Dim sum in Flushing operates on Cantonese time — the kitchen fires up early, the carts start rolling by 9:30am, and the best items sell out by noon. The traditional cart-service format (where servers push carts through the dining room and you select from what’s on the cart) is still the standard at the larger Flushing restaurants, unlike many Manhattan dim sum restaurants that have switched to order-form service.
Imperial Palace: The Classic Experience
Imperial Palace on Main Street is the largest and most traditional dim sum hall in Flushing. The room seats several hundred people and the cart service is continuous from opening until mid-afternoon. The har gow (shrimp dumplings in translucent rice flour skin), siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings open at the top), and char siu bao (BBQ pork buns, both the steamed white version and the baked golden version) are all well-made. The cheung fun (rice noodle rolls with various fillings) are excellent. Per-plate prices run $4-8 for most items.
The Specialist Restaurants
Several smaller restaurants on the side streets of Flushing specialize in specific dim sum preparations. The xiao long bao (soup dumplings) restaurants — particularly Nan Xiang Dumpling House — do that specific dish at a level that the larger dim sum halls don’t match. The turnip cake (lo bak go) and the taro dumplings (wu gok) at certain specialists are better than what you’ll find on Imperial Palace’s carts.
What to Order, in Order
Start with: har gow, siu mai, and cheung fun with shrimp — these are the baseline test for any dim sum kitchen. Then: BBQ pork buns (get both the steamed and baked versions to compare), turnip cake (pan-fried, crispy outside), and egg tarts (dan tat). If the kitchen is doing good work: try the glutinous rice in lotus leaf (lo mai gai) and the taro dumplings. For dessert: mango pudding or coconut milk pudding if available.
Practical Notes
Arrive before 11am on weekends. Come hungry and in a group — dim sum is designed for sharing and the more people at the table, the wider the range of dishes you can try. Cash is preferred at most Flushing dim sum restaurants. Tea is typically $1-2 per person and is refilled continuously. The total bill for two people eating well runs $30-45.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dim sum restaurant in Flushing?
Imperial Palace for traditional cart-service dim sum in a large hall. Golden Palace for a smaller, more focused experience. Both are significantly cheaper than Manhattan dim sum equivalents with comparable or better quality.
When should I arrive for dim sum in Flushing?
Before 11am on weekends for the shortest waits and the freshest selection. Dim sum in Flushing peaks between 11am and 1pm — arriving at 10:30am puts you ahead of the rush.
What should I order at dim sum in Flushing?
Har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork and shrimp), char siu bao (BBQ pork buns, both steamed and baked), cheung fun (rice noodle rolls with shrimp or BBQ pork), turnip cake (lo bak go), egg tarts (dan tat). Order 3-4 dishes per person for a full dim sum meal.
How much does dim sum cost in Flushing Queens?
Per-plate prices run $4-8 for most items at Imperial Palace and similar restaurants. A full dim sum meal for two people with a good selection runs $30-45 total, including tea. Significantly less than Manhattan dim sum equivalents.
Also see: our Flushing food guide
Also see: our Flushing neighborhood guide
Also see: our Queens cheap eats guide
