Dining Out 2 minutes 22 September 2017

Supper Series: 7 Dim Sum Joints For Night Owls

A round-up of late-night dim sum places, including two Halal ones.

There’s nothing quite like seeing a table groaning under the weight of countless steaming baskets of dim sum. While dim sum is traditionally eaten in the day for brunch or afternoon tea, it is quickly becoming a supper favourite for the younger set.

For many, supper is synonymous with ‘Swee Choon’, and long lines late into the night are a common sight for this beloved dim sum joint that only opens in the evening. We round up a list of dim sum joints where you can grab supper, including two Halal ones so everyone can indulge.

Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant
191 Jalan Besar
Opening Hours: 6pm-6am, closed on Tuesday

A landmark in the Jalan Besar community that it has called home the last 50 years, Swee Choon offers a wide array of affordable Hong Kong and Shanghai-style dim sum. Try their signature Mee Sua Kueh and Shanghai Xiao Long Bao.

126 Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi
126 Sims Avenue, Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
1086 Serangoon Road, Opening Hours: 5pm-2am daily

This old-school dim sum place has gotten so popular, especially with the late night crowd, that it’s spawned a second outlet at Boon Keng that opens only in the evening. Must-orders are the juicy, generous King-sized Siew Mai and Thai-style Fried Crab Dong Fen, if you aren’t afraid to get your hands a little dirty.

Mongkok Dim Sum
214 Geylang Lorong 8
Opening Hours: 24 hours daily

This casual diner serves affordable Cantonese dim sum alongside other dishes like beef noodles. Try the Steamed BBQ Bun which come three in a basket, steaming and fluffy, as well as the Vegetarian Dumplings with its generous filling of chives, carrots and mushrooms bound in a translucent skin.

The Baked Bun with BBQ pork is Tim Ho Wan's bestseller
The Baked Bun with BBQ pork is Tim Ho Wan's bestseller

Tim Ho Wan at Aperia Mall
12 Kallang Avenue, #01-01/02/03 Aperia Mall
Opening Hours: 9am-3am on Fri & Sat, 9am-11pm on Sun and weekdays

Previously a 24 hour joint, the outlet recently changed its opening hours, but still welcomes peckish night owls on the weekends to tuck into their Big 4 Heavenly Kings: Baked Bun with BBQ Pork (pictured), Beancurd Skin With Pork And Shrimp, Pan Fried Turnip Cake and Steamed Egg Cake.

Xin Wang Hong Kong Café At Cineleisure

8 Grange Road, #02-11 Cathay Cineleisure Orchard
Opening Hours: 11am-2am daily

There are quite few Xin Wang outlets around the island that open late till 2am, but it’s most central is the one at Cineleisure in the heart of Orchard. The menu feature comfort food typical of Hong Kong and Macau cafes, including a range of the usual dim sum items from steamed spare ribs with black bean to pan-fried radish cake.

Sweet, oozy salted egg yolk custard bun is a favourite at many dim sum shops
Sweet, oozy salted egg yolk custard bun is a favourite at many dim sum shops

89.7FM Supper Club
5 Changi Village Road, #01-2035
Opening Hours: 24 Hours daily

Okay, so this isn’t a dim sum restaurant per se, but if your supper buddies can’t decide what to eat, 89.7FM Supper Club is a Halal food court serving up a variety of cuisines including a number of decent dim sum selections like har gao, siew mai and xiao long bao, all made with chicken, of course.

Tang Tea House
Four outlets islandwide, see here for full list
Opening Hours: 3pm-3am daily

Tang Tea House is another Halal place to go for your late-night dim sum cravings. They have a dedicated dim sum menu with all the usual favourites like har gow siew mai as well as steamed rice rolls with shrimp or BBQ chicken and deep fried goodies like bean paste sesame balls and crispy shrimp dumplings.

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