One of our ultimate guilty pleasures in life is Salted Egg Yolk Custard Buns, or more commonly referred to as Liu Sha Bao. Mad props to whoever invented this decadent steamed delight because it is a work of pure genius and we are sure that many would agree.

The moment you burst open the Liu Sha Bao and molten salted egg yolk come oozing out; that is the epitome of bliss.

Here is our list of 13 Best Salted Egg Yolk Custard Buns (Liu Sha Bao) in Singapore.

#1 ASIA GRAND CHINESE RESTAURANT

Despite the tough competition in Singapore’s food scene, Asia Grand at Odeon Towers 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 Towers
Singapore 188720
Tel: +65 6887 0010
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

#2 CRYSTAL JADE GOLDEN PALACE

Crystal Jade Golden Palace at The Paragon is an all-time favourite dim sum place in Singapore. We love Crystal Jade’s steamy hot basket of custard bun. The ones here are orange in colour, because the skin is infused with carrot juice.

290 Orchard Road
#05-22 The Paragon
Singapore 238859
Tel: +65 6734 6866
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
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 hefty, but considering their use of premium ingredients and the impeccable service rendered to us each time we visit, there is zero reason for us to complain.

We really love it there, and of course, it is also because we are such huge fans of their custard buns. Honestly, we could easily finish a basket each.

#L2-04, Marina Bay Sands
10 Bayfront Avenue
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6688 7788
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Sunday: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront

#4 MAN FU YUAN

Serving up a myriad of classic Cantonese dishes in a lavish setting, Man Fu Yuan never fails to leave an impression.

Their dim sum offerings are simply divine and we make it a point never to miss out on their Salted Egg Custard Bun. Here, you can opt to have these glorious buns steamed or deep-fried.

80 Middle Road
2F Intercontinental Hotel
Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 6825 1008
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

#5 MIN JIANG AT DEMPSEY

Going against the norm, Min Jiang prides itself with its custard bun that exudes a charcoal-black hue.

Of course, the charcoal does not add much to the bun’s taste, but we can all agree that it looks a whole lot better especially after the golden salted egg yolk custard comes spilling out of it.

7A & 7B Dempsey Road,
Singapore 249684
Tel: +65 6774 0122
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Commonwealth/Queenstown

#6 MITZO RESTAURANT & BAR

Mitzo Restaurant & Bar ranks pretty high on our list of top dim sum restaurants and it is only right that we make a special mention about their stellar charcoal custard buns. Decorated luxuriously with edible gold lychee liqueur, this humble custard-filled bun surely is an eye-opener.

We love that the charcoal adds a subtle smokiness that complements the creamy, luscious salted egg yolk centre incredibly well.

270 Orchard Road
Level 4 Grand Park Orchard
Singapore 238857
Tel: +65 6603 8855
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset

#7 PEACH GARDEN

Dining at Peach Garden always promises a satisfying meal courtesy of their huge range of tasty dim sum delights, but the one thing we cannot do without are their custard buns.

Not to sound overly dramatic but believe us when we say that Peach Garden has one of the best custard buns in Singapore!

401 Havelock Road
Hotel Miramar, Level 3
Singapore 169631
Tel: +65 6736 3833
Sun to Thu: 11am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

#8 SONG GARDEN

No dim sum meal would be complete without some form of stuffed bao. For a sweet treat, we recommend getting the Steamed Custard Bun that oozes out molten salted egg yolk. Be sure to have your phones at the ready to snap a video of that luscious filling spilling out!

122 Middle Road
Mercure Singapore Bugis
Singapore 188973
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

#9 TASTE PARADISE

The next time you find yourself wandering aimlessly around Ion Orchard in search of food, stop by Taste Paradise for their amazing dim sum offerings and of course, their stellar custard buns.

2 Orchard Turn
#04-07, ION Orchard
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6509 9660
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11am – 4.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#10 WAH LOK CANTONESE RESTAURANT

Offering beyond just the usual Steamed Custard Bun, Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant also has a slightly different rendition—a Baked Custard Bun with warm custard.

Although it does not come with molten custard lava, it is still an interesting option if you are looking for something different.

Level 2 Carlton Hotel Singapore
76 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189558
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

#11 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.

The restaurant serves an assortment of dim sum during lunch, but the one that you must try is the Steamed Charcoal Bun With Salted Egg Custard.

320 Orchard Road
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
Singapore 238865
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

#12 XIN CUISINE CHINESE RESTAURANT

While Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant may not be the poshest restaurant on this list, we always look forward to the next visit because a meal here will never disappoint. Whenever you are popping by for their dim sum, do give their Custard Bun with Salted Egg Yolk a try.

#04-00 Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
317 Outram Road
Singapore 169075
Tel: +65 6731 7173
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

#13 YAN TING

The luxurious St Regis Singapore has no lack of good restaurants, and we have been fans of Yan Ting for years. Drop by for lunch at Yan Ting and do not skip their Steamed Salted Egg Yolk Buns if you are going for their dim sum menu.

29 Tanglin Road
The St. Regis Singapore
Singapore 247911
Tel: +65 6506 6887
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Weekend Dim Sum Brunch (Sat, Sun & PH): 10.30am – 12.30pm, 1pm – 3pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Mitzo, one of our all-time favourite Chinese restaurants in town, introduces a Weekend Brunch of Sexy Chinese Fare, and we are gonna get you excited.

It is hard to come by such sexy-looking and intricately-plated authentic Cantonese dishes like the ones at Mitzo Restaurant & Bar, and this recently introduced Weekend Brunch option (also available on public holidays) will have you enjoy as many of their best-selling signature items and other exclusive dishes as you want – yes, free-flow! Yipe, this includes their heavenly Char Siew Pork. For S$68++, this a la carte buffet includes over 40 dishes. And trust us when we say they are most photogenic.

For the month of November and December 2015, readers of Ladyironchef can get 15% discount when you dine at Mitzo for the Weekend Brunch. Simply flash this advertorial upon payment, and 15% will be deducted from the cover charge.

If you are tired of typical buffet fare, then it is high time you pay Mitzo a visit and allow yourself to be surprised. Here is what you can expect from Mitzo’s Weekend Brunch.

GREAT DIM SUM OPTIONS

Big fan of dim sum here, and with 13 varieties to choose from in the weekend brunch menu, it is some serious pigging out here. Just the dumplings selection alone got us excited, and we love the Crystal Vegetable Dumplings, Poached Dumpling in Sichuan Sauce and the Deep-Fried Shrimp Dumpling.

The Poached Dumpling that is drizzled over with Sichuan sauce (or better known as chao shou) was a surprise favourite and we loved the intensity of the flavours in the sauce and the added kick from the red-cut chilli. Also, don’t be fooled by the lacklustre name – Crystal Vegetable Dumplings – because it is actually one of the dim sum options that we would gladly have second helpings of! That strong truffle taste is unforgettable.

THE MUST-TRY DIM SUM AT MITZO – BLACK CUSTARD BUN

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 that we were temporarily distracted and ignoring other dishes on the table.

PREMIUM ‘MAIN COURSE’ ITEMS

Do not overlook the main courses because some of them really exceeded our expectations. You have to dive right for the Wasabi-infused Baked Fish. The wasabi taste was not overwhelming, which we appreciate. Also, the fish itself is so perfectly cooked with a glistening centre.

Some other dishes that really won our hearts include the Stir-Fried Beef Cubes with Onion. So tender, it fell apart as we bit into it. More beef? Mitzo’s take on a steak with the Pan-fried Ribeye in Wasabi and Korean Chilli Sauce is worth trying too. Did we mention that this ribeye was extremely tender too? As avid meat-lovers, we were sold.

FREE-FLOW MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH CHAR SIEW

Usually S$18 a pop, this plate of char siew at Mitzo is a crowd-favourite and has been dubbed by some as the best char siew in the universe. Not even kidding here, because we could eat them every day! For Sunday Brunch, this bad boy is free-flow.

Melt-in-the-mouth center, tender meat with the right amount of fats, and an impeccably caramelised exterior, the balance of flavours and textures of this sweet meat makes this the best representative of Mitzo, and one that we will always return for.

Well, well. There are few times in life when we got excited about the word ‘free flow’, and this is one of them. We are not ashamed to say that we can eat (at least) two plates each.

TABLE-SIDE SERVICE – CRACKLING PORK BELLY BAO

You might already be distracted by the many dishes to try, but have a go at the weekend brunch’s signature Crackling Roasted Pork Belly Bao. Because braised meat buns might be too mainstream for you, so the chef will go to your table and prep a new-age bun for you.

But they aren’t too far away from what we know of Cantonese food, really. Think amazingly crispy roasted pork belly stuffed in pillowy steamed buns. There you have it.

NOT TO BE MISSED RICE & NOODLES SECTION

Don’t be quick to write this section off. We know your dining partners might scoff that you’re piling up on carbs at a buffet, but the Braised Truffle Udon was so good, we wanted to have another serving! The truffle aroma and taste was extremely distinct and it really elevated a seemingly one-dimensional dish.

Also, the Fried Rice with egg, char siew (yes, the same glorious one) and vegetable had us glowing with happiness at how tasty and homely it felt, bringing us back to the warmth of mom’s home-cooked food. And if you must, yes, there is ‘wok hei’ and that sealed the deal for us.

ALL YOUR FAVOURITE CHINESE DESSERTS

The Chilled Mango Cream with Sago and Pomelo Topping was a huge hit with everyone at the table with its thick consistency glided down our throats so smoothly, leaving hints of tartness from the mango.

And you see those adorable and bite-sized Pandan & Egg Tarts? You bet the custard was smooth and sweet. You can also find Double-boiled Almond Cream with Glutinous Rice Ball, and Aloe Vera with Osmanthus Jelly on the menu.

TOP-UP FOR FREE-FLOW TEA-INFUSED COCKTAILS, WINES & BEER AND A FUTURISTIC DIY COCKTAIL BAR

Yum cha at Mitzo is made even better with their curated tea-infused cocktails, in place of your traditional tea. Just top up a reasonable amount of S$50++, and you enjoy free-flow selected tea-infused cocktails, wines and beer  throughout your weekend brunch. Now that is absolutely a splendid deal! Two cocktails at a regular bar will easily cost you that amount already!

Just free flow, right? No. You get to go all hands on and DIY your own cocktails at the bar – according to whatever you like, and however much alcohol you want. Or have the   mixologist  guide you and pick up some bartending skills along the way. Or if you’re afraid you’ll make a bad drink, trust us and order the Mitzo’s classic cocktails – Shiso Mojito, from the menu

Whatever it is, party!

We have never seen a Chinese restaurant with such a kick-ass looking bar. The jellyfish tank, coupled with futuristic looking bar-top items, we were truly impressed. The bar itself is a very popular hang-out for many because of the sleekness and intimacy.

EXCLUSIVE 15% PROMOTION FOR LADYIRONCHEF’S READERS

For the month of November and December 2015, you lovely readers of Ladyironchef are entitled to a 15% discount when you dine at Mitzo for the Weekend Brunch. Simply flash this advertorial upon payment, and 15% will be deducted from the cover charge.

Do note that this discount is not applicable for alcohol add-ons, and not applicable on Christmas Day.  

Prices:
$68++ (Adult)
Add on $50++ for free flow cocktails, wines and beer
(11.30am to 2.30pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays)
Reservations are highly recommended.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

Mitzo
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

This post is brought to you by Mitzo.

Black is sexy, and always will be. And more restaurants turn to squid ink and charcoal to enhance the appearance of their dishes; well, we are not even complaining. Some might argue they are gimmicky, but looking at a sleek and seductive black dish on your table is an excitement that is quite second to none – this, no one can deny.

That old-fashioned curiosity then kicks in, and if the taste of the dish turns out better than it looks, it puts us on a high. Bring on those gimmicks; the best ones will prove you wrong.

We handpicked some of our favourites to curate this list of the 10 Black Dishes in Singapore, and if you have more to suggest, pray tell because black will always be the new black – even for food.

#1 BLACKBIRD BISTRO & BAR – SOUTHERN BURGER

Blackbird’s Southern Burger has been one of our favourite affordable burgers because for a friendly price tag of S$16.80, you will be treated to a juicy fried chicken patty in a gorgeous charcoal bun. It definitely tastes as alluring as it looks.

6 Handy Road
Singapore 229234
Tel: +65 6337 3448
Tue to Sun: 11.30am – 11pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Dhoby Gaut

#2 DOLCETTO BY BASILLICO – SQUID INK PANINI

Dolcetto has some of the best looking and tasting desserts in Singapore. However, what most people overlook is their menu of delicious deli bites that are great for a quick and light meal, or to take away.

The Squid Ink Panini (S$14) justifies its price tag with generous amount of prawns and crab meat tucked in between squid ink panini, with a crisp outer layer from being warmed on the griddle.

1 Cuscaden Road
Lobby Regent Hotel Singapore
Singapore 249715
Tel: +65 6720 8000
Daily: 7.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#3 MIN JIANG – CHARCOAL CUSTARD BUN

This 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.

Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Tel: +65 6730 1704
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#4 QUAYSIDE FISH BAR & BISTRO – SQUID INK LOBSTER SPAGHETTI

Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro has always been a frontrunner in offering the freshest seafood dishes and you should know by now how much we love dining there.

Their Squid Ink Lobster Spaghetti is a definite must-try. With squid ink that greatly enhances the taste of the pasta, this sexy dish is perfectly cooked with lobster, and it never disappoints.

31 Ocean Way #01-11
Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Singapore 098375
Tel: +65 6268 8633
Mon: 5.30pm – 12 midnight
Tue to Thu: 12pm – 12 midnight
Fri: 12pm – 1am
Sat: 10am – 1am
Sun: 10am – 12 midnight
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

#5 SPATHE PUBLIC HOUSE – SQUID INK WAFFLES WITH PRAWNS

While we were on the search for Singapore’s most unique waffles, we chanced upon Spathe’s cool cat – Squid Ink Waffles. The squid ink waffle itself was a tad bit overwhelmingly black, but the overall taste of this dish was pretty darn good. We also liked how they took the risky path of using prawns to top off this savoury waffle dish – because nobody knew it would work and it did.

8 Mohamed Sultan Road
#01-01
Singapore 238958
Tel: +65 6735 1035
Mon to Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 9am – 11pm
Sun: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

#6 STATELAND CAFE – TAN CHARCOAL THICK TOAST

As one of our go-to Shibuya toast places to head to, Stateland always has unique takes on trending cafe fare and they certainly did well with this black beauty. The toast itself was buttery, crisp on the outside and served warm.

32 Bali Lane
Singapore 189868
Tel: +65 8715 5475
Mon, Wed, Thu & Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Bugis

#7 SUN RAY CAFE – CHARCOAL PORTOBELLO BURGER

A great option for vegetarians or vegans, the owner of Sun Ray Cafe (who is a vegetarian himself) decided to create a veggie burger that actually tastes so good that meat-lovers will approve. The addition of juicy portobello in between the charcoal buns is a genius move because all the flavours came together so perfectly.

79 Brighton Crescent
Serangoon Gardens
Singapore 559218
Tel: +65 6283 8700
Mon-Tue: 6pm -11pm
Wed-Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri: 11am – 12am
Sat: 10am – 12am
Sun: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

#8 THE COLD PANTRY – CHARCOAL ROOT BEER WAFFLE

You should be familiar with The Cold Pantry’s Charcoal Root Beer Waffle (S$12.50) by now because it looks and tastes so good that got so many of us heading down to the cafe just for this specific dish.

Listed in our unique waffles piece, we were definitely unanimous on how good-looking (and tasting) this dessert waffle is. Do note that the waffle is very dense and is more cakey than it is waffle-y. But try it anyway; it is really good.

131 Rangoon Road
Singapore 218409
Tel: +65 9179 7266
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 9pm
Fri to Sun: 12pm – 10pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

#9 TIONG BAHRU BAKERY – SQUID INK BUN

Loaded with salmon, ham and pesto sauce, Tiong Bahru Bakery’s Squid Ink Bun (S$8.50) is a treat for both the eyes and the taste buds. For just S$8.50, it is a great option for a simple, yet satisfying takeaway lunch. Enjoy this with a cup of coffee while you unwind with a magazine; we like our afternoons casual like that.

56 Eng Hoon Street
#01-70
Singapore 160056
Tel: +65 6220 3430
Daily: 8am – 8pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

#10 TWENTY GRAMMES – CHARCOAL SALTED EGG WAFFLES

Our eyes were glued to this beauty on a plate when our orders arrived at our table.

Enhanced with a rich salted egg sauce, we could not resist gobbling up this waffle completely. Choose between Twenty Grammes’ wide range of ice cream flavours to top your waffle off. Find out how you can get 50% off waffles here, until the end of October 2015.

753 North Bridge Road
#01-01
Singapore 198721
Tel: +65 6717 1733
Mon to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Bugis