Nostalgic Dim Sum at Luk Yu Tea House

Looking for some 1930’s nostalgic dim sum in Hong Kong? Look no further than Luk Yu Tea House (陸羽茶室) in Central Hong Kong.

The restaurant’s 1930s atmosphere and traditional dishes offer a fascinating glimpse into old Hong Kong. The tea house was named after the Tang Dynasty poet Luk Yu, who wrote “The Classic of Tea,” which depicts the history and culture of tea. For over eight decades, the tea house has stayed true to its Cantonese roots in food offerings.

What’s It About?

Luk Yu Tea House is decorated with antique wooden furniture, stained glass windows, white tablecloths, and Shanghainese art décor with a subtle colonial feel. Its 1930s atmosphere and traditional dishes give a fascinating peek into old Hong Kong, something our grandparents or even great-grandparents could talk about.

Luk Yu Tea House originally opened at 8 Wing Kut Street, the tea house flourished for decades before its relocation to the current Stanley Street in 1976. The venue stretches across three floors, with regulars seated on the ground floor and tourists and visitors upstairs. The restaurant is rumoured to be a favourite of locals and the rich and famous, so it would not be surprising if you are sitting next to one of Hong Kong’s billionaires, property tycoons, or even government officials.
The restaurant is recommended on the Michelin list and offers a menu for alcoholic drinks, but I would recommend drinking tea as it is a tea house. Visitors can enjoy the traditional dim sum, which is prepared and served in the traditional way.

The Menu?

There is a menu for alcoholic drinks, but I would recommend drinking tea as it is a tea house but also, I was there to enjoy the traditional dim sum. Luk Yu Tea House is recommended on the Michelin list, to order dim sum, visitors are asked to mark on the dim sum paper which is printed with on a rustic-coloured paper with red ink using a Traditional Chinese font.

(please note: as I didn’t take a photo of the menu, I have had to use an image from Google. Image credit: Cheen The Curious)

The menu at Luk Yu Tea House includes alcoholic drinks, but I would recommend drinking tea as it is a tea house. To order dim sum, visitors are asked to mark their choices on rustic-coloured paper with red ink using a Traditional Chinese font. The front-of-house team all wore white jackets and tended to get on with their work with alacrity. Although there wasn’t an English menu, the friendly staff were happy to help those who needed assistance when ordering (it may be useful to bring a friend who can read Traditional Chinese).

Luk Yu Tea House offers traditional dishes that are difficult to find in other dim sum venues which was a pleasant surprise.

The service

The service at Luk Yu Tea House is not the main attraction, but the atmosphere and food make up for it.

Some reviews have noted that the front-of-house team can be careless, but this is what the culture is like in Hong Kong, where locals tend to be rushing but get their work done. During my visit, I did not have any negative experiences and really enjoyed the experience.

Luk Yu Tea House is a place where you would expect older men in former generations to take their birds in cages to drink tea. However, over the decades, this practice has started to become obsolete, and due to hygiene reasons, many have stopped this practice.

Have you visited Luk Yu Tea House before? I’d love to hear your thoughts.