One of the best things about dim sum is its sheer versatility. Whether you're ordering the popular Chinese dumpling steamed or deep-fried, with vegetable or meat fillings, as pot stickers or gyozas, there really is something for every palate. And if you can't quite choose between them, then why not order them all? A number of restaurants in the UAE have unlimited deals and meals... so you can sample all you want and then "sum".
The Noodle House
The home-grown Asian restaurant has launched a limited-edition all-you-can-eat dim sum deal in select Dubai branches during October.
Guests can tuck into 10 varieties of dumplings and rolls, from the purple yam spring rolls to the fried chicken pockets, in addition to favourites such as the prawn har gow, crystal shrimp dumplings, and edamame and truffle dumplings.
During October and November, diners can also enjoy any of the venue’s new desserts – like the coconut creme brulee, mango milk cake or tempura brownie for Dh15.
The dim sum menu is available daily at the Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Nakheel Mall, or JBR The Walk branches for Dh59 per person.
Asia Asia
Want your dim sum with a side of sushi?
The popular Pier 7 venue has a Sushi Saturday menu where guests can indulge in the dim sum and sushi delights from 2pm to 7pm.
On the menu is a soup, dim sum basket with beef and kimchi options, chicken chilli, creamy sweet potato and daikon prawn. There's also the sushi platter with nigiri and maki rolls. The package, including a bottle of grape, is priced at Dh330 for two.
Fuchsia Urban Thai
Every Friday and Saturday, the casual dining venue has a bottomless dim sum brunch from noon to 4pm.
Guests can start their meal with vegetable spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce, and choose between a noodle soup or omelette dish as a starter. For mains, choose from the vast dim sum menu, which includes prawn har gow, vegetable gyoza, BBQ chicken buns, seafood siu mai, wontons and more.
The bottomless brunch is priced at Dh100 per person and is available at both the Bay Square and Barsha Heights branches.
Hutong Dubai
The DIFC establishment has launched a dim sim brunch with a fine-dining twist.
Guests will have a choice of 15 dishes and can order as many as they like. On the menu are dishes such as wild mushroom and truffle bao, suan cai yu crispy dumpling (a black crunchy dumpling filled with salted fish and pickled cabbage), and the tea-smoked egg foie gras. The popular Hutong dan dan noodles also make a welcome appearance.
The brunch is available from 1pm to 4pm every Friday and is priced at Dh358.
Long Yin
Every Saturday, the authentic Chinese restaurant in Le Meridien Dubai has an unlimited dim sum menu, available for lunch and dinner. On the menu are steamed and fried favourites, all paired with traditional Chinese tea.
The menu is priced at Dh119 per person.
Little Bangkok
If you’re craving a mid-week treat, Little Bangkok has an unlimited dim sum menu available every Sunday to Wednesday. As well as featuring many varieties of the popular dumpling, guests can also enjoy grilled skewers, roasted duck pancakes, stir-fried rice or noodles and free flowing hot tea, all for Dh96.
Looking to indulge on the weekend? There's also an all-you-can-eat offer at its Dubai Media City, Oud Metha and Dubai Investment Park branches, where guests can order anything on the menu for Dh129. This includes its vast variety of starters, mains, drinks and, of course, dim sum.
Zhen Wei
Every Friday and Saturday from noon to 3.30pm, Zhen Wei serves a dim sum brunch where guests can indulge in unlimited dim sum followed by a main course. On the menu are dishes such as the scallop and lobster sui mai, beef spice dumpling, rose prawn har gow, pan-fried shrimp corn cake and more.
For mains, foodies can choose between the sweet and sour crispy chicken, barbecued salmon or moo shu beef. Coconut ice cream with brown cake is a sweet way to end the meal.
The dim sum brunch is priced at Dh228 with soft drinks and Dh328 with house drinks.
In Abu Dhabi
Dai Pai Dong
The Cantonese restaurant in Rosewood Hotel has an all-you-can-eat dim sum lunch that can enjoyed from Sundays to Thursdays from noon to 3pm.
The extensive menu features a soup, steamed options such as the chicken bun and the boiled beef wonton, fried dishes including vegetable spring rolls and prawn roast, plus, rice rolls, fried rice and dessert.
The menu is priced at Dh98 per person.
Hakkasan Abu Dhabi
It isn’t unlimited, but Hakkasan Abu Dhabi’s dim sum lunch is still a favourite option in the capital. The upscale venue has a lunch menu every Friday from noon to 3.30pm with three baskets for Dh98 and five baskets for Dh138.
On the menu is the gold leaf har gaw, scallop siu mai, Szechuan style wonton, the King crab dumpling and the crispy prawn and bean curd cheung fun.