Restaurant Huang Du
Paramaribo's daytime dim sum den where Chinese families settle in for tea and trolleys
Why Go
Tucked on Plutostraat behind an unassuming facade, Huang Du (煌都茶点) is the rare Paramaribo address that treats yum cha as a proper weekend ritual — steamer baskets stacked high, pots of jasmine kept topped up, and a room that fills with Chinese-Surinamese multigenerational tables by mid-morning.
The Experience
Walk in and you'll immediately notice this doesn't run on the usual Paramaribo restaurant clock ΓÇö Huang Du opens with breakfast and closes when most kitchens are just firing up the wok. The vibe is bright, casual and unmistakably local: fluorescent lighting, round tables built for sharing, Cantonese chatter bouncing off the walls, and staff who assume you know what har gow is (they'll happily help if you don't). Sundays are the headline event, when Chinese families roll in for a long, lazy brunch that stretches across pots of tea and dozens of small plates. Weekdays are quieter and more workmanlike ΓÇö a solid spot for a filling nasi or bami before you head back out into the heat.
What to Try
Anchor your order in the dim sum: har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai, char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), and cheung fun (rice noodle rolls) are the classics to hit first. The kitchen also turns out proper Chinese-Surinamese comfort food ΓÇö order a plate of nasi goreng or bami with a side of roast pork, and don't skip the congee if you've come in for breakfast. Ask what's fresh out of the steamer rather than working strictly off the menu; the best baskets rotate through the room quickly.
Insider Tip
Come hungry on a Sunday between 10am and 12pm ΓÇö that's when the dim sum selection is widest, the turnover is fastest (so everything's hottest), and you'll get the full experience of a Cantonese brunch scene most visitors to Suriname never realize exists. Go with at least three people so you can order broadly, and remember: Huang Du closes at 4pm, so this is a breakfast-lunch destination, not a dinner one.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Plutostraat, Paramaribo (Plus Code RVQ7+P5V). Hours: daily, roughly 8:00 AM ΓÇô 4:00 PM (breakfast, dim sum and lunch only ΓÇö no dinner service). Phone: +597 551288 / +597 895-9478. Cash is safest; card acceptance in Paramaribo can be hit or miss. It's a short drive from central Paramaribo; a taxi is the easiest way in and out. Casual dress, family-friendly, and no reservations needed for small groups ΓÇö larger Sunday tables benefit from a call ahead.
Pair It With
- Central Market (Centrale Markt) — Wander the produce, spice and Javanese warung stalls after brunch to see where much of Paramaribo's multi-ethnic food scene actually sources itself.
- Fort Zeelandia — A short drive from Plutostraat, this riverside colonial fort is the perfect low-key afternoon walk to work off a dim sum feast.
- Palmentuin (Palm Garden) — Stroll the shaded royal palm grove next to the Presidential Palace ΓÇö a calm counterpoint to the buzz of a Sunday Chinese brunch.
- Warung on the Blauwgrond strip — If you want to complete a full tour of Suriname's Asian diaspora kitchens, follow Chinese dim sum with a Javanese-Surinamese saoto or bakabana dinner across town.