A project by Gilbert Fung from Houston’s beloved Fung’s Kitchen family, this new Katy jewel box is a modern and stylish fast-casual location, with plenty of Instagram-worthy eye candy. With more than 40 tried and true Fung’s favorites, get your fill of soup dumplings, Peking duck, and lava buns. Or try the newer items created specifically for Dim Sum Box, like the fried garlic dim sum, fried jalapeno har gow, and salted egg yolk soft shell crab. Order at the counter, then grab a seat and wait for the beautifully plated, color-coded morsels to arrive (Fried items are served on bright red plates while steamed items come in stylish silver baskets).

Katy’s Asiatown is now home to the first Texas dim sum outpost of lauded, Michelin-starred restaurant Tim Ho Wan. The restaurant is known for its fluffy barbecue pork buns, but there are countless standouts on the menu, including comforting congee, sticky rice served wrapped in lotus leaf, and spicy wontons. Don't deny your sweet tooth — Tim Ho Wan’s sesame balls reveal a sweet custard worth savoring.

The only bona fide dim sum restaurant inside the loop, One Dim Sum offers an elevated all-day dim sum experience in a small, bistro-like atmosphere with an extensive patio. Chef Jeff Mei, who worked at the now-closed Yauatcha, brings the former restaurant’s flair with colorful, almost-too-pretty-to-eat dim sum. There are pear-shaped har gow dumplings streaked with pink ham; fried pumpkin puffs shaped like mini pumpkins; and bright green, flower-shaped mushroom dumplings that are bound to blow up your Instagram feed. Be sure to try the bright orange black caviar and mushroom dumplings, or the shiny, jet black morel dumplings. Indulge in its various beer, wine, and sake cocktail options, or bring your own. Note: Parking can be a challenge, so carpooling or taking a ride-share service isn’t a bad idea.

Tucked away in a dimly lit alley in the corner of the newly renovated Diho Square, Dim Sum King is a pioneer in the all-day dim sum format. Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (Monday offers delivery service only), regulars swear by the authenticity of this price-friendly, no-frills establishment, which turns out made-to-order, Hong Kong-style dim sum classics like pan-fried turnip cakes and sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf. Frequent diners who sign up for the free membership get a $10 reward for every $100 they spend. 

Prominent signs out front that read “All Day Dim Sum” will let assure you that you’ve reached the right place. Known for its strong dim sum game, Shanghai serves up crazy-good ham sui gok, fried glutinous pork puffs, lava buns, and the equally delicious Cheung fun rice roll with crispy shrimp and chive. Kids will also love the adorably Instagrammable pig-shaped sweet milk buns.

With what is undoubtedly the largest dining room in Chinatown, Crown Seafood can seem quite cavernous when it’s not full, but that’s the beauty of it: Plenty of lazy-susan-topped tables for large parties, easy-to-find parking, and minimal to no wait times, even during peak weekend dim sum hours. Offered daily until 3 p.m., dim sum is ordered from a small markup sheet, accompanied by a picture menu for easy ordering. Made fresh, the piping hot morsels, like the shrimp shu mai and plates of crispy shrimp balls, are delivered to the table via pushcart. Don’t miss out on the giant deep-fried crab claw (it’s massive!), or the special lobster dine-in steal for just $34.95 per order, with a limit of one per table. Indulge in the specialty teas, beer and wine, or take advantage of the BYOB with corkage policy and bring your own.

One of the newer entrants in Houston’s dim sum game, Q Mama’s green foliage, hanging chandeliers, and round table seating for larger parties make it an attractive choice for a family dim sum outing. Its quasi push-cart offering — allowing guests to order from a paper menu before their picks are delivered to the table via cart — also makes for a nostalgic experience, along with its bamboo steamer baskets, which are thought to produce a juicier, more flavorful dim sum. 

With more than 90 dim sum items on the menu — all of it photographed and prominently displayed on the restaurant walls — Golden Dim Sum offers one of the most expansive and affordable dim sum menus in the city. Home-run items include the magnificent pan-fried pork dumplings, salt and pepper squid, and the #51 fried egg custard ball with egg yolk and almond coating, but that’s not covering it all. Go hungry, bring friends, eat and repeat.

Offered until 3 p.m., this OG favorite is perfect for dim sum any day of the week. While steamed dumplings like har gow and shu mai never disappoint, fried items like crispy taro puffs, fried shrimp dumpling salad with mayo, and the giant, chewy-hot-glutinous goodness of the ham sui gok are most impressive. On weekends, dim sum is a joyous affair. The entire restaurant, including the banquet room, opens for dim sum seating, with $20 carafes of mimosas, and glasses of bloody marys and margaritas delivered from its full bar.

Recently relocated from Stafford to Sugar Land, Regal Seafood is known among the Chinese food cognoscenti as the place for quality dim sum. Offered all day from 10:30 a.m. to close, Regal features show-stopping shu mai steamed in a square wooden bamboo steamer and topped with bright orange tobiko, har gow in ginseng broth, crispy shrimp balls, and Peking duck carved tableside. Hidden gems include steamed honey char siu bao, baked custard buns, and the double-layered milk pudding. Be sure to bring your own alcoholic beverage of choice. Regal is BYOB, with a corkage fee. Be sure to bring your own alcoholic beverage of choice. Regal is BYOB, with a corkage fee.

A mom-and-pop joint located inside Sugar Land’s Jusgo Supermarket complex on Highway 6, Joy Dim Sum offers the quintessential no-frills experience with just a handful of tables, freshly made dim sum, and affordable pricing, with a 5 percent discount if paying with cash. Though the short and sweet menu is not as extensive as other dim sum establishments, patrons will attest to the quality of the Cheung fun rice rolls, chicken feet, fried taro, crab claws, and more. Open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.