Try a little bit of this and a little bit of that when you go out for dim sum, which translates from Cantonese into the phrase “heart’s delight.” Dumplings, rolls, buns and tarts are heavily represented in the assortment of delights you’ll find during dim service at local Chinese restaurants, where you’ll pick what goes on your plate either via roving carts or lengthy menus. Northern Virginia has plenty of options, from newcomers such as 1983 Chinese to decades-old mainstays like A&J Restaurant.
1983 Chinese
This Cantonese newbie to Westpost, decked out in marble and green velvet seating, boasts that every dumpling, bun, and roll is crafted from scratch without pre-made fillings or frozen bases. That includes temptations such as Portuguese egg tarts, shrimp-stuffed bean curd rolls, honey barbecue pork buns and crispy, swan-shaped durian puffs. Don’t miss the pineapple buns for dessert, filled with gooey molten salted egg custard. 1101 S. Joyce St., Suite B26, Arlington (Westpost)
A&J Restaurant
The Rockville location of A&J restaurant is almost synonymous with dim sum in the D.C. area, drawing crowds of diners for 30 years. The slightly newer Annandale outpost is equally popular for its Northern Chinese-style dim sum. Check dishes off a menu like pork and beef dumplings or the thousand-layer pancake. Noodles dishes such as the fan-favorite spicy beef noodles are a big draw at this cash-only spot. 4316 Markham St., Annandale
Han Palace
The owner of Rockville’s renowned dim sum spot China Garden expanded into Tysons in 2020 with the opening of Han Palace. The cart-free restaurant’s dining room is easy on the eyes with a painted ceiling, cozy booths and red lantern decor. Many of the dim sum dishes are just as pretty, like purple-gold yolk buns, bright green steamed chive dumplings or a coconut pudding dessert shaped like an adorable bunny. 7900 Westpark Drive, McLean
Mark’s Duck House
On weekends, stainless steel carts roam the dining room of this Falls Church mainstay, carrying rice noodle crepes, stuffed crab balls, spicy wontons, roast pork croissants, sticky rice in lotus leaf, cute egg custard tarts and more. As the restaurant’s name suggests, crispy skinned Peking duck is a go-to order here, served with scallions and plum sauce in pancake-like wrappers. 6184-A Arlington Blvd, Falls Church
Hong Kong Pearl Seafood
If you’re dining with a crowd, you’ll find plenty of space in the dining room of this Falls Church restaurant, where dim sum carts are wheeled from table to table with a dizzying array of tantalizing bits, including the requisite spare ribs, pork buns and egg tarts, as well as options like chicken feet and jellyfish. 6286 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church
Peter Chang and NiHao
Purists will note that dim sum is rooted in Cantonese tradition, but we’d be remiss not to mention the small plate options at Peter Chang’s eponymous Sichuan establishments in Arlington and McLean, where the former Chinese embassy chef serves up spicy dan dan noodles, cilantro-flounder spring rolls, and dumplings stuffed with pork, shrimp and fish roe. Also, don’t miss the show-stopping scallion bubble pancake served with curry sauce. Small plates (referred to as “Chinese tapas”) also shine at the Chang family’s contemporary NiHao restaurant in National Landing. 2503-E North Harrison St., Arlington; 6715 Lowell Ave., McLean; 1550 Crystal Drive (NiHao), Arlington
Vinh Kee
Peruse the handy photo menus in this no-frills establishment for a visual guide to dishes like har gow (shrimp dumplings), shu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), barbecue pork buns, turnip cake, rice crepes and bright green pandan sponge cake. The dim sum feast here is available between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you want to order outside of that time frame, each dish is $1 extra. 3103 Graham Road, Falls Church
Tiger Dumplings
You’ll find 13 types of soup and steamed dumplings at this Clarendon eatery, filled with everything from cod cilantro to black truffle wagyu. Chef-owner Leopold Liao whips up thin-skinned, Northern-style dumplings as well as noodles, rice stir fry, pot stickers, preserved egg with tofu, and Chengdu chili oil chicken. Liao recently branched out to Rosslyn, opening an offshoot (Little Tiger Dumplings) in the Upside on Moore food hall. 3225 Washington Boulevard, Arlington (Clarendon)