Best Dim Sum in Ottawa

Dim sum in Ottawa might surprise you. The city has a small but excellent dim sum scene, including the last traditional push-cart dim sum service in the entire region, an all-day dim sum spot open until midnight, modern fine dining dim sum from a chef with 30 years of experience, and a 30+ year-old Hong Kong cha chaan teng that locals have been quietly loving since 1993.

Whether you want the classic cart experience or modern truffle-topped shumai, here are the best dim sum restaurants in Ottawa.

Top Dim Sum Restaurants in Ottawa

1. Sea King Seafood — Ottawa's Last Cart Service

Sea King Seafood on Merivale Road is the only restaurant in Ottawa still doing traditional push-cart dim sum. Carts roll between tables loaded with bamboo steamers — you point at what you want, and it lands on your table immediately. This is the dim sum experience as it's done in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong-trained chef means everything is properly executed: shrimp har gow with the right number of pleats, char siu bao with sweet barbecue pork, chicken feet, congee, and all the classics. It's worth the trip out to Nepean for the cart experience alone.

• Price: $$
• Address: 1558 Merivale Road, Nepean
• Best for: Authentic cart experience, Sunday family brunch
• Note: Cart service is typically weekend mornings — call ahead to confirm

2. Yimin Dim Sum House — All-Day Dim Sum

Yimin Dim Sum House on Somerset Street West is open daily from 11 AM to midnight, which makes it the only dim sum option in Ottawa for late-night cravings. The dim sum is hand-made, the menu mixes Cantonese and Sichuan dishes, and there's no cart service — you order from the menu.

Their steamed BBQ pork buns and shrimp har gow are consistently mentioned by local food bloggers. The deep-fried squid tentacles and honey garlic spare ribs are must-orders.

Must-try: Steamed BBQ Pork Buns, Shrimp Har Gow, Deep-fried Squid Tentacles, Honey Garlic Spare Ribs

• Price: $
• Address: 662 Somerset Street West, Chinatown
• Hours: Daily 11 AM–12 AM
• Best for: Late-night dim sum, all-day cravings

3. Cafe Orient — Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng

Cafe Orient has been serving Hong Kong-style food in Chinatown since 1993 — over 30 years of consistency. It's a cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style cafe) that combines dim sum with congee, rice plates, noodle dishes, and the signature drinks of Hong Kong cafe culture: HK milk tea and Yin Yang (a coffee-tea mix).

It's a 4.4 Google-rated spot with 600+ reviews. The dim sum is approachable, the prices are low, and the cha chaan teng experience is unique in Ottawa.

Must-try: Dim sum classics, Congee, Hong Kong Milk Tea, Yin Yang

• Price: $
• Address: 808 Somerset Street West, Chinatown
• Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu–Sun 11 AM–9 PM (Wed closed)
• Best for: Affordable dim sum, Hong Kong cafe experience

Comparison

Dim Sum Dishes to Try

Tips for Dim Sum in Ottawa

• For carts, head to Sea King: Ottawa only has one push-cart dim sum spot left. If you want the traditional experience, that's the place
• Weekends are dim sum prime time: Most authentic dim sum service happens during weekend brunch hours (11 AM–2 PM). Arrive early to beat lines
• Go with a group: Dim sum is built for sharing. Bring 4+ people to try more variety
• Order in waves: Don't order everything at once. Start with 4–5 dishes, then order more as you eat
• Ask for tea: Hot tea is essential with dim sum — pu-erh, jasmine, or oolong are classics
• Late night cravings? Yimin Dim Sum House is the only option open until midnight