Dim Sum @ Lei Garden Chijmes Singapore

Dim Sum, one of my favourite food (among the long list of others).  Each time I asked someone where is the best Dim Sum in Singapore, I will get different respond.  To me, the top 2 are still Lei Garden & Royal China in Raffles Hotel.  Lei Garden wins in the authenticity of the Dim Sum, and Royal Garden wins in enhancing the traditional Dim Sum will new ideas.  

The Egg Tarts.  I had to make reservation for them, because there was once I went, and it was sold out.  Dim Sum lunch just did not feel completed without egg tarts.  So from then on, I make sure I reserved.  Typical Singaporean behaviour.

Roast meat.  This small little square cost $12! Actually i think those at the Crystal Jade Palace in Takashimaya was crisper.

Siew Mai.  One of the 3 Musketeers for Dim Sum- Har Kaw, Siew Mai & Char Siew Bao.

Fried Bean Curd Skin with prawns.  Crispy and can taste the freshness of the prawns, however, I think Royal China's version has chunky prawns.

Haw Kar.  This beats other places hands down.  Thin skin wrapped the big and juicy prawns. Haw Kar to the perfection.

Gou Bu Li Buns

I like this.  Stir fried Geo Duck!  Geo Duck taste a bit like abalone, but crunchier.  If you like it more tender, go for Geo Duck Sashimi!  

Xiao Long Bao. 

Stir Fried Beef.  Forget about the Geylang Lorong 9 beer Hor Fun.  The stir fried beef here is Cantonese Stir Fried Dishes cooked to perfection.  Beef is tender and fragnant.  Maybe a bit oily for those who like their dishes light.

Lastly, they are having a crab promotion. 

Lei Garden Restaurant Chijmes

30 Victoria Street, #01-24 Chijmes, Singapore

+65 6339 3822

Dim Sum Lunch @ Royal China

Finaly brought my parents out for lunch on National Day.  I had not done that for a while, not because i did not want to, but mum always said that she ws tired to go out.

We decided on Dim Sum, since they did not know how to appreciate western food, be it French or Italian or American.  I brought them to Royal China in Raffles Hotel, since that I thought Royal China is the best Dim Sum and they have tried Lei Garden.

Royal China was very crowded on a public holiday.  You could see old folks at many tables, and mum commented that it was quite pitiful to be old, because could only wait for holiday for their children to bring them out...Hmmm

We started our lunch with the heavenly egg tarts.  Other than those in Hong Kong, the egg tarts in Royal China would be the best that you could find in Singapore.  I thought that the egg tarts today were a little less warm, maybe they waited a while before they served, unlike weekdays, where they served it to you immediately.

Char Siew Can Pao.  Special of the Day

Har Kaw.  I think they are one of the best haw kaws in Singapore.  Thin skin that melt in your mouth, fresh and crunchy prawns, served steaming hot!

Chives Dumpling.  Can taste the chives freshness and fragance, the skin is thin and smooth.

Zha Leong - Fried Fritters wrapped with Chee Cheong Fun.  Crispy in the inside, smooth and soft on the outside!  Yummy!  Not many places had this, so if you are here, must try!

Siew Mai.  Somehow they changed their Siew Mai's look everytime i come.  The last time i came here, the top had a big prawn as a decoration.  This time the prawn was missing, replaced by a Guo Ji Zi..

Special Royal China Chee Cheong Fun.  It has 3 ingredients, scallops, char siew and prawns!  Very tasty, though i find it a bit salty.

Wu Kok.  Fried Yam Balls.  Usually the fillings were meat and some green peas.  For Royal China, they used scallops!  Love the combination.

Fried Beef Hor Fun (干炒牛河).  A bit oily, but it was very tasty.  The beef was tender, and the hor fun was smooth, and you can taste the generous portion of bean sprouts, which took the oiliness away.

Overall:  9/10
Royal China
1 Beach Road #03-09 Raffles Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6338 3363

Over Ate!

After a season of feasting in Dec, i had a rude shock when i weighed myself..an additional 3kgs, from 3 weeks of feasting, plus reducing the frequency of going to the gym. In fact, i know that my fats % has been increasing after i stopped running due to my arch injury. Now with this feasting, it really add on to it. Time to hit back to the gym!

But before that, here are some of the photos of the dim sum i had in Crystal Jade Palace, part of my festive feasting :-)

Had the typical dim sum dishes such as:

Har Kaw

Siew Mai
Egg Tarts
Chee Cheong Fun
Char Siew Bun
Carrot Cake
Mango Pomelo

The special dish will be the pregnant fish, chinese style.  Deep fried, crunchy and can really taste the eggs.

Ambience is your typical chinese restuarant, busy and noisy.  And on busy days, they made you share table, so not much of a privacy. 

Total Damage about $78 for 2 person, including dessert.  Overall i would rate it a 7/10. My fav dim sum place is still Royal China and Lei Garden.

Crystal Jade Palace
391 Orchard Road  #04-19 Ngee Ann City
Tel: +65 6735 2388