Dim Sum – or what we know as little parcels of happiness – is essentially steamed Chinese-style tapas that are usually served in bamboo baskets. The consumption of dim sum started from the Cantonese community and is now a favourite afternoon past-time amongst Singaporeans too.
As dim sum is usually eaten during the day, most Chinese restaurants only serve these dainty dishes until late afternoon (only a few restaurants serve dim sum until ate night). The variety of dim sum is exhaustive—baked egg tarts, steamed shrimp dumplings, salted egg yolk buns, fried radish cake, barbecue pork buns… and the list goes on.
Here is our guide to The Best Dim Sum Restaurants in Singapore.
Long-standing Chinese restaurant Asia Grand is located on the ground floor of Odeon Towers, and is famous for not just their dim sum but also their Peking Duck and Suckling Pig.
Start your day with some delectable dim sum such as Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (S$5.20++) and Steamed Cheong-Fun with Dough Fritter (S$8++).
331 N Bridge Road
#01-02 Odeon Towers, Odeon Towers
Singapore 188720
Tel: +65 6887 0010
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Cityhall
Ban Heng has a dim sum buffet with more than 30 dim sum items at just S$17.60++ per pax.
There is no doubt that Singaporeans take their dim sum seriously—we would source high and low for the best dim sum places in Singapore. What we love even more though, is a great deal that is easy on our pockets without compromising on the quality of the dim sum.
Originally at S$22.80++ per pax (inclusive of S$2 charge for Chinese tea, pickles & towels), Ban Heng has a current promotion of one dines free with every three paying adults. This works out to be only S$17.60++ per person! Yes, you can go for this awesome deal when you visit any of the five Ban Heng restaurants in Singapore during weekday lunch hours.
1 Maritime Square
#04-01, HarbourFront Centre
Singapore 099253
Tel: +65 6278 0288 / +65 6278 1354
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront
Housed in Mandarin Oriental Singapore Hotel, Fengshui-designed Cherry Garden is one of the upscale dim sum restaurants in Singapore. The seasonal menu changes regularly but be rest assured that the quality of the dishes remains consistent throughout.
Some crowd-pleasers include Steamed Juicy Pork Xiao Long Bao (S$7++) and Steamed Kurobuta Char Siew in Fluffy Bao (S$7++).
5 Raffles Ave
Singapore 039801
Tel: +65 6885 3538
Daily: 12pm – 3.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade / Promenade / Raffles Place
CRYSTAL JADE PALACE RESTAURANT
Award-winning restaurant group Crystal Jade has 110 outlets across the region.
Their flagship restaurant – Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant at Ngee Ann City – still dazzles like a shining star and remains the go-to place for loyal fans. Reservations are strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.
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391 Orchard Road
Takashimaya S.C. #04-19
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6735 2388
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
Established in 1992, East Ocean Teochew Restaurant is known for serving traditional Teochew favourites such as steamed pomfret and its Hong Kong-style Teochew cuisine. It is one of the few Chinese restaurants in Singapore that still serve dim sum the traditional way using dim sum trays.
You can get the usual range of dim sum such as Baked BBQ Pork Bun, Pan Fried Carrot Cake and Steamed Siew Mai, but the standout item is definitely the Steamed Custard Bun.
391 Orchard Road, #05-08/09 Ngee Ann City
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6235 9088
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
Golden Peony is an upscale Chinese restaurant located on the third level of the Conrad Centennial Hotel. The fancy establishment is fronted by celebrated Hong Kong native Chef Ku Keung, who possesses a wealth of culinary experience and customers can expect an impressive selection of delectable Cantonese delicacies executed with adroitness.
There is a Weekend Dim Sum Experience where diners get to select four choices of dim sums and four specialty dishes per table and a choice of soup from the extensive menu, and you end your meal on a sweet note with your favourite dessert choice.
2 Temasek Blvd, Level 3
Conrad Centennial Hotel
Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6432 7482
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Promenade
Siting within Pan Pacific Hotel is Hai Tien Lo, a Cantonese restaurant that has successfully created an extensive menu of age-old recipe classics and contemporary Pan-Asian cuisine.
Dim sum set meals start from S$48++ per pax and best selling a la carte items include Roasted Barbecued Suckling Pig and Braised Classic Whole Abalone with Pan-fried Foie Gras in Abalone Sauce.
L3 Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore
7 Raffles Boulevard
Tel: +65 6826 8240
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade
HUA TING
One of the most reliable tables in town, Hua Ting at Orchard Hotel Singapore has been serving Cantonese delicacies for years and you can always be assured of a good dim sum meal here.
On its dim sum menu, you can find dishes such as Double-Boiled Soup with Shark’s Fin Dumpling (S$12.80 for one), Crispy Pastry Rolls with Scallop and Garlic (S$6.30), as well as Hua Ting’s well-loved Baked Chicken Tartlets with Mango (S$5.70).
Level 2, Orchard Hotel, 442 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6739 6666
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
IMPERIAL TREASURE FINE CHINESE CUISINE
Restaurant group Imperial Treasure started its first establishment in 2004. Today, with over 23 restaurants under its brand name, Imperial Treasure is a household name amongst Singaporeans.
They have a team of talented culinary chefs over at Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine who skilfully handcrafts an exquisite selection of dim sum daily.
#L2-04, Marina Bay Sands
10 Bayfront Avenue
Tel: +65 6688 7788
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront
Contemporary Chinese restaurant Man Fu Yuan can be found on the 2nd storey of Intercontinental Hotel. Indulge in their steamed baskets of artisanal dim sum such as Man Fu Yuan’s delicate prawn dumplings (S$6.80++), deep fried taro cake (S$6.80++) and siew mais (S$6.80++).
80 Middle Road
2F Intercontinental Hotel
Tel: +65 6825 1062
Daily: 11am – 2.15pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bugis
MIN JIANG
Located in the elegant Goodwood Park Hotel, Min Jiang is a fine dim sum restaurant perfect for small weddings, business meeting and other social events. The menu comprises a myriad of Cantonese and Si Chuan cuisine, and they are especially popular for weekend dim sum too.
22 Scotts Road
Goodwood Park Hotel
Singapore 228221
Tel: 6730 1704
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
Do not let its sleek modern interiors fool you. Mitzo is the sexiest Chinese restaurant in town, and sitting along Orchard Road means it is absolutely accessible. Their dim sum is amazing to say the least.
Everything is exquisitely handcrafted with premium ingredients, and there is a very value-for-money weekend dim sum brunch buffet. While you are at it, don’t forget to order the house signatures Mitzo Special Barbeque Pork (S$18++) and Black Truffle Crispy Roast Duck (S$38++). You will only regret not knowing about these delicious dishes earlier.
Level 4 Grand Park Orchard
270 Orchard Road
Singapore 238857
Tel: +65 6603 8855
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 12am last order
Fri to Sun, Public Holiday and Eve of Public Holidays: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 1am last order
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset
Peach Garden focuses on bringing to diners impeccable Chinese cuisine with the freshest premium ingredients.
The view from its outlet at level 33 of OCBC Building is as impressive as their dim sum menu. Dig into tasty Baked Egg Tarts (S$4.80++) and Steamed Shanghai Xiao Long Baos (S$5.20++).
65 Chulia Street
#33-01 OCBC Centre
Singapore
Tel: +65 6535 7833
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place
Royal China’s elegant interiors are characterised by their mesmerising tiffany blue walls and pillars. The culinary gem in the 3rd storey of Raffles Hotel is a popular dim sum destination. The Chinese food is simple but delicious and diners should not miss out on their Royal China Special Chee Cheung Fun ($5.60++) and the all time favourite Liu Shao Bao (S$4.80++).
1 Beach Road
#03-09 Raffles Hotel
Singapore 189673
Tel: +65 6338 3363
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Cityhall
Authentic, well-cooked and delicious Taiwanese food is hard to come by in our tiny nation. But thankfully, we have restaurants such as Shin Yeh to fill the void and to satisfy our cravings.
Other than the classic dim sum such as classic Steamed Chive Dumpling (S$4.20++ for 3) and Steamed Shrimp Dumpling ($4.80++ for 4), Shin Yeh also has an “Eight Immortals” Dim Sum platter (S$12++) which is extremely value-for-money and good for sharing.
It comes with Steamed Chives Dumpling with Pork, Crystal Mixed Vegetables Dumpling, Steamed Shrimp Dumpling, and Steamed Chicken Dumpling with Egg Plant, Turnip and Dried Shrimps.
177 River Valley Road
Liang Court Shopping Centre, #02-19
Tel: +65 6338 7337
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun & Public Holidays: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay
Cantonese cuisine, more specifically dim sum, often brings to mind the usual suspects such as comforting porridge, bao, and dumplings of sorts, but over at Song Garden, there is much more than meets the eye than the conventional mix of dim sum treats.
Located on the second level of Mercure Singapore Bugis, this contemporary Cantonese restaurant astounds with its array of elaborate and mouth-watering dishes. Your taste buds are in for a tantalising treat of innovative creations such as Pan-seared ‘Otak’ Seafood Dumpling on Skewer, Baked Abalone Pastry and Deep-Fried Charcoal Chili Crab Meat Ball.
122 Middle Road
Mercure Singapore Bugis
Singapore 188973
Nearest Station: Bugis
Weekdays
Lunch: 11.30am to 2.30pm
Dinner: 6pm to 10pm
Weekends/ Public Holiday
Lunch: 11am to 3pm
Dinner: 6pm to 10pm
That sense of familiarity when stepping into the huge space at Toa Payoh where Swatow Seafood Restaurant is one that we can always resonate with.
Swatow has a dim sum afternoon tea buffet that is very popular among locals (S$19.80 on weekdays and S$22.80 on weekends). It features a huge variety of dim sum, including perennial favourites such as Rice Rolls, Prawn Dumpling, and Pork Ribs with Black Bean Sauce.
181 Toa Payoh Lorong 4
#02-602
Singapore 310181
Tel: +65 6363 1717
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Toa Payoh
Hailed as one of Singapore’s best Chinese restaurants, Taste Paradise is a favourite establishment amongst discerning diners. Long queues are often formed outside the opulent restaurant and prices remain reasonable despite the soaring demands.
Treat yourselves to Taste Paradise’s sumptuous dim sum and do make it a point to allocate stomach capacity for their best-selling Classic Shark’s Fin in Supreme Broth accompanied with a Crispy Spring Roll served in Japanese Stone Pot.
2 Orchard Turn
#04-07 Ion Orchard
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6509 9660
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat to Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
196-seater Paradise Teochew Restaurant serves authentic Teochew-style delicacies that many Singaporeans are more than familiar with. The establishment’s impressive culinary team is helmed by Hong Kong-born Executive Chef Cheng Fa Kwan.
Raised in a family of Teochew chefs, Chef Cheng’s love for food is unmistakable; he has been exposed to and cooking Teochew cuisine for the past 34 years!
21 Amber Road, #03-01
Chinese Swimming Club (Arrival Pavilion)
Singapore 439870
Tel: +65 6348 7298
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 10.30am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Dakota
One-Michelin-star eatery Tim Ho Wan needs no further introduction. The famous Hong Kong restaurant has been making endless waves in the food scene with their signature Baked Bun with BBQ Pork ($4.50).
The brand has expanded quickly, but the good news is, the queues are also much shorter these days.
68 Orchard Rd, #01-29A, Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6251 2000
Mon to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut
TungLok Teahouse serves gourmet dim sum at extremely affordable prices throughout the day. We always return for their Black Truffle Baos (S$4.80++) and Traditional Sponge Cake (S$3.80++) aka Ma Lai Gao.
Each dish at Tunglok Teahouse is made fresh in-house and steamed to order. And there is a menu of a la carte dishes. You bet it is going to be an exhilarating feast at TungLok Teahouse.
#01-73/79 Square 2
10 Sinaran Drive
Singapore 307506
Tel: +65 6893 1123
Nearest Station: Novena
#01-01 Far East Square
7-13 Amoy Street
Singapore 049949
Tel: +65 6877 1123
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun & PH: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place/Telok Ayer
Located on the second level of Carlton Hotel, Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant might come across as pretentious with its glitzy entrance and shimmering chandelier. But do not let its grandeur put you off!
The delicious Chinese dim sum, especially their Baked Barbecue Pork Buns (S$4.40++) and Steamed Crab Meat & Egg White Dumplings (S$6++), are actually worth making a special trip for.
76 Bras Basah road
2F Carlton Hotel
Tel: +65 6311 8188
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bras Basah
The dim sum at Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant—within Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel—deserves not just a visit but also an encore.
Each dish is a representation of the chefs’ masterly finesse and satisfaction-guaranteed items include the Steamed Diced Prawn and Squid Wrap with Squid Ink Skin (S$4.50/pc) and Deep-fried Crispy Bun with Chilli Crab Fillings (S$5.00/pc).
320 Orchard Road
3F Marriott Hotel
Tel: +65 6831 4615
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat to Sun: 11.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium Hotel’s Chinese restaurant Xin Cuisine remains relatively under the radar and is a great place to have dim sum in peace without breaking the bank.
Most steamed baskets of dim sum start at a budget-friendly price of S$4.50, i.e. Pork Paste in Abalone Sauce (S$4.50 for 3 pcs) and Steamed Cuttlefish with Spicy Sauce (S$4.50).
Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
#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 Park
Yàn is a sophisticated Cantonese restaurant that sits on the fifth floor of the stunning National Gallery Singapore, and we are completely in love with the restaurant’s chinoiserie-chic vibes and menu of elegant Cantonese cuisine.
Yàn does an excellent job in injecting new elements of surprises in its presentation of dishes, but without compromising on the key essences of authentic Cantonese recipes. The Dim Sum Combination Platter (S$18++) features six delicate bite-size treats, and is a great sampler if you cannot decide on which dim sum dish to order!
1 St. Andrew’s Road, #05-02
National Gallery Singapore
Singapore 178957
Tel: +65 63845585
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat and Sun: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall
YAN TING
This Chinese restaurant at The St. Regis Singapore is classy and exudes a note of understated elegance. Prices are slightly steeper, but for its fine food, it has won fans from all over the region. If you are planning to have a dim sum brunch at Yan Ting on the weekends, reservations are highly recommended.
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