Roasted belly pork
I have been on an ongoing quest to find the best dim sum in Singapore since I arrived here five years ago. And for sure, there are plenty that I haven’t visited, but I don’t think I need to look much farther than Lei Garden on Orchard Road.
Prawn rice rolls
The quality of the food there is exceptional. With dim sum, there always has been a few things which showcase the true skill of the chef. One is the dumpling skin/rice rolls. These are made by hand – I’ve watched chefs do this and the speed in which they roll out individual dumpling skins (and if you think that they can serve up to 700 of just one type of dumpling in one seating) is a delight to watch. So to be fair, anything they can produce like that is amazing, but we are spoiled creatures of choice, so thick, doughy dumplings are indicative of a lack of true skill. The rice rolls at Lei Garden are thin and smooth and so slippery you could almost swallow each mouthful without chewing.
In fact, everything they do with flour – be it rice or wheat, is light and airy and just makes you want to order more (which is exactly what we did).
Their char siu buns were fluffy pillows of soft, steamed buns filled with sweet barbequed pork. And they really select the best pork – their roast pork is probably the best I’ve had in Singapore. The belly pork has the fat thinly and evenly layered and the skin is divinely crisp.
Pan-fried radish cake
Their radish cake – finely shredded radish and rice flour, cut into squares and pan-fried was not oily, but crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft inside.
I’d suggest making a reservation because it was full by midday on a Saturday and it’s not a huge restaurant. The quest is never over, but for now, I’m absolutely thrilled that I can get the same quality of dim sum that I have missed so much from Sydney.
Lei Garden Orchard
#03-00 Orchard Shopping Centre
321 Orchard Road
Singapore
Tel: 6734 3988
Open for lunch: 11.30am – 3.00pm
Dinner: 6pm – 11.00pm
Food is my happy place 
April 14th, 2012 at 10:01 am
Oh.. I knew I was in trouble a few sentences in .. I thought, “She’s going to start describing the Dim Sum in exquisite detail” and sure enough.. I’m longing to be seated at the table with you!! I love Dim Sum!!.. fluffy pillows… I’ll be dreaming tonight:)
April 24th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Dim sum is just so universally loved isn’t it, Smidge ? Thanks for your comment !
April 15th, 2012 at 1:08 am
Oh man, that pork is amazing!
April 24th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Crispy crackling is what it’s all about !!
April 15th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
That pork looks so good! perfectly cooked and perfectly cut
April 24th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
It really was Ray !
April 24th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Great post Carolyn!
I agree with you that Lei Garden’s dim sum is one of best in Singapore. =)
July 6th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Thanks so much for this; as an ex-sydneyite living in Thailand the food I miss the most is dim sum. For some reason it is nothing like what we have. My favourite thing to eat is the rice dumplings; I have booked a trip to Singapore now just to try this. Cheers!
July 7th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
You’re welcome Charlie ! I truly miss Sydney-style dim sum too !
July 30th, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Lei Garden is great!!! But singularly the best roast pork belly (with mustard) is at the Oversea Restaurant, not really over the sea but at 100 Beach Road, #01-27 Shaw Leisure Gallery, Shaw Towers, Singapore. Utterly yummlicious 🙂
July 30th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Ooh thanks for the recommendation ! I’ve passed the Oversea Restaurant many times but never been.