, listed in alphabetical order and shown on a map to help you find them.

The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (2)

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.

The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (3)

A. Chang’s Hong Kong Cuisine — Classic
4670 S. Decatur Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89103

“…the place was packed with locals, mostly Chinese. They had one of the best sticky rice in lotus leaves that I have ever had, and their rice noodle rolls were delicious too.” – Examiner

The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (4)

B. KJ Dim Sum & Seafood — Elevated
3700 W. Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89103

“…particular favorites included the baked salty egg yolk buns and the steamed version of the same, but most of all the golf ball-sized crispy shrimp balls served along semi-sweet Chinese mayo sauce.” – Endo Edibles

The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (5)

C. Orchids Garden Chinese Restaurant — Classic
5485 W. Sahara Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89146

“…finesse and moderation are not a priority. From the siu mai, to the bean curd skin rolls to the chicken feet, big and meaty cuts were the name of the game and for the most part, it worked.” – The Cynical Cook

The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (6)

D. Ping Pang Pong — Elevated
4000 W. Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89103

“…no matter which region they’re from, Chinese in Vegas can likely find their hometown specialties here.” – Travel + Leisure

The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (7)

E. Yum Cha — Modern
4945 W Tropicana Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89103

“This newcomer Chinese restaurant is already making a name for itself with its dim sum, available seven days a week. Yum Cha, meaning to ‘drink tea’ also offers a selection of Chinese teas like Jasmine or Oolong.” – Eater Las Vegas

Let us know what you think! Do you have a better restaurant to recommend? Comment below!

More From Dim Sum Central

57 Shares

The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (8)

About The Author
Hi! I’m Wes, a dim sum lover in Oakland, California. I launched Dim Sum Central as a hobby and I’ve loved watching it grow to become an online home for people around the world who are passionate about eating and making dim sum! Get started »

The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (9)

The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (10)

The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (11)

10 Responses

  1. The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (12)
    Daphne

    |Reply

    Thanks for the comments!

    • The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (13)
      Dim Sum Central

      |Reply

      Thanks for stopping by, Daphne! Hope this article was helpful.

  2. The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (14)
    Alan Nettles

    |Reply

    I think you have the top five here. I’m sure different people might list them differently, but I totally agree with Changs as number one.

    • The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (15)
      Wes Radez

      |Reply

      Nice! Thanks for adding your perspective! ~Wes

  3. The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (16)
    May Russell

    |Reply

    Whenever we go to Vegas, we always go to Ping Pang Pong for dim sum. I’ve tried so many of other places but we find this to be the best.

    • The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (17)
      Wes Radez

      |Reply

      Thank you for sharing your recommendation, May! ~Wes

  4. The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (18)
    Dan Arventos

    |Reply

    Thanks for the info on kj dim sum. I know someone who is a waitress in an Asian restaurant. She has been to kj in Vegas and says it is fantastic. Dan

    • The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (19)
      Wes Radez

      |Reply

      Wonderful, thanks for that on the ground intel, Dan. ~Wes

  5. The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (20)
    Fran

    |Reply

    You forgot a great dim sum restaurant. Dim Sum Cafe. This is one of my favorite dim sum restaurants in Las Vegas. Located on the west side of town on Hualapai, it serves great mixture of dim sum favorites. Although I would hate to pick a favorite this, if I had to, it would probably be pan-fried chive dumplings. As a New Yorker, I think Las Vegas has a good assortment of dim sum create the problem, you need to come on the east side of town or somewhere that delivers there

    • The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (21)
      Wes Radez

      |Reply

      Great suggestions, Fran. Thanks for stopping by! ~Wes

Leave a Reply

The Best Dim Sum in Las Vegas (2021) | Dim Sum Central (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between dumplings and dim sum? ›

Dumplings are balls of flour filled with a stuffing. Momos are also dumplings that contain some form of filling, be it vegetarian or meat. Dim sums are small snacks in Chinese cuisine that are eaten for lunch. They too have fillings covered with dough, but the dough is semi- or completely transparent.

What is the difference between dim sum and dim sim? ›

A 'Dim Sim' is traditionally made with pork and cabbage wrapped in a delicate pastry skin. It is lightly seasoned and delivers a delicious meaty texture with each bite. 'Dim Sum' is an umbrella term and refers to a whole range of small dishes and parcels served at Yum Cha.

Is dim sum from Hong Kong? ›

Nowadays, dim sum is eaten all over China and the world, but the dishes are believed to have originated in the southern China's Guangdong region before eventually making their way to Hong Kong.

What is dim sum in Chinese? ›

Dim sum means 'touch the heart' in Chinese. The small portions were designed to merely touch the heart not sate the appetite, and as such were first enjoyed as snacks. Over time, however, yum cha has evolved, and the cuisine is now a vital part of Chinese culture.

Are dim sum dumplings healthy? ›

Nutrient-Rich Ingredients in Dim Sum

Steamed Dim Sum: Dishes like har gow (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (pork dumplings) are not only rich in protein but also low in calories. Steaming ensures that the nutrients, especially from seafood and vegetables, are preserved, providing essential vitamins and minerals.

What is the most popular dumpling? ›

Jiaozi. Jiaozi (pronounced "jow-zee") are perhaps the most common type of Chinese dumpling. Crescent-shaped and formed with an opaque wrapper made from wheat dough, jiaozi are usually filled with ground pork, cabbage, and scallions, and served with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil.

What gets served first at a dim sum meal? ›

Start with tea.

You should be given a pot of tea as soon as you first sit down. Most dim sum restaurants will have a few varieties of tea on hand and will probably get you a different type if you prefer it over their house tea. Check the tea before you pour to make sure it's steeped enough.

What tea is used in dim sum? ›

Traditionally, Chinese tea is served with dim sum dishes. Popular choices include jasmine tea, oolong tea, and pu-erh tea. Drinking tea with dim sum is a cultural tradition and is often referred to as "yum cha" in Cantonese, which means "drinking tea."

Is dim sum mostly pork? ›

A traditional dim sum brunch includes various types of steamed buns, such as cha siu bao (a steamed bun filled with barbecue pork), rice or wheat dumplings, and rice noodle rolls that contain a range of ingredients, including beef, chicken, pork, prawns, and vegetarian options.

What is dim sum slang? ›

Dim sum is the collective term for the bite sized morsels of food Chinese people eat. Some Chinese do use “going out for dim sum” as an expression for going out for a meal of dim sum. The other more frequently used term is “yum cha". It literally means drinking tea but in context, it means to eat dim sum.

Why is dim sum so special? ›

Dim sum is so unique because there are many varieties of special Chinese dishes, served in small portions for all to share. The best part is that I don't have to order from the menu because carts full of cooked, ready to eat dishes will be pushed right to my table. I can pick whatever I like from the cart.

Why is dim sum served in threes? ›

The reason restaurants don't serve most dim sum dishes in sets of fours is simply to avoid any associations with bad luck. In Chinese culture, the number four is considered unlucky because it is nearly homophonous to the word "death," while the number three is associated with life and new beginnings.

Are potstickers and dim sum the same thing? ›

Potstickers, dumplings, and wontons are among the most ordered dim sum dishes in Cantonese or Asian restaurants around the world. These three favorite foods are dough-wrapped dishes with a sweet or savory filling.

What is the Chinese version of dumplings? ›

Jiaozi (simplified Chinese: 饺子; traditional Chinese: 餃子; pinyin: jiǎo zi; [tɕjàʊ. tsɹ̩]) are a type of Chinese dumpling. Jiaozi typically consist of a ground meat or vegetable filling wrapped into a thinly rolled piece of dough, which is then sealed by pressing the edges together.

What is dim sum dumplings made of? ›

dumplings containing a rich broth and filled with meat or seafood. pan-fried dumpling, usually with meat and cabbage filling. steamed dumplings with pork and prawns, usually topped off with crab roe and mushroom. deep fried dumpling made with mashed taro and stuffed with diced mushrooms, shrimp and pork.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Madonna Wisozk

Last Updated:

Views: 6135

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Madonna Wisozk

Birthday: 2001-02-23

Address: 656 Gerhold Summit, Sidneyberg, FL 78179-2512

Phone: +6742282696652

Job: Customer Banking Liaison

Hobby: Flower arranging, Yo-yoing, Tai chi, Rowing, Macrame, Urban exploration, Knife making

Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.