A highly celebrated stalwart in the Chinese dim sum scene here in Singapore, Red Star Restaurant is one that needs no introduction.

Here is where one can relish in a large selection of dim sum goodies be it steamed or fried and have them served to you table-side via food trolleys—the traditional way. Standing as one of the few Chinese restaurants left in Singapore (or at least the only one we know about) that still serves dim sum this way, Red Star Restaurant is a gem that many loyal patrons, new and old, hold dear.

If you’d like to experience proper Cantonese dim sum dining the traditional way, then Red Star Restaurant is where it’s at.

No dim sum meal is complete without a basket full of steaming hot char siew bao, and while the ones served here are slightly bigger than the average bao, we were a tad disappointed with how it turned out.

Their char siew bao is nice and soft with a sweet, doughy aroma, however, the filling—an amalgamation of both lean and fatty components of pork—was very little and we found ourselves loading up on more bao than actual filling.

Flaky on the outside with an outer crust that’s buttery but not too thick, the BBQ Pork Pie—otherwise referred to as Char Siew Soh—is one item that we got as well.

The pork filling was sweet and meaty, bearing a milder flavour in comparison to its stickier, diabetes-inducing cousins.

When dining at Red Star Restaurant, the Ha-Kau is a popular pick among the crowd, however, we were not really impressed seeing as to how it arrived at our table, overturned and in a mess. The skins were all punctured and the dumplings all stuck to the basket—probably a result of oversteaming.

A hit among the crowd, their Egg Tart  is one of the fastest items to go. The egg custard is velvety and boasts a sweet, fragrant vanilla note and the crust that holds it all together is a delicate pastry that flakes upon the lightest touch.

A simple porridge dish, their Century Egg Porridge comes with a decent portion of pork slices and bits of century egg.

A rather unusual item yet one that the ladies persistently told us to try was the Jin Long Ji. What it is is essentially chicken skin that’s stuffed with a prawn paste and deep-fried. Satisfyingly crispy, the dish had a mild prawn flavour but other than that it didn’t really impress us.

Chee Cheong Fun is one item you’re most likely to see taking up residence on most of the tables around you. Available fillings include prawn, scallop and char siew—all of which are just as good.

All in all, Red Star Restaurant is a place that we highly recommend if you’re keen on having an all-rounded, authentic traditional dim sum eating experience but where price and quality of their dishes is concerned, you could probably do better at many other dim sum restaurants in Singapore.

Red Star Restaurant
Chin Swee Road,
#07-23 Block 54,
Singapore 160054
Tel: +65 6532 5266
Mon to Sat: 8am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: 7am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

They say that old is gold and that cannot be any more true with restaurants such as Roland Seafood—the birthplace of chilli crab—, Guan Hoe Soon and Shashlik Restaurant in Singapore have distinguished themselves as some of the most iconic restaurants in the country.

They’ve withstood the test of time, some having been around for almost a century—which says a lot about their cooking—and some going down as legends in Singapore’s culinary history. For a blast to the oh-so-delicious past, here is our list of 14 heritage restaurants in Singapore you need to visit before they’re gone forever.

BAN HENG

Since 1972, Ban Heng Group of Restaurants has become a veteran of the culinary industry boasting over fifty years of experience in traditional Teochew and Cantonese cuisine. Their food has always remained impeccable with their various crab dishes, roast meat dishes and the ever popular Braised Slice Goose Meat in Teochew Style being some of our top favourites.

1 Maritime Square
#04-01, HarbourFront Centre
Singapore 099253
Tel: +65 6278 0288 / +65 6278 1354
Daily: 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

COLBAR

Offering a full-on menu of both Asian and Western fare, Colbar is one of the few gems in Singapore that we can safely say, has truly stood the test of time. Opened in 1953, the establishment formerly served as a canteen for the British army. It, therefore, gave rise to its name, Colbar, otherwise referred to as ‘Colonial Bar’.

Granted that it’s a little out of the way, especially for those who do not drive, it is still a charming spot that’s worth the trip. It is a retreat from civilisation and it is also a great place to catch a glimpse of the old days over some good Western food and a wide array of imported craft beers.

9A Whitchurch Road
Singapore 138839
Tues to Sun: 9.30am – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: One North

FATTY WENG

An icon in our culinary landscape and one that has contributed to the roaring success of Cantonese cuisine here in Singapore, Fatty Weng boasts more than 200 items to choose from hearty soups to substantial main dishes and while their offerings may look modern, they do well to preserve traditional cooking and preparation methods of old, ensuring that their food is kept one hundred per cent legit.

39 Smith Street,
Singapore 058952
Tel: +65 6221 3822
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

MOI LUM

It is uncertain when exactly in the 1920s that Moi Lum was founded. Regardless, the restaurant is still going strong more than 80 years on. They recently announced their official closure come 15 March 2019, which shocked foodies all over.

They are most widely known for their signature Crispy Fried Chicken and Golden Coin Beancurd—both unmatched in its taste, texture and the culinary mastery required to prepare them.

38 Maxwell Road,
Singapore 069116
Tel: +65 6226 2283
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

ROLAND SEAFOOD

From sea-front stall to an icon that’s steeped deep into Singapore’s restaurant history, Roland Seafood boasts some of the best seafood dishes in the country and, lo and behold, is where the beloved chilli crab was first invented.

89 Marine Parade Central, #06-750,
Singapore 440089
Tel: +65 6440 8205
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos

Photo Credit: Good Chance Popiah

GOOD CHANCE POPIAH

Founded in 1977, Good Chance Popiah is the birthplace of DIY popiah and is by far, one of the best places to get your hands on one of the best in Singapore. We absolutely love their popiah but we also make it a point to order their Special Tofu and Braised Pork Trotter Beehoon—both are brilliantly done.

1 Jln Berseh, #01-15
New World Centre,
Singapore 209037
Tel: +65 9622 9445
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Jalan Besar

GUAN HOE SOON

Guan Hoe Soon is one of the last few standing institutions of authentic Peranakan dining in the historically Peranakan neighbourhood of Joo Chiat. They have been operating there since 1953 and continues to pride itself on making everything from scratch in-house from their sauces, soups marinate and sambal chilli.

The menu includes standard Peranakan dishes such as ayam buah keluak and babi pong tay. And their achar (served as an appetiser) even comprises chicken livers and gizzards—a long lost practice that only those of true Peranakan descent will know.

40 Joo Chiat Place,
Singapore 427764
Tel: +65 6344 2761
Mon to Fri: 9am – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos / Paya Lebar

ISLAMIC RESTAURANT

Fast approaching a century of operations, Islamic Restaurant has served the likes of dignitaries such as Singapore’s late President Yusof Ishak and Malaysia’s ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak. Until today, the restaurant specialises in Malay and Indian food offering lip-smacking delights such as dum biryani and tandoori chicken.

745 North Bridge Road,
Singapore 198713
Tel: +65 6298 7563
Mon to Sun: 10am – 10pm
Fri: 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

PRIMA TOWER REVOLVING RESTAURANT

Established in 1977, the revolving restaurant is widely lauded for its signature Emperor’s Chicken, Shredded Scallops with Fish & White Egg and various dim sum offerings. The food standard has been kept consistently good all these years yet the food itself isn’t the restaurant’s only draw. As it’s name suggests, it revolves, giving diners a beautiful panoramic view of the Keppel Bay area.

201 Keppel Road,
Singapore 099419
Tel: +65 6272 8822
Mon to Sat: 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

RED STAR RESTAURANT

Standing tall as one of Singapore’s last bastions of authentic traditional dim sum, Red Star restaurant is a must-visit for dim sum fanatics. Dining here is truly as real as it can get to the old days, food carts loaded with steaming hot goodness and screaming old ladies included.

Chin Swee Road, #07-23 Block 54,
Singapore 160054
Tel: +65 6532 5266
Mon to Sat: 8am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: 7am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

SHASHLIK RESTAURANT

The story of the Hainanese-run Russian steakhouse, Shashlik, goes all the way back to the 1960s and news of their closure back in 2015 shocked the nation. Thankfully, they re-opened under a younger generation of owners who seek to keep the old world charm intact. Must-try dishes include their Eggs Millionaire—a dish of chopped eggs, bacon bits and parmesan gratin—, Shashlik of Beef, Borshch Soup and Baked Alaska.

545 Orchard Road, #06-19
Far East Shopping Centre
Singapore 238882
Tel: +65 6732 6401
(Closed on Mondays)
Sun to Sat: 12pm – 2.15pm, 6pm – 9.15pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

SINGAPORE ZAM ZAM

Renowned for their chicken, mutton and sardine murtabak, Singapore Zam Zam first started selling its famed Indian-Muslim cuisine back in 1908. This landmark eatery situated right across the Sultan Mosque also serves roti prata, nasi briyani and plenty of other dishes.

697-699 North Bridge Road,
Singapore 198675
Tel: +65 6298 6320
Daily: 7am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

SPRING COURT

Crowned Singapore’s oldest family-run restaurant, Spring Court is where lovers of fine Cantonese cuisine flock to. For those who don’t know, perhaps you’ll be fascinated to know that it was these folks who first introduced what has now become popular Chinese dishes such as suckling pig and popiah.

52-56 Upper Cross Street,
Singapore 058348
Tel: +65 6449 5030
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

YET CON RESTAURANT

Having been around for over 70 years now, Yet Con Restaurant remains one of Singapore’s last bastions for authentic Hainanese food. Their signature Hainanese chicken rice is a must and they even have an option for hot pot—worth trying if your group is fairly big.

25 Purvis Street,
Singapore 188602
Tel: +65 6337 6819
Daily: 10am – 7pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

A family-run restaurant, Moi Lum is one of Singapore’s few surviving heritage Chinese restaurants and a gem amongst those who value good quality, home-style Cantonese cooking. Many of us—or at least members of the foodie community—would have eaten or even celebrated a reunion there once before.

They are most widely known for their signature Crispy Fried Chicken and Golden Coin Beancurd—both unmatched in its taste, texture and the culinary mastery required to prepare them.

Unfortunately, their 99-year run has come to an end. On 15 March 2019, the restaurant will officially be closing its doors, meaning to say that if you haven’t yet tried their food, then you really really should.

Founded in the early 1920s, the restaurant has paved the way for Cantonese cooking in Singapore, allowing it to prosper in an otherwise saturated society. Moi Lum brings traditional food but with certain contemporary twists to keep up with rising trends.

Among their repertoire of Cantonese dishes, the one dish that you absolutely must try is their Majestic Roast Chicken. The outer skin is crispy and paper-thin, and the meat is tender, fresh and succulent beyond compare.

15 March 2019, that’s how little time you have left to try one of Singapore’s most iconic heritage restaurants so pick up your phones and start dialling to make a reservation.

Moi Lum
38 Maxwell Road,
Singapore 069116
Tel: +65 6226 2283
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar