Dumplings, dumplings, dumplings. While dumplings can vary widely depending on different parts of the world, when most Singaporeans think of dumplings, more often than not, they are thinking of Chinese dumplings such as xiao long bao and jiao zi. Who doesn’t like dumplings, right? Here's where to get the best dumplings, at every price point.
Xin Peng La Mian Xiao Long Bao ($)
Nestled in Clementi, this humble stall serves up a range of different dumplings at affordable prices. Granted, while the skin is a little on the thicker side, these Shanghai Xiao Long Bao are filled to the brim, and tasty and flavourful broth. The meat, moist, fatty and rich, paired beautifully with the skin. Also, 6 pieces were a mere $4, which were a steal in my book. The Red Oil Wanton ($4/$6) was doused in flavourful chilli oil, which gave a slight kick to the dish. However, don’t worry if you’re not the best with spice — my dining companion agreed that even he could tolerate these. My favourite here is definitely the wantons, however, the xiao long bao is sure to satisfy anyone looking for a quick and delicious dumpling fix.
Rating: 7/10
Address: 442 Clementi Ave 3, Singapore 120442
Opening Hours: Monday–Sunday, 10am–10pm
Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao ($)
Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao is the second of our cheaper offerings. If the name sounds familiar, it's no coincidence — they’ve been listed in Singapore’s 2019 Michelin Guide. You’d better head there early if you can, as the wait is infamously long during peak hours! The damage is $6.50 for 10 pieces, which works out to only $0.65 per piece. The skin was pleasantly thin, however, if I were to be picky, it could be smoother. The broth is said to have been boiled for 12 hours each day — unsurprising, given how flavourful the broth was. Get the La Mian with Black Bean Sauce ($3.50) to go with your dumplings. Savoury black bean sauce is slathered over their bouncy and chewy noodles, with crunch cucumbers adding a textural element to the dish. Note that they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, which I found out the hard way on my first visit there.
Rating: 8/10
Address: 335 Smith St, Chinatown Complex, #02-135, Singapore 050335
Opening Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11:30am–3pm, 5–8:30pm
Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant ($$)
Located in Jalan Besar, Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant is well-known around residents in the area for affordable and delicious Chinese food. Their specialties include their Xiao Long Bao ($5.80/$8). Their skins are moderately thin, however, lacked the oomph that you would find in Din Tai Fung’s rendition. It was also slightly sticky, leading to a few broken soup dumplings (the greatest tragedy which can befall anyone eating xiao long bao). However, their Sheng Jian Bao ($5) featured a crispy base, filled to the brim with pork, was delicious. If you are a fan of jiao zi, the Dumplings with Cabbage & Pork ($5) are also delicious, with thick chunks of filling encased in a tender, chewy dumpling skin. If you’re looking for a variety of different Sichuan dishes, Hand in Hand is well-worth a visit.
Rating: 7/10
Address: 143 Jln Besar, Singapore 208859
Opening Hours: Monday–Sunday,10am–3pm, 4:30–10pm
Phone: 6297 1398
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Dumpling Darlings ($$$)
This mod-fusion joint takes the usual dumplings and noodles duo up a notch, and features a variety of different dumplings. These dumplings were delightful, and like nothing I’ve had before — the Fried Pierogi ($8), a concoction of bacon, truffle, cheese and potato, is a must-try. However, I felt that The Original ($7), Spicy Szechuan ($8) and Veggie Mandu ($8) were nothing special, and if anything, just more atas versions of widely-available local favourites. While there was a certain novelty to the dumplings, these are definitely not the cheapest. Save gatherings with friends, I’d more likely head to the coffee shops or hawker centres to get my dumpling fix.
Rating: 7.5/10
Address: 44 Amoy St, Singapore 069870
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11:30am–2:30pm, 5:30–10:30pm, Closed on Monday
Phone: 8223 9249
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Din Tai Fung ($$$)
This beloved Chinese joint needs no introduction. There’s a reason why Din Tai Fung is crowned the king of xiao long bao. A set of 6 will set you back $8.50, which is undoubtedly one of the most expensive of the bunch. However, you truly get what you pay for. There is an almost impossible precision when it comes to the making of each xiao long bao. The filling is weighed out to exactly 21 grams, and each xiao long bao has 18 folds on it. The result? A perfectly engineered soup dumpling. The dumpling skins are delicately thin, but surprisingly resilient — it is effortlessly peeled off from the bottom of the basket. The broth inside is sweet and satisfying, while maintaining a lightness to it. While I did prefer a more heavy broth, I don’t find this version any less satisfying. The ratio of skin to filling is perhaps what makes it so good, with each bite lending the perfect harmony of textures in your mouth.
Rating: 9/10
Address: 24 outlets, including one at 90 Orchard Rd, #B1-03 Paragon, Singapore 238859
Opening Hours: Sunday–Thursday, 11.30am–9pm, Friday–Saturday, 11am–9.30pm
Phone: 6836 8336
