Where would we be without yum cha? This glorious weekend feasting ritual is a big-time favourite, and we're happy to report that Brisbane has a neat collection of restaurants dishing out insanely delicious yum cha.
From authentic xiao long bao, prawn rice noodles, chicken feet and mango pancakes to fresh and funky spins on the traditional Cantonese brunch, yum cha truly offers something for everyone.
Here are the best yum cha restaurants in Brisbane.
Donna Chang
Brisbane CBD
Already a fave of ours for their stunning heritage venue and incredible modern Chinese fare, Donna Chang have gone and launched a yum cha banquet every Sunday, so now we can get our fix of dumplings and prawn toast in one of their iconic plush pink velvet booths. Available from 10.30am-12pm every Sunday, the banquet menu will set you back $55pp ($35pp for kids) and have you eating your way through cumin spiced lamb buns, pork and black truffle ham siu gok, spicy pork xiao long bao and wagyu beef puffs, just to name a few. Even better, instead of regular tea, you can pair your feast with bubble teas like black tea milk with strawberry and tapioca pearls. Check out the full menu and book yourself in here.
Landmark
Sunnybank And Chermside
Well known for their phenomenal yum cha is Landmark Restaurant. Brisbanites come from far and wide to eat at this iconic yum cha style restaurant, known for its authenticity and utterly amazing roast duck. The tea selection is also something to write home about, so grab a bamboo basket and start eating. Frankly, it's a good thing there's one on both the north and south side, because no one in Brisbane should have to be too far from this yum cha.
Stanley
Howard Smith Wharves
Boozy bottomless yum cha? Count us in. Every Sunday, Stanley dishes up a decadent yum cha lunch matched with free-flowing champagne, all to the backdrop of their glamorous Cantonese-inspired venue. Of course, you can also feast on their dim sum dishes at any time, with platters of dumplings one of their specialties, alongside their Peking duck pancakes.
Parkland Restaurant
Sunnybank
Tucked away in Sunnybank, this yum cha and Chinese restaurant is well worth the drive out of the city. Whether you're after brunch, lunch, dinner, or anything in between, Parkland Restaurant is there to bring you the goods on the daily. Specialising in their seafood dishes you can order an entire fresh mud crab from the tank if you're a sea critter lover, but nothing beats choosing baskets of prawn and Shanghai pork dumplings from the rolling trolleys.
Golden Lane
Sunnybank
Serving up what has to be every yum cha dish in the world is Golden Lane. This stylish restaurant seats 300 people, feeding everyone a fresh take on traditional Chinese food. By applying both Eastern and Western cooking techniques Golden Lane moves with the times, enhancing traditional cuisine rather than getting stuck in it. Stop by for their legendary dim sum and you won’t be disappointed.
Luckies Kitchen
Bulimba
If you’re looking for something a little more playful than traditional, Luckies Kitchen in Bulimba ticks all the boxes for fun, fresh and fabulously funky. Their yum cha menu is available for lunch from Friday to Sunday and features not-so-traditional dishes like crisp pork belly bao buns, and chicken wings alongside fan faves like prawn toast, BBQ pork buns and prawn har gow. The best part though, is that you can add on 90 minutes of select cocktails, beer and wine for just $45pp—hello long lunch.
King Tea
Paddington
It's always a good time for yum cha, espeically at Paddington's King Tea. This funky Chinese restaurant is an inner city fave, especially amongst broke young things happy to take advantage of their $30 banquets on Monday and Tuesday nights. If it's dim sum you're after though, stop in any night of the week for endless pork pot stickers, vegetable spring rolls and beef, prawn and pork wontons.
Golden Palace
Fortitude Valley
For a traditional yum cha experience in Brisbane, patterned carpet and all, Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant should be your go-to. Here you can order from the yum cha menu for lunch or dinner seven days a week, and they’re BYO to boot, making them perfect for a group get together. Load up on scallop and prawn dumplings, pork ribs in black bean sauce, barbecued pork puffs and so much more, until you basically have to roll home.
Brisbane Phoenix
Brisbane City
Whether you’re a yum cha regular or you’re completely new to the joys of over ordering baskets of pork xiao long bao and having to basically roll yourself home, Brisbane Phoenix will be sure to have you grabbing the chopsticks for a feast of epic proportions. A dark and moody restaurant, with a black, red and gold colour palette reflecting its Chinese origins, Brisbane Phoenix will have you lost for words at the sight of their specialties like crab xiao bao and prawn and garlic chive dumplings.