Hong Kong dim sum recommendations, please
 

Can you recommend a couple of your favorites? We're staying in North Point. We prefer establishments favored by the locals.

search for ciccerone's HK restaurant list here.. she has many suggestions

an old favorite is on the 4th floor of the united center ion the island.. very authentic

she also suggests the tea museum in the hk park on the island

My aunt lives in North Point and she eats around a lot. Her recommendation is the Chinese restaurant inside Harbour Grand on Oil Street. Fortress Hill MTR Exit A.

I think the restaurant rkkwan is referring to is

Kwan Cheuk Heen
Harbour Grand Hotel
23 Oil Street
North Point
Tel: (852) 2121 2688

Please bear in mind that if you want to go where the "locals" go you must speak Cantonese or be able to read Chinese. If you cannot do either, you can still have a very good meal going to restaurants where waiters speak English and they have English menus. So don't worry too much about it. The restaurant mentioned above in the Harbour Grand hotel would have menus in English and staff which speak English.

The only place I really know in the North Point area would be in Taikoo, just 2 stops from North Point:

West Villa
2nd Floor, Cityplaza II
18 Taikoo Shing Road
Tai Koo (Tai Koo MTR)
Tel: 2885 4478

This place supposedly has the best <i>cha xiu bao</i> in Hong Kong; and I have to agree. The dim sum is otherwise generally very good as well, and in season, the hairy crab is very good too.

I don't know too many places in North Point, but one "local" place in Wan Chai which I would recommend would be:

Yixin Restaurant
50 Hennessy Road
Wanchai
Tel: 2834-9963

This is a typical example of a good local place for dim sum. It is not in any guide book (as far as I know), and is just everyday Hong Kongers having a meal. They have English menus, although the English of the staff is a bit limited, but shouldn’t be a problem. Moderate price. Close to the Wanchai market areas.

For a more upscale (Michelin star) experience but really excellent dim sum and basically all locals, try this:

Dynasty
Renaissance Harbour View Hotel
1 Harbour Road
Wan Chai
Tel: 2584-6971

As mentioned above, I also really like the dim sum in the Lock Cha teashop in the Museum of Tea Ware. This is in Hong Kong Park. Again, you rarely see any tourists there, but they do have English menus. They have a musical afternoon on Sundays. This is vegetarian dim sum made by monks, far better than what you will get at the Po Lin monastery! <i>Extremely</i> charming setting in the building where the Museum of Tea Ware is housed (which is worth a quick look too). This is one of the few places which serve dim sum after 5 pm.

Lock Cha Teashop
Ground Floor
The K.S. Lo Gallery, Museum of Tea Ware
Hong Kong Park
Tel: 2801-7177
http://www.lockcha.com/

Dim sum notwithstanding, IMO the real reason to eat in North Point are the following:

Yue
City Garden Hotel
9 City Garden Road
North Point
Hong Kong Island
Tel: 2806 4918

One Michelin star. Excellent Cantonese seafood (and they know how to do seafood). Have the steamed fish for sure. This is in North Point, so a long way to go for a meal, but can be included as part of a trip to the Causeway Bay area. It is less than a 5 minute walk from the Fortress Hill MTR. They may offer dim sum.

Tung Po Sea Food (Cantonese)
99 Java Road Second Floor
Java Road Cooked Food Centre
North Point
Tel 2880-9399

Excellent down and dirty seafood, Cantonese style but actually with more garlic and spices than you would expect. They are only open for dinner and don’t take bookings except for large parties, so I would go around 6:30 to avoid a wait. Get the golden shrimp and the squid with black ink. This is a very casual, <i>dai pai dong</i> type-restaurant, so don’t dress up. Expect florescent lights and perhaps bring your own napkins. MTR to North Point, exit Door A1, turn left, cross the street, the cooked food centre is the building in this block across the street from you, escalators are about in the middle of the building. Considering the complete lack ambience (and some lack of hygiene) this is not really cheap, probably US$40-50 per person for two for about 3 shared entrees, but very generous portion sizes and very fresh.

Rhk, Ray and Cicerone, I owe you. Thanks so much.

The fact is that 99.5% of all diners in North Point dim sum places are locals. So, it doesn't matter where you go, it is favored by locals anyways, or it will not last more than a month.

Now, also keep in mind that most of the regulars also go to the same restaurant each day, sit in the same table, have the same or similar dim sum dishes, AND FOR CERTAIN drink the same type of tea.

So, how do locals choose their places for dim sum? It depends. For many, location. Others, cost, comfort and ease of getting their favorite table, quality of their specific tea and/or dim sum, opening time, friendliness and familarity of staff, and so on.

In truth, you seldom get really horrible dim sum in HK, wherever you go. Unless you're a foodie and wants the best Chinese food in North Point (but then, why bother limiting yourself to NP), I say just start with one that is closest to where you're staying. I can tell you it is favored by locals, just like the next closest one...

good points ray.. i hope to be able to prove you correct...20 days and counting

ok you experts---which one is #1???

I like the early morning dim sum along the Sai Kung seafront watching the sun rise over the eastern hills. Come early, 5.30 open. You won't find any 'non-natives'.

Funny, I am having dim sum on the Sai Kung waterfront at this very moment.