Different Types of Dim Sum Restaurants In Singapore for Various Occasions: Cheap Vs Exquisite Dim Sum

Dim Sum has always been a traditional comfort food in Singapore. Owing to many early migrants from Hong Kong who drought this wonderful cuisine to us; Singapore has evolved the Dim Sum culture to include many different styles like Shanghainese and Sze Chuan dishes, as well as our own local Singaporean touches.

Here are some dim sum restaurants that are very worth trying and suit different occasions!

Bests of Value-for-Money Dim Sum

This category doesn’t mean these restaurants are cheap, but that they give maximum tummy happiness for every dollar spent.

Hua Ting Restaurant 華廳

Dim Sum Price: $35/paxAddress: 442 Orchard Rd, Level 2 Orchard Hotel, Singapore 238879 Dim Sum Hours: Mon – Fri: 11.30 – 14.30 | Sat- Sun: 11.00 – 14.30

The baked mango with chicken tart ($4.50) and double boiled Cantonese Soups are delicious favorites. The liu sha bao (salted yolk lava buns, $4.20) is thick, creamy with a hint of salty graininess and with smooth skin. Even the special-of-the-day vegetarian dim sum (made with mushrooms and Chinese wine $4.20) was good. Ask for their homemade chunky XO chilli sauce to go with your dim sum as well. Most of the dim sum dishes here are very well prepared and delicious to eat.

Tim Ho Wan Singapore 添好运

Dim Sum Price: $20/paxAddress: 450 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #02-02, ERA Centre, Singapore 319394 Dim Sum hours: Mon – Fri: 10:00 – 22:00 | Sat, Sun & PH: 09:00 – 22:00

Tim Ho Wan is the cheapest Michelin Star restaurant and they serve top grade dim sum at reasonable prices and queues have been known to be quite long at some of the branches(Plaza Singapura).

To avoid the need to queue, go to the Toa Payoh outlet at odd hours like 3pm and try this dim sum. New branches include one at Westgate Mall, and one at Bedok Mall.

Peach Garden 桃苑

Dim Sum Price: $27/paxAddress: #01-88, 301 Upper Thomson Road, Thompson Plaza, Singapore 574408 Dim Sum Hours:  Sat, Sun, PH: 11:00 – 14:30 | High tea buffet: Sat, Sun, PH: 15:00 – 17:00

Peach Garden is modern chic and uses a mix of Asian cuisines including Thai style. A very apt place for business and family dinners, Peach Garden is clean and appealing for the masses. The fried Liu Sha Bao, roasted pork belly and XO chilli carrot cake are things to try.

There’s also a very affordable high-tea dim sum buffet at $20.80++ on weekends, 3pm-5pm, which is extremely value for money. Service here is attentive and very conscientious.

Bests of No Frills Hawker Dim Sum

Average price per person may be less than $20.

Swee Choon 瑞春

Dim Sum Price: $14/paxAddress: 191 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208882 
Dim Sum hours: Wed – Mon: 18:00 – 06:00 | Closed on Tuesdays

One of Singapore’s oldest and most successful road side dim sum place. Although Swee Choon has raised prices, the dim sum is still very affordable. The beautiful thing about Swee Choon is that they only open at night, which makes it a popular spot for young, midnight supper goers.

Most of the dim sum is above average, while the fried Swee Choon Mee Suah Kueh is quite interesting. Take note of the appetizer and napkin charges.

126 Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi  搵到食

Dim Sum Price: $14/paxAddress: 26 Sims Avenue, Singapore 387407 | Phone: 67464757Dim sum hours: They never close, ever. Opens 24 hours.

Wen Dao Shi (or 126 Wan Dou Sek in Cantonese) dishes are all really affordable, with one of the largest range of fried dim sum. This places is open 24 hrs.

The setting here is like a 1980s Hong Kong stall. Although not a Dim Sum, the Thai-style Crab Bee Hoon they serve here is just amazing and flavourful at only $15! Best value for money crab bee hoon in Singapore.

Victor’s Kitchen

Dim Sum Price: $17/paxAddress: 91 Bencoolen Street, Sunshine Plaza, #01-21, Singapore 189652 | Phone 9838 2851Dim Sum Hours: Tue – Sun: 10:30 – 20:00 | Closed: Mon

The most expensive out of the hawker dim sums, Victor’s Kitchen used to be in the category of ‘value-for-money’ but has since raised prices after getting popular. They compensate for this by giving larger sized dim sum, as well as adding a bit of twist like the wet XO sauce carrot cake. Lunch and dinner times get really packed like sardines, so either make a booking or come during off-peak hours.

Tak Po 德宝

Dim Sum Price: $15/paxAddress: 42 Smith Street, Singapore 058954 | Phone 62250302Dim Sum Hours: Daily 7:00 – 22.30

Tak Po is a casual and unpretentious dim sum restaurant in Chinatown. It’s one of few dim sum establishments that will allow you to order dim sum as individual pieces instead of the usual basket of threes of fours. Good for bigger and smaller groups.

Although not amazing, the dim sum is convenient and pretty affordable. Try the soya drenched chicken feet ($2.80), lightly fried crispy yam dumpling ($0.90 for one) and char siew bao ($0.90 for one).

Yi Dian Xin Hong Kong Dim Sum 一点心

Dim Sum Price: $11/paxAddress: 1012 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534752 | Phone 91685587Dim Sum Hours: Daily 7:00 – 18:00 | Closed: Alternate Tuesdays

Yi Dian Xin is no doubt, the epitome of no frills, fuss-free and cheap hawker dim sum. Located along the popular midnight supper spot of Upper Serangoon, it is easy to miss this little corner shop with massive crowds for teo chew mui Porridge right beside them. Still, things get a bit messy on a Sunday afternoon as its reputation starts to spread.

Try the signature dalted egg custard bun ($3) and Yi Dian Xin prawn dumpling ($3) which are extremely worth their price for this standard of quality.

Bests of Premium Tai Tai Dim Sum

These hotel restaurants require deep pockets or are usually for that special occasion. Good food with excellent ambience and service, you get what you pay for.

Yan Ting Restaurant 宴庭

Dim Sum Brunch Price: $114/pax after taxAddress: 29 Tanglin Rd, St.Regis Hotel (Level 1U), Singapore 247911Dim Sum Hours: Sat – Sun: 10:30 – 12:30 | 13:00 – 15:00 (Split shift)

Yan Ting has probably the best Dim Sum brunch in Singapore and an interior that is amazingly modern yet retaining a distinctive Chinese fine-dining style. However, to have dim sum at this prestigious restaurant comes with a hefty price tag of $98++ for the non-alcoholic weekend a la carte brunch buffet, which has dim sum as well as other Cantonese dishes.

Definitely not something you have everyday, and 3 times more expensive than other dim sum restaurants. Opt for the morning seating, as its less crowded and dishes won’t run out as fast.

Man Fu Yuan 满福苑

Dim Sum Brunch Price: $102.90/pax after taxAddress: 80 Middle Rd, Intercontinental Hotel (2nd floor), Singapore 188966 Dim Sum Hours: Mon – Sun: 11.45 – 2.30pm

The 2nd most expensive dim sum buffet, Man Fu Yuan’s dim sum brunch is available daily at $88++ per person. Decorated with butterfly lamps and peony flowers all around, this restaurant exudes a nostalgic yet classy atmosphere serving handcrafted premium dim sum. Try the mango prawn roll with wasabi ($5 for 3) which has wonderfully fried skin with that wasabi punch, and the juicy Dumpling with foie gras ($5 for 3) combines Eastern and Western ingredients to birth this magnificent dim sum.

Cherry Garden 櫻桃園

Dim Sum brunch price: $79.50/pax after taxAddress: 6 Raffles Blvd, Mandarin Oriental Hotel (Level 5), Singapore 039797 Dim Sum Hours: 11.00–13:00, 13.30 – 15.30 (Weekend dim sum brunch)

Cherry Garden brings the realism of an ancient Chinese courtyard to the next level by having an actual antique wooden doorway you have to step through. Designed with Feng Shui in mind, this restaurant is truly a journey to the orient.

The dim sum selection here is mostly traditional, but has a few new touches like the Escargot puff pastry ($5.80). But what Cherry Garden excels in is using fresh and premium ingredients to make the standard dim sum even more outstanding. The Glazed Kurobuta Pork Char Siew Pau ($5.80) is probably the best char siew pau I’ve had. The weekend dim sum buffet will set you back $68++ per person.

Hai Tien Lo 海天楼

Dim Sum brunch price: $79.50/pax after taxAddress: 7 Raffles Boulevard, Pan Pacific Hotel (Level 3), Singapore 039595Dim Sum Hours: Sat & Sun: 11.30 – 14.00 (Weekend dim sum brunch)

The Hai Tien Lo Weekend Dim Sum brunch buffet ($68++) comes with one premium buddha jumps over the wall soup as well as one braised abalone per person. The widespread menu also sees many Teo Chew influenced dishes in the dim sum brunch, like the steamed promfret with blended chilli paste. The quick-fried Hokkaido scallops are freshly sweet, while the double boiled chicken soup is just full of flavor yet light in nature.

The Weekday Dim Sum Lunch buffet ($48++)  has a smaller spread but costs less while still allowing you to enjoy Hai Tien Lo’s grand and lavish dining hall with many elements of the traditional wavy motif you’ll find at the Emperor’s palace.