Sum Dim Sum (Jalan Besar)

Sum Dim Sum on Jalan Besar is a casual Cantonese restaurant serving dim sum, noodles, congee and zi char-style sharing dishes. It is set in a shophouse at 161 Jalan Besar, and the brand also has a branch in Bedok.

Jalan Besar already has several well-known dim sum spots, and this one stands out for its playful colour and its baked buns. The menu is long, the dishes are made for sharing, and it keeps late hours, so it works well for supper after an evening out.

What to order

The signature pandan crispy pork bun is the dish most people come for. It is a baked bun with a crisp, green, pandan-flavoured crust and a filling of char siu (Cantonese barbecued pork). The Tiffany blue har gow is the other house signature. These prawn dumplings have skins tinted blue with butterfly pea flower, a nod to the restaurant's Tiffany-blue look.

Other good picks are the golden liu sha bao, filled with runny salted egg custard, and the BBQ pork rice roll. Xiao long bao and silky egg tarts are also on the menu. For a more filling plate, order the moonlight hor fun, wok-fried flat rice noodles topped with an egg yolk.

The menu goes well beyond dim sum. There are Hong Kong-style wonton noodles, congee and double-boiled soups. Zi char dishes include salted egg prawns, curry fish head and a flambéed herbal chicken. More unusual items include a xiao long bao made with Mao Shan Wang durian and a large lobster soup dumpling. Hong Kong milk tea, barley and Chinese teas are among the drinks.

The setting

Reviews describe a shophouse with a Tiffany-blue front and dining on two floors. The ground floor is the smaller of the two. Upstairs is roomier, with chandeliers, a view over the street and a private room for groups. There is also some outdoor seating, and the mood is casual and family-friendly.

Good to know before you go

• Bookings: you can reserve a table through Chope.
• Late meals: it stays open late, so it suits supper. See our late-night food guide for more.
• Diet: pork appears in many dishes, including the signature bun, so check with staff if you avoid it.
• Delivery: delivery and takeaway can be ordered through its online store.
• New to dim sum? Our dim sum and Cantonese food guide explains how to order.

Getting there

The restaurant is at 161 Jalan Besar. The nearest MRT station is Jalan Besar on the Downtown Line, a short walk away.

Nearby

Jalan Besar runs along the edge of Little India. Walk over to see Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple or explore the streets of Little India. For coffee in the same area, try Chye Seng Huat Hardware. Places to stay in the area include Hotel Yan and The Vagabond Club. You can also browse more Chinese and dim sum restaurants or all restaurants in Little India and Jalan Besar.