Dim sum is dangerous territory. Flaky pastries, perfectly smooth custard, crunchy crystal prawns – believe it or not, these things can get people pretty damn huffy! Never deterred by a challenge, we set out to find the best dim sum out there. Here’s what made the cut.
Best Char Siew Bao
One of the signature dim sum items at Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant is the char siew bo lo bao (baked BBQ pork buns), $4.40 for 3 buns, soft pillowy buns enveloping sweet and juicy char siew with a crunchy topping. They sell out fast so make sure you get there early!
Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant, Carlton Hotel, 76 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189558, p. 6311 8188. Open Mon-Sat 1130am-230pm, 630-1030pm, Sun & PH 11am-230pm, 630-1030pm.
Best Har Gao
At Yan Ting, the har gao (steamed shrimp dumpling) is top-notch, with crunchy, fresh, and juicy shrimp in a thin yet firm, and semi-translucent skin. These dumplings might be small but they pack a delicious punch. Let them cool a bit before biting in, lest the juice scalds your tongue! $6.80 for 4 dumplings.
Yan Ting, The St. Regis, 29 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247911, p. 6506 6866. Open daily 1130am-3pm, 630-11pm.
Taste Paradise
Best Custard Bun
For a sweet ending to your meal, order Taste Paradise’s liu sha bao (flowing salted egg yolk custard bun), $4.20 for 3. This is the Chinese equivalent to a molten chocolate lava cake, and equally as yummy.
Taste Paradise, #04-07 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801, p. 6509 9660. Open Mon-Fri 1130am-3pm, 6-11pm, Sat-Sun & PH 11am-430pm, 6-11pm.
Best Char Siew Sou
Similar to the char siew bo lo bao but equally as good, Imperial Treasure Nan bei Restaurant serves up a mean char siew sou (baked BBQ pork pastry), $3.90 for 3 pieces, is flaky, buttery, and comes to your table with a honey glaze on the surface.
Imperial Treasure Nan Bei Restaurant, #05-12/13 Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238872, p. 6738 1238. Open Mon-Sat for lunch 11am-5pm, high-tea 230-530pm, dinner 530-10pm, Sun lunch 1030am-5pm, high tea 230pm-530pm, dinner 530-10pm.
Taste Paradise
Best Egg Tart
Believe it or not, egg tarts are actually an adaptation of English custard tarts. Reserve space for another offering from Taste Paradise, their mini egg tarts, $3.60 for 3, warm, flaky pastry that surrounds silky smooth egg custard.
Taste Paradise, #04-07 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801, p. 6509 9660. Open Mon-Fri 1130am-3pm, 6-11pm, Sat-Sun & PH 11am-430pm, 6-11pm.
Best Late Night/Affordable Dim Sum
Craving dim sum at night? Swee Choon Dim Sum Restaurant is the place to go. Open only in the evenings till late at night, this is a no-frills restaurant established in 1962 that serves Cantonese and Shanghainese dim sum, with prices that don’t go above $7. Food comes quickly, but be prepared to queue for awhile if you’re planning to go there for dinner.
Swee Choon Dim Sum Restaurant, 183-191 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208882, p. 6225 7788. Open Mon, Wed-Sun 6pm-6am. Closed Tue.
Traditional Dim Sum
Wondering where to go for traditional dim sum from a pushcart? Red Star Restaurant is your best bet. For the old boys and girls, this is the kind of place where you go to reminisce about the good old days. The decor is dated, but that’s precisely what you are going for. Be sure to get there early on weekends as they don’t take reservations for lunch. Prices average $3.60-$4.50 per basket.
Red Star Restaurant, #07-23 54 Chin Swee Road, Singapore 160054, p. 6532 5266. Open 7am-3pm, 6-1030pm.
Ju Chun Yuan
Best Dim Sum Buffet
Ju Chun Yuan is household name in Singapore for its famed Fuzhou cuisine. Bring a friend, or 10, to this dim sum buffet, where there are over 50 dishes on offer, all prepared a la minute. Indulge in all your favourite dim sum at a promotional price of only $18+ on weekdays, and $24+ on weekends.
Ju Chun Yuan, #01-01 Far East Square, 130 Amoy Street, Singapore 049959, p. 6536 2655. Open daily 12-230pm, 6-1030pm.
Kid-friendly Dim Sum
Din Tai Fung is a classic, but for kid-friendly dim sum, this might probably be the best place to head to. Play it safe with xiao long bao (Shanghai soup dumplings), $9.50 for 10 pieces or $6.80 for 6, noodles, fried rice, or other dumplings. Save the chicken feet, beef tripe, and other adventurous stuff for when they’re older!
Din Tai Fung, multiple locations. See website for details.
Dim Sum with a twist
Searching for dim sum with a twist? Cherry Garden offers authentic Cantonese cuisine with a modern interpretation; expect unique items like crystal dumplings with assorted mushrooms and zucchini ($6 for 3 pieces), steamed marinated chicken & wild rice dumpling ($8 per piece), steamed onion & ginger beef dumplings ($6 for 3 pieces), and more. They also have a vegetarian dim sum menu available.
Cherry Garden, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, 5 Raffles Avenue, Marina Square, Singapore 039797, p. 6885 3538. Open daily for brunch 11am-1pm, 130-330pm, lunch 12-230pm, dinner 630-1030pm.
Top image: Cherry Garden