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Empress Pavilion

988 North Hill St. , Bamboo Plaza, Number 201

Los Angeles , CA , United States http://www.empresspavilion.com/

(213) 617-9898

This "Grande Dame" of Chinatown is the go-to spot for Angelinos craving dim sum in the downtown area. With sliding walls that open to accommodate 800 guests, the cavernous dining hall is located on the second floor of a shopping mall and is largely unadorned save for plush red carpet, classic white table cloths, and a few Chinese screen prints. The highlight is inarguably the dim sum which is served daily until 3 p.m. and attracts devotees city-wide with its selection of 200-plus dishes, including traditional staples such as barbecue pork buns, shrimp toast, and mango pudding.