Celebrate this year's Dragon Boat Festival with a bite of the best rice dumplings in Singapore!
Glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and stuffed with ingredients like pork, chestnuts, mushrooms, and salted egg yolk are a sticky, chewy treat you can eat anytime in Singapore. But when Dragon Boat Festival comes around (it falls on 19 June 2026), Chinese restaurants in Singapore put their spin on this delicacy. According to Chinese folklore, these dumplings (also known as bak chang or zong zi) are a symbol of tribute. Legend has it that they were tossed into a river where a famous Chinese poet drowned himself, to prevent the fish from eating his body.
This year’s rice dumpling lineup in Singapore ranges from Michelin-recognised heritage brands to craft labels you may not have tried yet.
Where to order rice dumplings in Singapore
1. Joo Chiat Kim Choo
Dragon Boat Festival in Singapore is when this OG heritage brand shines brightest, producing its rice dumplings made with an 80-year-old traditional recipe passed down from generations.
The Nyonya rice dumpling is the one people come back for year after year ($8.80). If you want to go more premium, the pulut hitam Nyonya rice dumpling ($10.80) is a beautiful hybrid – sweet, earthy, and slightly chewy. For serious bak chang enthusiasts, the Emperor’s rice dumpling ($26.80) is loaded with braised pork belly, dried scallops, lup cheong, and salted egg yolk.
Meanwhile, the Five Royal Stars Gift Set ($60) is perfect for someone who appreciates the full sweep of Singapore’s Chinese heritage: Nyonya, Hokkien with salted egg yolk, Teochew, Cantonese, and Hakka pork belly, all in one box.
Best for: Heritage dumplings like Nyonya, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, and Hakka specialties
Price: From $8.80 for Nyonya dumplings
Where to buy: Joo Chiat Kim Choo, flagship store at 77 Circuit Road, #01-450, and over 30 pop-up stores islandwide until 21 June 2026, or order online
2. Crystal Jade
If you’re after the kind of bak chang that takes centre stage at a gifting table, Crystal Jade’s annual Dragon Boat Festival collection is one of the most polished.
With two new creations this year, the Hakka-style Kurobuta belly with mei cai rice dumpling ($8.80) is a standout. Think Kurobuta pork belly, paired with sweet preserved mustard greens and meaty shiitake mushrooms. For dessert, the mini purple sweet potato, yam and ginkgo nuts rice dumpling ($7.80 for three) features earthy purple sweet potato and yam in fragrant sweet glutinous rice, with ginkgo nuts lending a gentle bitter note.
For gifting, the Trio Bundle ($20.80) offers two Hakka Kurobuta dumplings and a classic five spice in a complimentary emerald gift bag – a neat option that doesn’t require committing to a full set.
Best for: Premium Hong Kong-style dumplings and elevated classics
Price: From $7.80 for mini purple sweet potato, yam and ginkgo nuts rice dumpling (set of 3)
Where to buy: Crystal Jade’s online store or participating outlets; collection until 21 June 2026
3. Soup Restaurant
For Dragon Boat Festival 2026, Soup Restaurant channels its warmth into handcrafted rice dumplings. The traditional Hokkien dumpling with braised pork and salted egg ($13.90) is a glorious mix of pork belly marinated in aromatic spices, chestnuts, mushrooms, wok-fried glutinous rice, and a rich salted egg yolk that hits with real umami. If you’re after something lighter (and more wallet-friendly), the classic alkaline kee chang ($3.30) is soft, mochi-like, and best eaten with a drizzle of kaya or sugar. New this year is the red bean version ($3.90), with that same chewy texture.
For gifting, the 8-piece Dragon Boat Festival Gift Pack ($54.40) includes two pieces of each flavour in a basket-style bag that actually looks the part. Early bird promotion runs until 14 June 2026 for 15% off all dumplings.
Best for: Nonya and Hokkien dumplings
Price: $12.90 for Nonya rice dumpling
Where to buy: Soup Restaurant outlets or order online for delivery
4. Di Tanjong Katong
If you’ve ever bought Iberico bak kwa from Di Tanjong Katong during Chinese New Year, you know what to expect. This family-run heritage brand from the East takes its signature ingredient – Iberico pork, charcoal-grilled and caramelised to a smoky, melty perfection – and folds it into bak chang.
The result? An Iberico bak kwa rice dumpling ($9.80) made of smoky, caramelised Iberico bits with dried shrimp throughout the glutinous rice. Pair it with the homemade crispy sakura ebi hae bee hiam chilli ($18) if you want the full experience. Meanwhile, the Iberico pork Nyonya rice dumpling ($8.90) takes a different track, with blue pea glutinous rice, winter melon, traditional spices, and Iberico pork as the hero.
Best known for: Iberico pork bak chang
Price: From $8.90 for the Iberico pork Nyonya rice dumpling
Where to buy: Order online from Di Tanjong Katong
5. Thye Moh Chan
It’s all about the classics at heritage brand Thye Moh Chan, with three rice dumpling varieties for Dragon Boat Festival 2026. The Teochew Double Delight bak chang ($7.20) is the signature, featuring tender pork belly, shiitake mushrooms, chestnuts, and homemade sweet tau sar, all in fragrant premium glutinous rice. For a crowd-pleaser, the Teochew salted egg bak chang ($7.20) envelopes a whole salted egg yolk with richly marinated pork belly, shiitake, chestnuts, and dried shrimps.
Those skipping the meat can try the Teochew mushroom chang ($7.20), made of shiitake mushrooms, dried radish, ginger, mock meat, and the brand’s signature sweet tau sar, alongside fragrant chestnuts.
P.S. don’t miss out on the bundle deals, including ‘Buy 6 Get 1 Free’ ($43.20), which comes with a limited-edition cooler bag inspired by traditional Teochew embroidery.
Best for: Traditional Teochew-style bak chang with signature sweet tau sar
Price: $7.20 each
Where to buy: Available at Thye Moh Chan stores and online
Find your favourite rice dumplings in Singapore for Dragon Boat Festival 2026!
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Dragon Boat Festival 2026 in Singapore?
Dragon Boat Festival 2026 falls on Friday, 19 June. It's the one time of year when rice dumplings — or bak chang — take centre stage at restaurants, heritage bakeries, and pop-up stalls across the island.
What is the difference between bak chang, bak zhang, and zong zi?
They're all the same thing, just different names based on dialect. Bak chang is the Hokkien and Teochew pronunciation, bak zhang is another common romanisation of the same term, and zong zi is Mandarin. In Singapore, you'll see all three used interchangeably, often even by the same brand. The dumplings themselves are made of glutinous rice packed with fillings like pork, salted egg yolk, chestnuts, and mushrooms, then wrapped in bamboo or lotus leaves and steamed or boiled.
What are the different types of rice dumplings in Singapore?
Singapore's bak chang scene reflects the island's Chinese dialect heritage. The main styles you'll find are: Hokkien (savoury, with pork belly, chestnuts, salted egg yolk, five-spice); Teochew (distinctive for pairing savoury fillings with sweet tau sar, or red bean paste - a rare combination); Nyonya/Peranakan (braised pork with candied winter melon, often with blue pea flower-dyed rice); Cantonese (typically HK-style, rectangular parcels with premium ingredients like conpoy and Jinhua ham, wrapped in lotus leaf); and Hakka (known for preserved vegetables and pork belly combinations).
There are also kee chang, alkaline glutinous rice dumplings with no savoury filling, eaten sweet with kaya or gula melaka.
How much do rice dumplings cost in Singapore in 2026?
Prices range quite a bit depending on where you buy and what's inside. At the more affordable end, Thye Moh Chan's handcrafted Teochew dumplings are $7.20 each and Joo Chiat Kim Choo's Nyonya zhang starts from $7.50.
Meanwhile, Crystal Jade's new Hakka Kurobuta dumpling is $8.80 and Di Tanjong Katong's Iberico pork creations range from $8.90 to $9.80. Premium options like Crystal Jade's jumbo Jinhua Ham & Conpoy dumpling go up to $24.80 per piece. Gift sets vary widely, with the Joo Chiat Kim Choo Five Royal Stars set at $42 and Soup Restaurant's 8-piece gift pack at $54.40.
Are there vegetarian rice dumplings available in Singapore?
Yes, a few brands offer vegetarian options. Thye Moh Chan makes a Teochew Mushroom Chang with shiitake mushrooms, dried radish, ginger, mock meat, and their signature sweet tau sar. Joo Chiat Kim Choo offers a vegetarian Nyonya zhang as part of the regular range. Soup Restaurant's Alkaline Kee Chang and Red Bean Alkaline Kee Chang are also vegetarian-friendly. If you're buying as a gift for someone with dietary restrictions, it's always worth checking directly with the brand on cross-contamination practices before ordering.
