Best Dim Sum in Los Angeles

A longtime institution for dim sum in Orange County's Vietnamese community. While they offer standard Cantonese dim sum, their Vietnamese-Chinese items set them apart. The dumplings here are fluffy and filled with a mixture of pork, egg, and Chinese sausage—the Vietnamese interpretation of this steamed bun. Their ha cao (shrimp dumplings) have a distinctive translucent wrapper that regulars insist is better than San Gabriel Valley competitors.

This spacious banquet hall serves dim sum daily and draws heavily from the local Vietnamese-Chinese community. Look for their Vietnamese-style steamed rice rolls (adjacent but distinct), dumplings with fish paste fillings, and their signature baked banh mi bao—a hybrid creation that combines Chinese baked char siu bao with Vietnamese banh mi flavors. The weekend crowds are mostly Vietnamese families.

Located in the same plaza as Seafood Cove 2, this is the newer competitor that's developed its own loyal following. Their dim sum menu includes several Vietnamese-specific items you won't find in SGV dim sum houses, including savory rice cake cubes and various che (sweet dessert soups). The meatballs here are made with the Vietnamese recipe—softer and sweeter than Cantonese versions. ## Dish Background Vietnamese-Chinese dim sum reflects the Teochew and Cantonese influences that shaped Saigon's Cholon district. Many Hoa Vietnamese who fled after 1975 brought these traditions to Orange County. The differences are subtle but meaningful—Vietnamese dim sum tends to be sweeter, uses more garlic and fish sauce, and incorporates ingredients like wood ear mushrooms and glass noodles that are rare in traditional Cantonese dim sum. The Vietnamese steamed bun is perhaps the most distinctive item, larger and fluffier than its Chinese counterpart with a different filling ratio.nnWhether you are craving authentic Dim Sum or exploring Los Angeles's Vietnamese food scene, these spots deliver the real deal.