Ahh~~~ The smell of freshly steamed char siew baos, the taste of delicious har gows and crispy pan-fried carrot cakes, any ideas about what we’re talking about? Yes, it’s dim sum! One of Singaporeans favourite foods, be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
If you don’t know what dim sum is, don’t worry, we’re not judging. Originating from Guangdong, China and popularised in Hong Kong, dim sum is a traditional Chinese meal accompanied with tea, enjoyed as appetisers back in the day. They are small, intricately prepared foods steamed in bamboo steamers, normally served in threes to avoid bad luck. However, as time passed on, dim sum has evolved into being a meal on its own typically enjoyed as breakfast or brunch with the company of family and friends.
So today, we will be exploring some of the best dim sum in Singapore that is sure to leave your taste buds tingling with delight!
Key Consideration Factors
Before you jump right in and begin exploring the best Dim Sum Singapore has to offer, here are some helpful things to consider for the best buffet experience!
- Location: For easy access and reduced commuting duration, ensure that the restaurant/shop is within your area or conveniently located.
- Availability: Make sure that your restaurant/shop of choice is readily available and accessible to you. Check their operating hours and availability on specific dates. It is recommended to make reservations or bookings in advance if necessary to avoid disappointment.
- Cost: Make sure that your restaurant of choice charges a reasonable fee for their services and is within your budget for a great dining experience.
- Quality: Research on the quality and variety of food and beverages served by the restaurant/shop and read online reviews and testimonials, if available.
- Style: For the best dining experience, you should ensure that the atmosphere of the restaurant/shop is suitable and the personnel are welcoming, professional, and helpful.
Best Dim Sum in Singapore
1. Peach Garden
Source: Peach Garden via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://www.peachgarden.com.sg/
Address: Locations
Searching for a place to celebrate your grandparents birthday party? Look no further, Peach Garden is a notable household name that is synonymous with authentic Chinese cuisine served in a warm and welcoming environment. Some of the must try items at Peach Garden include XO chilli carrot cake, roasted pork belly and of course, the dim sum staple fried liu sha bao! With its fine dining settings and quality service, Peach Garden is definitely the choice that even your grandparents can’t refute!
(Side note: Don’t miss this promotion! Enjoy a wide variety of signature dishes like Peking Duck, handmade Dim Sum in traditional pushcarts, and many more at the Weekend Afternoon Tea Dim Sum Buffet (S$28.80++). What are you waiting for!)
Customer Testimonial
“Brought my family for the Senior Citizen Dim Sum promotion. 50% not bad! Dim Sum is pretty good – prawns are very fresh. 10/10 recommend the custard buns, damn creamy but careful cause it’s hot and spill very easily 😅”
– X Lee
2. Swee Choon Tim sum restaurant
Source: Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant via website – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://www.sweechoon.com/
Address: Locations
Operating Hours: Locations
When writing about dim sum, we absolutely can’t miss out on the famous Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant! A famous supper spot beloved among many Singaporeans for its cheap and affordable pricing, Swee Choon prides themselves in their freshly made, handcrafted dim sum. Some of the must try items are the signature mee-suah kueh, fried liu sha bao, Sichuan chilli oil wanton (a personal fav!), baked BBQ pork pastry, and many more.
Enough said, Swee Choon is definitely a dim sum place in Singapore that will never disappoint!
Customer Testimonial
“Swee Choon has 90+ tables spanning 4 shops spaces and opens until late, a great place to get supper with friends. Fried items were fried upon order and food is served fast. Loved the variety of dim sum and dishes they served and everything tasted decent! Highly recommend the fried eggplant with pork floss as it taste light and crispy, sour & spicy soup is also pretty good.”
– Deborah L
3. Tim Ho Wan
Source: Tim Ho Wan via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://www.timhowan.com/
Address: Locations
Operating Hours: Locations
We all know that in the restaurant world, there is no higher recognition than the Michelin star. In fact, Tim Ho Wan’s Hong Kong Dim Sum Restaurant has actually been awarded the star! Replicating the taste of its Hong Kong counterpart, Tim Ho Wan has become a household name among many Singaporeans. Their specialties like baked BBQ pork buns, shrimp rice rolls, mushroom & vegetable rice rolls, pork ribs with black beans among others are dishes you must try. With a total of 11 stores islandwide, head down to the nearest Tim Ho Wan and experience a taste of the award-winning dim sum restaurant in Singapore!
Customer Testimonial
“Pleasantly surprised, being a chain restaurant one would expect the quality of dishes to be the same across all outlets but the quality of food served at this outlet definitely surpasses some of the others we tried. Kudos to the skillful chefs (super wok hey) and attentive and prompt wait staff.”
– JL Ye
4. Yi Dian Xin 一点心
Source: Yi Dian Xin via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Address: 1012 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 534750
Operating Hours: Wed-Mon, 7am-3pm | Closed on Tue
So far down the list, we have covered famous dim sum places in Singapore. Next up, we’ve got a hidden treasure located in the North East. Yi Dian Xin is situated in a coffee shop at Kovan, selling many top-notch dim sum that is on par with some luxurious dim sum restaurants in Singapore (in my opinion!). Pan fried carrot cake is a dish that is commonly served at many dim sum restaurants in Singapore; however, have you tried steamed carrot cake? The steam carrot cake at Yi Dian Xin – a dish that is incredibly soft and jiggly, doused in savoury sauce – is highly recommended as well. Alongside, their liu sha baos at only S$3.80/3 pieces (damn affordable sia!), deep fried yam dumplings, and crystal chives dumplings.
Looking for a breakfast/brunch place? Head over to Yi Dian Xin to try some traditional dim sums at affordable prices now!
Customer Testimonial
“Fresh Tim Sum, one of the best in that area. The food is not salty here, more healthy for those with high blood pressure. Not expensive as it’s a coffee shop environment. Recommend siew mai, steam pork rib, liu sa bao and century egg porridge.”
– Raymond Kum
5. 126 Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi
Source: 126 Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://126.com.sg/
Address: Locations
Operating Hours: Locations
Savour the taste of dim sum dishes – bamboo shoots soon kueh, crab meat dumplings, treasure bags, chives xiao long bao – among many other unique dim sums and small bites right here at 126 Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi. Serving dim sum since 1985 in a casual setting (similar to a Cha Chaan Teng!), this dim sum in Singapore is certainly not one to miss!
Customer Testimonial
“Come here frequently for dim sum. My favorite dim sum shop. Love how the food items are made fresh. Some of the food items to try are the Chee Cheong Fun, Char Siew Bao, Fried Prawn Rolls, Mango Banana Roll and Silver Fish Porridge. The best part is the chilli which is a perfect condiment for any of the fried items.”
– Tarcisus Ho
6. Victor’s Kitchen
Source: Victor’s Kitchen via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://www.victors-kitchen.com/
Address: Locations
Operating Hours: Locations
When asked about what their favourite dim sum dish is, majority of the Singaporeans will mention liu sha bao. In Singapore, the quality of liu sha baos can determine the standard of the dim sum restaurant in Singapore. With Victor’s Kitchen, you can rest assure that their quality of dim sum are of good quality, as their liu sha baos are consistently voted as #1 liu sha bao in Singapore (wow!). With an experienced chef carefully incorporating his award-winning recipes into their wide variety of menu options, you will surely have a taste of Hong Kong right here in Singapore!
Customer Testimonial
“The food are greattt, really happy to found this place inside of a shopping center building. The queue quite long in the morning, but it’s still bearable. I really love the egg yolk lava bun, dimsum, and the hongkong iced milk tea. The veggie cheong fan is a must !”
– Ribka A M
7. Sum Dim Sum
Source: Sum Dim Sim via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://sumdimsum.oddle.me/en_SG/
Address: Locations
Operating Hours: Locations
The newly established dim sum restaurant in Singapore and on this list, we have Sum Dim Sum! Located just a stone throw away from the famous Swee Choon Dim Sum, Sum Dim Sum has shown its capability of competing against its competitor with their unique twist on traditional dim sum dishes such as fresh prawn tiffany XL har gow, green pandan crispy pork bun, crispy prawn rice roll, scallop siew mai, and much more. A good thing about Sum Dim Sum is that it is fully air conditioned, allowing you to enjoy your food without soaking in sweat.
Head down to Sum Dim Sum now, where new memories, laughter and happiness are created!
Customer Testimonial
“Excellent quality food. Homely and familiar to satisfy your elders, but current and innovative enough to make the youngsters content. Their signature dishes, like the delicate Tiffany har gow and the revelatory Pandan bolo char siew buns, are worth the trip. And my unexpected favourite is the pan fried carrot cake that had the crunchiest shallots and garlic which elevated the humble dish.”
– Su-Yin Mah
8. Man Fu Yuan
Source: Man Fu Yuan via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://singapore.intercontinental.com/dine/man-fu-yuan
Address: 80 Middle Road Level 2 InterContinental Singapore, Singapore 188966
Operating Hours: Daily, 12pm-3pm | 6pm-10pm
Here’s another Michelin awarded dim sum restaurant in Singapore on this list! Recipient of the Michelin Plate – given to a restaurant which has been recognised for its quality – you can be certain of the efforts and details placed in crafting each and every dim sum delicacies. The best thing about this dim sum restaurant in Singapore is that it is a buffet! From wok-fried radish cakes with XO chilli sauce to honey-glazed pork belly, you can choose an unlimited selection of over 40 dishes (super value for money!).
Experience refined dining experience like no other at Singapore’s best Chinese restaurant!
Customer Testimonial
“Went for their weekend dim sum buffet and I must say the experience was nothing short fabulous. The food as expected was fantastic and each dish was uniquely tasty and nonetheless tastefully presented. But the reason for my 5 star rating was for the waitress attending to my wife and I. Rene Tam despite having to serve multiple tables she professionally recommended to us with explanations what each dish was with making us feeling rush. The restaurant was full and she handle us really well which lead to a wonderful experience at the restaurant.”
– Mark Tan
9. Cherry Garden
Source: Cherry Garden via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Address: 5 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039797
Operating Hours: Locations
Are you searching for a restaurant to host business or social gatherings? Look no further, we have Cherry Garden – a dim sum restaurant in Singapore – situated at Mandarin Oriental, perfect for you to host your gatherings! In addition to their main dining room, Cherry Garden has four elegant private rooms which can accommodate up to 24 guests! Apart from the spacious setting, Cherry Garden does not cut corners on their food as well. Utilising fresh, seasonal produce, the menu features authentic Cantonese dim sum like steamed crystal dumpling with black truffle, steamed liu sha bao with black sesame, deep-fried cod fish puff, etc. that is sure to suit all taste buds.
Wait no longer, take a journey into the orient with Cherry Garden!
Customer Testimonial
“Had a great Weekend Dim Sum Buffet Lunch offered by Cherry Garden. Worth every dollar as we got served with really great tasting and executed food. Every dish was Great! My flavorite was their rendering of my favorite Sweet & Sour pork was spot on.. Crispy on the outside, tender & soft inside, everything in this dish was balanced 👍🏻 Top Notch service was provided by their attentive service staff (Especially Jennie & Joy) too. A Cantonese Restaurant to return to over and over again. Great Team!”
– Chua Bernard
10. Hai Tien Lo
Source: Hai Tien Lo via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Address: 7 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039595
Operating Hours: Daily, 11:30am-2:30pm | 6pm-10pm
Need a break from your regular life? Take a breather at Pan Pacific and their amazing dim sum restaurant. Hai Tien Lo (stands for “Stairways To Heaven”) is an award-winning restaurant, offering a wide variety of classic dishes using age-old recipes and a ‘new Cantonese’ menu curated by experienced chefs. You might ask, what is the ‘new Cantonese’ menu? Well, something special about this Dim Sum in Singapore is that Hai Tien Lo features traditional Cantonese dining with a contemporary twist! With dim sum like crispy chicken smoked with royal tie guan yin, deep fried layer puff with chilli crab meat, steamed charcoal barbeque pork bun with black truffle etc, you’ll be taken on a gastronomic journey.
Want to experience food that literally takes you to heaven? Hurry over to Hai Tien Lo today!
Customer Testimonial
“The weekend dim sum buffet is nice. A lot choices. The fish is served without bones. The truffle bao is very soft. And the service is very good. The waitress very attentive. Will go again!”
– Linus Tan (Linus)
11. Imperial Treasure
Source: Imperial Treasure via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://www.imperialtreasure.com/
Address: Locations
Operating Hours: Locations
With a total of 14 restaurants islandwide, Imperial Treasure is an established dim sum restaurant in Singapore known for their peking duck and roasted pork as well as their assortment of authentic dim sum, available daily. Their dim sum are exquisitely crafted by their Hong Kong chefs that never fail to deliver consistency and quality. That’s when you know that every time you head back to Imperial Treasure, your dim sum will taste the same with every bite! Apart from the dim sum, they also have a built-in wine cellar that houses an impressive selection of premium wines (how cool is that!).
With central dining areas and private rooms, Imperial Treasure is definitely a place you can consider for family-friendly gatherings, business luncheons and even private dining! Hurry head down to any of the 14 outlets islandwide and get a taste of Imperial Treasure’s dim sum now!
Customer Testimonial
“Good food, nice ambience, great service! Nice range of dim sum on the menu that is pretty good. Also offers a good number of Cantonese dishes. The steamed turbot was fabulously done. The roast meats are really good too. Staff service is attentive and helpful.”
– Joel Chow
12. Xin Cuisine
Source: Xin Cuisine via Facebook- Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://singaporeatrium.holidayinn.com/xincuisine-hotel-chinese-restaurant
Address: 317 Outram Rd, Singapore 169075
Operating Hours: Locations
Step inside Xin Cuisine and you’ll find yourself enveloped in a realm of oriental splendour. Xin Cuisine’s spectacular Cantonese-style dim sum promises a Chinese dining experience like no other! steamed barbecued pork bun, custard bun with salted egg yolk, and shrimp dumpling with fish roe (har gow) are all perennial favourites. Pair it with the restaurant’s signature for a wholesome meal, finishing off with appetising desserts from the menu. Xin Cuisine has got you covered from start to finish!
Customer Testimonial
“Lovely afternoon spent at Xin Cuisine! Tried the Dong Po meat (seasonal menu) and it was done perfectly, esp paired with the man tou. Please consider keeping it as a regular item. The black swan dessert recommended gave the great experience a nice ending. Special mention to the friendly staffs, esp May who was tending to us at our table. Highly recommended!”
– Edwin Chen
13. Red Star Restaurant
Source: Red Star Restaurant via The Rating Panda – Dim Sum Singapore
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Address: 54 Chin Swee Road, Singapore 160054
Operating Hours: Locations
Want to experience the feeling of being in Hong Kong, eating in one of their dim sum street stalls? What if I tell you that you don’t have to book a flight and fly all the way to Hong Kong, but still experience a taste of it right in Singapore? That’s right! Red Star Restaurant is one of the dim sum places in Singapore that replicates the old Hong Kong vibes, with them still utilising the traditional dim sum push carts (a rare sight in Singapore now!). Staff will be pushing the dim sum pushcarts around while you get to pick and choose which items you want. Some dishes that are a “must-pick” are mushroom fish meat, BBQ char siew soh, egg tarts among others. With that said, head over to Red Star Restaurant to experience Hong Kong without leaving our little red dot!
Customer Testimonial
“Great, authentic, old style dim sum with trolley service. The food was lovely and all staff doing extra to help. Would love to come again.”
– Em Bibby
14. Wah Lok
Source: Wah Lok via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://www.carltonhotel.sg/wah-lok.html
Address: 76 Bras Basah Rd, Singapore 189558
Operating Hours: Daily, 11:30am-2:30pm | 6:30pm-10pm
Located in Carlton hotel, Wah Lok boasts an elegant, contemporary atmosphere that will definitely set the stage for a culinary masterpiece. Established in 1988, Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant has been constantly upholding their standards towards their dim sum as they continue to maintain their reputation for excellent Cantonese cuisine and stellar service.
With food that is intricately prepared by Wah Loks’ experienced chefs, dim sum lovers will surely be in heaven! Be sure to try their flaky baked barbecue pork buns, steamed glutinous rice dumplings, soft-centred baked egg tarts, and pillowy steamed carrot cake.
With that being said, if you are looking for an authentic cantonese meal rich in tradition and style, Wah Lok is your best choice!
Customer Testimonial
“We basically picked Carlton because of Wah Lok. […] loved this restaurant and ended up eating here twice. Highly recommended. Egg tarts were very traditionally good and can easily have it by the dozens. No picture of egg tarts simply because they were gone before I had a chance.”
– Tony Chang
15. Yum Cha
Source: Yum Cha via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://www.yumcha.com.sg/
Address: Locations
Operating Hours: Locations
Want to experience having dim sum in a shophouse? We’ve got you covered! Yum Cha is a dim sum restaurant located in the heart of Chinatown, right in Singapore’s only few shophouses. They are known for their large variety of dim sum, ranging from traditional recipes such as fish roe with siew mai and the classic xiao long bao to some of their chef’s modern creations, such as mango prawn sesame fritters and truffle mushroom bao.
Get transported back to the past with the nostalgic interior furnish and take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life with Yum Cha’s unique dim sum dining experience in Singapore!
Customer Testimonial
“Excellent Dim Sum in the heart of Chinatown? This is the place to enjoy all the little treasures you can eat in a 90-minute session. The quality is fantastic, the service is efficient. We had a table beside the window, which was thankfully peaceful, cozy and quiet, as the lunch-time buffet does get popular! There was not a single bamboo steamer which did not offer some taste delight. A pot of jasmine tea also did quench the thirst inbetween courses. Very highly recommended!”
– Pete Klimek
16. Yan Ting
Source: Yan Ting via Facebook – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://www.yantingrestaurant.com/
Address: 29 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247912
Operating Hours: Locations
Showcasing exquisite yet hearty Cantonese fine dining cuisines, Yan Ting serves high-quality dim sum that will allure your palate and satisfy even the most discerning gastronomes. Situated at The St. Regis Singapore, Yan Ting is faithful to the traditional cooking techniques of Cantonese cuisine brought out by the diversity and freshness of the ingredients used in order to bring out the best of flavours. You can be sure that your dim sum will be of the highest quality!
With its artistically designed, modern architecture and uncompromising service, Yan Ting is definitely a dim sum restaurant in Singapore to consider!
Customer Testimonial
“Had dim sum, shunde fish tofu and cabbage, and their specialty kung-fu soup for lunch today, and the dishes were well executed and presented hot and fresh. Had some fried rice and noodles for takeaway too, and they were still tasty after being brought home. Service was impeccable from Calvin and Weng, and ambience was nice and soothing. A very pleasant lunch at Yan Ting!”
– Ai Lin Lim
17. Kun Shu Food Stall
Source: Kun Shu Food Stall via SethLui.Com – Dim Sum Singapore
Address: Block 74 Food Centre, Singapore 310074
Operating Hours: Thurs-Sun, 6am-12pm | Closed on Mon-Wed
I know, we have been covering dim sum places in Singapore that are on the steeper end of the price spectrum. Fret not, next on the list, we have Kun Shu Food Stall! Kun Shu Food Stall is a more affordable option for dim sum lovers as it is located at a coffee shop in Toa Payoh. People might argue that coffee shops dim sum are not as good as restaurants dim sum, well, I beg to differ. Uncle Kun – owner of Kun Shu Food Stall – originated from Hong Kong and has been in the F&B industry since he was 13 years old (his working experience is older than most of you haha!). Uncle Kun also has experience working as a head chef at Mouth Restaurant. With a stacked resume like this, you know the dim sum prepared by Uncle Kun won’t disappoint!
Some of his popular dishes are oblong lor mai kai, signature yam cake, congee with century egg & salted egg and many more. So, if you are in the area and craving some good dim sum, be sure to head down to Kun Shu Food Stall and try it out!
Customer Testimonial
“We ordered century-egg-with-pork congee and “HK sampan” congee. Both had generous portions of ingredients. Sesame oil was drizzled lightly on top of the congee and this accentuated the flavours. The steamed yam cake was moist, soft and equally generous in portions.”
– Jeff Leong
18. Enak Enak Hong Kong Tea House
Source: Enak Enak Hong Kong Tea House via website – Dim Sum Singapore
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Website: https://www.enakenakrestaurant.com/
Address: Locations
Operating Hours: Locations
Finally, last but certainly not least, we have got something for the Muslim fans out there – a halal dim sum place! Enak Enak Hong Kong Tea House provides halal dim sum that are freshly handmade by their skilled dim sum chefs. Enjoy traditional favourites such as shanghai steamed dumplings, golden sand buns, steamed rice rolls and much more. Hurry down to Enak Enak Hong Kong Tea House and experience dim sum in a casual, lively atmosphere today!
Customer Testimonial
“One of the best places for dumplings. The food here is very good. Open 24 hours and they have outdoor seatings.. it can get crowded from late evenings. There is a variety of food from Mediterranean to local delights. […]”
– Rafi Mohamed
Conclusion
So, now we know more about dim sum, namely that it’s a Cantonese cuisine that is very prominent and beloved on our little red dot, let’s feast! From Michelin-awarded restaurants to humble, bustling joints, we’ve covered some of the best places to enjoy it. Whether you’re a dim sum enthusiast or just an adventurous foodie, embark on your journey of dim sum discovery in Singapore!
Still looking for great dining options here in Singapore? Click the links below:
- 6 Best Places to Buy Japanese Snacks In Singapore [2023]
- 13 Best Japanese Restaurants in Singapore
- 10 Best Korean BBQ in Singapore
- 8 Best Thai Restaurants in Singapore
• Written by Elvina Lee
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A: Dim Sum stands for 點心, derived from the Cantonese word ‘appetiser’; on the other hand, in Chinese, it translates to ‘touch your heart’. Putting both pieces together, you get an appetiser that warms your heart!
A: Don’t get fooled by how similar dim sum and dim sim look, there are actually differences between the 2 words! Dim sum normally consists of all sorts of small dishes that can be steamed, fried and baked. Dim sim, however, is a Chinese-inspired meat and vegetable dumpling style snack.
A: Dim Sum is normally eaten as a breakfast or brunch in Singapore, though there are also people who enjoy Dim Sum for supper. Singaporeans use dim sum time as a way to bond with family and friends.
A: Here are some of the commonly ordered dim sum dishes:
- Har Gow
- Siew Mai
- Liu Sha Bao
- Chee Cheong Fan
- Congee with Century Egg
- Char Siew Bao
- Xiao Long Bao
