2 May 2020
Last updated by Wes Radez on | 10
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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.
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. 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
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
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
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
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!
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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 »
10 Responses
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Daphne
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Thanks for the comments!
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Dim Sum Central
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Thanks for stopping by, Daphne! Hope this article was helpful.
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Alan Nettles
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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.
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Wes Radez
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Nice! Thanks for adding your perspective! ~Wes
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May Russell
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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.
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Wes Radez
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Thank you for sharing your recommendation, May! ~Wes
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Dan Arventos
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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
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Wes Radez
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Wonderful, thanks for that on the ground intel, Dan. ~Wes
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Fran
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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
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Wes Radez
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Great suggestions, Fran. Thanks for stopping by! ~Wes
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