Where to Eat Yum Cha in Sydney? (Top 5 Restaurants)

Find the best yum cha restaurants in Sydney, where you’ll enjoy a great variety of food, good quality of service, and a nice atmosphere.

Yum cha is a Chinese dining experience like no other, and luckily, Sydney has no shortage of restaurants where you can enjoy tasty prawn dumplings, pork buns, braised chicken feet, and custard tarts.

We have visited and reviewed almost all yum cha restaurants in Sydney and have shortlisted five that we think offer the best dim sums!

Never tried yum cha before? Let’s first learn a little bit more about this traditional Chinese dining style.

Yum cha is a Cantonese term that literally means “drink tea”. However, as a dining experience, it refers to a breakfast or brunch tradition that includes Chinese tea and a range of snack-style dishes.

The yum cha experience we have become accustomed to in Sydney involves restaurant staff walking around with trolleys, presenting and offering these dishes, and serving tea.

Dim Sum

There are lots of different types of dim sum dishes being served in Chinese restaurants, and they can be grouped as follows:

• Dumplings
• Rolls
• Buns
• Meats
• Seafood
• Vegetables
• Rice
• Desserts

These dishes are collectively referred to as dim sum, which represents a broad range of flavours, cooking styles, textures, and ingredients.

Yum Cha in Sydney

Yum cha was first introduced in Australia in the 1970s and has since become a popular dining experience across the country, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.

The first restaurateur to introduce yum cha in Sydney was Denis Wong, a well-known and successful Sydney nightclub and restaurant owner who established the popular Chequers nightclub in the 1950s.

Today, almost every major suburb in Sydney has at least one Chinese restaurant that offers yum cha, which has evolved into a popular weekend pastime over the years.

For more information about opening hours, address details, and menus, click the more-info link below each Sydney yum cha restaurant.

1. Palace Chinese Restaurant

Located in the Piccadilly Tower in the heart of the Sydney CBD, Palace Chinese Restaurant serves traditional and modern Cantonese cuisine to suit any occasion. More importantly, Palace offers an excellent yum cha experience seven days a week.

Their characteristic red and gold dining room sets the right tone and mood, with a wide range of delicious dim sum dishes at your disposal to satisfy your taste buds.

Like many other yum cha restaurants, Palace tends to get quite busy, but their prompt service is always up for the challenge.

2. Mr Wong

Yum cha at Mr Wong might be a slightly different experience than a traditional Cantonese yum cha session, but the food is fantastic.

You won’t see the typical Cantonese-style yum cha trolleys rolling around at Mr Wong. Instead, you will order your food off the menu, and everything will be served in a timely manner.

Owned by the Merivale group, Mr Wong is located in a classic colonial building on Bridge Lane in the CBD, with room for more than 240 people spread over two levels. Mr Wong is a little bit on the expensive side, but the overall dining experience is excellent.

3. Mama Mulan

The lively, multicultural suburb of Chatswood is home to various Chinese restaurants, with Mama Mulan being one of the better yum cha places.

Their dim sum menu is rather interesting, with a range of familiar Chinese staples, dumplings, fresh seafood, and delicious desserts, but with a modern culinary twist.

If you’re after a unique yum cha experience in a pleasant atmosphere, give Mama Mulan a chance, and you won’t regret it.

4. The Eight

Part of the Zilver group, The Eight is a popular traditional Chinese restaurant located in the Market City Shopping Centre building in Chinatown.

Their dim sum dishes are all created with fresh and seasonal ingredients and are always made fresh daily.

In addition to the tasty food offering, the dining area is stylishly designed with comfortable seating, complemented by good quality service.

5. Star Capital Seafood Restaurant

The second Chatswood venue on this list of best Sydney yum cha restaurants is Star Capital Seafood Restaurant, which offers authentic Cantonese food and yum cha dishes complemented by good quality Chinese tea.

Star Capital is located on busy Victoria Avenue in a large enough venue close to Chatswood station. Note that they aren’t the cheapest, but the quality of the food and service is of a good standard.