Grab your chopsticks for the finest dim sum in Singapore!
Dim sum, yum cha – call it what you want, but the debate never ends. Which restaurant does it best in Singapore? We think the ultimate way to spend a lazy, indulgent weekend is to go for an ultra long dumpling session. As much as we love our cafe fare, dim sum is still our go-to comfort food for an array of small bites. Here are the best places to get your dim sum fix…
Best dim sum in Singapore
1. Kai Garden
Tip: if you don’t want to wait hungry, remember to make reservations at this busy spot. Once you get a table, spare no time starting with the signature appetisers – think BBQ Kurobuta pork, deep-fried squid, and marinated jellyfish in Thai sauce. Then, move on to the baked, fried and steamed dim sum. You’ll be spoilt for choice with over 25 items. Deep-fried scallops with mango roll, pan-fried chives dumplings, mini egg tarts, steamed mushroom dumpling with truffle oil, spare ribs with minced garlic, and black glutinous rice with dried scallops will fill you up nicely.
Kai Garden, #03-128A/128B, Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594
2. Kuai San Dian Xin
At $1.30 for a plate of dim sum, we say it’s quite a steal. Visit Kuai San Dian Xin’s 24-hour outlets at Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok, Bedok North, Woodlands and Hougang. Expect the usual suspects with over 30 dim sum items including siew mai, chee cheong fun, chicken feet, carrot cake and more.
Kuai San Dian Xin, multiple locations including Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok and Bedok North
3. Madame Fan
Madame Fan adopts a modern take on Cantonese classics and we’re totally here for it. Every piece is exquisitely prepared with attention to detail. For the utmost indulgence, go for the Ultimate Dim Sum Lunch on weekdays for xiao long bao, Szechuan prawn wontons, pork congee, and crispy lychee ball with pork, prawn and mushroom. Plus, mains such as jasmine tea-smoked ribs, minced Kurobuta pork fried rice and salted egg yolk custard bun.
Madame Fan, The NCO Club, 32 Beach Road, Singapore 189764
4. Man Fu Yuan
The mod-Chinese restaurant offers a weekday dim sum menu, but wait till the weekend for the dim sum buffet. Try the crispy prawn bean curd roll with wasabi mayonnaise, wok-fried radish cake with XO chilli sauce, spinach prawn dumpling, honey-glazed pork belly and up to 40 picks. But don’t ignore the appetisers, mains, roasts, congee, noodles, and rice dishes.
Man Fu Yuan, Intercontinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966
5. Summer Palace at Regent Singapore
This isn’t your average dim sum place in Singapore. Summer Palace has a Michelin star under its belt for good reason. Just take a look at those squid ink and seafood dumplings. The Cantonese menu is next level, but back to the dim sum. Think lobster dumplings, fried turnip cake in XO sauce, delicate steamed scallop dumplings and monthly specials like steamed chicken with mushroom and fish maw. Desserts here are divine, too. The chilled osmanthus pudding with wolfberries is almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
Summer Palace, Level 3, Conrad Singapore Orchard 1 Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249715
6. Swatow Seafood Restaurant
Don’t let the name fool you. If you’re craving authentic Teochew-style dim sum and seafood, hop over to one of its outlets. Star dishes include Teochew five treasures crystal dumplings and the adorable goldfish dumplings. If you’re ready for a feast, the dim sum high tea buffet will fill you up nicely.
Swatow Seafood Restaurant, multiple locations including Toa Payoh and Serangoon Gardens
7. Hong Kong Mongkok Tim Sum
If you’re craving dim sum on a dime, Hong Kong Mongkok Tim Sum is the place to be. At $2.30 per dish, these babies are a steal. The hawker stall in Chinatown wipes out hot favourites like char siew bao, prawn cheong fun, har gow and siew mai. It’s truly bang for your buck.
Hong Kong Mongkok Tim Sum, #02-097, Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, Singapore 05033
8. Swee Choon Dim Sum Restaurant
Dim sum is typically a tea time snack, but Swee Choon is no typical dim sum restaurant. Popular with the young crowd, it opens ’til late at night, serving Cantonese and Shanghainese small bites with prices that won’t exceed $7. Pile on the steamed goodies like Szechuan dumplings in chilli oil, classic shrimp har gow, and chee cheong fun (rice noodle rolls drenched in a sweet soy sauce). A personal tip: go with an empty stomach – it’s easy to over-order! Oh, and the eatery has also opened a takeaway-only outlet at Ang Mo Kio Hub. North-siders, you know where to go.
Swee Choon Dim Sum Restaurant, 183-193 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208882
9. Crystal Jade
Crystal Jade is a restaurant that comes to mind when someone says the magic words, “dim sum buffet”. It got major praise in our office poll for best xiao long bao. With over 11 outlets in the city, it’s one of the more convenient spots to make a beeline for, especially if there’s one at your heartland mall. Must-try dishes include har gow (steamed prawn dumplings), siew mai with fish roe and carrot cake.
Crystal Jade, multiple locations including Takashimaya and VivoCity
10. Social Place
Since it hails from the land of dim sum aka Hong Kong, you know you can’t go wrong with these guys. Using a playful and creative approach, the dim sum dishes are totally ‘gram-worthy. For instance, the small pig pudding comes in the shape of a – wait for it – a wobbly pig. Adorable! Other novelty delights include mahjong jelly, steamed rose floret buns and truffle shiitake buns.
Social Place, #01-22, Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Road, Singapore 238884
11. Dim Sum Haus
Did you know there’s another fuss-free yum cha spot in Jalan Besar? Just a stone’s throw away from dim sum powerhouse Swee Choon, Dim Sum Haus is the perfect alternative if the former gets too crowded (which is very often). From steamed and fried delights like crispy mee sua kueh with Chinese sausage to baked treats such as Portuguese egg tart and BBQ pork bun, you can expect the usual suspects at affordable prices.
Dim Sum Haus, 57 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208809
12. Kow Loon Hong Kong Dim Sum
Located at an unassuming coffee shop in Ang Mo Kio, Kow Loon Hong Kong Dim Sum boasts over 50 handmade Hong Kong and Shanghai dim sum dishes. Try the har gow, prawn chee cheong fun, salted egg yolk bao or century egg and pork congee for a simple yet satisfying meal.
Kow Loon Hong Kong Dim Sum, #01-3030, Blk 151 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, Singapore 560151
13. Mott32
This swanky restaurant in Marina Bay Sands proves that the communal yum cha experience can be fancy. The tea time menu swings from Australian wagyu beef puff and king prawn har gow to crispy sugar-coated Peking duck bun and Iberico pork siew mai. For bragging rights, get your hands on the famed barbecue pluma Ibero pork glazed with yellow mountain honey. It tastes as good as it sounds!
Mott 32, #B1-42 to 44, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 01895
14. Myo Restobar
Dim sum is served for lunch and dinner, though it’s not the main bulk of the menu. The claypot braised chicken is the star of Myo but we have a few favourites from the dim sum selection. The gold foil dumplings with assorted mushroom, steamed siew mai with mushroom, and fried lava custard buns are just as delicious on the ‘gram and in your mouth. Another standout? The NZ tenderloin pastry. You know what to do!
Myo Restobar, #19-01, Oxley Tower, 138 Robinson Road, Singapore 068906
15. 126 Wan Dou Sek Dim Sum
This hangout in Geylang is famous for its dim sum, particularly its siew mai and chee cheong fun. In fact, it’s quite an establishment, serving dim sum since 1985. Other dishes include steamed glutinous rice with groundnuts, kimchi rolls, Hakka olive porridge and crab tang hoon.
126 Wan Dou Sek Dim Sum, multiple locations including Geylang and Boon Keng
16. Cherry Garden
Searching for dim sum with a twist? Cherry Garden offers authentic Cantonese cuisine with modern interpretations. Expect unique items like crystal dumplings with mushrooms and black truffle, steamed Iberico pork ribs with black bean sauce, steamed wagyu beef dumpling and more. What do we love most about it? The weekend dim sum brunch, where you really can go for that fourth round of dumplings.
Cherry Garden, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Marina Square, 5 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039797
17. Tang Tea House
Everyone knows Jalan Kayu for prata and teh tarik. But if you’re in need of something different, Tang Tea House offers fried chicken, crispy fried noodles and giant glasses of its signature drink, the Super Cooler (young coconut with a shot of wheatgrass). Of course, it also has a wide range of halal dim sum classics. Also, if you think Jalan Kayu is a little out of the way, check out the other branches in Bedok, Changi and Geylang.
Tang Tea House, multiple locations including Jalan Kayu, Changi Village and Jurong West
18. Victor’s Kitchen
Despite being located pretty centrally in Chinatown and Bencoolen, this is probably the city’s best-kept secret. The signature carrot cake in XO sauce is a must-order – don’t share the small-ish bowl if you’re really hungry. Other standouts include king prawn chee cheong fun and xiao long bao.
Victor’s Kitchen, multiple locations including Sunshine Plaza and Chinatown Point
19. Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung is a classic, but for kid-friendly dim sum, we think it’s the best. Play it safe with xiao long bao, noodles, fried rice or other dumplings. Save the chicken feet, beef tripe and other adventurous stuff for when they’re older and game enough to take on a bigger palate.
Din Tai Fung, multiple locations including Wisma Atria and Paragon
20. Canton Paradise
Under the Paradise Group, which boasts other great Chinese restaurants, Canton Paradise is an all-day dim sum paradise. Wolf down classics like siew mai, pan-fried radish cake, char siew bun and xiao long bao. While you might be stuffed to the brim, we highly recommend you order from the roasted meat menu. One word: divine.
Canton Paradise, multiple locations including The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and Plaza Singapura
21. Red Star Restaurant
Have your dim sum with a side of history! Red Star is run by the remaining chefs of the Four Heavenly Kings of Cantonese cuisine – a group that gained fame and multiple culinary awards in the 1970s. These are the same guys responsible for inventing the famous Singapore dishes we eat so regularly today: chilli crab, yam ring and yusheng.
Today, Red Star is considered one of the more traditional and nostalgic restaurants for dim sum. For starters, it still employs traditional cart-pushing dim sum ladies like those in Hong Kong. The restaurant layout and recipes have remained unchanged since its opening more than 40 years ago. It’s truly the experience of ordering char siew bao and century egg congee from pushcarts and stations that you’re here for!
Red Star Restaurant, #07-23, 54 Chin Swee Road, Singapore 160054
22. Tim Ho Wan
Here’s your chance to get Michelin star-worthy dim sum. And it’s surprisingly affordable! Don’t leave without trying the 4 Heavenly Kings – it’s the resto’s signature char siew bun, chee cheong fan with pig’s liver, pan-fried carrot cake, and steamed egg cake.
Tim Ho Wan, multiple locations including Plaza Singapura and Jewel Changi Airport
23. Taste Paradise
Dubbed “Chinese cuisine with a difference”, Taste Paradise offers an elaborate menu of fine Cantonese and contemporary Chinese cuisine with an impressive array of the finest and most innovative dim sum and roast meats. You’ll want to try the famous XO carrot cake!
Taste Paradise, #04-07, Ion Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
24. The Dim Sum Place
These guys have whipped out a great halal option for all dim sum lovers and those craving authentic Cantonese cuisine. Chef recommendations include crystal shrimp dumpling, baked bun with roast duck filling, handmade beancurd with chicken and salted fish, and the delectable salted egg custard bun. It’s one of the best halal dim sum spots in Singapore, we’d say.
The Dim Sum Place, multiple locations including North Bridge and Changi City Point
25. Peach Garden
Oh, the swooshing soup. Sure, Peach Garden is one of the fancier Chinese restaurants in town, but the delightful soupy dumplings are out of this world. Got a mid-week craving? Douse it with XLBs at the daily dim sum brunch promotion. Trust us, it’s entirely worth it. Bring a friend, too – someone will need to roll you back to work.
Peach Garden, Hotel Miramar, Level 3, 401 Havelock Road, Singapore 169631
Ah, all that dim sum goodness; now you know the best spots in Singapore.
