"Ling Wu's Clarksville dim sum house won the Austin Chronicle's best dumplings 2024 — book a weekday lunch for soup dumplings done right."
About Lin Asian Bar
Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum is the restaurant Ling Wu opened after years of cooking in other people's kitchens, and it sits in a converted Clarksville bungalow at 1203 W 6th Street rather than in a strip-mall food court. Wu built the celebrated dim sum program at downtown's Wu Chow before striking out on her own, and Lin is the more personal, more intimate expression of it. The seafood soup dumplings run $13, the dining room is small enough that weekend brunch books out, and readers of the Austin Chronicle voted it the city's best dumplings in 2024. For the criteria we judge it against, see our seven signs of a great restaurant.
The Kitchen
Ling Wu is the name to know here. She is the chef who developed the dim sum that made Wu Chow a downtown fixture, and Lin is where she cooks to her own standard without a larger group's constraints. The kitchen is narrow on purpose: a tight roster of dumplings and dim sum classics executed to order rather than rolled around on a cart.
The dish to lead with is the soup dumpling. Lin's seafood soup dumplings — delicate pleated parcels filled with broth that bursts on the first bite — are $13 and the reason the Austin Chronicle named this the best dumpling house in town for 2024. Around them sit steamed pork dumplings, shrimp har gow, crispy spring rolls and a short list of larger plates, most landing between $8 and $18, so a full table sits near $20 to $35 a head before drinks. The cooking-school precision of Wu's training shows in the pleating and the clarity of the broth; this is dim sum plated for a sit-down dinner, not a rushed cart service.
The Room
Lin occupies a small converted house on West 6th, and the scale is the point: a couple of dozen tables, warm low lighting, and a bar pouring sake and cocktails rather than a banquet hall's fluorescent buzz. Weekend dim sum brunch is the busy service and the hardest to walk into, so a weekday lunch or an early dinner is the easier sitting. Dress is casual Austin — nobody will blink at jeans — and the room is intimate enough to actually talk across the table, which is why it works as well for a first date as for a small group.
Best for a Relaxed First Date
Book Lin for a first date because the room is small and warm enough to talk, the shared plates give you something to do with your hands, and the bill never forces an awkward moment. Order broadly, split the soup dumplings, and let the sake list carry the evening. See our best restaurants for a first date and, for small groups, the best team-dinner tables in Austin. It also belongs on our best Chinese restaurants guide.
Not for
Not for a large celebration or a quiet business dinner — the converted-house dining room is tight, weekend brunch is loud, and big parties are hard to seat.
Frequently Asked
Is Lin Asian Bar worth it?
Yes — it is chef Ling Wu's personal dim sum house and the place Austin Chronicle readers voted best dumplings in 2024. The seafood soup dumplings ($13) are the headline, the cooking is precise, and a full table sits around $20 to $35 a head. Book a weekday table and order broadly.
What should I order at Lin Asian Bar?
Lead with the seafood soup dumplings — the dish that won the 2024 Austin Chronicle best-dumplings vote — then add steamed pork dumplings, shrimp har gow and a crispy spring roll or two. Most dim sum plates run $8 to $18, so order across the table and share. The sake and cocktail list is worth a look too.
Who is the chef at Lin Asian Bar?
Lin is owned and run by chef Ling Wu, who built the acclaimed dim sum program at downtown Austin's Wu Chow before opening her own room in Clarksville. Lin is the more intimate, more personal expression of that cooking, with Wu setting the standard on the dumplings the restaurant is known for.
Do you need a reservation at Lin Asian Bar?
For weekend dim sum brunch, yes — the converted-house dining room is small and the brunch service books out. Weekday lunch and early dinner are easier and can sometimes be walked in. Reserve through Resy and aim for an off-peak sitting if you want the calmer room. See the wider Austin dining guide for timing.
Where is Lin Asian Bar located?
Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum is at 1203 W 6th Street in the Clarksville neighbourhood, just west of downtown Austin — a converted bungalow rather than a strip-mall space. It is a short drive or rideshare from the Warehouse District and pairs naturally with a wander around the West 6th galleries and shops.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Lin Asian Bar
Via Resy · or call 512-474-5107
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address1203 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
NeighbourhoodClarksville
CuisineChinese · dim sum
Average spend~$20–35 per person, ex-drinks
Signature dishSeafood soup dumplings ($13)
ChefLing Wu (owner)
Dress codeCasual
ReservationResy / phone
RecognitionAustin Chronicle Best Dumplings 2024
