Dim Sum King
Steamer-basket breakfast that turned Paramaribo into a dim sum city
Why Go
Suriname has one of the deepest Cantonese diasporas in the Caribbean, and Dim Sum King is where that history lands on a bamboo steamer. Locals line up on weekend mornings for har gow, siu mai and Shanghainese soup dumplings that would hold their own in Hong Kong, served in a bright, no-frills room on Weg naar Maretraite where the trolley culture of Guangzhou meets a very Surinamese sense of easygoing hospitality.
The Experience
Walk in and you're greeted by the hiss of steamers and the clatter of teapots being refilled. The space is casual and family-run: think fluorescent light, red accents, and a mixed crowd of Surinamese-Chinese families, office workers grabbing takeaway, and curious travelers who've been tipped off by their guesthouse host. Order by ticking boxes on a paper menu, and within minutes stacked bamboo baskets start arriving at the table. It's fast, friendly and unpretentious - a proper working-class dim sum parlor, not a hotel brunch. Come hungry, come early, and don't be shy about ordering a second round when you see what's landing at the next table.
What to Try
Start with the har gow (translucent shrimp dumplings) and siu mai - both benchmarks for judging any dim sum kitchen, and the ones locals swear by here. The xiao long bao (soup dumplings) have earned a small cult following on Surinamese TikTok for their broth-to-wrapper ratio. Round the table out with cheung fun (silky rice noodle rolls), a plate of char siu bao (fluffy BBQ pork buns), and lo mai gai - sticky rice with chicken and mushroom steamed in a lotus leaf. Wash it down with a pot of jasmine or pu-erh tea, Cantonese style.
Insider Tip
Weekend mid-morning (roughly 10:00-11:30) is peak dim sum time and also when the widest selection is coming out of the kitchen - but tables fill fast with Surinamese-Chinese families doing yum cha. If you want the full spread without the wait, arrive right when they open or aim for a late-weekday breakfast. Cash in SRD is smoothest; card machines in Paramaribo are famously moody. And don't ignore the daily specials scrawled on the wall - that's where the kitchen shows off.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Weg naar Maretraite 23, in the Maretraite neighborhood just north of Paramaribo's center - about a 10-minute taxi from the historic downtown. It's a breakfast-and-lunch spot, so plan accordingly; dinner is not really the point. Seating is casual and walk-in; larger groups can call ahead. Prices are very reasonable by international standards - a generous dim sum feast for two usually lands well under what you'd pay for a mediocre hotel breakfast in town. Bring cash to be safe.
Pair It With
- Fort Zeelandia — After steamer baskets, walk off breakfast at Paramaribo's 17th-century riverside fort - a short taxi ride away and the best introduction to Surinamese colonial history.
- Palmentuin (Palm Garden) — A shady stroll under towering royal palms in the heart of the city, perfect for a post-dim-sum wander before the afternoon heat sets in.
- Central Market (Centrale Markt) — To keep exploring Suriname's remarkable culinary crossroads - Javanese, Hindustani, Maroon and Chinese vendors under one roof, just a few minutes from Dim Sum King.
- Waterkant — The riverfront promenade lined with wooden colonial buildings makes for an easy afternoon follow-up, with cold Parbo beers waiting at sunset.