As you might have understood from my previous posts about Singapore: the food is amazing here! That makes it damn hard to make a list with “best restaurants”. I decided to create multiple lists for Singapore for different “food cravings”.
In this blog I share my favorite spots for dim sum and dumplings, in random order:
1. Red Star Restaurant
This is a traditional dim sum restaurant; at the 7th floor, on top of a parking lot. You can’t make a reservation here, so the chance you have to “queue” is quite certain, especially on the weekends. But when you can finally take the tiny, overcrowded elevator, and enter the restaurant, you arrive in a huge dining room. The staff is riding around with carts of delicious dim sum. Your table will be stuffed with food in no time!
Location:
Red Star Restaurant
54 Chin Swee Rd, #07-23, Singapore 160054
Website: www.redstarrestaurant.com.sg
Tel: +65 6532 5266
2. Crystal Jade Palace
You can find crystal jade restaurants in multiple locations in Singapore. Crystal Jade Palace is located in the Takashimaya Mall on the fourth floor. This is a real Asian “cosy” atmosphere. The dim sum I tasted here is probably one of the best I ever had.
Tip: Bring a sweater, because it’s always freezing here! A huge temperature difference with the always 30 degrees outside…
Order these dishes:
- pickles;
- chilled Japanese cucumber tossed with garlic and vinegar;
- steamed shrimp dumpling;
- steamed pork dumpling siew mai;
- Shanghai xiao long bao;
- pork dumpling with hot chilli vinaigrette;
- steamed spinach dumpling with crab meat;
- BBQ pork riceroll;
Location:
Crystal Jade Palace
391 Orchard Rd, #04-19 Takashimaya shopping centre, Singapore 238872
Website: www.crystaljade.com
Tel: +65 6735 2388
3. Din Tai Fung
Michelin-star dim sum restaurant Din Tai Fung is originally from Taiwan. This dim sum “fast food” chain is located in almost every mall in Singapore and that’s sooo convenient! A couple of dim sums at your shopping break or a complete dim sum lunch, you’re at the right address here. And the price is also quite good.
My recommendations:
- original xiao long bao (!!);
- steamed pork dumplings;
- sliced duck in crispy spring onion pastry (!!);
- oriental salad in special vinegar dressing;
- fried rice pork chop;
- deep-fried vegetables wantons (!!);
- steamed chilli crab and pork buns;
- stir-fried Hong Kong kailan with special sauce.
Do take a look at the specials, because they are tasty too!
Locations:
Din Tai Fung is located all over Singapore, most of the times in shopping malls, like:
290 Orchard Rd, #B1-03 Paragon, Singapore 238859
Tel: +65 6836 83368A Marina Blvd, Singapore 018984
Tel: +65 6634 7877Website: www.dintaifung.com.sg
4. Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant
A super well organized, huge dim sum restaurant. And as it should be: white TL-lights, fans and plastic chairs and tables.
You draw a number by submitting your phone number at the registry. You can pre-order via your phone while you wait. When your number shows up on one of the tv screens and you get a call, the staff will show you your table and your first dim sum dish is almost immediately served.
Recommendations:
- Rice roll with prawn
- Char siew bao !!
- Siew mai !!
- Xiao long bao !!
- Fried prawn dumpling
- Japanese komkommer & black fungus
- Sichuan chili wanton!!
- Peking dumpling !!
Location:
Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant
183/185/187/189, Jln Besar, 191/193, Little India, Singapore 208882
Website: www.sweechoon.com
Tel: +65 6225 7788
5. Dumpling Darlings
What’s in a name? Here you can eat perfectly cooked dumplings! Great for a delicious, quick dumpling lunch. To make it easy for you the restaurant has a set menu with all the best dumplings; no hard decision here!
2 locations:
Dumpling Darlings
44 Amoy St, Singapore 069870
Tel: +65 8223 924986 Circular Rd, Singapore 049438
Tel: +65 8889 9973Website: www.dumplingdarlings.com.sg
6. Zhiong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao
I have already written about the huge Chinatown Hawker Centre in Chinatown Complex in my blog “Singapores hawker centres“. Here is also the hawker stall Zhiong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao, or #02-135. These handmade dumplings have a Michelin-star. Usually, there is a long queue but don’t let that bother you. You’re waiting will be rewarded with the most delicious hand made Xiao Long Baos.
Fun fact: “Queuing”, is really Singaporean. Sometimes they even don’t know themselves where the queu is for, but they just have the urge to queu up. A serious fear of missing out!
Location:
Zhiong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao
Chinatown Complex hawker
Stall number 02-135, 46 Smith St, Singapore 058956
For a more sophisticated dim sum experience you should try ChopSuey at Dempsey Hill! I will tell you more about this restaurant in my next blog about restaurants in Singapore.
Ik hoor graag via een reactie hieronder als je nog meer tips hebt voor heerlijke dumplings en dim sum. Ik ga het graag proberen!
Need more inspiration for your stay in Singapore? Read my blog “Singapores hawker culture“, which is just added to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List, my tips about the best rooftop bars or best beach clubs in Singapore. If you would like to know more about my expat-life in Singapore, I refer to my blog about the first months as an expat. Love dim sum, but don’t like Singapore? Then you might like my tips for Hong Kong and the island Lantau.
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