New Dim Sum Restaurant Opens in Greenville

Greenville, SC, October 4, 2025

News Summary

Khailing Neoh has opened Sum Bar, a dim sum restaurant in Greenville, following her success with pop-up events. Neoh transitioned from engineering to pursue her culinary passion, offering a menu that features small plates designed for sharing. With a strong demand for diverse dining options, Sum Bar aims to become a staple in the local food scene, attracting both locals and newcomers. The restaurant also hosts community events, including an LGBT Love Fest and celebrations for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

Greenville, SC – In January 2023, Khailing Neoh opened Sum Bar, a new dim sum restaurant in Greenville, following a successful pop-up journey. Neoh, who was previously an engineer, made a significant career change to pursue her passion for food, which has deep roots in her family’s history in the restaurant business.

Neoh’s culinary journey began with pop-up events that allowed her to test her food concepts before establishing Sum Bar as a brick-and-mortar location. She grew up in a family of restaurant owners, and this experience has strongly influenced her desire to introduce diverse cuisine options to Greenville. The idea for Sum Bar emerged from a longing for more small businesses and a unique dining experience that locals and new residents alike were craving.

With Greenville’s dynamic growth, many newcomers have shown interest in diverse culinary offerings reminiscent of larger urban centers. Sum Bar aims to address this demand by providing a menu that highlights traditional Chinese dim sum, featuring small plates crafted for sharing. This includes popular dishes such as siu mai, char siu bao, and gai lan, creating a communal dining atmosphere that resonates with the traditional concept of dim sum.

The first year for Sum Bar has been marked by overwhelming demand, leading to significant waitlists for seating. Approximately 50% of the restaurant’s customers are newcomers each night, showcasing a healthy mix of locals and tourists eager to experience the dim sum offerings. Neoh has emphasized her commitment to honoring authentic recipes, while also allowing for creative experimentation in her dishes.

In addition to the food, Sum Bar features a full bar that offers hand-crafted cocktails designed to complement the dim sum offerings. The restaurant actively hosts a variety of events each week, collaborating with other local businesses such as Coffee Coffee. Upcoming events include an LGBT Love Fest and a celebration for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, further solidifying Neoh’s desire to engage with the community.

As Sum Bar quickly establishes itself as a beloved fixture in Greenville’s culinary landscape, long lines of dim sum enthusiasts have become a common sight outside the restaurant during its early opening days. Neoh continues to develop her brand and expand her presence in the Greenville community through a range of events and special programming.

Key Features of Sum Bar

• Type of Cuisine: Traditional Chinese dim sum
• Menu Highlights: Siu mai, char siu bao, gai lan
• Dining Experience: Communal dining atmosphere focused on sharing small plates
• Customer Demographics: Approximately 50% new customers each night
• Events: LGBT Love Fest, Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, collaborations with local businesses

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Additional Resources

• Post and Courier: Chef 21 Chinese Dim Sum Restaurant
• Greenville Online: Top Chef Films in Greenville
• Eater: Best Restaurants in Greenville, South Carolina
• Google Search: Greenville SC restaurants
• Upstate Business Journal: Sum Bar Coming to Downtown Greenville
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Dim Sum

Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE

The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.