These local chefs point us in the direction of their favourite siu mai, chee cheong fun, char siu bao, and more
Dim sum is one of the most essential parts of Chinese, specifically Cantonese, cuisine. In Malaysia, you can find dim sum just about anywhere from street carts and kopitiams to fancy hotel restaurants and grand banquet halls. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or even as a little midday pick-me-up, dim sum dishes are small in size but mighty in taste.
Whether it's char siu bao steamed in a little bamboo basket or pan-fried turnip cake, everyone has a favourite type of dim sum and a go-to restaurant to get their fill of these little morsels of joy. Turn to five local chefs to find out where the best dim sum in Malaysia is and what they order.
Read more: The best chicken rice in Malaysia, according to chefs
"I love Restaurant Sing Pao for its dim sum. Its char siu bao is the best. The baos are fluffy and the char siu is smoky and flavourful. I also order its fried radish cakes, which are crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside, pork ribs, fishballs, and mixed porridge. The porridge is a thick-based porridge with an umami-filled dry seafood base and is filled with a lot of century eggs."
—Lee Zhe Xi, Eat and Cook
"It's open until late and as a chef, that's perfect for me. Stick to its classics. At those late night hours, there are no children running around demanding their iPads and nobody bothering you on the street with a sales pitch. It’s the usual outdoor seating but I like to think of it as al fresco dining. It works for anyone with a graveyard shift and it's always interesting to people-watch as you eat your dim sum."
—Ahong Yeang, Grub by Ahong & Friends
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