Bao Wow! 5 Best Dim Sum in Adelaide

Citi Zen Restaurant is notable for its deluxe Chinese interior and dim sum options that make it a good experience for those who want a premium dining experience. 

The restaurant was founded by Chef Hao in 2002, and it specializes in serving authentic Cantonese cuisine, serving about 20 types of dumplings, rolls, and buns. 

One of the best-sellers here is prawn and spinach dumpling, which has a nice chewiness that compliments its sweet and briny flavor. The BBQ pork buns (char siu) are also a must-try because of their fluffy dough and sweet and savory filling.

The restaurant has separate dedicated menus for takeout orders and for groups who will dine in. For the latter, they have a rich offering of local and international wines.

That said, they are quite pricey. They’ve also received complaints about occasionally serving lukewarm food.

T-Chow Chinese Restaurant has a prime spot in Chinatown, making it easy to visit. After being refurbished in 2023, it now sports a sleek look that makes the dining experience cozier.

The restaurant uses authentic recipes from the Chaoshan region of China. They have been operating for more than 25 years and are known for being budget-friendly.

Some of their best dim sum options are sweet pork and prawn dumplings, refreshing snow bean shoot dumplings, and fried buns with nice crispness.

Those who’d like to eat VIP will be given a separate menu with special choices that are priced reasonably for their quality. 

In terms of downsides, however, the restaurant’s service is slow (sometimes taking 45 minutes). Some customers also complained about being charged additional fees that weren’t properly explained to them.

Empress Restaurant in Toorak Gardens seamlessly blends Chinese and Thai cuisine, offering tom yum soup and dim sum choices in a single restaurant. 

The restaurant owners have more than 30 years of experience, attracting regulars through their service consistency, whether dine-in or takeout. For the latter, they process orders in about 20 minutes or less. 

Moreover, the restaurant has more than 40 dim sum choices, steamed and fried. 

Some standout choices include BBQ pork buns (with fluffy and pillowy dough that goes well with its sweet minced pork) and chewy black sesame balls with a rich filling.

Their staff needs improvement, however, when it comes to responsiveness and providing recommendations. Also, they sometimes give takeout orders that have missing items.

Ba Guo Bu Yi stands out with its deluxe look, achieved with the sleek use of Szechuan redwood. The Szechuan influence extends to their menu with creative use of spices and herbs.

Specifically, it balances ma (numbing sensation), la (spicy taste), and xiang (aromatics) in every dish. To ensure the dishes’ authenticity, their chefs are regularly sent to attend culinary events in China to practice. 

Some of their standout dim sum choices include spicy boiled pork dumplings that have a velvety texture, deep-fried buns that have a satisfying crunch, and dim sim with satisfying umami.

A downside with the restaurant, however, is their pricey rates. Also, their servers have received complaints for not being responsive.

Chef Dong, named after its owner, specializes in traditional Cantonese and Fujian cuisine.

He is known for serving authentic food from these cuisines without excess salt and MSG. Because of this, some regulars say they don’t end up getting a thirsty feeling afterward.

Their standout dim sum is the crunchy san choy bow with well-cooked pork mince seasoned with oyster sauce. Moreover, their spring rolls taste light and savory and are aromatic.

They’re especially notable for their food presentation, which makes eating more appetizing. Not to mention, the simple and elegant design of the restaurant makes the dining experience more pleasant.

They can improve, however, when it comes to preparing takeout orders faster (they can take up to 40 minutes or more). Also, some clients have mentioned that their food serving sizes are inconsistent.