Let’s yum cha! Dim sum has traditionally been a popular choice for communal meals in Singapore. Whether you are dining with family or friends, sharing steaming baskets of bite-sized goodies is a fantastic way to encourage bonding.

Unfortunately, this activity becomes less accessible when accommodating for vegetarian family members and friends. Even for popular Chinese restaurant chains, their vegetarian dim sum selection tends to be uninspired, and is sparse at best.

To maintain the spirit of dining together, here is a list of restaurants that offer a more robust menu of vegetarian dim sum items, and are led by chefs with sufficient imagination and skill to recreate non-vegetarian dishes into original vegetarian alternatives.

By serving up palatable vegetarian dishes, these places prove that meatless doesn’t mean tasteless!

Photo Credit: https://www.pscafe.com/chopsuey-cafe-at-dempsey-hill/

CHOPSUEY CAFÉ

Chopsuey Café, the Asian spinoff of PS. Café, has matured from a maladroit eatery into a restaurant adept at serving modern interpretations of Chinese dishes. Located in Dempsey, diners can find repose in the colonial-styled dining space while sipping on infusions inspired by regional flavours.

Amidst its menu, one can find a comfortable selection of dishes that are either fully vegetarian or can be modified into vegetarian alternatives.

Start off with their dim sum selection – the refreshingly light Vegetarian Crystal Dumplings and the mildly honeyed Vegetarian Char Siew Pau are choice picks.

To supplement your meal, their San Choy Pau is laced with a kaleidoscope of flavours and textures, while the vegetarian Chopsuey Satays – with alternating tofu chunks! – retain the sweet-savoury profile of its meat counterpart.

Block 10, Dempsey Road
#01-23
Singapore 247700
Tel: +65 6708 9288
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 4pm, 4pm – 6pm (Dim Sum), 6pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 4pm, 4pm – 6pm (Dim Sum), 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/vegetarian.sg/

DIVINE REALM VEGETARIAN

Initially a vegetarian steamboat buffet restaurant, after being subsumed under the Zizai Restaurant brand, Divine Realm streamlined its menu into an eclectic mix of vegetarian zichar offerings.

Besides more unusual vegetarian options like ramen and prata, the restaurant offers all-day dim sum dishes. Due to the consistent quality of ingredients and careful craftsmanship, even tables not expressly looking for dim sum dishes are fond of padding their order with these morsels.

Customer favourites include the succulent siew mai and the piquant fried dumplings – both brimming with an assortment of sliced vegetables, the former induces a burst of fresh sweetness with each bite, while the latter’s sinfully savoury profile makes it dangerously easy to pop.

Hougang Avenue 8
Block 501, #01-630
Singapore 530501
Tel: +65 6387 2058
Daily: 7.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Hougang

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/empresssg/

EMPRESS

Hidden in the Asian Civilisations Museum, Empress reinterprets Chinese cuisine by interweaving traditional offerings with vibrant contemporary flavours. Overlooking the Singapore River, customers can enjoy spectacular views of the waterfront and skyline while sampling the restaurant’s lively modern fare.

By leveraging on a recent meat substitute called Omnipork, Empress utilises this invention to reconstruct pork-based dishes without forgoing the dominant textures and flavours of said protein.

Using a combination of Omnipork and Impossible Meat, Empress is able to recreate favourites from char siew to sweet and sour pork balls with an astonishing likeness to their original counterparts.

For an added surprise, these weekend dim sum brunches at Empress entail unlimited servings of your favourite dim sum items for a truly indulgent dining experience!

1 Empress Place
Asian Civilisations Museum, #01-03
Singapore 179555
Tel: +65 6776 0777
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 4pm (Dim Sum), 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

Photo Credit: https://www.fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-singapore/

JADE

Found in the historically preserved The Fullerton Hotel, Jade is more than a restaurant that serves impeccable Chinese food. Possessing a space evocative of a time-worn past and a spread rooted in authenticity, Jade has evolved into a present-day keeper of our culinary heritage.

Although a standalone vegetarian dim sum menu isn’t available, Jade offers vegetarian and vegan set menus. These sets present an extensive six-course spread, of which the first two courses include creative dim sum bites.

For patrons more partial to traditional Chinese vegetarian fare, the vegetarian menu is a homely and comforting mix of familiar flavours. Those looking for something more unusual, the aptly named “Taste The Future” vegan menu heavily features Omnipork in its adaptations of non-vegan favourites.

1 Fullerton Square
Level 01, Fullerton Hotel
Singapore 049178
Tel: +65 6877 8911 / 8912
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm (Dim Sum), 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

LINGZHI VEGETARIAN

A vegetarian offshoot of TungLok Group, LingZhi Vegetarian is one of the linchpins of Singapore’s vegetarian scene. Spending nearly three decades redefining what scrumptious and healthy vegetarian food should taste like, LingZhi maintains the gourmet quality representative of its lineage.

Prepared à la carte fashion, the lunch buffet provides the freedom to mix and match a free flow of your preferred dim sum items, making this the perfect spot to hold family gatherings at.

With twelve distinct dim sum dishes available, be it more uncommon flavour combinations – ever considered trying a chrysanthemum dumpling? – or harder to find vegetarian alternatives – fancy a vegetarian “char siew” sou? – chances are if they’re not found in LingZhi menu, you’ll be hard-pressed to find it elsewhere.

541 Orchard Road
Liat Towers, #05-01
Singapore 238881
Tel: +65 6734 3788
Daily: 11am – 3pm (Dim Sum), 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/LotusVegetarian/

LOTUS VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

Iconic in the vegetarian circle for its comprehensive buffet spread, Lotus is a popular location to host large family gatherings or celebrations at. Between Friday to Sunday, a sojourn into the Asian Buffet showcases both progressive Chinese vegetarian dishes and local favourites.

Diners can help themselves to pickings of meticulously recreated staples – the unassuming Wild Mushroom Crystal Dumpling holds within its gossamer skin a rich and colourful flavour – alongside more unique dim sum originals such as the BBQ King Oyster Bun.

Head over to chefs-manned stations after to pick up a warm serving of Chicken Rice or Laksa; whichever your pick of comfort food, their scent profiles are comparable to their original inspirations.

201 Balestier Road
Quality Hotel Marlow, Level 2
Singapore 329926
Tel: +65 6254 0090
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm (Dim Sum), 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

MITZO

Few will believe that this unorthodox, glitzy interior belies an authentic Cantonese restaurant. Mitzo seeks to reinvent Cantonese dining without relinquishing its foundational essence; serving uncompromising Cantonese fare in a space steeped in flamboyant and deconstructed transmutations of traditional Chinese elements.

Available all day, the Vegetarian Steamed Dim Sum Platter for two is a splendid addition to any meal. Although the vegetable dumplings are well-balanced in flavours, the crowning dish goes to the sheer aromatic potency of the Wild Mushroom Truffle Bun.

To complement the initial tasting, diners can peruse the à la carte menu for more substantial vegetarian dishes. Consider adding on the deep-fried monkey head mushrooms; they provide an excellent textural dimension to your meal, and pair marvellously with a bespoke cocktail from the bar.

270 Orchard Road
Grand Park Orchard, Level 4
Singapore 238857
Tel: +65 6603 8855
Sun to Wed: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Thu to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm, 10.30pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Somerset

MOUTH RESTAURANT

Since its inception in 1988, Mouth Restaurant has been doling out traditionally crafted and handmade classic Cantonese dishes to its patrons. Post menu revamp in 2013, Mouth has added on more inventive dishes, including ingredients once considered unconventional into its kitchen mix.

Although the non-vegetarian dishes received the bulk of this modernisation, updated vegetarian dim sum dishes include the fragrant Steamed Truffle Crystal Dumpling and the sublime moistness of the Extra Soft Coconut Sugar Sponge Cake.

For the insatiate few, feel free to add on a hearty vegetarian carb dish: either the Braised E-Fu Noodles or Vegetarian Fried Rice with their smoky wok hei will pair wonderfully with the lighter profiles of the dim sum items.

38 Maxwell Road
Airview Building, #01-01/02
Tel: +65 6438 5798
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm (Dim Sum), 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 4.30pm (Dim Sum), 6pm – 10pm (Dim Sum)
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/newfutkai/

NEW FUT KAI VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

New Fut Kai pays homage to its divine namesake by offering a communal space conducive for bonding over meals at, and providing a cordial service ubiquitous to respected Chinese dining establishments.

Beyond its mainstay of Chinese dishes, New Fut Kai’s menu is peppered with regionally diverse items, with a commonality only residing in said dishes’ popularity with Singaporeans. Expect an extravagant mix of vegetarian-friendly local delicacies and traditional dim sum fare not found anywhere else – fancy some bak kut teh with a side of kung bak pao?

With one of the largest yet most affordable vegetarian menus in the market, bring your pickiest vegetarian relative or friend here. Given the sheer size of the restaurant’s offerings, there’s bound to be something that piques their interest!

282 Jalan Besar
Singapore 208945
Tel: +65 6398 0836
Daily: 10am – 3pm (Dim Sum), 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: https://www.yantingrestaurant.com/

YAN TING

At Yan Ting, the anchor Chinese restaurant of St. Regis Singapore, diners can seek an intimate respite in the restaurant’s serene ambience, and enjoy their gastronomical retreat while under the graceful attendance of their service staff.

Renowned for its award-winning Weekend Dim Sum Brunch, the resident masterchefs plate up an exquisite array of Cantonese-inspired creations that feature an effortless blend of traditional and modern.

Unlike other establishments, Yan Ting presents vegetarian fare that is more than an awkward hodgepodge of garden greens. These specially-crafted dishes are a compelling blend of meat substitutes and spiced vegetables.

From time-honoured favourites like spring rolls and mushroom dumplings to specially-requested Impossible variants of non-vegetarian dishes, you can look forward to an exciting afternoon of intricate vegetarian delights at Yan Ting.

29 Tanglin Road
Level 1U, The St. Regis
Singapore 247911
Tel: +65 6506 6887
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 3pm (Dim Sum), 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/belindasaw.ailin/

YUAN XIANG VEGETARIAN

With an extensive menu rivalling even its non-vegetarian equivalents, Yuan Xiang is the prime choice for families with older members whose palates prefer the familiarity of typical Chinese vegetarian fare.

Unlike places that serve plates of reheated premade items, patrons can revel in the sight of their dim sum baskets piled high at Yuan Xiang. Cooking up fresh vegetarian alternatives to dim sum staples at all hours, go early to snag them before they sell out for the day.

The radish cake is a perennial bestseller: its centre retains the dish’s characteristic salty zest through clever use of mushrooms, while its exterior is pan-fried to an addictive crispiness. Other popular items include their saccharine char siew bao and delicate steamed dumplings.

134 Changi Road
Singapore 419720
Tel: +65 6344 3239
Daily: 9.30am – 10pm (Dim Sum)
Nearest Station: Eunos
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

Vegetarian dining is very seldom on the top of anyone’s lists, but LingZhi Vegetarian may prove to be the only exception. It has really set the benchmark for vegetarian cuisine to an almost unbeatable level. Even religious meat lovers like us were impressed!

Offering a straightforward yet dazzling new menu, diners can expect to fall head over heels for their vegetarian versions of Lasagna, Peking Duck and even Satay.

So whether you follow a strict vegetarian lifestyle or are someone who’s looking for healthier, tastier options, LingZhi Vegetarian has a new menu that is waiting to please your taste buds.

Lingzhi Vegetarian offers a contemporary vegetarian experience that seeks to change local perceptions about Chinese Vegetarian cuisine.

Gone are the primitive, conservative style of preparing vegetarian dishes with gluten, mock meats, artificial coloring, and additives. In its place is a range of dishes filled with wholesome goodness, prepared from the finest, freshest natural as well as organic ingredients.

They even exclude garlic and onions as well. An admirable effort considering how both of these ingredients are integral components in Chinese cooking.

Chilled Cherry Tomatoes with Soda Plum Juice

To begin your meal on a refreshing note, cleanse your palate with the Chilled Cherry Tomatoes with Soda Plum Juice (S$16++). You might think these are just tomatoes and that is where you are wrong.

What you get is plump, ripe cherry tomatoes that once you bite into, will explode with sweet and juicy plum goodness.

Be sure to sip the soda slowly because although it is served in a shot glass, it is not meant to be finished in one gulp.

Mixed Fresh Fruits And Kale Salad Served With Vietnamese Rice Paper

Making a stunning entrance is the Mixed Fresh Fruits And Kale Salad Served with Vietnamese Rice Paper (S$18++). Witness a delightful spectacle as the salad is tossed over clouds of dry ice at your table-side, you may then wrap the salad in delicate layers of seaweed and rice paper.

A melody of textures and tastes await you as you make that first bite. From crispy julienned yam, Asian pear, juice grapes, candied nuts, cherry tomatoes, and raisins; all are married together with a zesty raspberry and ginger dressing.

Mushroom Truffle Bisque Served In Stone Pot

You wouldn’t believe how amazing the Mushroom Truffle Bisque (S$10++) tastes. It comes served in a hot stone bowl and brims with mushroom goodness.

The bisque is not overly thick and the generous portion of black truffles makes it so decadent and fragrant. We did double takes while drinking; were we really in a vegetarian restaurant drinking a vegetarian mushroom soup? If so, how could it be so flavourful with every sip?!

Vegetarian Satay Served In Fresh Pineapple

The Vegetarian Satay served in Fresh Pineapple (S$24++) is also not one to miss out on. Chargrilled aromas resembling actual satay envelope the skewered monkey-head Mushrooms.

Drown them in the thick, velvety satay gravy and you probably wouldn’t even be able differentiate it from its actual, meaty counterpart.

Poached Mixed Rice With Vegetables

A healthy carbs option such the Poached Mixed Rice with Vegetables (S$16++) is recommended. We really liked that it was brimming with umami flavours.

In all honesty, LingZhi Vegetarian’s version of Thunder Tea Rice surpasses all others in terms of presentation and taste. The dish comes served with poached multigrain rice in the center of a plate along with a teapot containing tea steeped with kale. Drip it over the rice and allow the flavours to mingle with one another.

Crispy Enoki Mushrooms with Truffle Oil

If you love Truffle Fries, you will definitely love this dish too. Sinful as it was, the Crispy Enoki Mushrooms with Truffle Oil (S$10++) is easily our favourite of the lot.

Deep fried till crispy, salted just right and drizzled with truffle oil to boost its aroma, this was something everyone on the table kept reaching out for. Before we knew it, we were munching away too quickly and had to order a second portion. Yes, highly addictive; you have been warned.

Baked Three Kinds of Squash

Calling all Lasagne lovers, you will be blown away by how legit and tasty this Baked Three Kinds of Squash (S$20++) is. We don’t think they intended for it to replicate a Lasagne but it surely was as delicious as one.

Layers of squash are baked then copiously covered in tomato sauce, we were pleasantly surprised by the texture and flavours of this dish.

Vegetarian Goose And Crispy Beancurd Skin Served With Pancake

A vegetarian rendition of the ever popular Peking Duck dish, this vegetarian goose dish is prepared and assembled exactly the way Peking Duck is.

The Vegetarian Goose and Crispy Beancurd Skin served with Pancake (S$24++) is a different kind of delicious on many notes albeit similar textures.

Crispy Rice Cake With Singapore-style Chilli Sauce

The Crispy Rice Cake with Singapore-style Chilli Sauce (S$16++) offers an interesting contrast of textures and tastes in a single bite. The chilli sauce is thick, luscious and sweet—akin to a chilli crab sauce that we all know and love.

Here’s a tip: be sure to not dip the rice cake into the sauce, but instead, dollop a teaspoon (or more) of the yummy sauce over for a more enjoyable mouthful.

Baked Assorted Mushrooms Wrapped In Glass Paper

For a hit of variety, order the Baked Assorted Mushrooms Wrapped in Glass Paper (S$22++). The dish will arrive looking like a hamper, but once unwrapped, it reveals several types of mushrooms.

Having been baked together in a tightly sealed bag for a long time, the flavours of each individual mushroom is imparted onto the other, creating a much deeper umami flavour.

Stewed Rice Vermicelli

No Chinese restaurant meal is complete without a noodle dish, and the Stewed Rice Vermicelli (S$14++) is a great way to do just that.

Nothing too complex about this carbs dish, though. Just simple vermicelli in a pale white shade, but don’t be fooled by its dullness, because it is chockful of flavours!

Homemade Carrot Cake Topped With Ice Cream

Want some vegetarian dessert? Yes, they are still satisfying like your regular sweets. End your meal with Lingzhi Vegetarian’s Homemade Carrot Cake Topped with Ice Cream (S$8++).

Baked without any added butter, this is the dessert to have if you plan on keeping that waistline trim.

LingZhi Vegetarian
Liat Towers, #05-01
541 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6734 3788
Daily: 11.30am – 3.00pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Velocity@Novena Square, #03-09/10
238 Thomson Road
Singapore 307683
Mon to Fri: 11:30am – 3:00pm, 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Sat, Sun and PH: 11am – 3pm, 3pm – 5pm, 6pm – 10pm
Tel: +65 6538 2992
Nearest Station: Novena

This post is brought to you by LingZhi Vegetarian.