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Ever since my first visit to the now-defunct Sims Drive branch of Five Star Dim Sum. I’ve been quite the regular over the past few years. This establishment is renowned for their wide variety of HK-style dim sum as well as zi char dishes. Yet, I never knew that they handmake their own crispy Teochew-style mooncakes — a rarity these days — whenever the Mid-Autumn Festival rolls around.
I swung by the 106 Clementi Street 12 outlet over at Sunset Way and it was my very first time there. Besides a cosy, air-conditioned seating area, there was also an outdoor patio equipped with cooler fans, allowing diners to enjoy their meals comfortably.
I was pleasantly surprised to spot a familiar face — it was Head Chef Ah Hong! It must have been, what, 3 years since I last saw him? I caught him at a perfect time as he was busy making a fresh batch of siew mai. Every piece is packed to the brim with seasoned meat, snugly sealed, and topped with a bright wolfberry just before hitting the steamer.
We were already excited to sample the mooncakes, but watching Chef Hong handcraft the Teochew-style pastries right in front of us turned out to be an absolute visual treat.
With a rolling pin, he expertly kneaded and rolled the mooncake dough, then proceeded to insert the stuffings like purple sweet potato and yam paste. The whole process was almost hypnotising as we watched his nimble fingers expertly mould each mooncake into shape. Before we knew it, they were all ready to be deep-fried.
After spending about 6 minutes in the deep fryer, the magnificent orbs emerged from the oil, cloaked in a deep golden-brown finish, before being left to cool.
What to order at Five Star Dim Sum
Available till 25 Sep 2026, the Five Star Teo-chew Style Mooncake Assorted Box (S$52) comes in a quartet featuring a mixture of flavours.
We started off with the Japanese Purple Sweet Potato with Lava Egg Custard mooncake. The first bite gave way to an unctuous, flaky skin, delicately sweet purple sweet potato paste, and a rich, flowy salted egg centre.
The Teo-Chew Style Crispy Walnut Taro Paste with Lava Egg Custard mooncake was just as satisfying. Earthy and rich, the yam was luxuriously complemented by the luscious golden liquid filling. Being a puff pastry enthusiast, those mooncakes were totally up my alley.
There’s currently a 20% off promotion on these Teochew-Style Mooncakes. To order, simply WhatsApp +65 8155 2004.
Seafood lovers who love crustaceans, especially crabs, did you know that you can feast on 3 crabs for just S$50 over at Five Star Dim Sum? Now, that’s a steal, if you ask me!
There are 7 flavours of crabs for you to choose from including White Pepper, Kam Heong, Crab Vermicelli, just to name a few. We decided to go for the good ol’ Chilli Crab and it was drenched in thick and eggy crimson-hued gravy.
All thanks to the chefs who cracked the shell thoroughly for us, it was fairly easy to enjoy the dish without doing some extra ‘manual labour’. The flesh was firm, naturally sweet, and briny. I was glad that the chilli crab gravy wasn’t overly sweet with an overload of tomato ketchup.
It goes without saying that no trip to Five Star Dim Sum is complete without relishing in their handcrafted HK-style dim sum. There are over 40 varieties for you to go giddy over and we got a handful of selections to see if the quality is still the same.
The Crystal Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (S$5) stayed true to their name, with glossy and translucent wrappers that offered a glimpse of plump shrimp within. The skin was addictively chewy, while the shrimp was fresh and juicy.
My teeth sunk into the thin and crispy layer of batter coating each piece of the Deep Fried Radish Cake (S$4.50), revealing a silky soft filling inside.
We were asked whether we ate pig’s intestines, and the 3 of us nodded in unison. The Hong Kong-Style Century Egg Big Intestine Congee (S$7) was one of the latest menu additions and was recommended to us. It was only natural for us to wonder whether the intestines would have a gamey taste lingering at the back of our minds. The bowl of congee was complemented with century egg and ginger strips.
We were bracing ourselves for any hint of unpleasantness, but instead, the deep-fried intestines offered nothing but a fragrant, savoury aroma with crispy edges. They paired beautifully with the thick, savoury congee, creamy century egg, and spicy ginger strips.
We also tried the Red Grouper Steamboat (S$38) which came with yam strips, silken tofu cubes, seaweed, cabbage slices, and tomatoes drenched in a flavourful broth. The fish was fresh and odourless, and I loved how comforting the rest of the ingredients were. It was like coming home to a comforting bowl of hot soup after a long day at work.
Who Five Star Dim Sum is best for
It’s perfect if you’re looking for variety at the table. You can enjoy dim sum, zi char, and crab dishes all at one location. If you’re bored of the classic baked or snowskin mooncakes, then switch things up and opt for their special Teochew mooncakes instead.
How to get there?
Take the train and alight at Clementi MRT Station (EW23), head towards the Clementi Stn Exit B bus stop, and board bus services: 52, 154, and 184. Ride 4 bus stops before alighting at Blk 109 bus stop.
Do we recommend Five Star Dim Sum?
Yes, we do. The quality and taste of their dim sum and congee is definitely above average, along with their selection of zi char and seafood dishes.
* This article is brought to you in partnership with Five Star Dim Sum.
