Cuisine Cuisine Shop 3101-07, Podium L/3, ifc Mall, Central,2393-3933 Available Mon-Fri noon-3pm; Sat, Sun & public holidays 11am-3pm The Highlights: Serves 12 varieties on weekdays, with a special menu available on Sat, Sun and public holidays. Must-try: Steamed seafood dumpling in chicken soup ($90). The Taste: Compact spread with an emphasis on healthy cooking, natural ingredients and plenty of seafood. Each dim sum is a treasure of its own. The Setting: Popular for weekday business lunches, this modern, spacious restaurant with trademark funky chandeliers offers a spectacular harbor view. Our Verdict: The hands-down winner. Excellent, exquisite-tasting dim sum combined with the harbor view and fantastic service make this place a must-visit. Dong Arcade 2, Hotel Miramar, 118-130 Nathan Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2315-5166. Available Mon-Sat 11:30pm-3:30pm; Sun and public holidays 11am-3:30pm The Highlights: Specializes in innovative combinations at a reasonable price. Must try: Steamed vegetarian dumpling ($26). The Taste: The use of fancy ingredients and novel combinations should make this place a winner. Unfortunately, none of the food stands out. At least it's healthy. The Setting: Average. The Japanese decorations are a bit out of tune with the traditional Chinese restaurant setting. Attracts mainly business clientele on weekdays. Our Verdict: Reliable. Go for it if you like classic, prestige ingredients such as bird's nest, in traditional Chinese surroundings. Dong Lai Shun B2, The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2522-1624 Available daily 11:30am-3pm; dinner 6pm-11pm The Highlights: Founded in 1903 in Beijing, Dong Lai Shun offers 30 Beijing-Huaiyang-style choices. Must try: Steamed buns filled with vegetables ($26), and steamed beef dumplings ($28). The Taste: Each dim sum parcel was cooked to perfection and well presented. The non-greasy crispy pancake with spring onion ($26) was particularly good. Be careful of the hot and juicy dumpling fillings though. The Setting: Traditional. Features Yangtze paper-cuts and a wall of crystal boxes. There's a bilingual dim sum menu. Our Verdict: Pleasant dining experience, with good food, service and atmosphere but lacks outstanding features. Reservations recommended on weekends. Dragon-i UG/F, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham St., Central, 3110-1222 Available daily noon-3pm The Highlights: Serves all-time favorites with an innovative twist. Besides an a la carte menu, there is a $118 all-you-can-eat package. Options include abalone and chicken puff ($35), and chicken with cabbage and dried shrimp dumplings puling style ($28). The Taste: The abalone and chicken puff is fresh, crispy and worth a try, but the other dishes look less appetizing. The Setting: Attracting a young, international crowd, the decor is hip and comfy, with a huge eye-catching birdcage at the door. But the staff lacks enthusiasm and aren't very welcoming. Our Verdict: Go for the people-watching. Dynasty 3/F, Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, 2802-8888 Available Mon-Sat noon-3pm; Sun & public holidays 11:30am-3pm The Highlights: The menu rotates every two weeks, with 10 items on offer every day. Must-try: Steamed barbecued pork buns ($38). Dynasty's onsite roasting room guarantees the pork is freshly cooked. Desserts are also a strong feature. The Taste: Many items are northern dishes with a Cantonese twist. The emphasis is on healthy cooking - nothing too oily or salty. Traditional items are fashioned into works of art. The Setting: A favorite with businessmen and families. The staff are alert and attentive. Dim sum is ordered from a menu, rather than trolleys. Our Verdict: The quality of the food speaks for itself. Pity the atmosphere is so formal. Golden Bauhinia G/F, HKCEC, Harbour Rd., Wan Chai, 2582-7728 Available Mon-Sat noon-3pm; Sun & public holidays 11am-3pm The Highlights: Serves 14 traditional choices on weekdays, and eight more on Sundays. Must try: Steamed shrimp dumplings ($28), oven-baked egg tartlets ($28), deep-fried spring rolls with shredded roasted duck & preserved vegetables ($28). The Taste: The award-winning dim sum are of the highest standards. The shrimp dumplings were delightful, while the spring rolls were pleasantly ungreasy. The Setting: A typical traditional Chinese restaurant, with good views of the harbor. Popular at all times, with suits during the week and families on weekends. Order by ticking the dim sum slip. Our Verdict: Good value for money in a welcoming atmosphere - a definite must-try. More of a destination spot than a convenient lunch option. Shanghai Shanghai B1, B/F, Ritz-Carlton, 3 Connaught Rd., Central, 2869-0328 Available Mon-Sat 11:30am-3pm; 6pm-midnight The Highlights: House specialies include up to eight varieties of dim sum from Shanghai. Must try: Steamed pork dumpling ($60), and won ton with spicy garlic sauce ($60). The Taste: No new inventions here, but the delicate steamed pork dumplings were mouthwateringly juicy. The Setting: Classic 1920s Shanghai atmosphere. Our Verdict: Although the selection is small, each item is prepared with care. Not cheap, but good value. Reservations recommended. Spring Moon 1/F, The Peninsula, Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2315-3160 Available Mon-Sat 11:30am-3pm; Sun & public holidays 11am-3pm The Highlights: A compact but well thought-out selection of 10 items. Must try: Baked barbecued pork puff ($40). The Taste: Don't miss the soft, delicate pork puff, which melts in your mouth. The otherwise average dim sum is much improved if you add Spring Moon's homemade chili sauce. The Setting: Pleasant dining atmosphere. Choose from a selection of fine teas and then watch while expert tea masters pour you a cuppa or two. Our Verdict: With well-presented dim sum in a nostalgic 1920s environment, this is a good place for a fine dining experience. T'ang Court 1/F Langham Hotel, 8 Peking Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2357-2250 Available Mon-Sat noon-3pm; Sun and public holidays 11am-3pm The Highlights: With 14 dim sum items served every day and a menu that changes twice a month, this place has quite a following. Must try: Mixed seafood dumpling with lobster and conpoy in soup ($80), steamed fish maw filled with shrimp paste, abalone and crab meat ($33). The Taste: Uses fresh seafood and comes up with consistently innovative combinations. Unfortunately, the taste is a bit bland. The Setting: Occupies two levels with five private rooms each named after a famous T'ang dynasty poet. Feels like dining in ancient China. Our Verdict: The mediocre-tasting food doesn't match the classic surroudings. Yung Kee Restaurant 32-40 Wellington St., Central, 2522-1624 Available Mon-Sat 2pm-5:30pm; Sun & public holidays 11am-5:30pm The Highlights: Yung Kee is famous for its roast goose, for dim sum try it in the rice dumpling with roast goose ($78). Other highlights include sweetened red bean cream ($16) and herbal jelly ($24). The Taste: With no fancy decor, Yung Kee is all about the food. The quality dim sum does not disappoint. The Setting: Feels like an old-school place, but without the expected dim sum trolleys. The staff are attentive. Our Verdict: Above average. Decent dumplings in a traditional atmosphere.