The most popular restaurants in Malaysia for your dim sum cravings
A typical breakfast treat of small, tasty morsels, steamed or fried, one can never get enough of these tiny concoctions, especially if they’re from any of the famous restaurants on this list.
Chynna, KL Hilton
It is worth going to Chynna for the restaurant’s looks alone. Styled after the Tang Dynasty’s opulence, complete with painted panels and apothecary drawers, the decor is stunning and highly atmospheric. Supplement that with top-quality halal dim sum, and it could be a weekly dining destination. Favourites here include the crystal shrimp dumplings, honey-glazed barbequed chicken buns and delicate rice rolls. Watch for the Tea Master as he performs theatrical stunts with his long-snouted pot while pouring your tea.
West Lake Garden, Sunway Resort
This halal restaurant tucked away in a suburban hotel has its share of fans for fine Teochew cuisine. It also does an excellent dim sum lunch. With over 100 dishes, including different kinds of dim sum, it’s a beguiling experience trying to choose. Among the highlights are the har gao (crystal dumpling with prawn), steamed yam cake with dried shrimp, and pineapple polo pau. What also sells here are the claypot dishes, including a hearty lamb kut teh, or chunks of lamb in a rich herbal soup.
Maju Palace
A member of the Oriental Group of restaurants, Maju Palace offers excellent halal dim sum in the city centre. Besides the chicken siew mai (meat wrapped in wanton), har gao and springy fish balls, their other specialities are cod fish roll with salted egg and the salted custard bun. For the latter, tear open the soft bun to reveal the piping-hot golden insides. Desserts are luxurious and special; try the steamed egg with bird’s nest or the aloe vera tart.
Xin Cuisine, Concorde Hotel
One of the long-standing dim sum destinations in the city, Xin Cuisine has long been rolling out its traditional steam carts. The ambience is old-world elegance – we love the glamorous gold trimmings and dragon-curled pillars in a banquet hall setting. Besides the tried-and-true dim sum choices, other favourites are the scallop dumplings, flaky golden egg tarts and fragrantly fried radish cake. A Noodle Bar is on standby to whip up your favourite concoction, while musicians on traditional Chinese instruments provide entertainment.
In some countries such as Hong Kong, dim sum is known as yum cha, which translates to ‘drink tea’ in Cantonese. So have a pot of tea with your meal
De Dai Tong Cafe
Up in Penang, De Dai Tong Cafe holds true to its traditional ways of serving dim sum in push carts and metal dishes. This historic teahouse in George Town is often filled to the brim, with tables and chairs spilling onto the walkway. You can wait to have the carts come around to you or join regulars as they crowd the carts to pick up their favourite har gao, chee cheong fun and lor mai gai (steamed glutinous rice with chicken). A rarity in the dim sum world, this restaurant opens for breakfast and dinner too.
Oriental Pavilion at Jaya 33
This banquet-hall Chinese restaurant has a huge amount of real estate, though it’s hardly enough to stem the ravenous dim sum crowd that congregates here for weekend lunches. A reservation is scarcely sufficient; once at the restaurant, you still have to wait for a table. It’s that busy. Come earlier to sample their top-notch siew mai, har gao and rice congee. The restaurant specialises in Cantonese cuisine, and the cooked dishes are also excellent. Try the flat rice noodles in superior prawn soup.
Discover
Directories
Chynna
KL Hilton
3 Jalan Stesen Sentral, KL
|
+603 2264 2264 |
West Lake Garden Chinese Restaurant
Sunway Resort
Jalan PJS 11/15, Bandar Sunway, Selangor
|
+603 7492 8000 |
Maju Palace
Level 5, Maju Junction Mall
1001, Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL
|
+603 2691 8822 |
Xin Cuisine
Concorde Hotel,
2 Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL
|
+603 2144 2200 |
De Dai Tong Cafe
45 Lebuh Cintra, George Town, Penang
|
+604 263 6625 |
Oriental Pavilion
P1-04, Level 1 Podium, Jaya 33
No.3, Jalan Semangat, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya
|
+603 7956 9288 |
