We all love dim sum but a proper selection can set you back by quite a bit in Singapore. Dim sum is all about the variety, so a lot of us tend to over-do and then cry when we see the bill.
Lucky for us, there’s hope just across the causeway. Restoran Gui Yuan was recommended to me by a Malaysian friend, who swears by this Johor Bahru dim sum joint.
The restaurant is a 30 to 45 minutes drive from the Malaysian checkpoint and is located in Taman Johor Jaya. You’ll want to brave the traffic jam though – the dim sum is super cheap!
We arrived around 10:30am and the restaurant was already pretty packed. Tables and chairs line the road outside the restaurant, sheltered by big umbrellas.
The menu is displayed on a board in Mandarin. The dim sum ranges from as cheap as RM1.80 to RM5, which is about SGD$0.60 to SGD$1.60 per dish. Whatttttt.
You’ll be spoilt for choice by the variety of items offered – buns, fried dumplings, chee cheong fun, chicken feet, and so on.
The style of ordering here is different from the restaurants in Singapore. At Restoran Gui Yuan, you’ll have to approach the dim sum counter and then select the dishes that you want.
The staff will then serve your orders to your table. The best thing is that you get to see the selection that you can choose from!
Don’t be shy to help yourself to some fried dishes too. The Carrot Cake (RM4.50) was delicious with crisp edges. The inside was moist and soft without being too mushy.
The Meat Bun (RM4.30) was so huge and could easily be shared among four people. If you want something smaller, you can have the Char Siu Buns (RM2.20 each) and Lotus Buns (RM1.80 each).
The Har Gow (RM4.50) is a popular steamed shrimp dumpling wrapped in translucent dumpling skin. The prawn filling was generous and the dumpling skin was so delicate and smooth.
Another must-try dish is the Siew Mai (RM4.80), which is stuffed with juicy meat. The ratio of meat to dumpling skin was just right, allowing the flavours of the meat to really shine.
The Xiao Long Bao (RM4.80) had a firm skin that held the pork and juices together nicely. You won’t be disappointed with this order.
In total, we spent RM72.30 on 11 dishes and drinks. This is a good place to go to if you are planning a trip to Johor Bahru.
Not only do you get really affordable dishes, Restoran Gui Yuan makes sure that it does not compromise on quality. While it can get quite crowded in the morning, I’d happily queue if I was craving some dim sum.
Expected damage: RM10 – RM18 per person
Restoran Gui Yuan: 27, Jalan Dedap 8, Taman Johor Jaya, 81100 Johor Bahru | Tel: +60 12-713 8327 | Opening Hours: (Daily except Tues) 7am – 2pm
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