We are such big fans of TungLok Group’s arsenal of restaurants and one of the places we frequent is TungLok Teahouse for their delectable, handcrafted dim sum. This casual dining restaurant has extremely competitive prices—which means you can always pop by to satisfy your dim sum cravings even if you are on a budget!

TungLok Teahouse at Square Two recently underwent a transformation: From a retro old-school Chinese Teahouse, to a place which revolutionizes the way dim sum is served. Hint: there is automation and interaction involved here.

After all these years, it remains as one of our all-time favourite places for reliable dim sum.

At first look, the new TungLok Teahouse at Square 2 resembles a classic American Diner with its green and red booths. It is indeed refreshing for a dim sum restaurant.

The restaurant has implemented a new dining concept with its tray delivery system. Choose to sit where the action is at, the booths, which cater to group of four or six; or the round tables at the side of the restaurant which seat bigger groups.

The chefs will prepare the orders upon receiving the electronic orders made via an iPad at every table—this is to ensure that every basket and plate of dim sum is steamed to order and served fresh and piping hot.

Then comes the interesting part—look out for your food which will be delivered to your table straight from the kitchen via the “tray”.

We felt like we were kids again, having so much fun exploring a new game that has just been launched. This new system also means that your waiting time is greatly reduced!

SIGNATURE DIM SUM

Cartoon dim sum will always capture our hearts, which is what the Mini Piglet BBQ Buns (S$5.30++ – 3 pieces) at TungLok Teahouse did. On top of being adorable, we gave this dish additional points for its taste too.

We tore apart the soft bun and were delighted to be greeted with a generous portion of barbequed pork and sweet sauce.

TungLok Teahouse’s signature Steamed Siew Mai with Quail Egg and Truffle (S$5.80++ – 4 pieces) completely blew our minds. Who would have thought the classic dim sum could be reinvented this way?!

We loved how we were surprised by the runny quail egg yolk when we bit into the pork and shrimp siew mai. And as if the sweetness from the egg wasn’t enough, black truffle is added for an overall elevation of the taste!

We are never looking at siew mai the same way again.

Steamed Cheong Fun (rice rolls) is a staple in most dim sum restaurants and you bet it is a must-order at TungLok Teahouse.

We liked the textural variety in the Steamed Prawn Rice Rolls ‘Cheong Fun’ (S$6.80++). Imagine fresh plump prawns, vegetables and crispy vermicelli wrap, combined together in delicate rice noodle rolls before it is drenched with light soya sauce.

Many of you will agree with us that good baked pork buns should come with flaky tops and are soft to bite. Besides that, it is also crucial that the sweet and savoury bits from the bun and juicy pork have to go well together.

That is what you would get with the Baked BBQ Pork Buns (S$4.80++ – 3 pieces) at TungLok Teahouse. Since our first trip, we had concluded that this is a must-try at TungLok Teahouse and our stand remains today.

Other dim sum choices you get are Steamed Shrimp Dumplings ‘Har Gao’ (S$5.30++ – 4 pieces), Baked Mini Egg Tarts (S$4.30++ – 3 pieces), Deep-fried Yam Puffs with Truffle (S$4.30++ – 3 pieces) and Steamed Juicy Meat Buns ‘Xiao Long Bao’ (S$5.30++ – 4 pieces).

SIDES

Boxer Chicken (S$8++) is so sinfully good that it is worth every damn calorie. Although the limelight at TungLok Teahouse is the dim sum, it would be a shame to miss out on this crispy delight.

Deep fried to perfection, you can enjoy the chicken with the chilli dip for a spicy kick.

BECAUSE ROAST MEATS

The Duo BBQ Meat Combination Platter (S$20++) is a plate of roasted goodness that comes with ‘Char Siew’ and Roast Irish Duck. Roasted to a glorious shade of deep red, the best part of the roast duck has got to be its crispy skin.

Well, we don’t think you need another reason to be convinced, right? Good roast meats are worth the while.

THIS UNFORGETTABLE POT OF NOODLES

This pot of Braised Prawns with Vermicelli in X.O. Sauce (S$18++) comes with prawns and tanghoon. It was flavourful with a distinct wok hei, and as simple as it may look, it was an unforgettable item from our lunch that afternoon.

TungLok Teahouse
10 Sinaran Drive
#01-73 Square 2
Singapore 307506
Tel: +65 6893 1123
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 3pm, 3pm – 5pm (high tea), 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

This post is brought to you by TungLok Group.

TungLok Teahouse’s roaring success at its Far East Square outlet sees the reputable brand opening another similar concept at Novena’s Square 2 – and we are definitely loving this new outlet!

For those do not know, TungLok Teahouse serves a variety of delectable dim sum throughout the day and night at an affordable price. Tunglok Teahouse understands that not everyone has the luxury of time to do a leisurely dim sum lunch in the afternoon – hence making it a point to serve dim sum even during dinnertime. Such great news, and all we can think of is dim sum all day, every day! *inserts hands-up emoji*

TungLok Teahouse is introducing a new menu of 12 exquisite dishes, including the never seen before Wild Mushroom Baos that look exactly like the fungi itself. WE LOVE IT!

[ GIVEAWAY ] We are giving away S$250 TungLok Teahouse’s dining vouchers. Leave a comment below, and share this post on your Facebook timeline to win. More details on the giveaway at the end of this post.

Upon entrance, one will not miss TungLok Teahouse’s retro décor of 1960s old-school Chinese wording posters pinned up on the colourful tiled walls. The restaurant seeks to bring the traditional dishes and yesteryears ambience back to life without compromising on comfort. Don’t we all love such retro vibes?

With so many items to choose from, diners will find themselves spoilt rotten for choice. Well, we were! And you wouldn’t believe the feast we had.

Each dim sum is freshly handmade on the spot and steamed to order – we found ourselves hopelessly drooling over the selections of sweets and savouries! The talented culinary team has introduced a few new additions to the menu and each mouthwatering dish is created with masterly finesse.

The dim sum that unquestionably stole the limelight was the Wild Mushroom with Black Truffle Baos (S$4.80++) which has an uncanny resemblance to the fungi itself. The fluffy buns looked so real that we were fooled for a while and thought they were actual mushrooms! The robust fillings are a mixture of Morel Fungus, Tea Tree Mushroom, Japanese Shiitake, King Oyster Mushrooms and Black Truffle Oil. We were blown away by how amazingly delicious they are, and as we are typing this now, we are salivating and already planning a next trip back.

Due to its overwhelming popularity and complex preparation methods, only 50 baskets of these cutesy buns are available on a daily basis, so if you snooze, you lose!

Fans of the Black Truffle are in for a treat. Besides the Mushroom Bun, they can be found in two other items - namely Wantons with Black Truffle (S$6.80++) and Deep-fried Yam Puff with Black Truffle (S$4.80++). The former is a superior soup dish with silk-like wantons filled with black truffle, while the latter is a flaky sweet pastry stuffed with yam and black truffle. We think the latter is the bomb. What say you?

Another new divine creation is the Steamed Bird’s Nest Buns (S$8.80++). The pretty orangey-coloured soft buns, filled with nourishing bird’s nest and egg white, have a nectarous aftertaste. Despite the expensive ingredients, the buns remain an affordable luxury.

We were equally in awe upon tasting the delicate Steamed Crystal Dumplings (S$4.80++) and Steamed Glutinous Rice with Diced Chicken wrapped in Lotus Leaf (S$4.80)++. We really appreciate how we are able to indulge in dim sum made with top-notch ingredients at wallet-friendly prices.

TungLok Teahouse’s Crispy Salted Egg Yolk Custard Bun (S$4.80++) are fried to a golden brown hue. The custard filling is less “flowy” in this version but its taste remains absolutely intact.

Other new impressive treats include the Fried Potato, Red Beetroot and Pumpkin Dumpling (S$5.30) and Crispy Golden Lotus Root Pastry (S$5.30++). Now, this ultra cute lotus root pastry was more than impressive! The skin was fragrant and buttery, and the lotus root was soft yet crispy; deep-fried to perfection, this is one dish that combines different textures into one brilliant creation.

If it is your first time to TungLok Teahouse, the signature Baked Barbecued Pork Bun (S$5.30++) is a must try. The baked buns filled with tepid sweet pork and BBQ sauce are undoubtedly one of the best in town.

The Traditional Sponge Cake (S$3.80++) aka Ma Lai Gao is also a must-order. The moist brown sugar sponge cake was incredibly tender and tasted heavenly, and one that our folks enjoyed.

Steamed Truffle Dumplings with Wild Fungus (S$5.30++) and ‘Cheong Fun’ Rice Rolls (S$8.50++), two of Tunglok Teahouse’s hot favourites, also made us really happy.

The steamed artisanal dumplings with everyone’s favourite element – truffle – were unbelievably succulent. The ‘Cheong Fun’ Rice Rolls is an authentic Cantonese dish of fried dough wrapped in rice noodle rolls, best served with drizzled soya sauce.

Besides Dim Sum, TungLok Teahouse also dishes out a menu of incredibly wholesome, home-style favourites. Do try their nutritious Double-Boiled Soup with Sea Whelk and Chinese Tonics (S$32++) that has been painstakingly boiled for five hours to achieve the well-balanced broth.

The aromatic Sweet and Sour Chrysanthemum Fish (S$26++) is deep-fried and boasts a crispy outer skin with flaky, fresh flesh, and served with diced capsicums.

The Fried Rice with Crab Meat and Egg White (S$22++) was also a stunner. The generous accompaniments of premium fresh crabmeat and egg white resulted in a smooth, velvety textured ambrosial dish. Who would have thought that fried rice could be so glorious?! We had no problems helping ourselves to seconds.

Remember, when your Dim Sum cravings hit you, and you’re yearning for a fuss-free, good-old home-cooked meal, just head to TungLok Teahouse.

TUNGLOK TEAHOUSE DINING VOUCHERS GIVEAWAY

1. TungLok Teahouse is giving away 5 x S$50 TungLok Teahouse dining vouchers.
2. Leave a comment in this post and tell us which dish you would like to try from TungLok Teahouse.
3. ‘Like’ TungLok Group on Facebook.
4. Share the link of this post on your Facebook timeline.
5. The contest starts from now till 20 August 2015, 2359 hrs.
6. Winners will be notified by email.

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

This post is brought to you by TungLok Group.

The number of Chinese restaurants in Singapore is more than the number of times we crave dim sum, but the good news is we get to compile a list of our favourites – places that do not go wrong, with an incredible array of options so that we never get sick of dining there, and have price tags that do not scare us away.

A recent addition to our list of go-to places for a hearty Chinese meal is TungLok Teahouse at Far East Square that serves all day dim sum during lunch and dinner. Yes, all day dim sum. You can snooze your alarms a hundred times and you still won’t miss the dim sum hour. Oh, we could do egg tarts and siew mai for dinner too!

TungLok Teahouse is one under-the-radar outlet, and if you haven’t been, it is high time to make plans, because it really is one place that is for everyone. We are looking at about S$3.80 to S$5.80 for dim sum, and what you get is very piquant food and a wide selection of quality teas in a cosy teahouse setting – complete with paintings from the 60’s and Peranakan-inspired décor.

From now till 30 September 2014, TungLok Teahouse is offering different dishes – Chilli Crab (S$19++), Flaming Drunken Prawns (S$14++), and Teochew-styled Combination Platter (S$16++) – at 50% promotion for dinner every night.

[ Giveaway ] We are also giving away S$400 worth of TungLok Teahouse dining vouchers. Leave a comment below, and share this post on your Facebook timeline to win. More details on the giveaway at the end of this post.

There are so many things on the menu that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to choose one. But if there was a dish that we would not leave without having, it would be the Baked Barbecued Pork Buns (S$4.50 for 3 pcs). Sweet and juicy chunks of barbecued pork encrusted within soft and crumbly baked buns – we could gobble down three at a go.

First-timers here must order the four Royal Trumps – TungLok Teahouse’s signature dim sum, or what we prefer to call ‘the best of the best’. Besides the Baked Barbecued Pork Buns, the other three highlights are the Traditional Sponge Cake (S$3.80) – also known as Ma Lai Gao – Steamed Truffle Dumplings with Wild Fungus (S$4.80 for 3 pcs), and Signature Rice Roll Cheong Fun (S$8).

On a lighter note, the Ma Lai Gao speaks of fluffy and moist brown sugar cake that is perfectly steamed with passion, and before having this, we never knew Ma Lai Gao could be so addictive.

Another dim sum that caught our attention was the Steamed Custard Bun with Lotus Seed Paste (S$4.80 for 3 pcs). Before you get too excited, TungLok Teahouse’s rendition is slightly different from the usual custard buns, and it does not have a molten center.

Instead of salted egg yolk, it comes with a decadent lotus seed paste. Our first reaction upon sinking our teeth in to the piping hot buns was “mooncake buns!” We really love how it reminds us of the Mid-autumn festival delicacy, and now, we need not countdown to that one month a year to savour lotus paste baked goodies. TungLok Teahouse, you win our loyalty for this creation.

And you need to have your usual suspects like Siew Mai (S$4.80 for 4 pcs), Xiaolongbao (S$4.80 for 4 pcs), Steamed BBQ Pork Bun (S$3.80 for 3 pcs), and Pan-fried Turnip Cake (S$4.50), be happy to know that these freshly prepared dim sum are always on the menu to satisfying those cravings of yours.

If you are feeling adventurous, check out the interesting alternative dim sum like Baked Winter Melon Pastry (S$4.80), Red Dates Cake (S$5.20), Steamed Glutinous Rice Roll (S$4.50 for 3 pcs),

Dim sum aside, TungLok Teahouse has a lineup of Chinese favourites and Teochew cuisine. Highlights include appetisers like Deep-fried Ngoh Hiang (S$8) and Crisp-fried Eggplant with chicken floss (S$7); nourishing soups that are boiled for many hours; seafood dishes like Deep-fried Prawns with Wasabi-Mayo Sauce (S$24) and Steamed Pomfret (S$18/100g); as well as meat dishes like Stewed Pork Shank (S$26) and Stewed Chicken in Red Fermented Wine (S$16).

And we do not forget desserts. Sweet pleasures at TungLok Teahouse include the highly popular Chilled Snow Lotus Pudding with Ice-cream (S$8.00) that is served in a young coconut. So divine, we were tempted to order a second portion, and it is exceptionally perfect for the hot weather in Singapore!

Another dessert that deserves a worthy mention is the Yam Paste in Pumpkin (S$8.00). Apart from the very smooth yam paste that is moderately sweet, we love how it comes in a cute little pumpkin that is personalized by TungLok – with a classy engraving, no less.

As mentioned earlier, TungLok Teahouse has special star dishes during dinner at 50% off every day from now till 30 September 2014. On Mondays, 300g Flaming Drunken Prawns are only S$14++. On Tuesdays, a 600g Soon Hock with roast pork and garlic is priced at S$16++. Our favourite is definitely the promotion on Wednesdays. Read: Chilli Crab at only S$19++. SCORE!

Equally irresistible is the special dish on Thursdays – Double-boiled Soup with Sea Whalk and Chinese Tonics (S$16++, serves 2-3 pax) which is boiled for five hours.

Fridays’ Teochew-styled Combination Platter (S$16++) is also a good deal. It comes with four classic Teochew dishes and is ideal for sharing.

On Saturdays, look forward to the restaurant’s signature Spicy Chicken and Fish Maw in Claypot (S$14++), as well as the tantalising Deep-fried Crispy Boneless Duck (S$14++ for half duck) on Sundays.

And if you are always on the lookout for Chinese restaurants for private dining and parties, the good news is that at TungLok Teahouse, there is no additional charge for booking of the private room. The only condition is to fulfill the minimum number of 10 people, and the space is all yours! Don’t we all love such fuss-free arrangements?

TUNGLOK TEAHOUSE S$50 X 8 DINING VOUCHERS GIVEAWAY

1. TungLok Teahouse is giving away S$50 X 8 dining vouchers.
2. Leave a comment in this post and tell us which dishes you want to try at TungLok Teahouse.
3. ‘Like’ TungLok Group on Facebook.
4. Share the link of this post on your Facebook timeline.
5. The contest starts from now till 14 August 2014, 2359 hrs.
6. Winners will be notified by email.

Updated on 19 August: The 8 winners are Beatrice Wong, Michelle W, Charlene, Sandra Sia, Xiuyun, Yvette Lee, Quaffle and Xue Wei.

TungLok Teahouse
Far East Square
9-13 Amoy Street, #01-01
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

This post is brought to you by TungLok Group.