Celebrate Dragon Boat Festival 2024 with a bite of the best rice dumplings in Singapore. They’re a total treat!
According to Chinese folklore, glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves (also known as bak chang or zong zi) are a symbol of tribute during Dragon Boat Festival (it falls on 10 June 2024). Legend has it that these dumplings were thrown into a river where a famous Chinese poet drowned himself – to prevent the fishes from eating his body. Now, they’re a seasonal Chinese delicacy typically enjoyed around this time of the year, often stuffed with ingredients such as meat, chestnuts, mushrooms and salted egg yolk. Hungry for a hearty feast? These restaurants are shaking up the scene with traditional and modern renditions of rice dumplings in Singapore.
Best rice dumplings in Singapore
1. Hai Tien Lo
Available until 10 June 2024
Drum up the festivities with a sumptuous selection of rice dumplings from this award-winning Cantonese restaurant! Available in five delectable flavours, each rice dumpling is meticulously curated by Hai Tien Lo’s expert chefs. Must-tries include the all-new Pan Pacific black pepper foie gras sausages rice dumpling; signature Supreme rice dumpling (filled with pork belly, whole abalone, roasted duck and scallops); and black glutinous Nyonya rice dumpling.
Or, opt for time-honoured flavours like Hokkien rice dumpling with pork and salted egg yolk, as well as Teochew rice dumpling with yam paste, chestnut and gingko nuts. Besides being delicious treats for the family, these make sophisticated gifts, too. Choose between the classic bundle ($110) and premium bundle ($150), each consisting of six indulgent dumplings. While the former includes a bottle of sweet and sour spicy bean paste sauce, the latter comes with the restaurant’s signature homemade XO chilli sauce.
Hai Tien Lo, order online for delivery or self-collection at Pacific Emporium (Deli Counter)
2. Man Fu Yuan
Available until 10 June 2024
This Michelin-recommended Cantonese restaurant is dishing out seven artisanal rice dumplings – and we’re so here for it. Featuring timeless faves and modern flavours, the collection boasts two new creations: the Nyonya-style rice dumpling with plant-based meat, sweetened winter melon and mushroom; and a glutinous rice dumpling with red bean, honey date and red date that’ll be a sure-hit with sweet tooths.
The Man Fu Yuan giant classic Cantonese rice dumpling with red quinoa also stages a welcomed return. It’s a 1kg delight that is generously stuffed with premium ingredients like five-head South African abalones, five-spiced pork belly and giant dried shrimps. Looking for gift options? Treat your loved ones to one of the three gift bundles (from $128.80). Housed in a gorgeous teal box adorned with intricate illustrations and gold accents, each bundle contains five dumplings, alongside treats like champagne and tea blends.
Perk alert: use the promo code ‘HONEYCOMBERS10’ for a 10% discount off the giant classic Cantonese rice dumpling and gift bundles; and ‘HONEYCOMBERS15’ for a 15% discount off selected rice dumplings. (Valid till 10 June 2024.)
Man Fu Yuan, order online or at the restaurant for dine-in, delivery and self-collection
3. Crystal Jade
Available until 10 June 2024
Handmade rice dumplings are a pivotal part of the Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, and Crystal Jade knows that well. We’ve got our eye on the new spicy Szechuan pepper chicken dumpling with pearl peanut rice for that fiery kick. Plus, we can never get enough of the classic five-spice marinated pork, jumbo-sized HK-style Jinhua ham and conpoy, and red bean paste with tangerine peel dumplings. Getting them as a gift? Order the trio gifting bundle (from $21.80) to enjoy the Szechuan and five-spice options.
Perk alert: Jadeite and UOB card members can pre-order from now till 20 May 2024 for savings of up to 20%. From 21 May to 5 June, you’ll also enjoy $5 off a minimum spend of $60 with the promo code ‘R24RD5’ online.
Crystal Jade, order online or at participating outlets for delivery and self-collection
4. Joo Chiat Kim Choo
Available until 17 June 2024
The iconic Chinese rice dumpling maker takes you on a nostalgic journey to the past with retro trimmings at its flagship store for Dragon Boat Festival. Visitors can look forward to complimentary old school card games like Snap, Donkey, Old Maid, Happy Family and more at the space. Plus, if you spend at least $20 from now till 22 May, you can try your hand at gachapon and arcade machines, or snack on treats such as hawthorne flakes and White Rabbit candy.
On the hunt for a gift set? Check out the five options, including the new Five Royal Stars ($50.40) that includes Nyonya, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, and Hakka rice dumpling versions. For a grand gift, the Emperor’s Heirloom ($168) features a majestic box that houses six premium Emperor’s rice dumplings. Want a blast to the past? The Memory Trove ($95.80) offers a customised selection with eight rice dumplings and a kueh salat cake.
Joo Chiat Kim Choo, order online or at #01-450, Block 77 Circuit Road, Singapore 370077
5. Yan
Available until 10 June 2024
A trio of rice dumplings take the spotlight in Yan’s Dragon Boat Festival selection this year. The Cantonese-style 8 Treasures Yangcheng rendition is perfect for sharing ‘cos the large dumpling is stuffed with pork belly, roast duck, conpoy, salted egg yolk, black mushroom, chestnut, lotus seed, and mung beans. More meaty versions come in the form of the Kurobuta pork and cowpeas rice dumpling, as well as the spiced pork meat and salted egg yolk rice dumpling. For the best of all worlds, order the gift set ($80) to get the three creations in a woven basket.
Yan, order online
6. Paradise Group
Available until 10 June 2024
Want to try classic dishes reimagined as rice dumplings? That’s what you’ll get with Paradise’s Hong Kong-style treats. There’s the abalone with salted pork belly brown rice version, the braised pork belly with “mui choy” creation, and the braised pork belly with XO sauce rendition. Alternatively, try the Chinese sausage with conpoy and mushroom, or tuck into the osmanthus gula melaka red bean paste rice dumpling for dessert. Get them all in the gift set for $69.80.
Plus, other favourites make a reappearance such as the pork with conpoy and chestnut, and black truffle honey BBQ Iberico pork rice dumplings.
Paradise Group, available for takeaway
7. Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant
Available until 10 June 2024
Traditionalists will know Li Bai for its classic rice dumpling packed with pork belly, roast duck, Chinese mushroom, chestnut, salted egg, conpoy and dried shrimp. Another fave is the abalone and pumpkin rice dumpling filled with whole abalone, pork, mung bean, and other goodies. Want to try something new? The wagyu beef cheek, pearl meat and morel mushroom creation is a premium treat stuffed with all that plus dried scallop, salted egg, and chesnut. If you prefer the sweet versions, get the golden kansui rice dumpling to enjoy the flavours of osmanthus syrup and dragon fruit sauce.
Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant, order online
8. Kuriya Japanese Market
Available until 23 June 2024
The brand’s fusion onigiri glutinous rice dumplings, also known as ‘zong-nigiri’, are back for the third year to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. Enjoy six flavours ($4 each), including the likes of pork, chestnut mushroom, XO dried scallop, and abalone unagi. You’ll get ‘em in a hexagonal gift box to take home.
Kuriya Japanese Market, order online or in-store at multiple locations including Chinatown Point and Great World
9. Dian Xiao Er
Available until 10 June 2024
If you’re a big fan of this Chinese restaurant, don’t miss out on its two Dragon Boat Festival offerings. The traditional salty pork dumpling is stuffed with braised pork belly, chestnut, mushrooms and salted egg yolk, while the Nyonya pork dumpling is made with a lovely spice blend. P.S. those who love a good deal can buy four dumplings to get one free – and they’ll be bundled in a complimentary gift box!
Dian Xiao Er, order at multiple locations including Nex and Marina Square
10. Swensen’s
For a change of scenery, how about a frozen “rice dumpling” that all ages will enjoy? Look to Swensen’s for the kueh salat rice dumpling ice cream. This epic creation is made of two ice cream layers: butterfly blue pea coconut and pandan with coconut. Plus, it encases three salted egg bon bons and comes coated in a golden chocolate shell.
Swensen’s, order online
Find your fave rice dumplings in Singapore and stick to ’em!
