Best Dim Sum in St. Paul (2026)

Sesame chicken and mapo tofu anchor a menu long enough to need advance study. Peking Garden runs a spacious room built for group dining and family occasions, the kind of spot where a reservation for a birthday party gets seated on time. The kung pao chicken holds its own against the sesame chicken as the table favorite for regulars who have been coming since childhood.

The pho is the reason regulars keep coming back to this East Side counter, even though the menu reads American Chinese first. China Chef balances its hot and sour soup with a light hand, and the small operation keeps the same owner on site. It is a reliable stop for a neighborhood meal rather than a special occasion.

Garlic chicken fried noodles built on wide ribbon noodles draw families in for weeknight dinners at this St. Paul room. The Sichuan wonton in chili oil and scallion pancakes round out a menu suited to groups, served in a clean, well kept dining room with easy parking and generous portion sizes across the board.

Chicken wings have kept generations of St. Paul families ordering from HoHo Gourmet for decades, crisp enough to stay the draw on their own. The beef lo mein with thin noodles and mei fun round out a lunch buffet priced for value. The room runs busy at midday, staffed by people regulars describe as consistently kind.

New ownership changed Golden Chow Mein enough that longtime regulars notice, for better and for worse depending who is asked. The egg fu young now reads as more considered than the old version, and portions run larger under the new owners, though pricing crept up with the change. Chow mein and pork fried rice remain the anchor orders.

Garlic eggplant has been the standing order at this St. Paul room for over a decade, backed by egg drop soup and vegetable egg foo young that regulars order on repeat. Lamb dishes round out the menu. Consistency has wavered in recent visits, but the kitchen's long running favorites still define why people keep returning.

Beef chow fun done well is rare enough in the suburbs that this strip mall room built a following on it alone. Little Chopstix pairs it with lunch and dinner combo deals sized for a weeknight, plus sweet and sour chicken and chicken lo mein as steady sellers. Portion sizes run generous for the price point.

Special chicken chow mein and pork egg foo young carry over from the previous ownership under the Leo's Chow Mein name, though longtime customers note the flavor has shifted since the change. Sweet and sour chicken rounds out the order. It remains a casual, familiar stop for St. Paul diners who grew up on the earlier version.

Beef lo mein is the order that gets singled out most often at this East Side staple, alongside a fried rice built with real technique. The sweet and sour sauce is made in house rather than poured from a jar, and the chow mein leans into the Midwest style that longtime St. Paul eaters expect. Service moves quickly.

Mushroom fried rice draws repeat orders at this takeout only counter, alongside crispy egg rolls that regulars say are worth seeking out. Kim's Chow Mein also serves a chicken potato curry that stands out from the standard American Chinese lineup. The staff earns steady praise from customers who order often from this St. Paul spot.

Mapo tofu and a run of vegetarian dishes give this skyway counter range beyond standard combo plates. Ho Fan Restaurant blends Chinese and Vietnamese cooking, including banh mi, for a fast weekday lunch crowd in downtown St. Paul. The line moves quickly most days, though popular items can sell out before the lunch rush ends.