Sui Sian

The Landmark Bangkok, 138 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-254-0404. BTS Nana. Dim sum available daily 11:30am-2pm.
The dark wood décor with deep red accents sets a elegant baseline to your Chinese New Year, which may be just what you’re looking for, instead of the usual, bustling insanity. Your urge to speak in hushed tones in this serene atmosphere will dissipate quickly when enjoying their fantastic dim sum deals which cover all the classics and accompanying rice, noodles or soup. Their year-round all-you-can-eat option (B420) covers 20 classic choices at lunchtime, and for the holiday, Feb 3-4, they’re doing an extra special set at B888 per person that also includes soup, noodles and a Peking duck for the table.

Man Ho

JW Marriott, 4 Sukhumvit Soi 2, 02-656-7700. Dim sum available daily 11:30am-2pm.
This will be a popular hangout for Sukhumvit hi-so family get-togethers this Chinese New Year, thanks to its elegant décor (wood paneling, large round tables and waitresses in quipao/cheongsam) and enormous, bright windows with views over Sukhumvit Road. They do two options: a B490 all-you-can-eat dim sum during the week, and a slightly fancier set for B720 (all week) that includes roast duck and shark’s fin soup (boo!). They also specialize in abalone and bird’s nest dishes.

Maria

50-52 Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, 02-221-5211. Dim sum available daily 11am-2pm.
Maria is like an old relative you see once a year for Chinese New Year. The rest of the time, you wonder if he’s dead: the doors hidden behind lotto sellers are always closed, but Maria is ever ready to welcome visitors. Step inside and find yourself in a large space decked out with simple 70s-style décor that can accommodate more than a hundred people all at once. The experience is old school and comforting, with lots of dim sum trucks and waving and pointing. A can’t-miss dish is the kha muu mantou (stewed pork knuckle served with steam Chinese buns). No set menus, but dim sum starts at a mere B40.

Silver Palace

4 Silom Soi 3 (Soi Phiphat), 02-235-5118. BTS Sala Daeng. Dim sum available daily 11:00am-14:00pm, 18:00pm-22:00pm
A two decade-old institution, Silver Palace is conveniently located in the heart of Silom, which also means that it’s crazy busy, thanks in part to its affordable prices. The vibe is of a laid-back and boisterous food hall, typical of this type of establishment: a large room, lots of round tables and maroon table clothes. We’re a little sad that they don’t do their B299 dim sum buffett anymore, but individual baskets range from B50-80, so no big deal. On Feb 2, spend over B2,000, and you get a 50% dining voucher for your next visit.

China House

48 Oriental Avenue, 02-659-9000. Dim sum available daily 11:30am-2:30pm
If you don’t mind having a slightly belated Chinese New Year celebration, consider spending Sunday afternoon at the atmospheric and fancy China House, where the dim sum brunch at B1,154 (or B1,650 with booze) is one of the more affordable offerings. If you want to celebrate with a date rather than grandma and grandpa, you’ll love the Wong Kar Wai-esque, smoking den feel of this place. As for the food, the dim sum are solid and fresh, being prepared a la minute, and there is an array of other Hong Kong-style dishes and Chinese classics. Get all you can eat from Mon-Sat for B888 (no drinks included). But for their legendary shrimps in wasabi mayonnaise, you’ll have to order a la carte.

Liu

Conrad Bangkok, All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Rd.,
02-690-9999. Dim sums available Sunday 11:30am-2:30pm.
Unlike the vast sprawling spaces and starched tablecloths of many dimsum halls, Lui has a low-ceilinged cozy feeling and a colorful décor with delicate traditional furniture and lots of red accents and table settings, all of which work to make it feel more like a standalone than a hotel restaurant. The dim sum set lunch isn’t pricey either. For B980, you get all-you-can-eat privileges for dim sum and lots of table toppers like braised shark’s fine with crab meat, garoupa fish with shredded taro and fried Shanghai yellow noodles with duck. For B1,180, you can get a slight upgrade with more seafood-heavy dishes.

Ahyat Abalone

Ramada Plaza Maenam Riverside Bangkok, Charoenkrung Rd., 02-291-7781/3. Dim sum available daily 11am-2:30pm.
This Bangkok franchise of Hong Kong’s Michelin star-studded restaurant never fails to pack in hordes of dim sum lovers on a daily basis. While its décor could do with some updates (think noisy and chaotic air-con room with big round tables), the restaurant itself is lauded for cooking up abalones to perfection and an impressive selection of Hong Kong-style dim sum, which comes in 30 varieties. The highlights include steamed scallop dumpling (B86), baked char-siew (BBQ pork) bun (B74), baked egg tarts (B68), deep-fried crispy flour wrapped in rice noodle (B80) and steamed bun with custard (B64). If that’s too much to shell out for dumplings, go there on during lunch for a 50% discount off the dim sum menu. Booking is a must.

Crystal Jade

G/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-129-4343.
For more branches, go to www.crystaljade.com. Dim sum available daily 10:30am-6pm
They may be a chain, but Crystal Jade is a hot favorite when it comes to democratic (haha) Chinese in our fair city. Not only do they do dim sum daily from 10:30-6pm, they’re also one of the few places in town you can get xiao long bao, those soup and meat-filled dumplings from Shanghai. And the Paragon branch is the least chain-y and most festive of the bunch, with its columns, dark wood and banquet style eating—perfect for a New Year’s brunch with your parents.

Xinn Tien Di

3/F, Gaysorn, 999 Ploenchit Rd., 02-656-2114. Dim sum served daily noon-2pm.
It’s hidden away on the top floor of Gaysorn, which means it’s often less than full, but it does come with the requisite high ceilings and a brigade of efficient waitstaff and knowledgable captain. We’re fans of the dim sum service here, as their light dumplings are delicately-made with thin skins and juicy flavors that avoid being too pork fatty. The chef also has a deft hand at seafood and their speciality Peking duck, which comes with light pancakes that are green with the addition of tea leaves. Dim sum ranges from B50-100.