5-Star Dim Sum – 10 MUST-TRY Handmade Dim Sum by Chef from Shangri-La and Four Seasons (2 More Outlets Opened!)

Mei Ling Street is nestled in a sleepy mature estate, and you might think that it would be easy scoring a table at the coffee shop in which 5-Star Dim Sum comfortably sits. However, the coffee shop was packed even on the gloomy weekday morning that I popped by. Stacks of dim sum baskets could be seen on almost every single table — this unmissable sight gave me confidence that the dim sum served here would be 5-star worthy.

Chef Yiu Wah Tai, who cut his teeth at big names such as Shang Palace at Shangri-La Hotel and Jiang Nan Chun at Four Seasons hotel, has left the hotel industry after thirty long years, and opened 5-Star Dim Sum in a coffee shop on Mei Ling Street. His latest foray into the food scene has proven to be nothing but a resounding success. After all, to be opening 8 outlets in an incredibly short span of just a year has to be a testament to the quality of the food that Chef Yiu is rolling out at his stalls, right?

What’s most impressive about 5-Star Dim Sum is that every single dim sum is freshly made by hand, in store. Proudly stated on their signboard “Made & Sold on the spot”, 5-Star Dim Sum prides itself on serving only the freshest piping hot dim sum. You won’t find anything that’s stale, or cold here. Chef makes sure that all the dishes are only prepared upon order, and served immediately. If there’s even a crack that appears on an egg tart, he would throw it out. He’s exceedingly particular about the quality of the ingredients used, and would not yield to using substandard products even if his preferred ingredients were not available. When I heard about Chef Yiu’s practices, I couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of admiration for him — this man truly is dedicated to his craft. With such stringent standards and procedures in place, the dim sum here just can’t go wrong.

Patrons would no doubt be spoilt for choice as there are more than 40 types of dim sum on the menu. We know how difficult it is to have to pick just a few because, honestly, everything looks delicious! So, here’s where we swoop to the rescue with some key recommendations that you 100% must try!

The Four Heavenly Kings – Steamed Prawn Siew Mai ($5), Crystal Steamed Shrimp Dumplings aka Hargao ($5), Char Siew Roasted Bun aka Bolo Bao ($2.30), Cheong Fun ($4.50 – $5)

The essentials at every dim sum eatery include Har Gao and Siew Mai. And, 5-Star Dim Sum’s renditions will not disappoint. The Har Gao sported a thin crystal skin that encased fresh crunchy prawns, which everyone loved. The Siew Mai, which was packed with meat and prawns, carried a lovely sweetness that would make you reach immediately for a second serving. What really stole the show for me was the Bolo Bao. Baked to absolute perfection, the bun was soft but had a crusty top that lent a brilliant crisp to the entire ensemble. Stuffed full of savoury-sweet char siew, the bun remained a delight even after having sat out for a long time. I couldn’t help myself and finished more than half the bun, with complete disregard for my dining partners, oops!

Cheong Fun fans will enjoy the silky smooth Crispy Shrimp Cheong Fun($5.50) and Char Siew Cheong Fun ($4.50) for sure. The Shrimp Cheong Fun comes in 2 versions — one without, and the other with, an addition of a crispy layer. So there’s something for those who prefer the good old classics and also those who prefer more texture or a little crunch in their food.

Salad Prawn Dumplings $4.50
These freshly-fried crisp parcels were another highlight of my meal. I liked that the batter was of optimal thickness and not doughy at all, and that the dumplings were chock full of plump prawns dressed in a tantalising sauce! Good on their own, but better with the accompanying dollop of mayonnaise.

Salted Egg Custard Buns ($3.50)
Of course, best eaten the moment they arrive, the soft and fluffy buns had a core of molten golden lava that had a prominent salted egg taste that was very well balanced. The custard had just the perfect texture, and the bun-to-custard ratio was excellent. Highly recommended!

BBQ Char Siew Bun $3.50
How can you visit a Hong Kong dim sum shop and not have char siew bao? Nuff said, these pillowy soft buns more than deserve a spot in your dim sum feast.

Spicy Dumplings $4.50
Ma la lovers will, undeniably, give these dumplings a thumbs up. Like all of 5-Star Dim Sum’s handmade dumplings, these dumplings were built with a generous amount of filling, and a faultless silky smooth skin. Doused in a healthy amount of ma la oil and vinegar, these mouth-tingling morsels earned high praise from everyone at the table.

Fresh Prawn Beancurd Rolls $4.50
Interestingly, the fu pi juan here is packed with more than just prawns. Comprising fresh pork and fresh vegetables, the rolls remained crisp throughout almost 1.5 hours of dining time. Biting into the thin and shatteringly crisp skin elicited a loud crunch, and revealed a savoury mixture that would please your palate.

Ting Zai Porridge $5.50
For those who can’t decide between the seafood porridge or pork porridge, the Ting Zai Porridge is created for you. Featuring the best of both worlds, the comforting bowl of porridge is loaded with ingredients such as century egg, pork, and fish slices. I love how the porridge had a great consistency(not too thick nor watery) and it was seasoned just lightly, allowing the ingredients to shine.

Not only is the restaurant-standard dim sum here amazingly affordable, they are really delicious, and the portions are more than reasonable. If you’re looking for some of the best dim sum in Singapore, you will relish what’s on offer here! What’s even better is a satisfying meal here will not break the bank!

The stall is currently selling dumplings, get yours at Mei Ling Street today!

Outlets

South:
158 Mei Ling Street #01-74, Singapore 140158
Opening Hours: 7am to 9pm daily.

55 Lengkok Bahru #01-409, Singapore 151055
Opening Hours: 7am to 9pm daily.

West:
16 Teck Whye Lane #01-101, Singapore 680016
Opening Hours: 7am to 9pm daily.

Central:
137 Potong Pasir Avenue 3 #01-152, Singapore 350137
(Opened Mid April 2022)
Opening Hours: 7am to 9pm daily.

East:
11 Rivervale Crescent, Rivervale Mall Food Junction, #01-01/02/03, Singapore 545082
Opening Hours: 7am to 10pm daily.

118 Aljunied Avenue 2 #02-100, Food FM, Singapore 380118
(Opened Mid April 2022)
Opening Hours: 7am to 10pm daily.

705 Sims Drive Shun Li Industrial Complex #07-01, Singapore 387384
(Specialty: Wider Variety of Chinese Cuisines Offered such as Zi Char, Herbal Soup and Claypot Dishes)
Opening Hours: 8am to 8.30pm daily.

18 Kaki Bukit Road 03 #01-15, Entrepreneur Business Centre,Singapore 415978
Opening Hours: 7am to 5pm daily.

This post is brought to you by 5-Star Dim Sum.