Just a short walk away from Obsessive Chocolate Desire Ice Cream Cafe and Cheng San Hawker Centre, $1.30 Dim Sum should be on your list of supper places.
The dim sum stall is open for 24 hours a day, so you can visit them for a hearty breakfast or for supper with your friends.
It’s hard to miss the stall with its bright and dazzling sign and snaking queues.
As the name suggests, they sell every dish at S$1.30, which makes it incredibly affordable for consumers. Even the baskets of dim sum and congee bowls costs only S$1.30.
The cheap price is probably what drew such a large crowd in. We went right before the lunch crowd came in so thankfully, we didn’t have to wait very long to order.
The first thing I ordered was, of course, the Century Egg Pork Porridge (S$1.30). This warm bowl of comfort food was sprinkled with some spring onions, dried shallots, and century egg. This added some colour to the otherwise pale bowl of what’s commonly known as “sick people food”.
For only S$1.30, it’s quite a good portion for one person. The thick and creamy consistency of the porridge also went down smoothly and would be especially comforting on a cold and rainy day.
Unlike the usual Singaporean-style chee cheong fun, where it’s doused in a thicker and sweeter sauce, the HK Style Prawn Chee Cheong Fun (S$1.30) is served with a lighter sauce that’s more savoury.
These translucent-looking Spinach Dumpling (S$1.30 for 3 pieces) comes in a traditional basket used for steaming dim sum.
The generous amount of spinach that was stuffed in the dumpling wrap steamed until it was soft, making it delectable to bite into. Even though there was a good amount of vegetables in the dumplings, there was hardly a herbaceous taste to it.
If you’re a fan of this quintessential dim sum, you can get a basket of Siew Mai (S$1.30 for 3 pieces) too.
The sweetness from the chilli complemented the meat—you simply can’t have one without the other, it’s a match made in heaven.
As we were also looking for a greasier option, we got the Spring Roll (S$1.30 for 2 pieces) and Sesame Ball (S$1.30 for 2 pieces). The lightly-browned fried snacks can tide you over if you’re feeling hungry in the afternoon.
The Spring Rolls has the typical vegetables such as shredded carrots and cabbage that are enveloped in a crispy and flaky pastry shell, while the Sesame Ball was stuffed with a ball of peanut paste.
What I liked about the Sesame Balls was that it didn’t have the “sticky” feeling—where the bits stick to the back of your teeth—when you chew on it.
We also ordered the Fried Carrot Cake (S$1.30 for 2 pieces) and Fried Beancurd Skin Roll (S$1.30 for 2 pieces). While plain and soft on the inside, the outside of the Fried Carrot Cake was nicely browned and slightly crispy.
The Fried Beancurd Skin Roll, on the other hand, was stuffed with an abundance of meat filling. I preferred eating it the same way as the Siew Mai—with sweet chilli, to balance out the savoury and sweet flavours.
Apart from the dim sums and congee, they also sell traditional Chinese steamed buns such as Big Pao (S$1.30 each), Lotus Paste Pao (S$1.30 for 2 pieces) and Vegetable Pao (S$1.30 for 2 pieces), just to name a few.
In addition to the more classic flavours, they also offer more “modern” optinos like the Custard Pao (S$1.30 for 2 pieces) and Coffee Pao (S$1.30 for 2 pieces). I was slightly disappointed that the custard wasn’t as viscous as I expected it to be, unlike the filling of a Liu Sha Bao.
Thankfully, it wasn’t the same for the Coffee Pao. The coffee filling had a more paste-like consistency which helped with the dry texture of the bun.
Of course, we also had to try the more “traditional” flavours such as the Char Siew Pao (S$1.30 for 2 pieces). The bits of barbecued pork were sweetened with the char siew sauce. This soft and fluffy classic irresistible little steamed bun is sure to stir something in Singaporean’s hearts.
What I liked about this place is the affordable prices yet delicious dim sum that left me with a satisfied stomach. My personal favourite was the Century Egg Pork Porridge as it was the most filling and value-for-money.
The best part about this place is that it’s open 24 hours daily. Besides, their latest outlet is at Ang Mo Kio, which is fairly central.
Expected Damage: S$1.30 per dish
Other outlets:
Kuai San Dian Xin: 346A Kang Ching Road, #01-01 Singapore 611346 | Opening Hours: 6am – 10pm (Daily)
Primz Coffee Shop Dim Sum: 21 Woodlands Close, Level 1, Singapore 737854 | Opening Hours: 24hrs (Daily)
Price: $
Our Rating: 5 / 5
$1.30 Dim Sum
555 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, Ang Mo Kio New Town, Singapore 560555
$1.30 Dim Sum
555 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, Ang Mo Kio New Town, Singapore 560555