Halal Chinese restaurant opens at Boat Quay with dim sum from S$4.80+

PSA to all CBD workers: A new lunch spot just opened in town.

Spearheaded by renowned bridal make-up artist and gown designer Fatimah Mohsin, Loong Dim Sum is a halal-certified dim sum concept that just made its debut along North Canal Road.

The restaurant is a four-storey establishment, with its dining area spanning two floors and an event space on the top level.

Red and green accents provide a traditional Chinese touch to the dining area, with several display shelves spotlighting an array of cultural decorative items.

The first floor seats 20 diners, while the second can accommodate 22 patrons.

Loong Dim Sum offers an extensive menu, with dim sum ranging from S$4.80+ to S$8.80+.

We tried their set menu for one (S$32.90+), which comprises 10 dishes served in bite-sized portions across four courses.

These include:

Siew Mai

Loong Dim Sum's siew mai leans on the savoury side, made with chicken instead of the traditional pork.

Har Gow

We were pleasantly surprised by the generous serving of shrimp in this dish, wrapped in a delicate flour casing which practically melts in your mouth.

Truffle Crystal Mushroom Dumpling

This one's a must-try for truffle lovers: the truffle flavour hits your palate the instant you take a bite. The vegetables in the filling also offered a crunch, which contrasted nicely with the soft mushrooms.

Mint Sauce Crispy Tiger Prawn Rolls

The mint sauce garnish, together with the crunchy shell, gave this dish a light and refreshing quality that complemented the sweetness of the prawns.

If you're not one to experiment with unfamiliar flavours, though, you might want to sit this one out.

Loong's Spring Roll

This was another crispy treat that felt light on the palate.

Personally, I enjoyed pairing the roll with Loong's housemade sambal sauce.

Lobster Broth Pumpkin Dumpling

Having to dispense the pumpkin sauce from the dropper added to the experience of eating this dumpling, which was surprisingly sweet and chewy despite its deep-fried shell.

Loong's Signature Juicy Bao

An XL version of the traditional xiao long bao, Loong's Signature Juicy Bao was probably my favourite out of all we tried.

Before digging in, we were advised to first sip the broth from the bao through a straw. This was undoubtedly the dish's highlight — it was hearty and packed with a broth that tasted like a mix of seafood and chicken stock.

The Dragon

Consisting of chilled aloe vera and lemon grass jelly paired with lime sorbet, this was the perfect treat for a hot day.

The Bom

This was, hands down, my favourite dessert among the three we were served.

Shaped like a cherry, The Bom features a blend of black sugar and cashew nut, encased in a sesame ball. It offers an initial crunch, followed by an almost mochi-like texture as you chew.

The filling was sweet with just a hint of savouriness, which made the dish delightfully indulgent.

Loong's Salted Egg Pao

As someone who doesn't fancy salted egg, I found this bun surprisingly easy on the palate. Though the custard wasn't as runny as I had hoped, I enjoyed the dish nevertheless.

Loong Dim Sum

Address: 10 North Canal Road, Singapore 048823

Opening hours: 11am to 9pm, daily

Top photos by Fasiha Nazren.