Buzz
Forget about Ding Fun Tai or Tim Wan Ho, if you're a dimsum enthusiast, visiting Singapore, you must stop by these two affordable yet high-quality spots.
Explore two dimsum joints that are always packed, when traveling to Singapore, you should definitely give them a try.
Swee Choon Tim Sum (191 Jalan Besar)
Swee Choon Tim Sum is not only easy to find as it sits at the corner of Jalan Besar and Desker Road, but also recognizable by the bustling crowd queuing around. Just a glance is enough to see the buzz and popularity of this eatery.
The place boasts a hundred varieties of dimsum, ranging from various buns, dumplings, sticky rice, chicken feet to noodles, and stir-fries. Particularly, the menu offers accurate suggestions of favorite dishes. So, if you're unsure what to order, just follow the restaurant's recommendations.
Traveling to Singapore, when you visit Swee Choon Tim Sum, overcoming the queue, waiting, until the food is served, trying a bite will make you understand why the place is always crowded. Similar to other dimsum joints, the food here is presented in cute steamers, hot and smoky. The flavors are just right, both the filling and the dough are delicious.
The salted egg yolk bun is a must-try. The fragrant salted egg yolk filling bursts in your mouth, smooth as silk. The small steamed buns (xiao long bao) are also a highlight at Swee Choon Tim Sum. Remember not to bite into them but to take the whole thing in your mouth, as the soup might spill out and make a mess.
As mentioned, the crowd at Swee Choon is massive, there's always a long line. This might intimidate some, but don't be discouraged by the queue, as the restaurant has a very modern queue system to minimize waiting time.
Beside the restaurant, there are two machines for queue numbers, with detailed and easy-to-understand instructions in English and Chinese. First, you select the number of guests, then choose between dining in or takeout, then input your phone number. When it's your turn, a staff member will assign and arrange a table for you.
While waiting for your table, grab a menu sheet to mark the dishes you want to order. The menu is bilingual (English-Chinese), supplemented by separate illustrated menus to help customers visualize. Prices range from $2 to $6 for most dishes. Noodles and rice dishes are priced at $6 to $7, while stir-fries are around $9.
Note that Swee Choon Tim Sum opens from 11 am to 6 am the next day every day but closes on Tuesdays.
126 Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi (126 Sims Avenue)
126 Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi is located in Geylang – a neighborhood renowned for its delicious eateries such as frog porridge, chili crab… Established since 1985, this spot is whispered to be a local favorite. Unlike Swee Choon Tim Sum, you won't find many tourists here; it's mostly frequented by locals.
126 Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi looks quite ordinary, without flashy signs, but the food here is anything but ordinary. You seldom wait long for a table. Usually, staff seat you immediately, hand you a menu, and an order sheet. Simply jot down the dish code and quantity, and pass it back to the server.
The place offers a variety of dim sum, congee, and traditional Chinese dishes, coupled with its 24/7 operation, making it a favorite dining spot. Some must-try items at Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi include lotus leaf chicken rice, crab noodles, shrimp dumplings, pork belly buns…
However, unlike Swee Choon Tim Sum, the salted egg yolk bun and xiao long bao at Wen Dao Shi lack flair. The salted egg yolk filling is thick and sweet, lacking the salted egg taste, and you won't experience the oozing salted egg sensation. The xiao long bao is slightly dry, lacking soup inside, making the dish less appealing. Nevertheless, overall, Wen Dao Shi remains a dim sum spot worth trying with its affordable prices, diverse menu, and the flexibility of visiting anytime.
While there may not be long queues snaking outside, there's a constant flow of customers, including those ordering takeaway, so you may have to wait for 10-20 minutes to get your food. In 2012, the restaurant opened another branch at 1086 Serangoon Road, giving customers another option to enjoy delicious dim sum when visiting Singapore.
As per Afamily
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourMarch 30, 2018
