11 best rice dumplings you must indulge in Singapore this Dragon Boat Festival 2024

It feels like just yesterday when I wrote about the Dragon Boat Festival. And guess what? The period where hotels, restaurants and food fairs start promoting bak zhang (glutinous rice dumplings) is finally coming back in full force once again on 10 Jun 2024.

You might come from a traditional household where your mother invites your aunts over to make and enjoy these bak zhangs, or perhaps you just order some to share with your family and loved ones. Whatever the case is, it’s a celebration of togetherness.

Go down the list and explore all the places I’ve collated for the 11 best rice dumplings you must indulge in Singapore this Dragon Boat Festival 2024. Hopefully, you’ll find something that suits you!

1. Man Fu Yuan, InterContinental Singapore

From 13 May to 10 June 2024, Man Fu Yuan, the acclaimed Michelin-recommended Cantonese restaurant, pays homage to the Dragon Boat Festival with a special menu inspired by tradition. 

This year, a total of 7 artisanal bak zhang inclusive of 2 refreshing new flavours, alongside 3 gift bundle sets, will be showcased to honour the festivities.

Making its inaugural appearance is the new Nonya-Style Rice Dumpling with Plant-Based Meat, Sweetened Winter Melon, and Mushroom (S$23.90). Painstakingly created with meticulous attention, this new creation contains mouth-watering plant-based meat, sweetened winter melon and earthy mushrooms encapsulated in pillowy glutinous rice. It’s perfect for those seeking non-meat alternatives!

Returning once again is the Signature Wild Rice Dumpling with Smoked Duck and Yunnan Black Gold Garlic (S$23.90), presented in its prominent circular shape. The bak zhang resembles a bulb of garlic, and it’s packed with a double dose of antioxidants with black garlic and wild rice together with delicious smoked duck.

Following its triumphant premiere a year ago, the Man Fu Yuan Giant Classic Cantonese Rice Dumpling with Red Quinoa (S$98.80) is a show-stopping 1kg behemoth, stuffed with opulent ingredients like two 5-head South African abalones, five-spiced pork belly, giant dried shrimps shipped from Hong Kong, roasted duck, dried conpoy and red quinoa.

Like last year, it’s a limited-edition flavour with only 88 pieces available for purchase.

Searching for a meaningful gift for your family or business partners? Why not check out the Mastery Bundle (S$128.80) which includes 5 rice dumplings and Man Fu Yuan’s unique tea blend, Five Element Tea in a traditional tea canister.

The dumplings will be placed in an elegant rectangular teal box, decorated with illustrations of birds and flowers together with a golden tassel that adds a touch of splendour. What’s more, it comes with a shoulder strap so the bag can double up as an elegant oriental shoulder bag.

From now till 10 June 2024, simply quote ‘SETHLUI10’ to enjoy 10% off the limited-edition Man Fu Yuan Giant Classic Cantonese Rice Dumpling and gift bundles. You can also quote ‘SETHLUI15’ to enjoy 15% off selected rice dumplings.

To place your order, click here. You can also speak to them at +65 6825 1008.

From 1 Apr to 10 Jun 2024, Man Fu Yuan’s rice dumplings are also available for purchase on the Intercontinental Hotel E-Shop.

80 Middle Road, InterContinental Singapore, Level 2, Singapore 188966
+65 6825 1224
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm & 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 3pm & 6pm – 10pm
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2. Kim Lee Hokkien Zhang and Crispy Puff

Kim Lee Hokkien Zhang and Crispy Puff at 27 Jalan Berseh not only specialises in a variety of handmade curry puffs with unique fillings, but also produces their own bak zhang. Owner, Ken Lee, and his wife, Kim, spend every Friday afternoon making their rice dumplings from scratch.

The Hokkien Rice Dumpling with Salted Duck Egg Yolk (S$4.70) is stuffed with pork belly, chestnut, dried shrimp and mushrooms. Ken also orders whole salted duck egg from Vietnam instead of bringing in frozen ones, in which they manually remove the yolk themselves (lots of effort).

This results in a creamier taste and if that’s your jam, you should try the Hokkien Zhang with Double Salted Egg Yolk (S$5.30). However, if you dislike salted egg yolks (subtly judging you), there’s always the Hokkien Rice Dumpling (S$4.10) available.

The Mini Nyonya Rice Dumpling (S$2.20) is ideal for those with smaller appetites, and comes stuffed with winter melon, chopped mushroom, minced pork and pork lard.

27 Jalan Berseh, Singapore 200027
+65 9090 5806
Thu to Tue: 9am – 6pm
Wed: 9am – 5pm
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3. Wu You Eating Place

Wu You Eating Place along 312 Lavender Street is owned by a sibling duo, Bao Zhai, 50, and Bao Ma, 56, hailing from Ipoh. The eatery has no fixed menu and does a different set each day.

For Dragon Boat Festival 2024, they have 2 special handmade Cantonese-style rice dumplings which boast more fillings and less glutinous rice.

The Cantonese Dried Shredded Scallop Rice Dumpling (S$7.80) is generously stuffed with braised pork, dried shrimp, salted egg yolk, chestnut, Japanese flower mushroom, dried scallop and mung bean.

If you’re looking for a rice dumpling which packs an umami punch, the Cantonese XO Rice Dumpling (S$8.80) has similar ingredients from the previous item, but with the addition of XO sauce.

To order, you may WhatsApp them at +65 9796 9434, walk-in, or drop them a DM on their socials.

312 Lavender Street, Singapore 338816
+65 9796 9434
Daily: 11am – 10pm
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4. Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant, Holiday Inn Atrium

Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant at Holiday Inn Atrium unveils its latest offerings for Dragon Boat Festival 2024. Forget about fancy and unique combinations and embrace tradition instead, as the restaurant keeps things simple this time round.

For those who enjoy savoury bak zhang, the 380g Signature Home-made Traditional Rice Dumpling (S$19.80) has copious amounts of five-spiced braised pork belly, salted egg yolk, mushroom and shrimp. For a better deal, get it in a bundle of 6 for just S$88.

Trying to sweeten up someone’s day? Then get the petite 220g Red Lotus Seed Paste Rice Dumpling served with Osmanthus Sauce (S$15.80). Also known as ‘kee chang‘, it’s filled with delightful creamy lotus paste, chestnut and gingko nuts. For a floral punch of flavour, dunk it into the aromatic osmanthus sauce.

317 Outram Road, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, Singapore 169075
+65 3138 2531
Wed to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm & 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 1pm, 1.15pm – 3pm & 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
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5. D’Bun 

Set up in 1991, D’Bun at 358 Joo Chiat Road started off specialising in charcoal-roasted mini char siew pau, which they do in-house till this day. They gradually expanded into mooncakes and bak zhang, which are all entirely handmade in their kitchen.

With a menu comprising of 9 different varieties for Dragon Boat Festival 2024, there’s definitely something for every palate. Whether you get the Blue Pea Nyonya Dumpling (S$5.30) or the Blue Pea Sambal Nyonya with Yolk Dumpling (S$5.80), both are filled with juicy minced pork and winter melon slices encased in blue pea flower marinated rice. However, the latter adds a spicy kick in conjunction with it rich salted egg content.

The Premium XO Braised Pork Dumpling (S$5.30) takes things up a notch with its fragrant premium XO sauce. The rice is stuffed with their signature braised pork, chestnut, dried scallop, shrimp, red chilli and spices. There’s also the Kee Zhang (S$1.50), Cantonese Mung Bean Dumpling (S$7.80) and Truffle Braised Pork Dumpling (S$6.80).

358 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427603

+65 6345 8220
Daily: 8am – 9pm
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6. Peach Blossoms, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay

The Dragon Boat Festival comes only once a year and Peach Blossoms at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay invites you to feast on their exclusive assortment of bak zhangs. Specially crafted by award-winning executive Chinese chef, Edward Chong and his team of chefs, there are a total of 3 enticing options that await your palate’s enjoyment.

For the purists, the 600g Traditional Hakka Kurobuta Pork Belly Rice Dumpling (S$35.80) contains fermented bean curd, Japanese flower mushroom, dried shrimp, chestnut and salted egg yolks— a timeless flavour that won’t disappoint.

For those seeking a touch of grandeur, the massive 1kg Premium XO Cantonese Rice Dumpling (S$68.80) is large enough to be savoured amongst 4 pax. It’s made with luxurious ingredients like abalone, conpoy, and luscious Kurobuta pork belly.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, the 350g Hokkaido Sweet Lava Rice Dumpling (S$24.80) marries a rich Hokkaido sweet potato custard together with butterfly blue pea rice, producing a symphony of flavours and textures.

6 Raffles Boulevard, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Level 5, Singapore 039594
+65 6845 1118
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm & 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 3pm & 6.30pm – 10.30pm
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7. Hoo Kee Bak Zhang

Having clinched the Michelin Bib Gourmand award for 5 consecutive years (2016 – 2019, 2022), Hoo Kee Bak Zhang is renowned for authentic Hokkien rice dumplings. The business was first established in 1948 along Amoy Street and has grown in popularity over the years.

Each dumpling is differentiated by the colour of its string: The Original (red) (S$4.30), Salted Egg (yellow) (S$5.30), Mushroom (green) (S$5.30) and the Deluxe All-In (blue) (S$6.30).

The Deluxe All-In has a robust Chinese five spice aroma, accompanied by the fragrance of seasoned pork and the rich allure of dark soy sauce. Instead of using pork belly, lean pork is used in its place together with mushrooms, salted egg yolk and chestnut.

161 Bukit Merah Central, #01-3735, Singapore 150161
+65 6222 7866
Mon to Sat: 9am – 3pm
Closed on Sun

7 Maxwell Road, Amoy Street Food Centre, #01-18, Singapore 069111
+65 6221 1155
Tue to Fri: 11am – 3pm
Closed on Sat to Mon
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8. SohGood Bak Zhang

If you’re seeking quality Cantonese bak zhang, then SohGood Bak Zhang at Chinatown Complex Food Centre is the place to go! In case you need a little help navigating through this labyrinth of a hawker centre, this stall is located at the outer corner of the blue zone.

The stall is owned by Mr and Mrs Soh and they offer a variety of savoury and sweet choices. To avoid disappointment, it’s best to always call in and check for the availability of the day.

The Traditional Pork Belly with Salted Egg Yolk Bak Chang (S$4.80) and Traditional Pork Belly Bak Chang (S$4) is filled with melt-in-your-mouth pork belly and a hefty chestnut.

Sweet-toothed fans must give the one-of-a-kind Orange Peel Red Bean Bak Chang (S$2.80) a try. The mixture of citrusy orange peel and red bean is a surprisingly-good combo. The red bean isn’t too sweet, so you’ll be able to appreciate the delicate flavour of the orange bits.

Do note that they will be increasing their prices as the Dragon Boat Festival is approaching. If you decide to patronise them, do drop in early to avoid disappointment.

335 Smith Street, Chinatown Complex, #02-209, Singapore 050335
+65 8897 2561
Tue: 2.30pm – 5.30pm
Wed to Fri: 9.30am – 6pm
Sat: 9.30am – 1pm
Closed on Sun & Mon

9. Hiong Kee Dumplings

Taken over by the 2nd generation, Hiong Kee Dumplings at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre has been in business for over 4 decades. If you wish to enjoy the bak zhang at the hawker centre itself, the stall allows you to dine-in as well.

The Pork Dumpling which consists of pork, mushroom, chestnut and salted egg costs S$5 while the rendition without the salted egg goes for S$4.40. There’s also a chicken version.

The Nonya Dumpling (S$4.40) is a perfect balance of sweet winter melon with pieces of pork meat. Besides savoury types, the stall also sells sweet kinds like Kee Chang (S$2.20) and Red Bean Kee Chang (S$2.50).

531A Upper Cross Street, Hong Lim Market & Food Centre, #02-37, Singapore 051531
+65 6535 2783
Mon to Sat: 9am – 6pm
Closed on Sun
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10. Kerene’s Kitchen

The only home-based business on this list, Kerene’s Kitchen is single-handedly run by Kerene Cheng, who used to be a dim sum chef at Shangri-La Hotel. Besides snacks, sausage glutinous rice and braised pork belly, she also sells a plethora of rice dumplings.

The Hokkien Bak Chang comes in 3 options (minimum 5 nos): With Abalone (S$9.80 per piece), with Yolk (S$6.80 per piece) and Without Yolk (S$6 per piece). It’s stuffed with the usual suspects; pork belly, mushrooms, egg yolk, dried shrimp and chestnut. It also has shallots and garlic thrown in the mix.

For something a little different this Dragon Boat Festival 2024, the HK Style Rice Dumpling (S$22 with 2 pieces abalone, S$18 without abalone) is worth checking out. Good for 2 to 3 pax, this large rectangular dumpling has pork belly, dried scallop, egg yolks, mung beans, lotus seeds, mushrooms and chestnuts.

Adding to the list is the Nonya Chang (S$6 with yolk, S$5.20 without yolk) with butterfly pea flower, coriander powder, pork collar butt, mushrooms, winter melon sugar, sesame oil and pepper. Do note that a minimum order of 5 is required.

If any of the above flavours enticed you, you can do a pre-order by leaving a WhatsApp text on +65 9278 7792.

11. Feng Shui Inn, Resorts World Sentosa

With the Dragon Boat Festival 2024 drawing near, Feng Shui Inn at Resorts World Sentosa presents not 1, not 2, but 3 gourmet rice dumplings. These 3 bak zhang will be available for pre orders until 10 Jun 2024.

The Imperial Abalone Dumpling is devoid of gluten and is generously filled with premium dried seafood and juicy abalone. It’s then encased in a preserved mustard green leaf.

The Double Delight Dumpling is a first for me, combining tender grilled unagi with succulent smoked bacon for a flavourful and unique combination. The Yuan Yang Dumpling comprises black glutinous rice and high-fibre lotus paste. To make things more solid, it’s infused with gula melaka and comes with house-made osmanthus sauce— yummy!

Seeking gift ideas? Why not check out the Signature Dumpling Set (S$128 nett per box) which comes with 6 dumplings (2 of each flavour). What’s more, you’ll also receive a bottle of Feng Shui Inn’s Signature XO Sauce and Osmanthus Sauce.

Everything is snugly packed in a lush green dumpling-shaped bag, making it an ideal gift for your loved ones.

8 Sentosa Gateway, Resorts World Sentosa, #01-521/522, Singapore 098269
+65 6577 6599
Daily: 11am – 2.30pm & 6pm – 10.30pm
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