Chinese · AustinAustinApril 22, 2026

Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum

Published April 22, 2026 · Updated May 20, 2026

Clarksville, Austin · Modern Chinese & Dim Sum · $$$

Compiled by the Restaurants for Kings editorial team · 5 min read

The verdict

Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum is Austin's most accomplished Chinese restaurant, Chef Ling Qi Wu's Clarksville room where the Shanghai soup dumplings are the dish to build a meal around. Worth a reservation, especially for weekend dim sum.

Why Lin Is Austin's Best Chinese Table

Ling Qi Wu spent more than fifteen years in Ronald Cheng's Chinatown kitchens and built the celebrated dim sum program at Austin's Wu Chow before opening Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum on West 6th Street in 2018. Lin is her own room, and it reads that way: tight, personal and pitched a notch above the city's other Chinese options.

Wu cooks across regions, but the kitchen's signature is the Shanghai-style soup dumpling, the xiao long bao whose thin skin holds a scald of broth. The weekend dim sum service is the reason to plan ahead, and the à la carte menu carries the room at dinner with smoked duck and crisp-fried whole fish.

What to Order at Lin

Start with the Shanghai seafood soup dumplings and the chicken-and-shiitake siu mai. From the larger plates, the smoked duck is on most nights and the roasted Peking duck appears on weekends; the orange-peel Akaushi beef is the kitchen's showpiece for a bigger table.

Lin pours a short, well-chosen wine and cocktail list built to handle chili and richness, Champagne and off-dry Riesling do most of the work. For two, a spread of dumplings, one duck and a vegetable runs comfortably within the room's $$$ range.

The Room and the Setting

Lin sits in Clarksville at 1203 West 6th Street, a converted house with a small, busy dining room and a bar that suits a solo diner or a pair. The mood is lively rather than hushed; this is a place to talk and share plates, not a silent tasting room.

Reviews from The Infatuation and Austin's Tribeza have kept Lin near the top of the city's Chinese rankings since it opened, and the dim sum brunch is among the hardest weekend tables in Clarksville.

The Practical Details

Address: 1203 W. 6th Street, Clarksville, Austin, TX 78703

Chef: Ling Qi Wu (formerly Wu Chow; trained in Ronald Cheng's Chinatown kitchens)

Opened: 2018

Cuisine: Modern Chinese and dim sum

Signature dish: Shanghai seafood soup dumplings (xiao long bao)

Also order: Smoked duck; orange-peel Akaushi beef; chicken-and-shiitake siu mai

Price: $$$, roughly $40 to $80 per person before drinks

Best for: Weekend dim sum; date night; small groups

Booking: Reserve via Resy, especially for weekend dim sum

Who Lin Is Not For

Lin is not a cheap, fast Chinese-takeout substitute. It is a sit-down restaurant with restaurant prices, and the small Clarksville room fills fast, so a walk-in on a weekend night or for dim sum brunch often means a wait. Anyone after a quiet, formal tasting room should look elsewhere; Lin is lively and built for sharing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the chef at Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum?

Chef Ling Qi Wu owns and runs Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum. Originally from Fujian Province, she spent more than fifteen years in Ronald Cheng's Chinatown kitchens and developed the dim sum program at Austin's Wu Chow before opening Lin on West 6th Street in 2018. The restaurant is her own, and the menu reflects her regional Chinese range.

What is the signature dish at Lin?

The Shanghai-style soup dumplings, xiao long bao, are Lin's signature, thin-skinned parcels filled with a scald of hot broth. Beyond them, the chicken-and-shiitake siu mai, the smoked duck and the orange-peel Akaushi beef are the dishes regulars order. On weekends the kitchen adds a full dim sum service and a roasted Peking duck.

How much does dinner cost at Lin?

Lin sits in the $$$ range, roughly $40 to $80 per person before drinks. A spread of dumplings, one of the ducks and a vegetable comfortably feeds two within that range. The wine and cocktail list is short but well matched to the food, and a bottle or a couple of cocktails will move the total up from there.

Do I need a reservation at Lin Asian Bar?

A reservation is strongly recommended, especially for weekend dim sum, which is among the hardest tables in Clarksville. Lin takes bookings through Resy, and the small dining room fills quickly on weekend nights. Walk-ins are possible midweek, but for the dim sum service or a Friday or Saturday dinner, reserve several days ahead.

Where is Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum?

Lin is at 1203 West 6th Street in the Clarksville neighborhood of Austin, just west of downtown. It occupies a converted house with a compact dining room and a bar. The location is walkable from the West 6th and Clarksville area and a short ride from downtown Austin hotels.

Compiled by the Restaurants for Kings editorial team from the restaurant and named published reviews. Prices and hours current at the last update above; confirm with the restaurant before you book.