The Best Dim Sum in Denver (2026): Cart Service, Dumpling Houses and One Famous Soup Dumpling
Denver has two kinds of dim sum: old-school carts off Federal and a newer wave of dumpling houses. Here's where to get both, and what to order.
Denver has two kinds of dim sum. There's the old-school cart service in strip malls off Federal Boulevard, where servers push trolleys of har gow and shumai past your table. Then there's the newer wave of order-off-the-menu dumpling houses in LoHi and on Colfax. Here's where to get both, all confirmed open in October 2026. Craving something else? See the best Indian food in Denver.
The quick picks
- Best cart service: Star Kitchen.
- Best dumpling house: Nana's Dim Sum & Dumplings in LoHi.
- Best for a date or drinks: Ma's Kitchen Dim Sum & Bar on Colfax.
- Best single dumpling in Denver: the French onion soup dumplings at ChoLon.
Cart service
Star Kitchen
The benchmark for dim sum in Denver. Star Kitchen sits in a strip mall at 2917 West Mississippi Avenue, and on weekends the carts roll out of the kitchen loaded with the classics. It holds 4.5 stars across more than 4,300 Google reviews.
The one rule: go early. On weekends a line forms to put your name on the list before the doors even open. Bring a group that eats family-style, because the more people at the table, the more of the carts you get to try.
The Empress Seafood Restaurant
The other true cart-service room in town, at 2825 West Alameda Avenue. Servers push trolleys of pork shumai and shrimp har gow through the dining room. It sits at 4.3 stars across about 1,600 reviews.
If you remember King's Land on West Alameda, it closed at the end of 2018, which left Denver with only a handful of full cart-service restaurants. These two are the ones worth your morning.
Order-off-the-menu dumpling houses
Nana's Dim Sum & Dumplings, LoHi
The hot spot. Nana's opened at 3316 Tejon Street in late 2023, in the space that used to be the Fifth String, and it has since expanded with more Colorado locations. Order the truffle soup buns, the hot and sour dumpling soup, the jumbo crab rangoons and the pan-fried thumblings. It's rated 4.6 stars across more than 1,300 reviews. Expect a wait, especially on weekends. It's one of the best reasons to eat in the neighborhood, and our LoHi guide has the rest.
Ma's Kitchen, Colfax and York
Two concepts from one family at the corner of Colfax and York. Ma's Kitchen Dim Sum Next Door is the fast-casual counter in the original space at 1514 York Street. Ma's Kitchen Dim Sum & Bar, with its own entrance on Colfax, is the sit-down room with a full bar and a bigger menu. Get the xiao long bao and the Singapore butter prawns. The bar side is the best date-night dim sum in the city.
Chinese Palace Dim Sum, Northglenn
The north-metro option, at 11970 Washington Street in Northglenn, with 4.6 stars across a few hundred reviews. If you live north of 120th, it saves you a drive to Federal.
The modern one
ChoLon, downtown
Not a dim sum restaurant, but it serves the most famous dumpling in Denver. Chef Lon Symensma put French onion soup dumplings on the menu when ChoLon opened in 2010. The onion broth is cooked down until it sets, folded into the dough with Gruyère and steamed, so the soup melts back into liquid inside the wrapper. Order them at the Blake Street location in LoDo.
How to do dim sum right
- Go before noon on weekends. Cart service is at its best early, and the lines get long fast. It's the best brunch alternative in town; for the classic version, see our brunch guide.
- Bring four or more people. Dim sum is priced by the plate, and a bigger table means you try more.
- At a cart place, point and ask. Servers will lift the lids, and your table card usually gets marked for each plate.
- Start with the classics. Har gow (shrimp dumplings), shumai (pork dumplings) and char siu bao (barbecue pork buns) tell you whether a kitchen is good.
- Eat soup dumplings carefully. Bite a small hole, let the steam out and sip the broth first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get cart-service dim sum in Denver?
Star Kitchen at 2917 W Mississippi Ave and The Empress Seafood Restaurant at 2825 W Alameda Ave both serve dim sum from carts.
What is the best dim sum in Denver?
Star Kitchen for traditional cart service, and Nana's Dim Sum & Dumplings on Tejon Street for an order-off-the-menu dumpling house.
Where can I get soup dumplings in Denver?
Try Nana's truffle soup buns, the xiao long bao at Ma's Kitchen and ChoLon's French onion soup dumplings.
When should I go for dim sum in Denver?
Before noon on weekends. At Star Kitchen, a line forms before the doors open.
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