Quick answer: These seven spots cover every kind of dumpling craving you might have. Din Tai Fung brings the gold-standard xiao long bao, DaXi keeps things casual with Taiwanese pan-fried numbers, and Gyoza King serves up free-flow Japanese sides. The Boneless Kitchen proves vegetarian mandu can be damn shiok, while Zhang Ji, JIA HE XING and COMO Cuisine each put a distinct regional or global spin on the form.
This one is straightforward. You want dumplings, you want them done right, and you don’t want to waste a meal on something buay tahan. The question isn’t which is best; it’s which fits your agenda. Solo lunch between meetings, weekend family feed, something that won’t get you a warning from the management council – there’s a stall for that.
If none of these quite fit, Best Chinese Food & Dim Sum in Singapore has 51 lists covering the rest of the category.
This round-up is editorial. Suggestions are welcome – tell us what you offer and where.
Din Tai Fung
When someone in Singapore says lunch, dumplings, no sharing, this is what they mean. Din Tai Fung set up shop at Paragon on Orchard Road and never looked back, turning the xiao long bao into a benchmark they now export worldwide.
Every basket comes with a quiet guarantee: paper-thin skin, exactly 18 folds, a pork filling that swims in its own rich broth. You can make it a little more atas with truffle or crab roe, or chase the seasonal chilli crab pork version that surfaces now and then. It’s precision cooking that doesn’t feel clinical, just deeply satisfying.
The reliable choice when you need a meal that clears every checklist. Order their signature xiao long bao and the bill stays predictable. This is the spot for out-of-town guests who expect aircon and efficiency, or a weekday lunch where the only risk is the queue. Go before 11.30am or after 1.30pm.
Address: 290 Orchard Road, #B1-03, Singapore 238859
Phone: +65 6836 8336
Price signal: A basket of xiao long bao starts around S$9–S$15. Check their website for current menus.
Din Tai Fung website
If you’ve a visitor in town and need one sure thing, this is it. The queue can feel long, but the turnover is fast, and the open kitchen – where the pleating happens behind glass – is a proper show while you wait.
After you’ve had your fill of steamed dumplings, you might want to pivot to Korean flavours down in Tanjong Pagar; our Korean Food Destinations in Tanjong Pagar guide has some solid next-meal ideas.
DaXi 大喜
DaXi sits inside VivoCity doing something simple and clever: Taiwanese dumplings with a modern touch, at prices that let you order one more plate without checking your wallet. From S$10.80 for five pieces, it’s the kind of stop you make on a weekend mall crawl.
The handmade skins hold fillings like smoked duck, chives and pork, or a quietly numbing green Sichuan pepper pork. You pick your style – boiled, pan-fried, or swimming in superior chicken broth. The mala pork dumplings and egg-topped pork dumplings are two you’ll spot on almost every table.
A solid pick when you’re already at VivoCity and the food court doesn’t cut it. The casual setup suits a quick family stop between errands; no one minds if the kids are a bit noisy. Their boiled dumplings travel well if you decide to tapau an extra portion home. Worth a look when you want something modern without the mall-restaurant markup.
Address: 1 HarbourFront Walk #02-83/83A/84, VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Phone: +65 6263 9162
Hours: 11am – 10pm daily
Price signal: S$10.80 for five dumplings
DaXi website
Go with a small group so you can try three styles and still have stomach for a side. The air-conditioned comfort and no-fuss setup make it an easy pick when you’re shopping nearby.
This round-up is editorial. Suggestions are welcome – tell us what you offer and where.
Gyoza King
Tucked into the Orchid Hotel in Tanjong Pagar, Gyoza King is a Keisuke Group joint that treats the humble gyoza like a craft. The pan-fried bottom is crisp, the filling – pork, chicken or prawn – stays juicy, and the free-flow rice and pickles turn a plate of dumplings into a full, unhurried meal.
You sit at a counter, pour a little soya sauce and rice vinegar into the dipping dish, and work your way through a set that hits the spot whether it’s a solo lunch or a catch-up with one other person. The ordering is uncomplicated: pick your protein, decide how hungry you are, and let the kitchen do the rest.
This one is for the solo diner who means business. The counter seats at Tanjong Pagar’s Orchid Hotel keep things efficient – you eat, you pay, you go – but the free-flow rice and pickles mean you won’t leave hungry. A practical stop after a late finish at the office when you want a proper hot meal, not just a snack.
Address: 1 Tras Link #01-15, Orchid Hotel, Singapore 078867
Phone: +65 6604 6674
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am–3pm, 5pm–10:30pm; Sat, Sun, PH 11:30am–10pm
Price signal: Set meals come with free-flow sides; check their site for current pricing.
Gyoza King website
This is the place when you want that Japanese precision but not the formality – a quiet weekday dinner where the only thing you need to decide is whether to get one more plate.
The Boneless Kitchen
Over at The Commerze @ Irving in Tai Seng, The Boneless Kitchen has spent a decade showing that vegetarian Korean food can hold its own weight. Their mandu are stuffed with seasonal vegetables and kimchi – no animal products, no alliums, no alcohol – yet the spicy kick and clean finish don’t feel like a compromise.
Everything on the menu is made to be shared, which is exactly how Korean food works best. The vegetarian kimchi mandu bring the heat you want, and the fact that omnivores keep coming back tells you the flavour isn’t playing nice – it’s just good cooking.
Go-to for a group meal where someone in the party is vegetarian but everyone else still wants food with body. The kimchi mandu carry enough kick to keep things interesting. Book ahead if you’re a big group on a weekend; the Tai Seng location draws a steady crowd. This one won’t give your MCST any reason to send a note.
Address: 1 Irving Place #01-31, The Commerze @ Irving, Singapore 369546
Phone: +65 9111 8385
Hours: Tue-Sun 12pm–9pm, closed Monday
Price signal: Mid-range; single dishes hover around S$15–S$25.
The Boneless Kitchen website
If you’re planning a meal where one person is vegetarian and another swears they need meat, bring both here. It’s proof that plant-based can mean punchy, not pious.
Zhang Ji Shanghai La Mian Xiao Long Bao
Zhang Ji started as a hawker stall in Alexandra Village Food Centre, and even with a Michelin Guide mention in 2023, it hasn’t lost that no-frills Shanghainese soul. The menu is short and deliberate: xiao long bao with a solid broth, crispy pan-fried dumplings, spicy wonton, and beef noodles made fresh behind the counter.
You come for the golden-bottomed pan-fried dumplings that crunch when you bite, stay for the piping-hot mini buns that demand a two-bite approach unless you like a broth explosion on your shirt. Handmade is the word, and it shows in every uneven pleat.
Dumplings the way a hawker centre intended—no frills, just skill—await the purist. Come for an early lunch before the Alexandra Village lunch crush, grab a table, and work through a basket of pan-fried dumplings while the broth is still hot. Good for two people who both want the same thing and don’t need to discuss it.
Address: Alexandra Village Food Centre #01-56, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 150120
Phone: +65 9737 9936
Hours: Wed-Sun 11am–3pm, 5pm–8pm, closed Mon & Tue
Price signal: Hawker prices; most dishes under S$8.
Zhang Ji website
This is your die-die-must-try if you’re the sort who will queue at a hawker centre for legit old-school flavours. Go early on a Saturday, chope a seat, and order one of everything.
JIA HE XING
Hidden on the fourth floor of One Raffles Place, JIA HE XING has been a quiet weekday favourite since it arrived from Beijing in 2020. The boiled dumplings here are made to order – pork and chives, shrimp, fish, even rainbow wrappers coloured with natural ingredients – and they arrive heavy with filling and light on pretension.
There’s a steady rhythm to the place: office workers slipping in for lunch, couples sharing a plate of dumplings and a bowl of noodles after work, no rush. The braised dishes and signature noodles fill out the meal if you’re extra hungry, but the main reason you’re here is the dumplings, boiled to a tender bite.
Suits the CBD office crowd who know the fourth floor of One Raffles Place exists. The boiled dumplings are made to order, so factor in a short wait – use it to chope your seat. Good for a working lunch where you’re talking shop and need something filling that won’t distract from the conversation. Quiet enough on weekdays for a proper discussion.
Address: 1 Raffles Place #04-60, One Raffles Place, Singapore 048616
Phone: +65 8698 5852
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am–9pm, closed Sunday
Price signal: Mid-range; a plate of dumplings runs about S$10–S$15.
JIA HE XING Facebook page
For a working-day lunch that feels more thoughtful than a food-court grab, this is it. The rainbow dumplings also buy you a few minutes of happy Instagram scrolling before the first bite.
If you’re in the mood for something with a different kind of heat after dumplings, our guide to Mala Xiang Guo Destinations in Singapore can point you to the right pot of numbing spice.
COMO Cuisine
Set among the Dempsey Road greenery, COMO Cuisine pulls dumplings into the wellness-luxury sphere without making them feel like spa food. Their Bhutanese momos use buckwheat flour and are stuffed with pork, garlic, coriander and Sichuan pepper, served with a side of ezay chilli that wakes up the palate.
The kitchen draws recipes from COMO hotels around the world, so everything on the plate is built from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. It’s the sort of place where brunch stretches into afternoon, and nobody’s checking the clock.
On a weekend when you want dumplings and greenery in one trip, this is your pick. The Dempsey setting makes it ideal for a leisurely Saturday lunch where you’re not watching the clock. The Bhutanese momos taste like something you couldn’t make at home, which is exactly the point. Save it for when you feel like a small splurge and a long catch-up.
Address: Block 18A Dempsey Road, Singapore 249677
Phone: +65 6304 1488
Hours: 8am–10pm daily
Price signal: Higher-end; main dishes typically S$25–S$40+.
COMO Cuisine website
Book this when you want a date that feels special but not stiff, or a long family lunch where the setting does half the work. The momos are the draw, but the whole experience – tropical calm, attentive service – is what you’ll remember.
And if you’d like to end on something sweet, our round-up of Bingsu Destinations in Singapore for a cool treat is a natural next stop.
How to choose
Start with what your stomach is actually asking for. A delicate, broth-filled xiao long bao? Din Tai Fung and Zhang Ji both deliver, though one is an air-conditioned institution and the other a hawker stall with a Michelin nod. Pan-fried Japanese gyoza with free-flow sides points straight to Gyoza King. If boiled dumplings with heft are your thing, JIA HE XING’s made-to-order plates will satisfy. Vegetarians shouldn’t have to settle – The Boneless Kitchen’s mandu bring genuine heat and technique. For something out of the usual dumpling orbit, COMO Cuisine’s Bhutanese momos are a gentler, greener afternoon affair.
Price varies sharply here. Hawker-level at Zhang Ji gives you a full meal under S$10. DaXi and JIA HE XING hover around S$10–S$15 a plate. Din Tai Fung and Gyoza King run S$15–S$25 for a basket or set. COMO Cuisine is the higher-end option, where you’re paying for the location and the global pedigree as much as the food.
Atmosphere counts for a lot, too. Zhang Ji and JIA HE XING are fast-turnover, eat-and-go spots – great for a quick fix. DaXi, Gyoza King and The Boneless Kitchen give you a comfortable sit-down without any fuss. COMO and Din Tai Fung are where you linger. Pick your speed, pick your price, then pick your dumpling.
| Name | Specialty | Price Signal | Atmosphere | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Din Tai Fung | Xiao long bao with 18 folds, pork broth, truffle & crab variants | S$9–S$15 a basket | Busy, polished chain, open kitchen | Reliable group lunches, impressing visitors |
| DaXi | Handmade Taiwanese boiled/pan-fried dumplings, mala & smoked duck | From S$10.80 for five | Casual mall eatery, air-con | Shopping break, small sharing plates |
| Gyoza King | Japanese pan-fried gyoza with free-flow rice & sides | Check with the business | Counter seating, unfussy | Solo workday lunches, quick dinners |
| The Boneless Kitchen | Vegetarian Korean mandu, kimchi-spiced, no alliums/alcohol | Check with the business | Relaxed, indie, sharing-friendly | Mixed-diet groups, plant-based eaters |
| Zhang Ji | Shanghainese pan-fried dumplings, xiao long bao, beef noodles | Hawker prices, under S$8 | Hawker centre, fast turnover | Budget hawker hunt, authentic flavours |
| JIA HE XING | Beijing-style boiled dumplings, rainbow & fish fillings, made to order | S$10–S$15 a plate | Quiet Raffles Place outlet, weekday pace | Office lunch, no-fuss dumpling fix |
| COMO Cuisine | Bhutanese buckwheat momos with ezay chilli, global wellness menu | Check with the business | Dempsey Road greenery, brunch vibe | Dates, long weekend meals, special occasions |
Summary
These seven shops run the dumpling map from hawker centre to Dempsey hill. Din Tai Fung remains the xiao long bao gold standard, while DaXi and Gyoza King keep things casual and wallet-friendly. The Boneless Kitchen flips vegetarian mandu into something worth crossing town for, and Zhang Ji proves Michelin doesn’t need a tablecloth. JIA HE XING and COMO Cuisine round it out with Beijing tradition and global flair. Whichever you pick, you’ll leave with a full stomach and a new spot to bring your next hungry kaki.
This round-up is editorial. Suggestions are welcome – tell us what you offer and where.
Disclaimer: All information provided here has been compiled from publicly available sources. While we have made every effort to ensure accuracy, details can change; confirm with the business directly before heading out.
Frequently asked questions
What are the different types of dumplings on this list?
You’ll find xiao long bao (soup-filled steamed dumplings), pan-fried gyoza, boiled Beijing-style jiaozi, Taiwanese boiled and pan-fried dumplings, Korean vegetarian mandu, and Bhutanese buckwheat momos. Cooking methods range from steamed to pan-fried and boiled, with fillings like pork, prawn, chicken, vegetables and even smoked duck.
Which place is the most affordable?
Zhang Ji Shanghai La Mian Xiao Long Bao offers hawker-centre prices, with most dishes under S$8. DaXi starts from S$10.80 for five pieces, making it another budget-conscious pick with air-conditioning.
Is there a vegetarian-friendly dumpling specialist?
Yes. The Boneless Kitchen specialises in vegetarian Korean mandu without any animal products, alliums or alcohol. Their kimchi mandu deliver a spicy kick that omnivores enjoy too.
Do I need to make a reservation?
Din Tai Fung and COMO Cuisine accept reservations and are popular, so booking ahead helps. DaXi, Gyoza King, Zhang Ji and JIA HE XING typically operate on a walk-in basis. Check with each business for their latest policy.
What’s the difference between xiao long bao and gyoza?
Xiao long bao are steamed soup dumplings with a thin wheat wrapper, filled with pork and a gelatinous broth that melts when cooked. Gyoza are Japanese-style pan-fried dumplings with a thicker skin, crisp bottom, and fillings like pork, chicken or prawn, often served with a vinegar dip.
Which dumpling spot is best for a special occasion?
COMO Cuisine on Dempsey Road offers a lush, leafy setting and a globally inspired menu that includes Bhutanese momos. It’s the most formal option on this list, ideal for dates or celebratory lunches. Din Tai Fung in Paragon also works for a polished group meal.
