đź“ť usncan Note: Where To Find Great Chinese Dim Sum In Istanbul
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Bird’s eye view looking down at a table with Chinese dim sum. First-person perspective of food on a table at a restaurant.
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Sitting down to a decadent dim sum is one of those culinary experiences that is hard to forget. The rolling trollies, the diversity of flavors and textures, and sharing family-style small plates at a leisurely pace… It’s arguably one of the best brunch experiences.
While Turkish breakfast tends to reign supreme in Istanbul, it’s not impossible to find great dim sum in the city. The following restaurants offer varying kinds of dim sum, from modern Michelin-starred dim sum tasting boards to the full weekend bunch experience. Here’s where to get great dim sum in Istanbul on both the European and the Anatolian sides of the city:
Hakkasan
Michelin-recommended Hakkasan is tucked into the Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, boasting stunning views of the Bosphorus Strait and Istanbul skyline across the two-storey restaurant. Dim sum is available for lunch and dinner here, and the modern tasting platters include both plant-based and pescatarian options to make the dim sum experience more modern and inclusive for varying dietary restrictions and palates.
Dragon Restaurant
Dragon Restaurant has been serving Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine for over thirty years, with the first location opening in Northern Cyprus in the 1980s before expanding into Istanbul. There are two locations in the city, one at the Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus and the other in Bebek Hotel by The Stay, where you’ll find a great dim sum menu available exclusively on weekends.
Shang Palace
Shang Palace in the Shangri-La Bosphorus in the Beşiktaş neighborhood is another great option for those craving a hearty dim sum session. Here you’ll find items like pan-fried beef dumplings, steamed shrimp har gow, and steamed chicken xiao long bao. There are fewer plant-based options here, but you’ll still find vegetarian fun guo and vegetable spring rolls.
852 Hong Kong Restaurant
852 Hong Kong Restaurant is located in Moda on the Anatolian side of the city and is definitely going to be your best bet if you’re looking for a cozy and casual dim sum spot to sit back and enjoy with friends and family. The restaurant opened its doors in 2021 and serves a large variety of classic dim sum dishes, including no mai gyun, siu mai, and steamed bao buns. The quaint restaurant also boasts a small corner with pantry goods, which is worth checking out if you’ve been on the hunt for decent Chinese ingredients in Istanbul.
