Our go-to dim sum spot near Chapel Hill! This is a wonderful family-run restaurant that blends modern simplicity with traditional charm. The staff are incredibly friendly and hardworking, and the atmosphere feels both welcoming and authentic. All items are affordable and with reasonable prices! It's the only legit dim sum place near Chapel Hill/Carrboro, about a 25-minute drive for us--and we gladly make the trip almost every week. We simply can't get enough of their food! Warning: Everything on their menu is dangerously addictive. You've been warned! Our Favorites 2. Pork Dumpling (Siu Mai / Siomai) -- Steamed pork in a wonton wrapper, perfectly juicy with just the right balance of pork and vegetables in every bite. A delicious classic done right. 6. Beef Onion Dumpling in Chili Sauce -- One of the best dumplings we've had--and we've been to dim sum spots all over the world! The beef is flavorful and juicy, wrapped in a thin, perfectly chewy skin. The chili sauce complements the filling beautifully without overpowering it. Generous portion, amazing value, flawless execution. 9. Steamed BBQ Pork Bun -- Soft, fluffy buns filled with mildly sweet BBQ pork. Comforting, classic, and delicious every time. 11. Egg Yolk Bun -- Lightly sweet custard filling inside soft steamed buns. The perfect bite of dessert to end your dim sum feast. 16. Bean Skin Stuffed with Pork -- Juicy, lightly seasoned pork wrapped in delicate bean skin. Flavorful but not overpowering--simple and satisfying. 27. Crispy Shrimp Ball -- Juicy and lightly seasoned shrimp goodness inside a crispy ball. They disappeared into the void of my stomach as soon as they touched our table. 28. Crispy Taro Puff with Chicken -- Think of these as bite-sized empanadas with savory, well-seasoned chicken inside--like the best mini chicken pot pies! Crispy, flavorful, and completely addictive. I could easily eat 30 of these! 41. Crispy Beef Onion Pot Sticker -- Pan-fried to golden perfection for that satisfying crunch. The beef and chives inside are juicy and flavorful, and the portions are generous. I dream about these dumplings when I'm asleep. Absolute perfection. Take all my money! The Finishing Touch Dim sum is meant to be enjoyed with tea, and they offer a simple traditional brew that pairs beautifully with every dish. If there's one downside--it's that they're only open Friday through Sunday. We wish they were open all week! Everything on their menu is so good! Best Dimsum and service in Durham! read more

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Objectively speaking, this is one of the better dim sum options within the area, and is a great location to get some of the classic dim sum options. I've had the pleasure of eating some really good dim sum, and while I can admit that the dim sum here will never be as good as places in New York, I can say that they do a decent job and that the experience will be enjoyable for any eater. Rather than delivering dishes on the traditional cart, Dim Sum Asian Bistro uses a menu where you can mark off the dishes that you want. There are a lot of different steamed, fried, and a la carte options that you can choose from. A lot of the basics are done pretty well. They have good pan fried dumplings, shrimp dumplings, shao mai, and coconut pudding. They also have some other, complex dishes that we really enjoy. Their curry powder turnip cake is some of the best out there. The curry flavor pops and the fry is absolutely perfect. Crispy on the outside, but warm and soft on the inside. They also make their chicken feet really well, which is a tough one to do sometimes. I know that there will be some good options. Although Dim Sum Asian Bistro has some good things, they also serve some things that you would just be better off not ordering. They have three different types of rice crepe dishes with meat. Their best is easily the shrimp, and you should stick to that. In fact, I would avoid the beef version at all costs, it is made with a beef paste and the texture was so strange, it was kind of unappetizing! I also think their fried rice could use some work, and I think some items, like their custard buns, could have come from the frozen section. I think my family can be pretty critical about dim sum since it has been a big part of our personal culture. However, sometimes I feel I need to take a step back and look at it broadly. I've come here with some of my friends who don't eat dim sum consistently and they are always wowed by the experience. From that perspective, I can see how this place hits the mark. They serve pretty authentic food and make it taste good. There is always a buzz about the restaurant and people come and go over the weekend. It's no wonder you might have to wait to get a table, Dim Sum Asian Bistro is definitely doing something right! read more

Screaming 10/10 for me! This is hands down one of the best spots for DIMSUM! When you walk in the restaurant the staff is very friendly and welcoming. It's nice and cozy feel to the restaurant! The food was so fresh and delicious. Everything we order was up to par delicious and so filling Run now do not walk. Thank you for the hospitality and delicious food! read more

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I was there today for lunch with my family, my niece introduced me to this restaurant, according to her it's trending in tiktok about how good the food was, it didn't disappoint me! Love everything that we ordered, the service is fast and the servers are nice and attentive, I can see why people keep on coming and the whole restaurant were full in no time. By the way the prices are very reasonable. Ambience is like a little chinatown, I will definitely will be back whenever I come in this area. read more

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Eater Carolinas called this one of the essential Chinese restaurants in the Triangle, and I can see the potential here. Little plates, small portions, the way dim sum should be, and most of it looks housemade, props for that. The service is scant, which is okay for a space this small, but it's mostly a single server so you do have to do some work to get attention. Unfortunately, we got a lot of overly salty dishes, including the Shrimp Hargow, Shrimp and Chive Dumpling, and Pan Fried Pork Buns. And I don't mean that I prefer things with less salt, these things were inedibly salty. Pork Dumplings are shumai, and are among the best I've had. I love the Creamy Salt Egg Buns, and I'm good with the Stuffed Bean Curd Skin. Beef Tripe and Pork Ribs are both pretty good as well. Chinese Broccoli is perfectly steamed, but they drown it in oyster sauce. The Stuffed Tofu with Shrimp is one I really have a problem with. The tofu is NOT stuffed, it's just a solid cube of tofu topped with a few pieces of diced shrimp, barely enough to be a garnish. The Egg Pancake is also a bit strange - just scallion pancake dipped in egg on what appears to be only one side, then pan-fried again. Love the desserts - can't go wrong with freshly fried Red Bean Sesame Balls and Coconut Pudding. I really wanted to love this place, and I do think it has potential, but they do need to adjust a few things first. I can only hope we came on an off day because I do want to give them a second chance. read more

Dim Sum Asian Bistro - Dim Sum Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food, is comforting, homemade, and made fresh. Adequate selection of dumplings, dim sum, noodles and rice dishes to satisfying your taste buds. Service is friendly, attentive, warm and always with a smile. The young fella assists his mom, it's a small family run business. Ambiance the dining room is small, keeps them busy enough. Seating is for about 50, lights are dim, not lousy. Great for family meals as all dishes are shareable. Great for 1st timers to dim sum, date night and returnees. Plenty of free parking, accept major CC. read more

Dim Sum Asian Bistro - Spicy Pork Won Tons, Pan fried chicken Bao, and Pan fried Bao - Dim Sum Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My girlfriend and I were in the area and wanted some Dim Sum and we stumbled upon this place. To start off, there are no dim sum carts as you order straight off the menu. We got the classics such as chicken feet, Xiu Mai, ha gow, and shrimp rolls. The orders came back and they were quite small in portion. The Xiu Mai didn't really have much flavor to it and all I could taste from the spicy wontons was just the spice. It could definitely use a little boost there to amp up the flavor. Chicken feet was solid, and was very comparable to other Dim sum restaurants. The one that I shocked us both were the Stir fry noodles with beef & peanut sauce. We thought it would just be a light peanut sauce, but it turned out the whole dish tasted like peanut butter. Beef and everything else were overshadowed. Unless you are a big fan of peanut butter, then I would recommend getting a different noodle dish. Not a bad spot to get your dim sum craving. read more

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Sundays are always dim sum days, so we tried this one out. It was actually very quiet when we got there, it's not a traditional cart dim sum place. We had to order from a menu instead. So we had to wait for it to come out. So not a place for quick dim sum. Overall the dishes are okay. It wasn't as flavorful. For instance the lightly battered veggies lacked seasoning. Same with the tripe. However it was cooked well. Tender and soft with a tiny bit of a chew. No gaminess at all. The dumplings that they hand make is pan fried. The dough was too thick but also dry at the same time. The meat in it was good. The mango pudding isn't soft. It's more like a tofu texture. Which I liked. It may have been a pre mix one as it did smell artificial mango. But still tasted fine. Overall it was an okay place. read more

Dim Sum Asian Bistro - Dim sum - Dim Sum Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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My MIL called on Saturday evening to make a reservation for Sunday 11 AM dim sum because my BIL had said this place gets pretty packed. I don't think we needed one. It did start filling up slowly but I think as long as you get there when it opens at 11, you should be fine. That's when we got there and it seemed more people like to get there at 12. There are no dim sum carts here. Instead, they give you a paper menu and you tick off how many items of which dim sum you want. We had eight people, so we ordered a bunch of dishes: shrimp churng fun, beef churng fun, ha gow, shumai, taro puffs, chicken feet, pork ribs, egg tarts, cha siu baos, spring rolls, turnip cakes, cha siu puffs, and vegetarian rolls. Everything was just okay but I will say, I was pleasantly surprised by the taro puffs. They don't look like they normally should, and looked like it had a thick shell, but it was actually pretty good. Duds were the churng fun and the shumai. The churng fun did not have a good consistency and was breaking a part. The shumai tasted sour - not sure if it had gone bad. We also ordered some beef noodles from the regular menu which were SO ridiculously salty. I would skip these. The highlight of the meal was the chili oil. I used it on everything and it made the dim sum better. read more

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I enjoyed this place! I was surprised when I heard about a dim sum place near Durham and had to go try it out. The menu was extensive, and they give you a pencil and paper to check what you want to order. The staff were all nice and helpful when ordering. We ordered the shrimp dumplings, pork and chicken spicy wontons, pork and chive dumplings, shrimp shumai, pork buns, scallion pancake, and sticky rice. All of the meats inside of the wrapping were very tasty and juicy, especially the spicy wontons! The green pork and chive dumplings tasted odd; the skin of the dumpling was sticky, chewy, thick, and tasted almost raw. I've tried many other dim sum spots, and I'd say that this was not as authentic as some others. The pork buns were very good as well, but I wish there was more pork filling inside. Scallion pancake was too oily, but everything else was good. Also, everything ended up being ~$60 for 4 people! Which is an amazing price. I would probably come back for ome wontons and steamed dumplings since they are pretty cheap. read more

Dim Sum Asian Bistro - Dim Sum Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This dim sum restaurant location has to be one of the top ones in the triangle area in NC. The prices are reasonable, but more importantly the dishes were prepared hot and delicious! I was in town for a business trip and decided to meet some family and friends at this location and the consensus was unanimous... everything was great including the service. The restaurant is clean comfortable. I was expecting more patrons, but I think folks were just staying at home keeping warm since it was a fairly cold and damp day. I will definitely be back the next time I am in town! read more

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There are only a few things necessary for a great dim sum restaurant: authentic flavors and an authentic experience. Unfortunately, Dim Sum Asian Bistro offers just under the bare minimum for both. Eating here is like being a part of the allegory of the cave; if you've had great dim sum, perhaps in a city with a Chinatown, you would know that the flavors and the experience here are shadows on the wall, compared to the reality of what they should be. In fact, like many in the area, the food here seems to have come out of a freezer and into a steamer, rather than being made on-site. Service is ok, and usually wouldn't be the focus of an authentic dim sum experience. The problem is that since there were no dim sum carts, ordering by checking boxes on a paper menu just doesn't quite qualify for good dim sum. Unfortunately, all of these detract from the experience, and the vibe simply isn't there. Unfortunately, barring a drastic change, I won't be coming back - visitors beware, take a trip to Chinatown instead. read more

Service was attentive, and the food was very good. Most recent visit was a Sunday night, and it was not very crowded. We have been there on week nights when it was very busy. They also seem to have a steady takeaway business. Even though everything is made to order, the food came out quickly. This is the only true dim sum restaurant that I have been to that makes everything to order (as opposed to carts that circulate with whatever has been prepared in advance). While the cart experience can present a larger variety of dishes, we often take way more than we intend. On our most recent visit, there was a hand-written sign on the door saying they would be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday - I hope this is just a pre-thanksgiving thing. Strongly recommend that you give this place a try soon! read more

Food was a 2/5 - all the dim sum is very tiny. Ambiance is 3/5 - decently clean; bathroom was so dark I couldn't see. Service 4/5 - family owned and everyone is so sweet. It makes me want to support. But not sure if I like the food. Tripe was very tough, the dimsum was so small, everything else was just ok. read more

Delicious bao buns, creamy crab rangoons, amazing pork noodle crepes, and tasty pudding! Amazing service and cozy atmosphere!

We had dinner here last night. The food was awesome. We got these: 1. Green colored pork and chive potstickers with a crispy lace around them, which was absolutely delicious! 2. Crispy taro puff stuffed with chicken - it was awesome! 3. Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce - this was one of our favorites! 4. Pork and preserved egg congee - really good! 5. Shrimp shumai, pork shumai - both were absolutely delicious. 6. Creamy salt egg bun - this was our first time trying this. It was fun eating it, and it was surprisingly sweet. I expected it to be salty, but it was melting-in-the-mouth good! 7. Pan fried pork and onion stuffed pancake - this was one of the best items on the menu. It was delicious! 8. Sesame balls stuffed with sweet black bean paste - always a great snack, and it was awesome! 9. We tried both the mango and coconut desserts. Both were just aersome, but we liked the mango better with little bits of mango in it. 10. The jasmine tea was great too. One pot was enough for three of us. read more

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I am so elated that there's a dim sum place in the triangle area. I thought when I left SoCal I would be saying goodbye to my favorite Chinese cuisine. Thankfully this restaurant isn't too far away from our home in Raleigh. A few slight differences are the absence of food carts where you just pick and choose what you want. Instead you check off your choices in the menu. Secondly there are a few menu items present in say, Atlantic Seafood and Dim Sum, in Monterey Park that are not available. Notwithstanding that, I'm glad they have the mainstays of what a dim sum should have. Now the taste. The congee was a tad bland. The egg custard cup was not flaky and crispy and finally, the oyster sauce in the Chinese broccoli was watery. Otherwise the rest of the menu items were tasty and pleasant. The service was friendly and the food delivery prompt. But I think the reason why it was is because the place was not busy at all, it being a rainy, gloomy Saturday December 31st afternoon past 3. I figure it would be far more busy and hectic during the regular days since this is the only dim sum place for miles. The ambiance is a little confusing. The place looks more like a western restaurant with the wood tables and walls, with the exception of the back wall festooned with the traditional day-in-the-life Chinese paintings. Nonetheless, I've been to few Hong Kong dim sum hole-in-the-wall establishments that look like converted warehouses so who am I to complain. Overall, I find this a great place to ease the cravings and the food, gratefully does not disappoint. I'm definitely coming back. read more

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We discovered this gem (excellent food) during lockdown. We got carry out a couple times a month. Now that they are open, only 3 days a week, the service has become dismal. We ordered carry out yesterday. We repeated the order to clarify. We were told 30 minutes. When my husband went in to pick it up, the server told him she would be back in 3 minutes. 25 minutes later, with no sign of her, he left. They called about 20 minutes later and asked where we were. We said that we waited and the server never returned. They told us that was not true. We explained again (and couldn't believe that we were told it was untrue that he had been there). We told them we would never return. read more

Over the years I feel like they've been getting better and better! They are my absolute favorite dim sum place in the area. Since COVID, I don't think they do the cart service anymore, but they still offer the exact same menu and have added some new items to it. Everything we've gotten here has been incredible! The shrimp rice rolls, sticky rice, BBQ buns, creamy salted egg buns, jalapeno with shrimp, taro cake with curry sauce, shumai, eggplant with shrimp, and egg tarts are our favorites! But I really haven't had anything here that I didn't like! Definitely recommend getting some jasmine tea along with your meal as well. I always leave feeling full, happy, and warm! read more

Dim Sum Asian Bistro - Dim Sum Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Why does Durham have multiple dim sum locations? I don't understand the logistics of it. I can only assume that there is a big enough population for it. I haven't done any research, but to have multiple restaurants that specialize in dim sum is an undeserved luxury. I live in Charlotte and we have 1 place but it's not grimy. And in my mind, dim sum should be grimy. It's the working man's meal. A little bit of everything, then back to work. Go hard here my guy...no diddy. Congee could use some fish sauce but it's got the components. Everything else is either a triple or home run. Parking galore. Bring your friends. Bet the bank... read more

We made the last minute decision to try this dim sum restaurant for dinner. You mark on a paper menu the items that you want to try and the server takes your paper and brings around your small plates as soon as they are ready. There are no frills at this restaurant, as the decor is simple but warm and inviting. We ordered four or five different things: pork wontons, pork siu mai, egg scallion pancakes, delectable pan-fried pork buns, melt-in-your-mouth shrimp-stuffed eggplant, and taro puffs with chicken. Our favorite was the pan-fried pork bun, which was crispy on the bottom and juicy inside, and the shrimp-stuffed eggplant. The wontons came with a delicious spicy garlic sauce that added the perfect dash of spice to the dish. Overall this was a tasty meal and very reasonably priced. read more

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** Overall ** Very packed, small, and crowded restaurant. No push carts and lots of people waiting. Food was decent, but just passable. Cashier will try to scam you on tips if you're not careful, by saying they cannot take Apple Pay and need your card instead. ** Taste/Authenticity ** (+1/2 star) The food was generally the wrong "color" and taste. The dishes generally had little flavor and it felt like the restaurant was skipping out on some key ingredients to make genuine dim sum. ** Quality ** (+1 star) Overall, the quality of the food was decent and is passable. We did not detect any strange flavors or odor coming from the food. Meal was served hot, and did not taste stale. ** Service ** (+1 star) Our server was nice and pleasant to interact with during the meal. No issues here. ** Value ** (+1/2 star) Price was okay, but portions were small for dim sum. ** Cleanliness ** (+0 star) Yeah. Kind of dirty and run down. Might be suitable for a dim sum place in Durham. read more

Food was top notch. I think a lot of reviews are frustrated by the wait time to get their things. I was a little annoyed at first but it's important to keep in mind that this is a family owned space. They're doing their best and everyone seems to be working really hard at all times. Not to mention the wait times are because everything is fresh and not frozen. Absolutely loved everything. It was so good that I almost cried. The prices are great and the food is comparable to dim sum in nyc if not better. I hope this place stays around forever. 20/10! read more

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We are devastated that this wonderful restaurant closed. It was the only place where we could find authentic dim sum at a reasonable price. We loved the owners and their children and we are very sorry we will not be seeing them each weekend. I hope they open another dim sum restaurant in the area because we want to continue eating at a restaurant they own. read more

As I wrote in my review for East Coast Asian Bistro in June 2020 (https://bit.ly/3OXQbiX), what's up with the name of this place? I guess it's more clear now. At that time, "Dim Sum Asian Bistro" was also going by its apparently-now-old name, "East Coast Asian Bistro." The business still went by "East Coast Asian Bistro" on their website, but the takeout menu I picked up in-person said "Dim Sum Asian Bistro." I took a photo of this inconsistency: https://bit.ly/3R3fgLf. As of 2022, it appears that East Coast Asian Bistro has fully made the transition to Dim Sum Asian Bistro. The business now technically goes by "Dimsum Asian Bistro" ("Dimsum" as one word) on their website (https://bit.ly/3bMDhpN) and physical menu and "Dim Sum Asian Bistro" ("Dim Sum" as two words) on their storefront. Bye bye, "East Coast Asian Bistro." From my "eye test" (using sports terminology here), Dim Sum Asian Bistro and East Coast Asian Bistro are the same business. The only thing that appears to have changed is the name. The restaurant interior, food/menu, and staff all appear to be the same. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the owner(s) simply renamed the business from East Coast Asian Bistro to Dim Sum Asian Bistro as a marketing decision. East Coast Asian Bistro was known in the Triangle for its dim sum, so why not just rename the restaurant to be more direct: Dim Sum Asian Bistro? Makes sense to me. What doesn't make sense to me, and others agree (e.g., see Fido D's 6/23/2022 review), is closing down the old Yelp page for East Coast Asian Bistro and opening up this new Yelp page for Dim Sum Asian Bistro. I think the reviews for the now-closed East Coast Asian Bistro are still valid: https://bit.ly/3P41c2t. The old page should have simply been renamed "Dim Sum Asian Bistro." In June 2022, I submitted a business info/details edit to Yelp to correct this issue. Sometimes the edits go through, other times they don't. There seems to be no rhyme or reason and we're at the mercy of Yelp's moderators. I also let Yelp NC Triangle Community Manager Janet R know. In the past, CMs have been helpful to me when I've had issues correcting business listing info. The result: Several reviews and photos of East Coast Asian Bistro in June 2022 were transferred to Dim Sum Asian Bistro. So, the East Coast Asian Bistro listing will remain permanently closed and this listing will represent the business going forward. Oh well. Yelp's never been perfect. I do note the Yelp pages for both East Coast Asian Bistro and Dim Sum Asian Bistro were claimed, so maybe the owner(s) have played a part in keeping the listings separate. Anyway, enough about the business name discrepancy and associated Yelp issues... I thought our last visit to Dim Sum Asian Bistro was just OK, hence my three-star rating. My wife liked/likes this place better than me. I will say a few of the big positives for me are the value, selection (over 60 dim sum items), and service. The dim sum here is reasonably priced and the staff is polite and efficient. The girl that's worked here for years is very cute and sweet. However, the overall quality of the food this last go-round was average at best and the portion sizes were too small in my opinion. At least they don't overcharge. Understandably, dim sum pricing had increased between our previous visit and our most recent visit. Pricing was as follows: Small - $3.45 Medium - $3.95 Large - $4.45 Special - $6.15 "T" (not sure what the "T" stands for) - $7.05 Dim sum is served all day, 11am to 8pm, everyday except Tuesday. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays. Dim sum cart service only occurs on weekends and holidays, 11am to 1:30pm. However, it's not a true dim sum cart service -- you order from a menu and your order is rolled out on a cart. It's not like traditional dim sum where the hot-and-fresh, ready-made foods are placed on carts and rolled around the dining room for customers to pick and choose for immediate consumption. In my experience, this is the most popular and recommended dim sum restaurant in the Triangle and perhaps all of North Carolina. I'm aware of Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant on Guess Road in Durham: https://bit.ly/3qZluAj. I've seen Dim Sum House in Morrisville on Yelp, but the average three-star rating and reviews have turned me off from that place: https://bit.ly/3NyfLdi. Are there any other "authentic" dim sum options in the area/state? This last time, we got: 9. Steamed BBQ Pork Bun (3 for $3.95) 12. Creamy Salt Egg Buns (3 for $3.95) 15. Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce ($6.15) 18. Chicken Feet ($3.95) 20. Beef Tripe ($4.45) 24. Crispy Taro Puff with Chicken (3 for $3.95) 29. Turnip Cake with Curry Sauce ($6.15) 33. Pan-Fried Pork Onion Pancake ($6.15) 48. Pork Preserved Egg Congee ($6.15) 56. BBQ Pork Noodle Crepe ($3.95) 62. Hong Kong Egg Tarts (3 for $3.95) From this group, I recommend Nos. 9, 12, 29, 33, 56, and 62, taking into account my comment on quality above. 15 and 20 disappointed. read more

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Dim Sum served ALL Day? This is unheard of. When I read my fellow Elites reviews I had to take their word for it. I had been raving about my first dim sum experience to my friend/ fellow yelp elite at another establishment in Morrisville and we decided to feast on this reserved Juneteenth holiday. The restaurant is located in a international strip mall. You'll need to look for it to the far right. Upon arrival I began perusing the reviews on yelp/ Google. She convinced me to take the reviews with a grain of salt and try the business for myself. I'm so glad we did because we loved it ! Service was wonderful and we were seated quickly for a Monday after 2:00 pm. We decided on the steamed BBQ Pork buns, Green Chive and Pork dumplings in chili oil, pan fried turnip cake, crispy sticky rice dumpling with chicken, chicken spring rolls, cheese Rangoon wontons, and my favorite the creamy salt egg bun ! My favorites were the green chive and pork dumplings, bbq pork steam baos and cream salt egg buns. Everything was extremely tasty, those listed were excellent. The prices were excellent and we really enjoyed our meal. I was happy that my friend's first experience could be memorable and well enjoyed. I can't wait to return to try the weekend menu. Unfortunately they did not serve the Hong Kong Egg Tarts which I always look forward to. The creamy salt egg buns made up for it. read more

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***FOOD: honestly 2.5 stars. Please don't tell me this is the best dim sum Raleigh has to offer. It was lacking on so many levels - taste presentation authenticity. Haw gaw- skin too thick, so little filling & where's the shrimp?; Soup dumplings & potsticker dumplings - OK but filling was not very tasty, porridge - ho hum; radish cake- gluey tasteless. Truth is will probably go back for lack of option elsewhere if have a craving, but definitely have had better ***COST (OUT OF 4$) $$ ***DÉCOR: think it use to be an Irish pub /bar of some kind converted. No real Asian theme decor ***SERVICE: slow food in coming. Owner server was nice. ***RECOMMEND: sort of RECOMMEND if you have that craving. read more

Dim Sum Asian Bistro - Dim Sum Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This Asian Bistro exceeded all expectations, its a family owned restaurant and the ambiance was inviting and friendly . From the moment I stepped in, the restaurant's warm and traditional decor set the stage . The menu featured an array of Asian flavors, each dish crafted with precision and flair. The ordering process is simple, you have a paper menu on the table, you choose your plate and quantity. Once you're ready, the server will take your order and bring it all out. The attentive staff and prompt service added to the overall enjoyment, making it a must-visit for anyone craving a diverse and delectable experience. I ordered: pork bao, chicken and pork dumplings with general tso chicken and a side of rice. read more

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I came here to try out the local dim sum. It's located in a shopping center so there is a decent amount of parking. My friend and I ordered the (1) Beef Short Rib w/Pepper Sauce, (2) Shrimp Noodle Crepe, (3) Donut Noodle Crepe, (4) Crispy Taro Puff w/Chicken, (5) Beef Tripe, (6) Stuffed Bean Skin w/Pork & Vegetables, (7) Pan Fried Taro Cake, (8) Stuffed Eggplant w/Shrimp, and (9) Turnip Cake w/Curry Sauce. Everything tasted good although my favorite would definitely be the Turnip Cake w/Curry Sauce! These fried cubes of deliciousness were so addicting! They ran out of Chrysanthemum tea by the team we ordered, so we stuck with water. Unfortunately our overall experience was longer than expected. They are busy during lunch with many parties waiting to be seated. It's not like some dim sum places where they push around carts of cooked food around for ordering. Each table has a checklist if you already know what you want. Otherwise they will offer a menu. It took awhile for someone to come by to take our order and deliver the food. We got our entire order fulfilled with three trips. However some of amour dishes were lukewarm/cold by the time they got to us. Normally they will give you the check when they notice you are done, but we ended up going to the cash register to request our check after waiting for so long. We also just ended up getting the takeout boxes ourselves for the leftovers. Although they only had two people working the front, my friend said they were much more efficient during Mothers Day when it was busier and with the same amount of staff. Overall the food and prices were good. This seemed like an off day for them, so I would like to give it another try sometime. read more

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We dine in today Monday, 6/20/22 around 2:30/3. This was my first time having a Dim sum and not my last time. The service was good. We were acknowledged immediately when we walked in. I enjoyed the selections. The Pork Green chive was my favorite. It was bursting with flavor in every bite. The steamed pork buns were delicious. The pain-fried turnip cake is a great flavor much like a potato substitute, I also enjoyed it. I also had the following (below) but I will skip these the next time. Crab cheese wonton was okay, but I tasted more cream cheese than anything. Crispy sticky rice dumplings and chicken spring rolls were a good flavor but not much excitement there. I will be back again soon to try the vegetables. read more

Dim Sum Asian Bistro - Dim Sum Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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It's okay. I got takeout a couple of times. The dishes were better than some Asian takeouts in this part of the world. Service (greeting, offering seat while I wait, polite and sense of caring interaction) was pleasant and appreciated. The room looks nice but still holds that "we survived on takeout during the pandemic" look to it. That service area that might have had a bar or something before the pandemic. The Singapore Noodle was okay and better than any I had in years. The dim-sum had a texture of reheated frozen from Costco feel. Beef was unremarkable. All in all, not exciting but, keep in mind, I'm 70 and have a well traveled palette. read more

Loved the variety of dim sum options here. The shrimp dumplings were perfectly steamed, and the pork buns were soft and full of flavor. Everything tasted fresh, and the portion sizes were just right. The restaurant had a nice, cozy atmosphere too. read more

Dim Sum Asian Bistro - Dim Sum Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Coming from the New York Metropolitan area, I grew up eating at a restaurant called Jing Fong (RIP), and have always been a big fan of dim sum. Though I never thought I would find a decent dim sum place after leaving the Northeast, this family owned restaurant definitely hits the spot. Just like Rhaegar Targaryen's daughter, this place goes by many titles, East Coast Asian Bistro or Dim Sum Asian Bistro, which makes it somewhat a pain to find, but when you figure that out, the food does not disappoint. My wife and I have been going to this place pre- and post-covid, and we have enjoyed it every time. The dumplings are delicious, and the chicken feet are cooked well in a scrumptious sauce. The Turnip Cake w/ Curry Sauce is amazing and does not disappoint. Finally the Egg Yolk Paste Sesame Ball is a great way to end a meal. Overall, a great place to curb your dim sum cravings (Probably because of COVID, make sure you call in before trying to dine-in) read more

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Merry Christmas from Dim Sum Asian Bistro! We loved that this place was open for brunch. We even ran into a friend--the sign of a well-liked local establishment! What looks like a modest hole-in-the-wall from outside is actually a larger modern industrially and traditionally designed restaurant space. While I was greeted with familiar tastes, smells, and faces, I would have to agree with the other reviewers that I was somewhat underwhelmed. Taste is king, thus the 4-star rating, especially for authentic Asian food in Durham. I really liked the sweetness of the dough in the shrimp crepe open dumplings and deep fried chicken-filled balls. However, the portions were small, and the food wasn't as temperature hot as I'd prefer for hot dimsum on a winter day. And we couldn't continuously fill our table with new dishes and had to order everything ahead. I liked the familiarity of receiving food from the passing carts, but it didn't feel the same as having the food actually cooked and prepared on the carts by the waitstaff. All of this being said, I would definitely return. One of the better tasting authentic Asian restaurants closer to downtown Durham without having to venture to Raleigh or Cary. read more

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Note: 1) been here once 2) before COVID 3) during the holidays 4) next to a bar Pros: 1) seems like pretty authentic food 2) food was pretty tasty (+2) 3) decent service (+2) Cons: 1) decor seemed a bit old and out of date 2) food was a bit more pricey Total: 4/5 One night, I was craving Dim sum and dragged my friends around town to try to find a good Dim sum place. My friend suggested this place in the area. He said that it was family run and had the cuisine that I desired. Upon arriving, I drove into the parking lot of a strip mall. A big loud bar was next door to this quiet little Chinese restaurant. When we entered, we were seated near an old looking fireplace. The place was not that packed but it was also dark and gloomy outside. A young preteen girl came and took our order and left. Then, an older woman came out to clarify a few pieces of information for our order. It really felt like a family run restaurant at that moment and made me feel more at home than any other restaurant that I've been to in the area. The food came out exactly as I ordered it and also relatively quickly. It was piping hot and really good. I haven't had dim sum in a long time and this hit the spot. The meat buns were pretty filled and savory. The Shumai was well seasoned and packed a lot of flavor. The shrimp dumplings were okay. Plain and simple shrimp flavor in a wrap. The potstickers were definitely the best part of the menu as it was well cooked. It was crispy, it was juicy, it was delicious. I have no major complaints here so if you want a family style setting with good potstickers and a nearby bar, this might be the place for you. read more

Dim Sum Asian Bistro - dumpling, shumai, pork meat buns x2 - Dim Sum Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Craving some dim? come here Randomly had a hankering for some dim sum so we hit up this place. Went here Sat around lunch time - place was kinda busy but not full so we were seated instantly. The options on the menu were quite diverse. I got my usge - shrimp dumplings/shumai, sweet buns, sticky rice, chinese broccoli. All were excellent and tasted authentic (at least to my americanized asian taste buds). We also got shrimp wrapped in eggplant which was quite succulent. Service was great (not the fastest but not bad). We did have to order a la carte (they didn't have the carts) so not quite the traditional dim sum experience, but whatever. Food was great, cheap - will be coming back. read more

Dim Sum Asian Bistro - shrimp shumai, shrimp chive dumplings - Dim Sum Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This is my husband and I's favorite restaurant in the world! We've been coming for over a year now and never get tired of it. Delicious food, amazing owners, fast service, super affordable, quiet dining room. Would eat here every week if I could! read more

Came here for some lazy hangover dim sum on a Saturday morning and it was the perfect atmosphere. It was my girlfriend's first time trying dim sum and I had a lot of fun showing her all of my favourite dishes. Everything at East Coast Asian Bistro was great! We ended up spending just over $20 each and we shared baskets and baskets of dumplings pork buns and dessert. Paired with the jasmine tea, my meal brought me back to life. My faves were the Chinese broccoli in oyster sauce, the pork buns, the bean curd, and the egg custard buns. Will definitely be coming back here soon! read more

Business model ruins the food which was subpar at best Took 45 minutes to get 4 of the dishes we ordered Fails: scallion pancake, pan fried pork buns One server wheels out all the dishes from the kitchen Food not hot when finally arrived and it didn't matter because I didn't want to eat most of it read more

Dim Sum Asian Bistro - Horrible pan fried pork dumpling Tasted like undercooked donut and cold because it takes so long to get your food - Dim Sum Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

There are no good Dim Sum options in the triangle, but when I'm craving Dim sum, this is my go to. My main problem with them is that the quality is inconsistent. Sometimes they are made well, other times they are over cooked and wet. Quality slightly improved since moving to new ownership/ name change. Either way, my favorite items to order are: shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, chicken feet, any congee (although they are stingy on the ingredients/protein inside it), and pork buns. We like to bring it home and enjoy it with our own spicy chili sauce and it makes these dishes better. Taste: 3/5 Presentation: 3/5 Recommend to a friend?: Nahh lol Consistent: yes Cost: $ Parking: plenty of parking in the large shopping center read more

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