Yan Ting Restaurant: Best dim sum in Singapore

January 8, 2010 | 37 Comments

Oh Yanting, how I hate you!

I first know of Yanting one and a half years back, and I never looked back. ‘Where is the best dim sum in Singapore?’ this has to be one of the most-asked question for all the dim sum lovers out there, and whenever someone ask me this, I will replied without any doubt, Yanting. The best dim sum ever.

Being label as the best dim sum in Singapore by me, it has a huge billing to live up to, but be it quality of the dim sum, ambiance of the restaurant, service of the staff, or (to a slightly lesser extent) affordability of dim sum; Yanting is almost impossible to beat.

Prices have gone up for the Stir-fried rice roll ($6) with XO sauce, it used to be four dollars, but still, I like how it went with lots of eggs and beansprouts. You don’t like the usual steamed cheong fan? Trust me, you will like this stir-fried version.

Rather than skipping the Steamed prawn dumpling ($5 for 3) and make my friend regret not having it, I decided to be nice and it was a good decision. Define a good har gau: it should have fresh and crunchy shrimp that is enveloped by a layer of skin that has the just-right thickness.

If you’ve been hanging around here for a while now, you should know well how I feel about char siew sou, egg tarts, and custard buns – I’m absolutely in love with them. People always think of har gau and siew mai when it comes to dim sum, but for me, it will always be custard buns and Char siew sou ($3.6 for 2).

Sweet and savoury bits of char siew within the golden coat of buttery flaky pastry. Perfect. The best char siew sou ever. This humble-looking pastry is what every char siew sou should strive to become.

The Steamed pork dumpling ($5 for 3) comes with predominantly lean meat topped with a mushroom and fish roe, I enjoyed every bite of it. Come to think of it, even though I always complain that siew mai is boring, but I still order it every single time. Siew mai is still siew mai after all – it’s irreplaceable.

It was a toast between the Stir-fried rice roll and the Pan-seared Radish Cake ($3.20), but since we were in a good mood, we decided to order both. Okay, here’s the deal, put incredibility a lot of radish to make the cake, and pan-seared it until golden brown, there – a simple and good radish cake.

Fluffy, soft buns, with the sweetest and juiciest char siew you can ever find. Needless to say the Char siew buns ($3.20 for 2) – one of my favorite dim sum – disappeared the moment I finished taking a photograph of it.

Happiness comes in the form of a mini egg tart.

Don’t be fool by the dainty, cute appearance, this Egg tart ($3 for 2) is not just a pretty face; it has everything more than that. My hands trembled when I picked up the petite pastry, it was warm, baked straight out of the oven. I took a sniff, trying very hard not to finish it in a bite, and then came the magical moment. The wonderfully light and buttery pastry, a smooth and not too sweet egg custard filling which was good in its own right.

* * *

Yanting has the best dim sum in Singapore. This is a statement and not a question.

Restaurant Review
Yan Ting
29 Tanglin Road
The St Regis
Tel: 6506 6888

Yan Ting is listed as one of ladyironchef’s favourite restaurants in Singapore

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Category: # Restaurant Review, * Central Singapore, Dining Guide Singapore, Favorite Restaurants, Food Photography, Singapore Food Blog
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Comments

37 Responses to “Yan Ting Restaurant: Best dim sum in Singapore”

  1. amy
    January 8th, 2010 @ 1:35 am

    i have yet to try out yan ting. been wanting to for the longest times. i am craving dim sum even more after reading your post!!!! glad you had a yummy day:)

  2. poisonivy
    January 8th, 2010 @ 4:08 am

    u make me wana go yan ting now lol

  3. Minh
    January 8th, 2010 @ 5:56 am

    Mmmm that egg tart looks awesome!

  4. jiaying
    January 8th, 2010 @ 6:18 am

    the larger the hope the biggest the expectations leh~

  5. TF
    January 8th, 2010 @ 7:41 am

    your pictures of food on hands and palms are getting so cliche & lousy.

  6. Angeline
    January 8th, 2010 @ 8:32 am

    I’ve yet to try their char siew sor! Do they sell custard bun too? hehe

  7. Simon Food Favourites
    January 8th, 2010 @ 8:41 am

    it does look pretty yummo. i wish i was in Singapore to try :-(

  8. Vicky
    January 8th, 2010 @ 9:33 am

    This is very strange timing – we were supposed to go for the dim sum brunch this Sunday and now can’t – but seeing yet another great review of this place means it’s only a matter of time!

    Thank you (and thank you to Google Reader for recommending your blog!).

  9. Amanda@SpreadMyButter
    January 8th, 2010 @ 10:04 am

    It’s not cliche and lousy. Finger food should be presented on fingers.

    What else would he do? Display the egg tart on a toilet seat?

  10. ladyironchef
    January 8th, 2010 @ 10:14 am

    amy: you have not try taste paradise, or yanting? how can? these two are like my top three fav!

    poisonivy: bring your date there? dim sum is very affordable, and yan ting is the best *big grin*

    Minh: It is AWESOME! not just looks, but taste as well!

    jiaying: thats why i always say, everybody please go with no expectation, ignore everything that i said!

    TF: Hello there, thank you for sending your precious time to type this comment. Yes I agree that picture of food on hands and palms are cliche, but they works for me, so why are you so upset? Be nice : )

    Angeline: Their char siew sou, is on par or slightly better than taste paradise. Since i had yanting one first, they will always be the best for me. and unfortunately they dont have custard bun

    Simon: The next time you come by, don’t ever leave singapore without trying their dim sum.

    Vicky: ho ho! i heard so much abt their dim sum brunch, it’s not that cheap (70+), but the range of items that they have on the brunch menu looks totally worth it. Let me know how it goes if you ever go there for brunch next time : )

    amanda: Thanks dear, We shall be nice and ignore the trolls! hee

  11. coffeechee
    January 8th, 2010 @ 10:39 am

    i never try Yanting, but i thought Royal China is very good. How do you compare the egg tarts between both of them?

  12. danghl
    January 8th, 2010 @ 11:33 am

    Always a mistake to come here when I’m hungry haha. My craving for dim sum has just elevated! Gonna try both Yanting and Taste Paradise soon. :D

  13. harris
    January 8th, 2010 @ 12:11 pm

    hey tf, would love to see your own blog and pictures then :P

    brad: stir-fried chee cheong fun? sounds awesome!

  14. Josephine
    January 8th, 2010 @ 12:12 pm

    I always thought the food on hands pose is nice and cool, just ignore the non-appreciative. You can’t please everyone but I can say you make the rest of us pretty much happy with your shots. :)

  15. coffeechee
    January 8th, 2010 @ 12:31 pm

    forgot to add that the photo on the Har Kaw is amazing!! Drool drool drool

  16. Shayna
    January 8th, 2010 @ 1:33 pm

    I will miss dim sum the most when I am in Copenhagen! ) :

  17. hanxue
    January 8th, 2010 @ 5:39 pm

    I like the picture of the egg tart! the fact that there is a tiny crumb on the finger, makes the picture more real! You know what I mean? Haha.

  18. ladyironchef
    January 8th, 2010 @ 6:02 pm

    Coffeechee: Both egg tarts are awesome, and both royal china and yanting are my top 2 dim sum restaurant in Singapore

    danghl: how can it be a mistake? haha yes please do, taste paradise, yanting and royal china : )

    harris: Yeah it’s awesome! thanks for the support dude

    Jo: aww.. thanks! it means a lot : ))

    Shayna: So you shld feast and binge on dim sum everyday before you fly!

    hanxue: haha yes that’s what i feel too, the hand gives the picture a natural touch

  19. hanxue
    January 8th, 2010 @ 7:20 pm

    You should organise a Food Photography outing or something which newbies learn from you on the angles, lightings etc. I would love to, but I dont have a DSLR :(

  20. chinesechic
    January 8th, 2010 @ 10:35 pm

    i’m MUST try this place next time in Singapore!

  21. Jor
    January 9th, 2010 @ 1:38 am

    Oh man I love har gow! And the raddish cake looks sooo good, the egg tarts too!

  22. he needs food
    January 9th, 2010 @ 11:40 am

    All of the dishes look great here. I’ve only been out for dim sum (we call it yum cha in Australia) once a long time ago. I think I need to try it again! Love your work ;)

  23. piracer
    January 10th, 2010 @ 12:20 am

    i have to say this is very strange, there seems to be a very strong positive thoughts towards both Taste Paradise and Yang Ting from bloggers, but i’ve to both and actually thought that both were a let down. I remember the har gao not being that great nor the char siew being anything special either.

    Maybe they were both bad days…

  24. Shirin
    January 10th, 2010 @ 5:23 am

    har gau and siew mai (i hope i spelt those correctly) are like the staples of dim sum (even though i kinda find them boring too! after a while anyway!) hmm.. the char siew sou also look so good!

    i love the way you compose your pictures!! (i still have a long way to go in terms of photography!!) xx

  25. ladyironchef
    January 10th, 2010 @ 10:56 am

    hanxue: I did one that day but it was for a photographic society. get yr own dslr! : )

    chinesechic: MUST is the correct word. haha

    Jor: The char siew sou is the crown jewel. And yes the egg tart is awesome too!

    he need works: that’s so sad, there isn’t really much good dim sum in Australia? Even if there is, it’s probably gonna cost a lot more. come to Singapore for a holiday and eat everything

    Piracer: Hello there, i’m not sure about the other bloggers, but on my part Yanting, taste paradise are among my top 3 favorites. where’s your fav dim sum place? : )

    Shirin: yes you spell them correctly my dear, the char siew sou is the best! slowly la, you got nic to guide you along, and he has such good gears too! are u learning how to take photographs of food now? hee

  26. BNDQ8
    January 10th, 2010 @ 7:08 pm

    Must try yan ting..the foos looks super delish… i wish they opened a banch here in kuwait :)

  27. ladyironchef
    January 11th, 2010 @ 12:45 am

    Bndq8: Oh yea if you ever come to Singapore, you MUST try yanting! from your blog, i’m sure there’s lots of awesome food in kuwait too : )

  28. Shayna
    January 18th, 2010 @ 11:38 pm

    I still haven’t had the chance to try this! I miss dim sum ) :

  29. ladyironchef
    January 20th, 2010 @ 8:55 am

    Shayna: Sweetie, go and have some before you fly ok

  30. alwayslovely
    January 20th, 2010 @ 3:47 pm

    Glad I read this post, don’t know where to go for Dim Sum other than my usual few like Redstars, Yan Palace…

    Is ‘The St Regis’ very high class? LOL

  31. ladyironchef
    January 21st, 2010 @ 12:13 am

    alwayslovely: oh yeah please go and try, yanting is one of my fav place for dim sum. Prices are pretty reasonable for the quality, for this meal each of us paid 15 bucks, we didn’t order a lot, but it was enough : )

  32. Carolyn Jung
    January 23rd, 2010 @ 10:22 am

    Your photos are incredible. I just want to take a pair of chopsticks and poke my computer screen to get one of those lovely shrimp dumplings.

  33. diva
    February 4th, 2010 @ 8:30 pm

    oh massive drool-age happening here on my end. I want that radish cake! always my fave dim sum to be orderd

  34. deana
    February 4th, 2010 @ 8:55 pm

    That photo of the shrimp dumpling was really over the top perfect… fabulous photos…

  35. jo
    February 4th, 2010 @ 10:20 pm

    Sounds like a great place to hang out for some tasty dim sum. I’m already eyeing the char siew pau.

  36. ladyironchef
    February 5th, 2010 @ 8:48 pm

    Carolyn: My bad, somehow missed out your comment. Have you satisfied your dim sum craving since then? : )

    Diva: Massive drool-age? sounds good to me! hee my fav dim sum is char siew sou and egg tart

    deana: aww.. thank you for the kind words, it looks good isn’t it? It taste even better!

    Jo: Oh yes, yan ting is my favorite, favorite restaurant for dim sum

  37. March ATFT Food Tee – ladyironchef
    March 5th, 2010 @ 12:15 pm

    [...] to try all the best food over the island! Lets do a one-day food trail; we will start off by having Dim Sum at Yan Ting restaurant, St Regis. They have the best char siew sou ever, and I love the mini egg tarts too. Wonderfully [...]

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