Exploring Denver: Best Dim Sum

They say lunch is a meal, and brunch is a culture. Well, you can’t get a more cultural brunch than a traditional dim sum experience. This meal of small plates originated in tea houses in South China, near the Guangdong region. The idea then traveled to Hong Kong, where it became popularized. Eaters around the world now celebrate and experience this Cantonese cuisine, Denverites included.

In fact, Denver boasts an active network of Asian cuisine restaurants, but finding traditional dim sum happens more rarely than you might think. No worries though! We compiled the top five dim sum restaurants in Denver so that you can find dim sum anytime.

Want to live near the best Asian food in Denver? Hit up AptAmigo and let our team of apartment locating experts find you the perfect home near your next amazing Cantonese meal.

Where to Find Dim Sum in Denver

ChoLon Modern Asian

Address: 1555 Blake St #101, Denver, CO 80202

Neighborhood: Lodo

Cost: $$$

What to Order:

If you want some of the best dumplings in town, you want to visit ChoLon for dim sum. From baby carrot dumplings to Jade shrimp dumplings and everything in between, you’ll love these delicious packets of goodness. And, don’t pass up grabbing some of the French onion soup dumplings, which they fill with gruyere cheese.

What Makes This Place Special:

Chef/owner Lon Symensma made ChoLon into a powerhouse in Denver. With locations in Downtown and Central Park (and a third location opening later in 2022), this restaurant proves that Denverites love dim sum. They also offer special events, such as party rooms and a Summer Movie Series, where you can watch a movie while enjoying themed treats tailored to the show.

Ace Eat Serve

Address: 501 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203

Neighborhood: City Park West

Cost: $

What to Order:

Ace Eat Serve’s small but mighty dim sum menu features Xiao Long Bao buns with mushrooms, truffles, and brown butter in a lemongrass miso broth. But, don’t pass on the wings either, of which they offer four varieties: tiger wings, lucky dragon wings, Korean fried wings, or naked wings.

What Makes This Place Special:

You can get a lot more than food at Ace Eat Serve. The name itself suggests their other offering — table tennis. That’s right. This fun hangout with both indoor seating and a patio can give you a meal and a workout. Plus, they make their own sodas and fresh juices, which they use in their cocktail menu. While you enjoy your pan-Asian eats, catch some live DJing during Sunday brunch.

Super Star Asian Cuisine

Address: 2200 W Alameda Ave, Denver, CO 80223

Neighborhood: West of Baker

Cost: $$

What to Order:

With 64 (yes, sixty-four) items on their dim sum menu (scroll to the bottom), it’s almost impossible to tell you what to eat. Some standouts include baked coconut buns, BBQ pork pastries, and the traditional chicken feet with black bean sauce.

What Makes This Place Special:

With over 20 years of experience, the head chef here certainly knows what they are doing when it comes to dim sum. The seafood tanks lining the back wall make for some fun watching (and eating!), and you will get the traditional experience of taking food off carts instead of ordering. All in all, it’s a great place with many rave reviews.

Bao Brewhouse

Address: 1317 14th St, Denver, CO 80202

Neighborhood: Lodo

Cost: $$

What to Order:

The dim sum menu differs slightly based on whether you visit the tap room or tea room (more on that below). In the tap room, don’t pass up the bottomless shrimp cracklins or cheese Rangoon with pineapple sweet and sour chile, scallions, cilantro, and hoisin. On the tea room side, get the salt & pepper tiger prawns and the Ev-erything mushroom dish with crispy onions and a mushroom dashi sauce. And, don’t forget to pair your dim sum with an adult beverage, or one of their 18 hot teas.

What Makes This Place Special:

The equally amazing tap room and tea room provide different vibes and uses. The tea room features tables for groups of 6-10 to enjoy a traditional meal in a dark-wood and traditional-red atmosphere. You can close the curtains for a private experience, or keep them open to enjoy the bustle of the restaurant. Just be sure to make a reservation for this space! The tap room will transport you to the streets of China, with street foods and rotating taps featuring Chinese-influenced beer. It’s a great place to drop by for a quick bite and drink before or after your other evening plans.

The Empress

Address: 2825 W Alameda Ave #2901, Denver, CO 80219

Neighborhood: West of Baker

Cost: $

What to Order:

The Empress hosts a good-sized menu of dim sum offerings. As those carts roll by, grab some BBQ buns (baked or steamed), stuffed eggplant, and egg custard tarts. If you love seafood, they also serve two types of squid and jellyfish.

What Makes This Place Special:

This local staple features some of the best seafood and dim sum Denver has to offer. And, they’ve been offering it since 1993. They serve dim sum every weekday from the menu, or from carts on the weekends. You can also rent out portions of the restaurant for special occasions and feed dim sum to all your friends and family.

Related: Find the Best Luxury Apartments in Denver

Moving to Denver?

Once you find the best Asian food in Denver, it’s time to call AptAmigo and let us find you the perfect nearby apartment. Our experienced team knows the local market and will only suggest buildings that meet your exacting criteria — dim sum proximity included. We sift through listings, book tours for the ones you’re interested in, and can even score you deals on rent. Plus, this entire service comes at no cost to you. (We’d rather you save all your money for your next dim sum adventure.) Call AptAmigo today!