Best Dim Sum in Oakland: Chinatown and the East Bay

The best dim sum in Oakland is a morning and early afternoon meal, shared with a group and built from small plates that arrive in waves. Oakland's Chinatown has served it for generations, and a banquet-style dining room is the place most often recommended. Go early on weekends or choose a weekday.

What is the best dim sum in Oakland?

The classic answer is a banquet-style dining room in the heart of Oakland Chinatown. A big room with round tables is the natural choice for a group, and it is where the full parade of dumplings, buns and rice noodle rolls arrives.

A hole-in-the-wall takeout counter is a different kind of stop, and a good one: order a box of dumplings and take it to a picnic at Lake Merritt. Expect a line early in the day. A seafood restaurant just over the line in Emeryville with a long dim sum list is another good option for a sit-down meal.

Why does Oakland Chinatown dim sum feel different?

Oakland Chinatown dim sum is eaten in a neighborhood that still works as a market. Produce stands, bakeries and tea shops sit within a few blocks, and a meal is easy to combine with errands. Many of the dining rooms are family run, and the staff may know the regulars by name.

Go with the plan of eating, then walking. A bakery stop after the meal is a good way to finish, and a bag of buns makes a decent snack for the road.

How does a dim sum cart in the East Bay work?

A dim sum cart in the East Bay, where it is still used, is simple. Servers push carts through the room, lift the lids to show what is inside and place the plate on your table when you nod. Your card is stamped or marked, and the bill is totaled at the end.

Many restaurants now use a paper order sheet instead, which is easier for a large room. You tick the dishes you want and a server brings them. Either way, order a few plates at a time so everything arrives hot, then add more as you go.

What should you order on an Oakland weekend dim sum visit?

Oakland weekend dim sum is the busiest time, so arrive early or expect a wait. Start with the classics: har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork and shrimp), char siu bao (barbecue pork buns) and rice noodle rolls. Add a vegetable, such as sautéed greens, to balance the table.

For a second round, try a baked or fried item, such as turnip cake, egg tarts or sesame balls. Tea is part of the meal, and the custom is to pour for others before you pour for yourself. Tap two fingers on the table to thank the person who fills your cup.

Pace yourself. Dim sum is built to be eaten slowly over a couple of hours, with conversation between plates. If the table fills up, ask the server to hold a dish until you are ready, and do not feel you must finish everything before you order again.

Which East Bay dim sum spots are good for groups?

The larger banquet rooms are the easiest for groups, since tables seat eight to ten and the dishes are made to share. Smaller takeout counters suit pairs or solo eaters who want a few pieces and a walk. If you have a mix of tastes, a banquet room with a long menu gives everyone something.

Consider the time of day, too. Late morning is the peak, and early afternoon is calmer. Weekday lunches are quieter than weekend brunches.

If your party includes children or older relatives, ask for a table near the entrance and for tea to arrive first. A large round table with a turntable makes sharing easy, so the dishes can travel around without anyone reaching across the table.

What if you only want a quick takeout lunch?

A takeout counter is a good answer when you want dim sum without a long sit-down meal. Order a box of mixed dumplings and buns, and ask for sauce on the side. Eat them soon after they are packed, because steamed dumplings lose their texture as they cool.

Lake Merritt is a pleasant place to eat, and it is within reach of Chinatown. Bring napkins, and a bag for the trash.

A takeout order also gives you room to experiment. Add one or two items you would not normally try, such as a sticky rice parcel wrapped in a lotus leaf or a steamed bun with a sweet custard filling. If a dish does not suit you, you have lost very little, and if it does, you have found something to order again.

What else should you eat in the East Bay?

Oakland rewards a second meal. The best burritos and tacos in Oakland guide covers Fruitvale and the taqueria corridor, and the Temescal Oakland restaurants guide walks a lively neighborhood. For the city across the bay, read cheap eats in San Francisco. The US guides page lists more places.

How do you remember a dim sum feast in Oakland?

A dim sum table is a lot to remember afterward. With the Mosey app you rate each dumpling, bun and rice noodle roll by the dish, so the har gow you loved is on record and the turnip cake you skipped is too.

Add the Group Dining tag, start an Oakland dim sum list and send the invite link to the cousins who always organize the Sunday table. They add their finds, and the next friend who asks where to go gets a list instead of a shrug. Rate one dish from your next table in the Mosey app.