Top 5 Dim Sum Restaurants in Ottawa
Served either as a snack or main course, dim sum is a Chinese dish that features small steamed or fried savory dumplings with various fillings. Some of the popular fillings include pork, shrimp, and beef.
So if you’re looking for the right place for such food, this list of the top dim sum restaurants is for you! But before we proceed to the list, let’s first discuss how much such a dish would cost you.
How much does dim sum cost in Ottawa?
Although usually affordable, the cost of dim sum will vary depending on which restaurant you go to.
Each person, however, is expected to pay around $10-$20, which we think is a good deal given the amount of food you get.
To help you get a little bit of everything, some restaurants offer combo meals. For 2-3 people, these would cost between $30 and $40.
To give you a better picture, below is a table showing the average prices of the most popular dim sum dishes per order. Please take note that orders can have varying portion sizes.
1. Bambu Restaurant
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Competitive Rates | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
| Variety of Selections | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Dining Options | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer Feedback | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
Located just south of Hunt Club, Bambu Restaurant is one of the best options you could have when looking for great-tasting dim sums.
Today, it offers various menus — from Chinese food and vegan options to sushi and gluten-free dishes.
There’s also a great selection of drinks to complement the delicious food.
If you’re planning to visit, we suggest trying out its sushi and sashimi dishes, which are served fresh in thick slices. The bento boxes with generous servings are also a must-try.
We like that it offers All You Can Eat on Sundays, which is great for family days. The only downside is that such an offer is often not available on special occasions like Mother’s Day.
Since the place gets easily packed with patrons, phone reservations are highly recommended. Should you prefer dining in the comfort of your home, the restaurant is also open for pickup arrangements or delivery.
We appreciate that Bambu Restaurant is open daily to satisfy your cravings. Unfortunately, it operates on shorter hours from 3:30 PM to 9 PM on Mondays to Wednesdays.
While prices can be relatively expensive, we like that you get what you pay for. Apart from providing top-notch dishes, its friendly and competent staff also renders fast and impeccable service.
Although some of the members might have been deemed rude and unwelcoming by some, we still think that this restaurant deserves a visit.
Pros
- Offers a variety of menus
- All You Can Eat on Sundays
- Multiple dining options
- Open daily
Cons
- Rates can be pricier
- Issues with unfriendly staff members
Customer Reviews
One of the best in Ottawa
“As usual Bambu has an amazing menu and a knockout staff, even during Covid it has a warm and inviting atmosphere. Their menu is still full of amazing choices and their Dim Sum selections are one of the best in Ottawa.” — Robert Hurst, Google Reviews
Service is always exceptional
“I’ve eaten at Bambu numerous times and I’ve had the takeout since covid a few times and it’s always consistently fresh and delicious. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. I can honestly say that my experience with Bambu is always really good and I’ve never been disappointed. I highly rate this place for the sushi and Dim sum. Service is always exceptional.” — Michelle Boschetti, Google Reviews
2. Yimin Dim Sum House
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Competitive Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety of Selections | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Dining Options | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer Feedback | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
With its wide selection of dishes, Yimin Dim Sum House has made it to our list. Offering various options, you can choose to have dim sum orders that come in varying sizes, vegetable dishes, noodle soups, and dinner combos.
You may want to try some of its bestsellers like the Steamed BBQ Pork Buns for $5.88, Shrimp Har Gow for $6.99, and the Shrimp, Pork, and Cilantro Dumplings for also $6.99.
The ginger and beef dumplings and the noodle soup with chicken are also great. Its deep-fried squid tentacles and honey garlic spare ribs, in our opinion, are also worth ordering.
In general, most of its dishes are offered at reasonable prices. The only problem is that some might come in relatively smaller portions and could require ordering more if you have a huge appetite.
It’s also nice to know that you can order online in advance and have things either picked up or delivered. Complementary to such are multiple payment methods that provide additional convenience, which we appreciate.
Despite receiving complaints against rude staff members favoring friends over others, Yimin Dim Sum House remains a good option for dim sum needs.
Even when the place is small and issues with food quality arise occasionally, it is still worthwhile.
Also worth noting is its consistent daily operating hours from 11 AM to 11 PM.
Pros
- A wide selection of dishes
- Reasonable prices
- Dining options
- Consistent operating hours
- Multiple payment methods
Cons
- Some orders come in smaller portions
- Problems with some unfriendly staff members
Customer Reviews
Enjoyed visiting
“My boyfriend and I really enjoyed visiting this Dim Sum House, since the venue was very small and intimate and the food was reasonably priced. We ordered steamed pork buns, shrimp dumplings, chicken feet in black bean sauce, lotus leaf sticky rice, among tons of other choices and our bill was lower than what we expected! The service was fast and efficient, and the staff were all very nice. They paced our order out, so that we always had enough to eat. Also, they served green tea — on the house — and kept the pots coming!” — Mariah W, Google Reviews
Totally returning
“Very good dumplings! My bf is very picky when it comes to Asian food and he was so surprised with how good the food is at this quaint little resto! And very good service. Totally returning!” — Ashjade, Google Review
3. Yangtze Restaurant
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Competitive Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety of Selections | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Dining Options | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer Feedback | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
Operational since 1982, Yangtze Restaurant has been providing the best quality cuisine to people in Ottawa.
For more than 40 years, it has been recognized as a great place for dim sums and various Cantonese and Szechuan dishes.
Located at the heart of Chinatown, we like that it continues to strive to maintain the highest standards in the wide selection of food it offers. This has become persistently evident in some of the dishes the customers love.
Among its popular dishes include the Shrimp Har Gow, Yangtze Fried Rice, and Chicken With Sweet & Sour Sauce.
If you’re into dim sum, we recommend getting some on weekends to have more choices as its all-day dim sum list can be limited.
But Yangtze Restaurant is more than just affordable dishes. Currently, it also offers catering services and customized menus for banquets and occasions like weddings.
It’s also great that it operates daily, only with shorter hours from Monday to Thursday.
We appreciate that the staff is friendly and accommodating, although there were occasions when some waitresses were rude and impatient.
The place also gets easily congested, so making a reservation is highly advised to ensure seats.
Overall, with its reasonably priced menus, great food, and impeccable service, Yangtze Restaurant has been one of our top choices for dim sum needs.
Pros
- Years in the business
- Wide and affordable selections
- Catering services
- Multiple dining options
Cons
- Shorter hours from Monday to Thursday
- Some waitresses could be rude and impatient
Customer Reviews
This is #1
“This is the -best- dim sum in Ottawa! Also one three best Chinese restaurants for evening meals in town. I first started going for weekend brunch dim sums 40 years ago, while an undergrad at Carlton and still do, so I’ve been to all the dim brunches in town when I’m staying in Ottawa and have a clear conscience saying this is #1!” — Alec “Sandy” Mayo, Google Reviews
A must-visit in Ottawa
“A must visit in Ottawa. Food is fantastic! There’s a reason it’s been open for over 35 years. Make your dim sum dreams come true and stop by!” — Corey Forman, Google Reviews
4. Jadeland Restaurant
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Competitive Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety of Selections | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Dining Options | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
| Customer Feedback | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
We like Jadeland Restaurant because it is one of Ottawa’s finest Chinese restaurants in Chinatown. It stays true to its commitment to providing the best cuisines by using only the freshest ingredients.
In fact, live ingredients such as fish and crabs are taken to your table for inspection before they are even brought to the chef for cooking.
Specializing in Cantonese and Szechuan food, its menu includes a wide selection of dishes you can choose from. Among the must-tries are its Hot and Sour Soup, Lemon Chicken, and Crispy Beef.
Its dim sum menu, on the other hand, has 2 versions. For more options, we recommend getting some on weekends as more choices are offered on Saturdays and Sundays.
There are combo meals, too, which are ideal if you’re eating out with 3-4 people. We also like that it offers a delivery option, but only for orders over $25 after 6 PM, which is kind of sad.
Although it’s closed on Mondays, it’s great that it consistently operates from 11 AM to 10 PM on Tuesdays until Sundays.
Above all, we like that the customer service is great with very polite staff members to make everything more pleasurable.
Even when service can go slow during busy hours, a visit to Jadeland Restaurant will always be worthwhile.
Pros
- A vast selection of dishes
- Specializes in Cantonese and Szechuan food
- Uses fresh ingredients
- Consistent operating hours
Cons
- Delivery has a minimum order requirement
- Closed on Mondays
Customer Reviews
My favorite Chinese restaurant
“I highly recommend this restaurant not because of its quality and delicious food but also because of the service here! The food was unbelievably delicious, if you love dimsum, don’t forget to ask for a dimsum menu (if you come in dinner time). This restaurant so far is my favourite Chinese restaurant in Ottawa ❤️ whenever I have craving for Chinese food for even just simply shrimp har gow, this place is always the first one come in my mind ❤️” — Vy Do, Google Reviews
Tasty experience
“This place has real authentic dishes… I’ve been there several times and have never been dissapointed. Out if all the Chinese restaurants in town… this one is by far the best for authentic chinese restaurant in town. From dim sum and banquet style dishes to bubble tea and red bean cooler. This place has it all. I will never be going anywhere else for Chinese food in this area. Tasty experience.” — S. Foley, Google Reviews
5. Mekong
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Competitive Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety of Selections | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Dining Options | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
| Customer Feedback | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
Serving Asian cuisine to Ottawa residents for more than 30 years, Mekong Restaurant is one of our top choices for dim sums.
Specializing in Cantonese, Szechwan, Vietnamese and Thai food, it offers a comprehensive menu for everyone to enjoy.
Looking through it, you’ll find that it has a decent array of affordable dim sum products to choose from. Among the popular ones are the Steamed BBQ Pork Buns, the Crispy Wonton, and the Hunan Dumplings.
Choices like the General Tao Chicken and the Szechuan Green Beans are also very much recommended. There’s also a separate menu for vegetarians, which we appreciate.
There’s a special menu too, for different kinds of wine, cocktails, and Japanese sake to go with your delicious dishes.
One of the things we like is that it has facilities that can accommodate 50 people, with free parking and a nice patio you can dine on during summer.
But since it gets easily full during the busiest hours, calling in for reservations is advised.
It’s also nice that it offers delivery and take-out options and that it is open from Wednesday to Monday.
The only downside, however, is that the restaurant is closed on Tuesdays and only operates for 6 hours per day.
There have also been some issues with some waitresses becoming impatient and rude to customers, which are rather unfortunate.
Despite these concerns, we still think that its people are generally kind and friendly. Even when some of the dishes can be relatively pricier, the quality of food it serves makes every penny worth it.
Pros
- A wide variety of options
- Years in the business
- Vegetarian menu
- Large facility with parking
Cons
- Shorter operating hours
- Closed on Tuesdays
Customer Reviews
The best Hunan dumplings
“The best hunan dumplings! And as a beef and broccoli connoisseur, can vouch for this one 100%! Love Mekong :)” — Elizabeth Stronach, Google Reviews
A great restaurant to visit
“This restaurant is one of the oldest restaurant I know of in Ottawa. It is super super cozy and has great ambience! The food is always spot on and so flavourful! portions are quite big, perfect for family dinners. The staff are super friendly and they even have a little robot on their team to help out! Definitely a great restaurant to visit. Portions are big, good priced, and staff are friendly and helpful! The best is the hot and sour veggi soup. defiently a good soup to have when feeling cold or sad :)” — Dazai Osamu, Google Reviews
FAQs about Dim Sum
We hope that our list has helped you find the perfect place to satisfy your dim sum cravings!
Want to try something new? If you’re up for a new kind of dining experience, this list of unique bars and restaurants in Ottawa might work for you!