World record dim sum party: 830 in Seattle set mark

You did it, Seattle. As of Thursday afternoon, the Emerald City now boasts the Guinness World Record for the largest dim sum eating extravaganza.

Sitting four rows deep along streets that were blocked off to traffic in the Chinatown International District during the neighborhood's summer kickoff block party, 830 participants wolfed down more than 3,000 pork-and-shrimp dumplings and buns during the record attempt Thursday afternoon.

And at 3:30 p.m., Guinness World Records adjudicator Michael Empric from New York City dropped his clipboard, took the mic and declared that Seattle was the new record holder for throwing the world's "largest dim sum party.

Seattle snatched the dim sum title from Sydney, which set the benchmark with 764 people devouring dumplings in 2019. The record attempt happened a day before the United States and Australia play each other at Seattle Stadium in the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup.

In Chinatown, each participant was given a takeout carton with four dumplings and buns to eat from Jade Garden Restaurant.

Some folks might have mistaken the record attempt for a speed-eating contest, because a few did their best Joey Chestnut imitation, swallowing the dumplings whole and shoving steamed pork buns into their mouths.

An estimated 900 people participated, but only 830 were marked as successful eaters because some left their seats before the official head count.

I'm happy with this turnout. And I'm especially happy we got the record since my father and the chef team made the 3,600 dumplings by hand," said Jade Garden owner Eric Chan.

The P.T. Barnum-like stunt was meant to drum up buzz for one of the city's oldest business districts. In recent years, many dim sum parlors and noodle houses have reported that business and foot traffic have continued to lag in the Chinatown ID after the pandemic.

The block party, which kicked off with dim sum and ran into Thursday night, included street food vendors and a dance party. These festivities were held later in the summer in years past, but the Chinatown-International District Improvement Business Area and Wing Luke Museum moved the events up to sync with the World Cup, hoping to take advantage of tourist foot traffic.

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