If we could only pick a kind of dim sum to live on, it would most definitely be the Salted Egg Yolk Custard Bun. More commonly and affectionately known as liu sha bao, this steamed bun with a flowy center is such a crowd-pleaser.
Like a molten lava cake with a chocolate oozing out, the liu sha bao is a Chinese version in the form of a bun. And what lies beneath that seemingly innocent steamed white bun is an explosion of sweet custard and savoury salted egg yolk. Served fresh from the steamer, piping hot and oozing with flowy goodness; who says money can’t buy happiness?
And because we know so many of you share the same love for Salted Egg Yolk Custard buns, we are going to share with you 16 Unbelievable Salted Egg Yolk Custard Buns (Liu Sha Bao) in Singapore.
A tip for you: do not step on the weighing scale after indulging.
#1 ASIA GRAND CHINESE RESTAURANT
Despite the tough competition in Singapore’s food scene, Asia Grand at Odeon Tower remains one of the go-to places for businessmen to entertain their clients, as well as families to have their weekend yum cha. The place is not fancy, but the food is always of high standards.
And of course, how can you go to Asia Grand and not try their liu sha bao?
331 North Bridge Road
Odeon Tower
Tel: +65 6887 0010
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall
#2 CRYSTAL JADE GOLDEN PALACE
An all-time favourite place to go to for custard buns is Crystal Jade Golden Palace. We love its regal decor, and the ever bustling crowd makes it even more atmospheric to enjoy our dim sum.
Apart from the usual repertoire of delicate dim sum, we love a steamy hot basket of custard bun. The ones here are orange in colour, because the skin is infused with carrot juice. Certainly a sweet treat that we always look forward to on weekends!
290 Orchard Road
#05-22 The Paragon
Tel: +65 6734 6866
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6.00pm – 11pm
Sun & PH: 10.30am – 3.00pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
#3 IMPERIAL TREASURE FINE CHINESE CUISINE
The Imperial Treasure name is synonymous with high quality and exquisitely fine Chinese food. The prices may be steep, but the premium ingredients and impeccable service make a meal at Imperial Treasure’s flagship outlet at Marina Bay Sands to-die-for. We really love it there, and of course, it is also because we are such huge fans of their custard buns.
Honestly, we can finish a basket each. The ones here never fail.
#L2-04, Marina Bay Sands
10 Bayfront Avenue
Tel: +65 6688 7788
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront
#4 JIANG-NAN CHUN
Jiang-Nan Chun at Four Seasons Singapore is known for serving classic Cantonese cuisine in a luxurious setting. While we really have nothing to nitpick on everything on the dim sum menu, our favourite to order when dining at Jiang-Nan Chun is, without a doubt, the Custard Buns with salted egg yolk.
190 Orchard Boulevard
Four Seasons Hotel
Tel: +65 6831 7220
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 1pm, 1.30pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
#5 MAN FU YUAN
There are many Cantonese restaurants in Singapore, but Man Fu Yuan at Intercontinental Singapore stands out for offering a unique tea pairing service. Here, you can enjoy a range of Chinese tea to go along with the signature dishes and dim sum.
Fans of custard bun will be happy to know that Man Fu Yuan serves two kinds of custard bun ($12 for 6) – deep fried and steamed. While deep fried custard buns sounds like quite a novelty, we still prefer the good ol’ classic steamed ones.
80 Middle Road
2F Intercontinental Hotel
Tel: +65 6825 1062
Mon to Sat: 11.45am – 3.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 3.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bugis
#6 MIN JIANG
This egg custard bun took a spin around the sleek block and got itself a cool new look. Of course, the charcoal does not add much to the bun’s taste, but we can all agree that it looks better than before. Breaking open this bun is just like opening a treasure chest of liquid gold.
Rochester Park, 5 Rochester Park
Singapore 139216?
Tel: +65 6774 0122
Daily: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Buona Vista/One-North
#7 MITZO RESTAURANT & BAR
The photo says it all. This stunner of a charcoal custard bun is decorated luxuriously with edible gold lychee liqueur on top; sure is an immediate eye-catcher. It is hard to beat this dim sum dish and we don’t want to call favourites, but the subtle taste of smoky charcoal blended well with the creamy, flowy salted egg yolk goodness
Level 4 Grand Park Orchard
270 Orchard Road
Singapore 238857
Tel: +65 6603 8855
Sun to Wed, PH: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm last order
Thu to Sat,and Eve of PH: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 1am last order
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset
#8 PEACH GARDEN
This should go without saying, but we will reiterate the obvious – Peach Garden has one of the best custard buns ($4.20) in Singapore. Sure, there are many other dishes to love here, such as its X.O Carrot Cake and Wasabi Prawns, but no one leaves Peach Garden without ordering their custard buns. Period.
65 Chulia Street
#33-01 OCBC Centre
Tel: +65 6535 7833
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun & PH: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place
#9 ROYAL CHINA
Royal China is a well-established Chinese restaurant group in London, and its outpost in Singapore at Raffles Hotel is a stunning restaurant with tiffany-blue decor that serves excellent Chinese food.
Another perennial favourite is Royal China’s divine rendition. Generously stuffed with flowy salted egg yolk custard goodness, the liu sha bao here are ever satisfying and ever delighting. But of course, when at Royal China, do a dim sum feast. It is a perfect place for families and couples to gather at.
1 Beach Road
#03-09 Raffles Hotel
Tel: +65 6338 3363
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun & PH: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall
#10 TASTE PARADISE
Whenever we find ourselves at Ion Orchard, we crave for custard buns. Don’t ask us why; it’s uncanny but it always happens. Perhaps, because our minds tells us that Taste Paradise is there in the mall, and our bodies conspire to stir up that craving in us.
Yes, we love the goddamn salted egg yolk custard buns at Taste Paradise.
2 Orchard Turn
Tel: +65 65 6509 9660
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 4pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
Tunglok Teahouse’s Crispy Salted Egg Yolk Custard Bun (S$4.80++) are fried to a golden brown hue and while they do not have a high lava content, its tastiness remains intact.
#01-73/79 Square 2
10 Sinaran Drive
Singapore 307506
Tel: +65 6893 1123
Nearest Station: Novena
#12 WAH LOK CANTONESE RESTAURANT
On top of the usual Steamed Custard & Egg Yolk Bun (S$4.80), Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant also has a slightly different rendition – a Baked Custard Bun (S$4.40). It is like the baked BBQ pork bun, but this is with warm custard.
Just one thing to note, this is not like the typical Liu Sha Bao which comes with molten custard. If you prefer those, go for the aforementioned Steamed Custard Bun.
Level 2 Carlton Hotel Singapore
76 Bras Basah Road
Tel: +65 6311 8188
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun & PH: 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall
#13 WAN HAO CHINESE RESTAURANT
With doors opened since 1995, Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant is one of luxurious Chinese restaurants along Orchard Road that serves classic Cantonese delicacies. It sits within Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, and its accessibility and ambience makes it an ideal destination for a family meal, business luncheon or a centralised gathering spot.
Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant serves an assortment of dim sum during lunch, but the one that you must try is the Steamed Rainbow Egg Custard Bun (S$3.50 for 2 pcs). Now, don’t let the name confused you. While there is nothing rainbow-y about Wan Hao’s Custard Bun, it is still top notch quality – you won’t be disappointed by it.
320 Orchard Road
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
Tel: +65 6831 4605
Mon to Fri: 12pm to 3pm, 6.30pm to 10.30pm
Sat, Sun and PH: 11.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
#14 XIN CUISINE CHINESE RESTAURANT
While Xin Cuisine may not be the most stylish Chinese restaurant around, we love coming here because it is relatively quiet and it is one of those places that always upkeeps its consistency; a meal here will never disappoint.
The dim sum menu is available daily, and on Sundays, there is an additional specials’ menu. But whatever day you are popping by at Xin Cuisine, you should order the liu sha bao because the skin of the bun is so airy and thin, and the filling explodes with a strong tinge of salted egg yolk goodness.
#04-00 Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
317 Outram Road
Tel: +65 6731 7173
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Outram
#15 YAN TING
The luxurious St Regis Singapore has no lack of good restaurants, and we have been fans of Yan Ting for years. The Chinese restaurant is classy and exudes a note of understated elegance. Prices are slightly steeper, but for its fine food, we’ll never say no.
If you are planning to have a dim sum brunch at Yan Ting on the weekends, reservations are highly recommended. And when doing so, you may want to get the kitchen to reserve a serving (or two) of the liu sha bao. They are so good that they often sell out fast!
29 Tanglin Road
The St. Regis Singapore
Tel: +65 6506 6887
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
For more recommendations, read our guide to Singapore’s top 30 Chinese restaurants.