Nobody mentioned Jade Dynasty. I'm surprised. It's on Pender in Chinatown, so not that far from Broadway (by car). It's a bit nontraditional in the sense that instead of them pushing carts around, you get a piece of paper, and you check off what you like. Very tasty though, and pretty inexpensive, especially if you are an early bird.

Just to throw my two bits in...

Selection is going to be somewhat limited if you cut out shrimp from the list (even worse if you cut seafood in general).

Pink Pearl is on Hastings St outside of Chinatown. Had a fire a few years back and just reopened a few months ago. Haven't tried them since reopening.

Sun Sui Wah isn't really my favourite. But it's a safe choice and relatively nearby where the OP is staying. It's probably the best option for them.

Agree not a lot of good dim sum options downtown.
Really like Fisherman's Terrace in Richmond and Western Lake on Victoria.

As for alternative options: Izakaya is a great idea but again, it's tough to get away from the no fish/shrimp.
There are also a lot of small bistro like places opening up in "low rent" neighbourhoods serving great food at quite reasonable prices.

We ended up trying Fisherman's Terrace while we were in Vancouver earlier this month. We went on a Wednesday morning, right around the time they opened and it got more and more crowded towards lunchtime.

I have to say, it was good dim sum, but I remember having better in my other trips to Vancouver. Maybe the quality goes up on the weekends...

Most Dim Sum places in North America is better on the weekend where there is more volume and the full A team is working.

Totally agree.

Downtown Kirin. Simply the best.

I've got to totally disagree with that. Best for downtown, maybe...

Out of all the Kirins, the downtown branch is probably the worst and the Richmond branch being the best. Cambie is in-between.

The Kirin A team is at Richmond, FTW!

I prefer the ambience downtown...that and when I'm in town I'm coming from the North. It's my best option, and it's convenient to go shopping afterwards. :)

But, still the best dim sum. I like the Shanghainese options.

Got to +1 the above.

Side note... tried Pink Pearl a few months back on a Saturday to check it out after their reopening and it was disappointing.
They had carts but the place was only about 1/3 full so the turnover wasn't great and accordingly the food selection & quality wasn't the greatest either.
Later on, they gave us a sheet so that we could order from the kitchen but the couple of items we selected pretty much tasted like they were reheated from a microwave.

The Pink Pearl is aimed at the lower-end - and you'll get food reflecting that. I haven't been to the Pink Pearl in about 10 years but having spoken to friends/colleagues who have eaten there more recently, your experience pretty much matches theirs.

To get good FRESH dim sum you need to go to a place that is busy or made to order (Not just cooked to order).

A Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gow) that is made and steamed when you order taste different from one that was made at dawn and steam at lunch time for you.

In many of the major NA cities with a large Chinese dim sum eating population will have dim sum factories where everything is done, delivered and the restaurant just heat and serve (like pub food). There are many dim sum consumers' selection is only base on price and this business model is now gathering momentum in Hong Kong, Singapore, Vancouver and Toronto.

Anybody able to offer some updated advice for us, please? Specifically interested in options in Richmond; thanks!

Not Richmond but Kirin at City Square (Cambie/12th) is apparently gone. West(ern) Lake on Fraser/34th was a disappointment when I went there a few years ago (though the crowd size and lines at the door suggest otherwise).

You can look here
https://chineserestaurantawards.com/...choice-awards/

Chef Tony (never heard of previously let alone been to as it's all overseas for me) is in Richmond on voted best (by judges and/or readers) as is Fortune Terrace getting the honorable mention (with its crispy pork belly winning a best dishes award).

I currently live in a reputed Chinese food desert.