Dim sum in Singapore means endless baskets of dumplings, buns, and treats – here’s where to indulge.
The best dim sum in Singapore has seen us polishing off steamer baskets faster than we’d like to admit. From delicate xiao long bao and fluffy char siew bao to crispy fried dumplings and endless tea refills, we’ve worked our way through old-school teahouses and modern dim sum joints in Singapore. Here’s where to round up your crew and start ordering! For more recommendations, read our guide on Chinese restaurants in Singapore.
Affordable hawker dim sum spots
These hawker stalls and casual joints serve up authentic flavours without the fancy settings – just pure, delicious dim sum that’ll have you coming back every weekend.
1. Tang Tea House
Everyone knows Jalan Kayu for prata and teh tarik. But whenever we need something different, we head to Tang Tea House for fried chicken, crispy fried noodles and giant glasses of the 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. Psst: one of our favourite things to order is the golden sand bun, the restaurant’s version of a salted egg bun. The best part for us is breaking it open to reveal that oozy custard filling, so delicious!
Must-tries: Crispy fried noodles; halal dim sum; Super Cooler
Price: From $3.90 per dish
Opening hours: Varies by location
Address: Tang Tea House, multiple locations including Jalan Kayu, Bedok and Changi
2. Mongkok Dim Sum
If you’re craving dim sum on a dime, Mongkok Dim Sum is the place to be. We often patronise its Geylang outlet, which is open 24 hours. Tip: pick the outdoor seats because it’s a little stuffy inside, especially when we sit close to the steamer. Our top pick is the zha leung (you tiao in steamed rice rolls), which is a rare offering at dim sum spots in Singapore. We also love bringing first-time visitors to the city here to introduce them to frog porridge. It may not be the best, but it’s still delicious!
Must-tries: Char Siew Bao; zha leung; black pepper pig stomach
Price: From $4.20 per dish
Opening hours: Varies by location
Address: Hong Kong Mongkok Dim Sum, multiple locations including Geylang, Upper Thomson, and Cheong Chin Nam Road
3. Kuai San Dian Xin
Kuai San Dian Xin’s dim sum offerings go for $1.50 for a plate – we say it’s quite a steal! It has outlets at multiple locations around Singapore, so we always manage to get our dim sum fix no matter where we are in the city. Expect the usual suspects with over 30 affordable dim sum items, including siew mai, chee cheong fun, chicken feet, carrot cake and more. Don’t expect fancy plating – this is comfort food at its finest.
Must-tries: Char Siew Bao; Nanyang otak siew mai
Price: From $1.50 per dish
Opening hours: Daily, 24 hours
Address: Kuai San Dian Xin, multiple locations including Ang Mo Kio and Bedok North
4. Ji Tuo Hong Kong Style Dim Sum
Dim sum with a view! Tucked away on the ninth level of a building in Bukit Batok, this hawker stall is a little out of the way, but we found it well worth the journey. The friendly couple behind the counter bring over 70 years of combined restaurant experience, and it shows in every perfectly steamed har gao and hand-rolled siew mai we ate.
Must-tries: Lotus leaf glutinous rice; fried carrot cake
Price: From $3.50 per dish
Opening hours: Daily, 7.30am to 3.30pm; closed on Tuesdays and Fridays
Address: Ji Tuo Hong Kong Style Dim Sum, #09-18, SkyTech, 2 Bukit Batok Street 24, Singapore 659480
Casual dim sum eateries
Bridging the gap between hawker fare and fine dining, these dim sum spots in Singapore offer restaurant comfort with dishes that go beyond the basics.
5. Shou
Dim sum for lunch? Always a good idea, especially with fuss-free lunch sets from Shou Handmade Dim Sum. Tucked away in Kada – aka one of the hottest new buildings in Maxwell Food Centre Singapore – it’s a stylish yet cosy spot to get your dim sum fix. The space is pretty tight, so we recommend reserving a spot via Instagram to skip the wait. Available on weekdays only, the signature lunch set offers a generous spread that’ll leave you in a delicious food coma (tried and tested by us).
We started with a curated selection of six dim sum favourites, including classics like steamed siew mai, shrimp dumpling, as well as pan-fried beancurd skin shrimp roll – a pleasant surprise thanks to its crispness and juicy prawn filling. For your main dish, tuck into the 10-hour simmered chicken broth pao fan. While the broth was rich and robust, it leaned on the saltier end for us. Still have room for more? Order the deep-fried pork belly noodles coated in a savoury, umami-laden sauce, and the house special savoury shrimp dumplings doused in an addictive spicy gravy.
Must-tries: Deep-fried pork belly noodles; house special savoury shrimp dumplings; pan-fried beancurd skin shrimp roll
How much: Weekday lunch set from $21.90; appetisers from $3.20; mains from $5.20
Dim sum hours: Monday to Friday, 11am to 2.30pm; Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 3.30pm
Address: Shou Handmade Dim Sum, #01-02/03, Kada, 5 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069183
6. Tim Ho Wan
Here’s your chance to get Michelin-star-worthy dim sum. And it’s surprisingly affordable! We typically drop by as a group so we can try a little bit of everything because the menu at Tim Ho Wan is pretty big. The signature baked BBQ pork buns are on every table whenever we walk in. Even though find the flavour of the bun a little too sugary for our taste, it’s great if you love char siew. Our table is usually filled with dishes like the wok-fried spicy radish cake, pork dumplings in hot and spicy sauce, and braised phoenix claw.
Must-tries: Char siew bun; wok-fried spicy radish cake; chilli oil dumplings
Price: Starts from $4.80
Opening hours: Varies by location
Address: Tim Ho Wan, multiple locations including Plaza Singapura and Jewel Changi Airport
7. Kai Garden
Here’s the deal with Kai Garden – make reservations or prepare to wait while staring longingly at other people’s honey Kurobuta pork. When we’ve finally got seats, we spare no time starting with the signature appetisers like deep-fried squid and marinated jellyfish for the table. Then, it’s on to baked, fried and steamed dim sum. The Hong Kong-style baked bun with butter is our guilty pleasure thanks to its crisp crust and fluffy centre. A must-order from us!
Must-tries: Marinated jellyfish; honey Kurobuta pork; Hong Kong-style baked bun with butter
Price: Enquire for price
Dim sum hours: Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 3.30pm; Saturday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm
Address: Kai Garden, #03-128A/128B, Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594
8. Swee Choon Dim Sum Restaurant
Swee Choon changed Singapore’s dim sum game by staying open until 4am, turning late-night munchies into proper dining experiences. And yes, you can catch us at this establishment for our dumpling supper fix. Whenever we touch down from a flight, we make a beeline for the Swee Choon located at Terminal 2. It’s open 24 hours a day, so no matter what time we land, we end up getting piping hot bowls of noodles and honey butter toast to warm our weary souls.
Must-tries: Szechuan chilli oil dumpling; classic shrimp har gow; chee cheong fun
Price: Enquire for price
Opening hours: Varies by location
Address: Swee Choon Dim Sum Restaurant, multiple locations including Jalan Besar and Changi Airport
9. Social Place
We trust Social Place since it hails from the land of dim sum. Which means these guys understand dim sum in their bones. Using playful and creative techniques, our phones are always out for ‘gram-worthy dishes. For instance, the small pig pudding comes in the shape of a – wait for it – a wobbly pig. Adorable!
Must-tries: Golden chicken bao lotus with corn; deep fried lobster glutinous puff; charcoal custard buns
Price: From $8.80 per dish
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am to 2.30pm & 6pm to 9pm
Address: Social Place, #01-22, Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Road, Singapore 238884
10. The Dim Sum Place
Finding excellent halal dim sum isn’t the easiest thing, which makes The Dim Sum Place extra special to us. Our typical orders include crystal shrimp dumpling, baked buns 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. This spot proves that halal doesn’t mean compromising on authenticity and flavour.
Must-tries: Crystal shrimp dumpling; handmade beancurd with chicken and salted fish; salted egg custard bun
Price: From $3.90 per dish
Opening hours: Varies by location
Address: The Dim Sum Place, multiple locations including North Bridge Road and Changi City Point
11. Chao Yue Xuan
Chao Yue Xuan was founded by brothers, award-winning Chef Vanness and former Crystal Jade Chef Sean. Not only can you get dim sum all day, they also serve comforting Hong Kong-style noodles and silky smooth congee. Beyond the familiar har gow and siew mai, Chao Yue Xuan stands out for its innovative creations. Think adorable lotus seed paste hedgehog buns that are too cute to eat and a rich salted egg yolk layered cake that’s not too overwhelming. Don’t skip the XO fried carrot and pumpkin ball. They are crispy on the outside, fluffy and soft inside, and packed with flavour that keeps you reaching for more.
Must-tries: Hedgehog bun; XO fried carrot cake; pumpkin ball
Price: $3 to $5 per dish
Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 9pm
Address: Chao Yue Xuan, multiple locations including Junction 9 and Northpoint City
12. Yum Cha
Yum Cha has been a familiar name in the local dim sum scene since 2000, offering a traditional tea house experience. There are over 50 items on the menu, plenty to keep both traditionalists and adventurous eaters happy. You’ll find dishes like black garlic shrimp dumplings and the crowd-favourite otak siew mai. Other standouts include the squid ink dumpling, instantly an eye-catcher by its jet-black exterior and filled with a plump, juicy mix of shrimp, scallops and vegetables. For something sweet, give the pumpkin yam golden cake a try or round things off with the crispy prawn and mango sesame fritters.
Must-tries: Black garlic shrimp dumplings; otak siew mai; squid ink dumplings
Price: From $5.80
Opening hours: Vary by location
Address: Yum Cha, multiple locations including Chinatown and Changi
13. Sum Dim Sum
Sum Dim Sum joined the Jalan Besar neighbourhood in 2020, instantly standing out thanks to its striking Tiffany blue storefront that’s hard to miss. The vibrant colour theme carries through the menu too, most notably in their XL fresh prawn har gow. Another crowd favourite is the signature crispy pork bun, which is deep-fried to golden perfection and encased in an aromatic pandan shell for a fragrant twist. If you love mala, you should also make a beeline for the mala dumplings, a savoury kick that adds fiery to your spread.
Must-tries: Signature crispy pork bun; mala dumplings; XL fresh prawn Tiffany blue har gow; xiao long bao
Price: From $5
Opening hours: Vary by location
Address: Sum Dim Sum, multiple locations including Hometeam NS Bedok and Jalan Besar
14. The Dim Sum Place
The Dim Sum Place is another Halal-certified spot for those craving Cantonese-style bites without pork. The extensive menu covers everything from classic dim sum to noodles and even hearty claypot dishes. The salted egg custard bun is delightfully light and not overly sweet. Xiao long baos are equally impressive, offering a clear, delicate chicken flavour that pairs perfectly with vinegar. Dishes here are flavourful yet easy on the palate, proving that Halal dim sum can be just as satisfying.
Must-tries: Fried beancurd skin with shrimp; salted egg custard bun; xiao long bao
Price: From $3.90
Opening hours: Vary by location
Address: The Dim Sum Place, multiple locations including Causeway Point, Changi City Point and The Centrepoint
Upscale dim sum restaurants
Sometimes we want our xiao long bao served with a side of luxury. These upscale spots prove that dim sum in Singapore can be an elegant affair, perfect for special occasions or when you’re feeling fancy on a weekend afternoon.
15. Jumbo Premium
A day out at Sentosa isn’t complete without a visit to Weave! It’s the island’s new mall with a huge variety of food options we can’t get over. Jumbo is one of our go-tos, and it’s opened its first premium location in Sentosa. The menu remains mostly the same, and now includes an extended a la carte dim sum menu!
The red ruby dumplings with mushrooms and black truffle feature a delicate dumpling skin without an overpowering truffle flavour. The pan-fried Iberico pork buns are wonderfully savoury with a crispy bottom for that satisfying crunch. But our absolute favourite? The chilli crab pastry filled with Jumbo’s signature chilli crab sauce. We almost burned our tongues when biting into it cause it’s piping hot, so be careful when you eat it!
Must-tries: Pan-fried Iberico pork buns, red ruby dumplings, chilli crab pastry
Price: Dim sum starts from $6.80, a la carte dishes start from $16
Dim sum hours: Daily, 9am to 5pm
Address: Jumbo Premium, B1-202/203, Weave, 26 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098138
16. Imperial Treasure
If you don’t feel like thumbing through huge dim sum menus, we recommend heading to Imperial Treasure. We visit whenever we suffer from decision paralysis because the menu is concise enough that we can order one of everything on the menu to share in a group. And if the array of dumplings isn’t enough, we turn to the a la carte menu for fried rice and noodle options. The poached pork dumplings with spicy sauce are a must-have with black vinegar for that added zing. Our mouths are watering just remembering them.
Must-tries: Poached pork dumplings with spicy sauce, steamed Shanghai pork dumplings
Price: Starts from $8.40
Dim sum hours: Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 3pm; Saturday, 11am to 3pm; Sunday, 10.30am to 3pm
Address: Imperial Treasure, multiple locations including Ion Orchard, Marina Bay Sands, and Great World
17. Man Fu Yuan
No matter what day we’re craving dim sum, Man Fu Yuan delivers. But here’s our top tip: wait till the weekend to take full advantage of its dim sum buffet. The weekend dim sum buffet features up to 40 different items, turning our typical brunches into an all-day exploration. Our visits always start with hearty welcomes from the service team, who are quick to get us seated so we can get to feasting. Have a game plan for what you want to order, as there’s a bit of a wait for the food, especially if you’re getting the steamed dim sum.
Must-tries: Spinach prawn dumplings with black truffle; black swan taro with smoked duck deep-fried pastry
Price: Dim sum buffet starts from $78 per adult and $40 per child
Dim sum hours: Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays; 11.30 am to 1pm & 1.30pm to 3pm
Address: Man Fu Yuan, Level 2, Intercontinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966
18. Cherry Garden
Searching for dim sum with a twist? Cherry Garden offers authentic Cantonese cuisine with modern interpretations. It’s a swish location, one we go to when it comes to family celebrations, so we can spoil our loved ones. We find the ambience elegant but never stuffy, which is great for casual chats while still keeping the occasion classy. Plus, the food is delicious. Our cameras never get to eat first because we wipe the plates clean before we remember to snap photos!
Must-tries: Xiao long bao with crab meat in lobster bisque; crystal dumplings
Price: From $10 per dish
Dim sum hours: Monday to Sunday, 12pm to 2.30pm
Address: Cherry Garden, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Marina Square, 5 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039797
19. Madame Fan
Madame Fan adopts a modern take on Cantonese classics and we’re totally here for it. We always plan ahead to book a table for its Dim Sum Drink Sum brunch for dumplings with a side of champagne – the perfect combo in our book. We would order one of everything if we could. But our usual go-to selections include the xiao long bao, spicy sichuan wontons, sesame prawn toast, and glutinous rice balls.
Must-tries: Szechuan prawn wontons; sesame prawn toast; pork congee
Price: Dim sum brunch starts from $78 per person
Dim sum hours: Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays; 11.30am to 3pm
Address: Madame Fan, The NCO Club, 32 Beach Road, Singapore 189764
20. Mott 32
Dim sum at Marina Bay Sands automatically comes with bragging rights. But Mott 32 backs up the location with Australian wagyu beef puffs and Iberico pork siew mai. If you’re like us and crave dim sum even at night, we’ve got fantastic news for you – Mott 32 is one of the few fancy restaurants that offer dim sum ’round the clock! So yes, you can get dumplings with dinner. We paid a pretty penny during our last visit, and always make sure to pre-order the peking duck when we’re bringing a group of people along with us. It’s fragrant, savoury, and pairs wonderfully with the pancakes and hoisin sauce.
Must-tries: Peking duck bun; Iberico pork siew mai; barbecue Iberico pork with mountain honey
Price: From $10 per dish
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 2.15pm & 5pm to 9.30pm; Saturday to Sunday, 11.30am to 2.15pm, 3pm to 4.45pm & 5pm to 9.30pm
Address: Mott 32, #B1-42 to 44, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956
21. Chop Suey
Chop Suey brings an innovative twist to Anglo-Chinese cuisine, turning classic dim sum into playful, flavourful creations. Highlights include their white skin siew mai, which swaps the usual yellow wrapper for a natural flour-white skin with lean pork and chunky shrimp. Pumpkin and cod dumplings impress with soft mustard-coloured skin encasing black pepper marinated cod, while the flaky char siew puff features a beetroot-tinted pastry filled with smoky char siew. Each bite is a balance of tradition and modern flair.
Must-tries: Siew mai; pumpkin and cod dumplings
Price: Enquire for price
Opening hours: Daily, 4pm to 6pm
Address: Chop Suey, #01-23, Dempsey Hill, 10 Dempsey Road, Singapore 247700
22. Spring Court Chinese Restaurant
Spring Court is Singapore’s oldest Chinese restaurant, since 1929, and is a nostalgic haven for dim sum lovers. Highlights include the double-boiled jumbo dumpling, bursting with juicy fillings cooked in rich superior broth, the signature mango and prawn dumpling which offers a refreshingly savoury twist, and the classic salted egg buns – a must-have staple that never fails.
Must-tries: Double boiled jumbo dumplings; signature baked mango and chicken tart; salted egg lava charcoal buns
Price: From $6.50
Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 10pm
Address: Spring Court Chinese Restaurant, 52 to 56 Upper Cross Street, Singapore 058348
Singapore’s dim sum scene offers something incredible for every budget and occasion. Time to satiate those cravings ASAP!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best time to eat dim sum in Singapore?
Traditionally, dim sum is a brunch affair enjoyed from morning to early afternoon. That said, Singapore does it differently. You’ll find plenty of spots serving dim sum all day, and even late into the night. Think supper runs at Swee Choon or post-shopping dumplings at mall restaurants.
Where can I find affordable dim sum?
For wallet-friendly bites, hawker stalls and casual eateries are your best bet. Places like Kuai San Dian Xin, Mongkok Dim Sum, and Ji Tuo Hong Kong Style Dim Sum serve up classic favourites at just a few dollars per dish, without skimping on flavour.
Which dim sum restaurants offer halal options?
The Dim Sum Place specialises in authentic halal Cantonese cuisine with multiple locations, while Tang Tea House in Jalan Kayu offers halal dim sum alongside their famous Super Cooler drinks. Both maintain excellent quality while catering to Muslim diners.
What are the must-try dim sum dishes?
Here's what we recommend:
- Har gao (crystal prawn dumplings)
- Siew mai (pork and prawn dumplings)
- Xiao long bao (soup dumplings)
- Char siew bao (BBQ pork buns)
- Chee cheong fun (rice noodle rolls)
- Fried carrot cake
How much should I budget for dim sum in Singapore?
Hawker stalls range from $1.50 - $4 per dish, casual restaurants cost $5 - $10 per dish, while upscale spots charge $7 - $15 per dish. Buffets typically cost $30 - $60 per person.
Budget around $15 - $25 per person for a satisfying hawker meal, or $40 - $80 for upscale dining.
