126 Dim Sum

It gets no prizes for atmosphere, but late-night revelers swear by this Hong Kong-style dim sum restaurant for its delish midnight munchies like pork belly buns and locally-inspired mantou with chilli crab sauce. Located in Geylang, land of late-night eateries, among glaring neon lights and plastic chairs, 126 Dim Sum is a solid option.

126 Sims Ave., 6746-4757.

Cherry Garden

Easily one of the best Chinese restaurants in town, this elegant fine dining establishment serves Cantonese cuisine presented with an artistic touch. Noteworthy dishes from their weekend dim sum buffet lunches include the steamed custard buns with yam and juicy xiao long bao.

5/F Marina Square Mandarin Oriental Singapore 5 Raffles Ave., 6885-3550.

Hai Tien Lo

It’s an all-you-can-eat affair during the buffet on weekends. There are tons of classics like the steamed barbecue pork buns, stir-fried carrot cake in XO chilli sauce and the deep-fried whitebait with oat flakes.

3/F Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Blvd., 6826-8240.

Jade

This sophisticated restaurant often has a month-long waitlist—but it’s worth it, with over 50 dishes including liu sha bao (custard bun) and other favorites.

G/F The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Sq., 6877-8188.

Min Jiang

Contemporary interior, attractive furnishings and poolside dining option aside, it’s the consistently good food that makes Min Jiang worth a visit. The delectable dim sum is a steady draw with favorites like the char siew soh, ried spring rolls with mango and cheong fun.

G/F Goodwood Park Hotel 22 Scotts Rd., 6730-1704.

Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant

The cheap and cheerful (and rather expansive) eatery carries both Hong Kong- and Shanghai-style dim sum, with an extensive menu of siew mai, har kow and the famous Swee Choon big pau. On the Shanghainese front, there’s chive pork dumplings and xiao long bao. It’s always mobbed, but their surprisingly organized queuing system makes it all quite manageable. We love getting a table in the concrete backyard.

191 Jalan Besar, 6225-7788.

Tim Ho Wan

Housed in a relaxed 100-seat space is the first overseas outpost of this famed eatery, care of chef Mak Kwai Pui. Highlights not to be missed include pan-fried carrot cake, vermicelli roll with pig’s liver and Mak’s signature baked buns with BBQ pork—a delicious crispy-topped boluo (pineapple) bun stuffed with char siew. For those with a sweet tooth, the fluffy steamed egg cake and tonic medlar and osmanthus jelly should do the trick.

#01-29A Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Rd., 6251-2000. 

Yan Ting

It's no wonder that the dining hall at Yan Ting, replete with stained glass panels, chandeliers and plush booths (perfect for canoodling), is as luxurious it gets. Aside from the famed weekend dim sum brunch, the food is as pretty as the decor, so expect excellent Cantonese cuisine and attentive, well-trained wait staff. 

1/F The St Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Rd., 6506-6887.