Yum Cha Restaurant celebrates Singapore’s 60th anniversary with an innovative limited-time menu that brilliantly reimagines iconic local flavors through the lens of traditional dim sum craftsmanship. Available until August 31, 2025, this special collection offers eight creative dishes, each priced at an attractive $6, making it both accessible and commemorative of Singapore’s diamond jubilee.
Restaurant Information
Address: 20 Trengganu Street, #02-01, Singapore 058479
Phone: +65 6372 1717
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (Downtown & North East Lines)
Additional Location: Changi Business Park
Operating Hours:
- Monday-Friday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday-Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Closed on Mondays
Directions: Exit A from Chinatown MRT, walk down Pagoda Street, turn right onto Trengganu Street (approximately 3 minutes walk)
Ambience & Setting
Nestled in the heart of Chinatown, Yum Cha Restaurant occupies a strategic location that perfectly complements its celebration of Singaporean heritage. The restaurant’s setting in the historic Trengganu Street area provides an authentic backdrop for this cultural culinary journey.
Interior Design & Atmosphere:
- Traditional dim sum restaurant layout with communal seating arrangements
- Warm, inviting lighting that creates an intimate dining experience
- Cultural decorations celebrating Singapore’s heritage and the SG60 theme
- Open kitchen concept allowing diners to witness the intricate dim sum preparation
- Bustling yet organized atmosphere typical of authentic Hong Kong-style dim sum establishments
Dining Experience:
- Family-friendly environment encouraging shared dining experiences
- Efficient service style with trolley service and à la carte ordering
- Background sounds of sizzling woks and steaming baskets create an authentic culinary theater
- Strategic location within walking distance of Chinatown’s cultural attractions
- Perfect for both casual dining and special celebrations
Cultural Context:
- Located in Singapore’s most historic Chinese district
- Surrounded by traditional shophouses and cultural landmarks
- Easy accessibility via public transport enhances the local dining experience
- The restaurant’s position reflects Singapore’s multicultural dining landscape
Featured Dishes Analysis
1. Bak Kut Teh Xiao Long Bao ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2/5)
Price: $6 (3 pieces)
Description: A masterful fusion that encapsulates the essence of Singapore’s beloved pork rib soup in delicate soup dumpling form.
Key Features:
- 16-hour slow-crafted peppery broth extraction
- Authentic BKT flavor profile with distinct peppery notes
- Served with traditional dark soy sauce and chili accompaniments
- Maintains the ritualistic elements of traditional BKT dining
Recipe Ingredients:
- Dumpling Wrapper: High-gluten flour, water, salt
- Filling: Ground pork, pork ribs, white pepper (generously), garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil
- Broth: Pork bones, white peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, dark soy sauce
- Garnish: Fried shallots, cilantro
- Accompaniments: Dark soy sauce, sliced red chilies
Recipe Insights: The complexity lies in the broth preparation, requiring extensive time to achieve the characteristic pepper-forward flavor while maintaining the delicate balance needed for soup dumpling encasement. The key is extracting maximum flavor from pork bones and spices over 16 hours, then concentrating the broth to gel form for wrapping.
2. Laksa Rice Flour Roll ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2/5)
Price: $6
Description: A standout creation that layers multiple proteins within a crisp rice net, finished with smooth cheong fun skin.
Key Features:
- Multi-textural experience with crab, shrimp, chicken, and dried shrimp
- House-made laksa gravy with perfect lemak balance
- Crisp rice net exterior contrasting with silky cheong fun wrapper
- Best enjoyed hot for optimal texture experience
Recipe Ingredients:
- Rice Net: Rice flour, tapioca starch, water, salt, oil
- Protein Filling: Fresh crab meat, prawns, chicken breast, dried shrimp (soaked)
- Cheong Fun Wrapper: Rice flour, wheat starch, water, salt, oil
- Laksa Gravy: Coconut milk, laksa paste (dried chilies, shallots, galangal, lemongrass, candlenuts, shrimp paste), fish stock, palm sugar, tamarind paste
- Garnish: Bean sprouts, hard-boiled egg, fish cake
Recipe Insights: The technical challenge involves creating a stable rice net that maintains crispness while the house-made laksa gravy provides authentic flavor without overwhelming the delicate proteins. The key is achieving the right consistency for each component layer.
3. Crusty Chilli Crab Bao ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Price: $6 (2 pieces)
Description: A playful interpretation of Singapore’s national dish, eliminating the mess while preserving the iconic flavors.
Key Features:
- Crispy exterior achieving textural contrast
- Tangy, mildly spicy crab sauce filling
- Decorative crab-shaped crust topping
- Mess-free alternative to traditional chilli crab
Recipe Ingredients:
- Bao Dough: All-purpose flour, yeast, sugar, milk, butter, salt
- Crab Filling: Fresh crab meat, tomato sauce, chili sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, egg, cornstarch, garlic, ginger
- Crust Topping: Bread flour, butter, sugar, egg (for crab-shaped decoration)
- Sauce Base: Tomato ketchup, chili sauce, rice wine, soy sauce, sesame oil
Recipe Insights: The key lies in achieving the right consistency for the crab sauce filling and maintaining the bao’s structural integrity during the frying process. The sauce must be thick enough to contain but fluid enough to burst with flavor.
4. Prata Pork Pancake ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Price: $6
Description: An unexpected but successful marriage of Indian-influenced prata with Chinese-style pork filling.
Key Features:
- Crispy exterior reminiscent of traditional prata
- Juicy minced pork filling similar to xiaolongbao
- Cross-cultural fusion representing Singapore’s multicultural essence
- Slightly oily texture (minor drawback)
Recipe Ingredients:
- Prata Dough: Plain flour, water, salt, oil, ghee
- Pork Filling: Minced pork, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, sugar, cornstarch
- Seasoning: Light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice wine
- Binding Agent: Egg white, cornstarch slurry
Recipe Insights: The challenge involves adapting prata dough techniques to contain savory pork filling while maintaining the characteristic flaky layers. The dough must be elastic enough to stretch thin without breaking while containing the juicy filling.
5. Kopi Gao Bao ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.8/5)
Price: $6 (2 pieces)
Description: A collaboration with local Coffee Hock brand, transforming traditional salted egg custard buns with local coffee flavors.
Key Features:
- Partnership with established Singaporean coffee brand
- Kopi Gao powder integration
- Innovative twist on classic custard buns
- Appeals to local coffee culture enthusiasts
Recipe Ingredients:
- Bao Dough: Hong Kong flour, yeast, sugar, milk, lard, baking powder
- Coffee Custard: Salted egg yolks, sugar, butter, milk, custard powder, Coffee Hock Kopi Gao powder
- Binding: Cornstarch, coconut milk
- Flavoring: Vanilla extract, salt
Recipe Insights: The technique involves balancing coffee bitterness with custard sweetness while maintaining the characteristic flowing texture of custard buns. The Kopi Gao powder must be properly dissolved and integrated without overwhelming the delicate custard base.
6. Handmade Otak-Otak Siew Mai ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.8/5)
Price: $6
Description: A colorful interpretation of the traditional Peranakan fish cake in siew mai form.
Key Features:
- Vibrant spinach wrapper providing visual appeal
- Black tobiko garnish for textural contrast
- Fragrant otak center with authentic spice profile
- Could benefit from more intense spicing
Recipe Ingredients:
- Spinach Wrapper: Wonton skin, spinach juice, flour, water
- Otak Filling: Fresh fish paste (mackerel/spanish mackerel), coconut milk, lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, candlenuts, shallots, garlic, chilies
- Spice Paste: Dried chilies, shallots, galangal, lemongrass, turmeric, candlenuts, shrimp paste
- Garnish: Black tobiko, carrot julienne
- Binding: Tapioca starch, egg white
Recipe Insights: The preparation involves incorporating otak spice paste into the siew mai filling while maintaining the dumpling’s structural integrity. The spinach wrapper requires careful handling to prevent tearing while providing the vibrant color contrast.
7. Satay Fried Rice ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5/5)
Price: $6
Description: A rice dish accompanied by satay skewers, bringing together two beloved local comfort foods.
Key Features:
- Authentic satay flavor profile
- Accompanied by two chicken satay skewers
- True-to-taste execution
- Slightly dry rice texture (area for improvement)
Recipe Ingredients:
- Fried Rice: Day-old jasmine rice, eggs, onions, garlic, soy sauce, dark soy sauce
- Satay Marinade: Lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, coriander seeds, cumin, sugar, coconut milk
- Chicken Skewers: Chicken thigh meat, bamboo skewers
- Satay Sauce: Peanuts, tamarind paste, palm sugar, dried chilies, shallots, garlic
- Garnish: Cucumber, onion, ketupat (rice cakes)
Recipe Insights: The challenge lies in infusing satay flavors into fried rice while maintaining proper rice moisture and texture. The satay marinade flavors must penetrate the rice without overwhelming it, while the skewers provide the authentic grilled satay experience.
8. Kaya Bolo Bao ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Price: $6 (2 pieces)
Description: A local breakfast staple reimagined in bao form, featuring traditional kaya and butter combination.
Key Features:
- Authentic kaya and butter filling
- Bread-like texture rather than traditional bao
- Requires improvement in crust crunchiness and bun fluffiness
- Nostalgic flavor profile
Recipe Insights: The execution needs refinement to achieve the ideal balance between crispy exterior and soft interior typical of quality bolo bao.
Community Initiative
“Bringing Back the Joy of Five Stones”
- Partnership with SG Enable and Re:store
- Handmade Five Stones by differently-abled artisans ($6 with minimum $60 spend)
- In-house Five Stones challenge with $20 voucher prize
- Demonstrates corporate social responsibility and community engagement
Overall Assessment
Strengths:
- Innovative concept celebrating local heritage
- Excellent value proposition at $6 per dish
- Technical execution showcasing culinary creativity
- Strong representation of Singapore’s multicultural food landscape
- Community engagement through social initiatives
Areas for Improvement:
- Some dishes need texture refinement (Satay Fried Rice, Kaya Bolo Bao)
- Spice intensity could be enhanced in certain items
- Oil levels in some dishes could be better controlled
Recommendations
Must-Try Dishes:
- Bak Kut Teh Xiao Long Bao – Outstanding technical execution
- Laksa Rice Flour Roll – Perfect balance of flavors and textures
- Crusty Chilli Crab Bao – Innovative and flavorful
Value Assessment: Exceptional value at $6 per dish, especially considering the technical complexity and premium ingredients used.
Best For: Food enthusiasts interested in innovative fusion cuisine, Singapore culture enthusiasts, and those seeking affordable premium dim sum experiences.
Final Verdict
Yum Cha Restaurant’s SG60 menu successfully captures the essence of Singapore’s culinary heritage while demonstrating remarkable creativity in fusion cuisine. Despite minor execution issues with some dishes, the overall experience represents excellent value and showcases the restaurant’s commitment to celebrating local culture through food. The limited-time nature of this menu makes it a compelling dining experience for both locals and visitors seeking to taste Singapore’s story through innovative dim sum creations.
Overall Rating: 4.1/5
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