The best yum cha in Sydney

What is it? Sydney’s top spot for a yum cha feast, known for its mastery of the classics and opulent red and gold dining room.

Why we love it: They're famous for their extra-juicy pink-hued roast pork, served in thin slices with the perfect fat-to-meat ratio. Move quickly when the blistered greens beans come out of the kitchen, scalding hot, salted like the sea and dressed in garlic. And check every basket for dumpling specials. 

Time Out tip: Staying firm in the face of the pushy trolley ladies is no easy task, especially when the cheung fun and zhaliang (savoury fried dough sticks wrapped in slippery rice noodle) look so good. Maybe you should build up your resistance slowly, with many repeat visits.

Address: Shop 38, Level 1 Piccadilly Tower, 133/145 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000

What is it? You can’t miss Star Capital Seafood Restaurant – nor would you want to. This dim sum, seafood and barbecue house is located right in the heart of Chatswood on Victoria Ave, and on weekends, you’ll likely need to wait for one of the 30-plus round tables. 

Why we love it: The good news? The wait is well worth it, as Star Capital is one of our top picks for yum cha in Sydney – and RecipeTin Eats’ Nagi Maehashi agrees. The dim sum menu is available from 11am until 3pm, and the trolleys are packed with all the classics: steaming prawn har gow, slippery cheong fun, glistening roast duck, fluffy pork buns, well-seasoned and tender salt-and-pepper squid and more. Bright-yellow egg custard tarts are buttery, flaky and pretty much mandatory, as are piping-hot tea and a crisp Tsingtao. We don’t make the rules!

Time Out tip: Never miss a serving of the spicy salt and pepper whitebait. 

Address: 399 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood NSW 2067

What is it? Spice Temple, the CBD’s subterranean Chinese restaurant – and winner of Time Out Sydney’s Legend Award 2025 – is now doing yum cha on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm onwards. You won’t find any trolleys, though. What you will find is a succinct menu of excellent starters and yum cha, overseen by executive chef Andy Evans.

Why we love it: Start with a trio of crunchy-cool pickles, before moving on to a fresh, clean-tasting white-cut chicken salad with ginger and shallot, and a spaceship-like prawn toast that’s light, crunchy and served with a neon house-made sweet and sour sauce. Prawn wontons doused in black vinegar and chilli are a standout, as are the golden, crisp spring rolls filled with warm custard – plus the personal and polished service. Head underground and see for yourself – bring your appetite.

Time Out tip: Spice Temple is still hot as hell, so bookmark this one for a swish dinner reservation as well.

Address: 10 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000

What is it? A super popular yum cha destination in Sydney’s Chinatown, well worth rising a little early for and joining the queue.

Why we love it: Keep an eye out for the steamed dumpling trolley because it’s the most elusive one there. The prawns are extremely fresh and totally worth waiting for. 

Time Out tip: Holding out for the final act? They get a full three-pointer for their mango pancakes, mango pudding capped with a pool of condensed milk and the coconut jelly, which is intensely tropical and creamy.

Address: Market City Shopping Centre, Level 3/13 Hay Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

What is it? Sydney icon Golden Century – famous for its XO pipis, ripper yum cha and late-night dining — is now open at Crown Sydney, after closing its OG location in 2020.

Why we love it: Stepping into Golden Century’s new home is like visiting an old friend who’s had a bit of not-so-subtle cosmetic work done. While there are many differences, the essence of the OG GC remains: excellent bronzed roast duck, some of Sydney’s best yum cha, and a dining experience that feels like an extended family reunion. And while there are no trolleys, you can feast on excellent yum cha daily from 11am to 5pm – there are more than 80 Cantonese dishes to choose from.

Time Out tip: Do as the waiter suggests and order the hot lava buns, injected with a custard that incorporates salted egg yolk. It’s a fan favourite for TikTokkers who film it oozing with filling – but proceed with caution, as it really is molten lava inside.

Address: Level 3, Crown Sydney, 1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo NSW 2000

What is it? Emperor's Garden has been serving delicious and traditional Cantonese dishes since it opened in 1979. 

Why we love it: Sensational barbecue pork, roast pork and yum cha can all be found at this Haymarket eatery. And while Emperor's Garden is not famous for its service, if you're after a cracking feed with your people and a damn good time, we reckon you'll leave full and happy.

Time Out tip: Emperor's Garden is open seven days a week from 8am, so go early – and go hard.

Address: 96-100 Hay Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

What is it? You’ll find The Lucky Prawn, a kitschy Chinese-Australian bistro, within Marrickville's excellent Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre, and we say you should.

Why we love it: Decked out in red, gold and its own giant crustacean affectionately dubbed ‘Shane Prawn’, this comforting diner is covered in nostalgia, and eating here feels like stepping back in time to visit your family's favourite local Chinese restaurant. 

Time Out tip: You can always pop in for some cracking prawn toast and fried rice, but the first Sunday of the month – where you’ll find yum cha, special dishes and a performance by a dazzling drag queen host – is where it's at. Chuck it in the diary.

Address: 8-12 Sydney Street, Marrickville NSW 2204

What is it? You won’t find any trolleys at Queen Chow Enmore, the leafy and stylish Cantonese restaurant located on top of Queens Hotel. What you will find however – if you come on Friday to Sunday from noon to 4pm – is a menu with yum cha’s greatest hits: salty and sweet scallop and prawn siu mai; fat prawn har gau; crisp chicken and chive dumplings; and piping-hot xiao long bao. 

Why we love it: The dumplings are expertly made, sunlight pours through the open roof, and the music is upbeat and fun. What’s not to love? 

Time Out tip: Add on some cold beers and you’re all set to tackle the weekend.

Address: 2/167 Enmore Road, Enmore NSW 2042

What is it? A 600-seat Cantonese restaurant with traditional yum cha, live seafood and late-night dining is now open in the former Golden Century digs. 

Why we love it: If you’ve been missing the legendary restaurant (we sure have), then we reckon the Royal Palace Seafood Restaurant may fill that dumpling-shaped hole in your heart. Come for trollies dishing up plump prawn har gau, pork with black beans, juicy siu mai, and finish with mango pancakes and egg tarts (we’ll take five, please).

Time Out tip: If you head in for a regular restaurant lunch, check out the fish tanks – from where waitstaff will pluck your order of lobster, coral trout or parrot fish straight from the water. 

Address: 393-399 Sussex Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

What is it? East Phoenix is definitely the sleekest in this stable of yum cha restaurants. It's so sharp it’s almost business-like. There’s no kitschy decor here – they’re sticking to a classic black, white and red colour scheme.

Why we love it: The steamer trolley will bring you all the greatest hits including prawn har gao, steamed buns, siu mai and more. It’s only a short hop from there to a dessert of egg custard tarts that come in a pastry shell that’s so short it dissolves in your mouth faster than fairy floss.

Time Out tip: Planning a special birthday, cocktail party or anniversary lunch? Check out the functions options at the website.

Address: East Village, Level 3/2A Defries Avenue, Zetland NSW 2017

What is it? If you’ve always wanted to eat at Mr Wong – one of Sydney’s fanciest Cantonese diners – but never had the cash, we recommend a weekday yum cha adventure. Because if you take the mud crabs, whole ducks and wine out of the picture, you won't be spending more than you would at the major players around the city.

Why we love it: There are no trolleys so you order off the menu, and they get points right off the bat for offering to alter dumpling numbers to evenly split amongst your party. The quality here is truly undeniable.

Time Out tip:  It’s on the cheung fun subsection that we find our MVP: supple rice noodles wrapped around a fried dough stick so crunchy it causes a minor read on the Richter scale, and sweet chunks of prawn meat in the middle.

Address: 3 Bridge Lane, Sydney NSW 2000

What is it? It's worth the trip to this Canterbury League Club just to marvel at the incredible indoor rainforest in the foyer, complete with a waterfall, artificial tiki torches, indoor plants and an actual lagoon. Behind it is the Dynasty Chinese Restaurant where yum cha is served daily from 11am until 3pm on weekdays, or from 10am on weekends, when you should probably book a table. 

Why we love it: The trolleys come to your table, load you up with an initial serve of classic steamed dim sum and then walkie talkie any extra orders you might have to the kitchen. It might lack some of the instant gratification of looking into the steamer baskets for each dish, but it does speed up the process. From steamed pine nut and mushroom dumplings to baked barbecue pork pastries to beef belly and tendon in Hoi Sin sauce, Dynasty has you covered. 

Time Out tip: Feel like a bit of live music and an atmosphere? Check out what’s on at Canterbury League Club at the website and time your visit to make a day of it.

Address: 26 Bridge Road, Belmore NSW 2192

What is it? Not a yum cha restaurant in the traditional sense, strictly speaking, but still well worth a visit for its dumplings, spring rolls and barbecued ginger chicken wings if you’ve got those steamer cravings. 

Why we love it: This dimly lit basement spot has that cool dumpling bar appeal – with funky Chinese decor, great drinks and excellent bar staff to keep the good times coming.

Time Out tip: There are heaps of vegan and gluten free options too, so no one's missing out – plus you can wash it all down with a couple of killer cocktails and a house beer. 

Address: Basement/55 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000

What is it? This is one of the nicer yum cha dining rooms in the city. Dark navy carpet meets grey, chocolate brown and pale timber panels while down-lit private rooms are available for high-flying dim summers, with two-storey floor-to-ceiling windows in the main room. 

Why we love it: There might be walking specials of deep-fried chicken satay sticks under a deep layer of sauce but there’s also roast duck, taken off the bone. If the usual steamed dumpling gear doesn’t get you going (and it really should - the dumplings here are great), there are also chicken pot stickers making their way around the room, as well as steamed scallops, pretty on the half-shell, and plates of vongole. 

Time Out tip: Sky Phoenix is located above the Westfield –  perfect motivation to walk off that lunch and indulge in a spot of retail therapy afterwards.

Address: Shop 6001, Level 6/Westfield, 188 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000