Is dim sum gluten-free? Mostly not, the wrappers and the soy sauce

Mostly not. Dumpling and bun wrappers are wheat, and even the translucent wrappers of prawn dumplings (har gow) are usually made with wheat starch. Soy sauce, usually brewed with wheat, seasons most fillings and dips.

What to check

• Rice noodle rolls (cheung fun) are made from rice, but the sweet soy sauce poured over them usually contains wheat.
• Steamers are shared, so a gluten-free item steamed next to wheat buns can pick up crumbs.
• Fried items (spring rolls, taro puffs) share oil.

What to ask

Dim sum is hard to do without gluten in a mixed kitchen. Ask which items have no wheat in the wrapper or the seasoning, bring your own gluten-free soy sauce, and keep plain rice dishes and steamed vegetables in mind.

Keep reading

• The Hidden-Gluten Watchlist: the 15 forbidden names and the ones to check
• Is soy sauce gluten-free?
• Are rice noodles gluten-free?
• Oats and wheat starch in gluten-free food

Sources: Coeliac UK, EU Regulation 1169/2011, Codex Alimentarius (gluten-free = 20 mg/kg or less), and our own city guides. Last checked: 28 September 2026. We inform, we don’t diagnose: for medical questions, your doctor or dietitian has the last word.