London dim sum restaurants: Best spots for authentic dumplings and tea

When you think of dim sum, a Cantonese style of small, steamed, or fried dishes served with tea. Also known as yum cha, it’s not just a meal—it’s a ritual. In London, this tradition has grown beyond tourist traps into a thriving scene where families gather, friends catch up, and the steam from bamboo baskets fills the air like a warm welcome. You don’t need to fly to Hong Kong for the real thing. Some of the most authentic dim sum in the UK is served right here, in quiet corners of Chinatown, hidden basements in Soho, and modern spaces in Peckham that still use family recipes passed down for generations.

What makes a good dim sum spot? It’s not just the food—it’s the timing, the service, and the tea. The best places serve dishes fresh off the cart, not sitting under heat lamps. Look for places where the carts roll out every 10 minutes, not once an hour. The dumplings should have thin, springy skins that give way to juicy fillings—pork, shrimp, mushroom, or even duck. You’ll find har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (open-topped pork and shrimp balls), char siu bao (fluffy BBQ pork buns), and cheong fun (rice noodle rolls with shrimp or beef). And the tea? It’s not an afterthought. Good dim sum restaurants brew strong oolong, jasmine, or pu-erh, and refill your cup without asking. It’s part of the rhythm.

Some spots specialize in traditional Cantonese styles, others mix in modern twists—vegan dumplings, truffle-filled buns, or matcha desserts. But the core stays the same: speed, freshness, and community. You’ll find students eating after class, elderly couples sharing a pot of tea, and tourists who stumbled in by accident and never left. The real ones don’t have fancy signs. They’re busy. They’re loud. And they never run out of steam.

Below, you’ll find a collection of real places where Londoners go for dim sum—not the ones with Instagrammable decor, but the ones where the food speaks first. Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch between meetings or a slow Sunday morning with friends, these spots deliver what matters: flavor, warmth, and the quiet joy of a perfectly steamed dumpling.