Red Star Restaurant has long been an institution in Chinese dining culture. Being one of the few remaining establishments offering cart-pushing dim sum service, this charming establishment has earned the trust and loyalty of local diners alike.
Take yourself back to the 1960s as aunties arrive at your table hawking delicious liu sha bao and shrimp-filled har gao dishes – but be warned – you may end up ordering far too much!
Authentic Cantonese Dim Sum
Red Star Restaurant offers authentic traditional Cantonese dining. Renowned for their wide range of classic Cantonese dishes such as US roast duck, prawns in butter sauce, fried garoupa with crab meat and house shark fin soup – Red Star was once known for their famous chefs Sin Leong (now Roland restaurant), Hooi Kok Wai (Dragon Phoenix Long Feng Lou) and Tham Yew Kai Tan Rui Jia (Lai Wah Restaurant Li Hua Jiu Jia).
The decor and layout of this restaurant harken back to the 1960s, complete with waitresses dressed in black who provide service reminiscent of those found back then – they even troll around with carts stamping your dim sum card each time they pass! While these waitresses only speak Chinese, there are English translations on all menus for easier navigation.
Food at this location was good but nothing special. We ordered some popular dishes such as the har gao, braised chicken feet, xiao long bao and siu mai. None really stood out; for instance the har gao had very dry and cracked skin while my personal preference for softness is quite different than others have tried out; while my siu mai didn’t provide as much flavour either.
A Time Capsule of Nostalgia
Red Star restaurant transports guests back in time, with decor, layout and recipes that have not changed for over four decades. You’ll find classic metal chairs with red velvet cushions paired with carpeted floors and large wooden tables draped with table cloths; customers clink their teacups and swap stories while indulging in simple yet flavorful cuisine.
Helen Green has an affinity for nostalgia. In a recent Facebook post she unveiled a time capsule from their past including a business card for an Italian eatery located in Rozelle Sydney Australia; Twinings Tea Bag; Westpac Transaction Record, Band-aids and matches – among many other items!
Traditional Cart-Pushing Dim Sum Dining Experience
Red Star is one of the few remaining traditional Chinese restaurants in Singapore offering dim sum on carts. Step back in time to the 1970s as you dine among curtains and decor reminiscent of your grandmother’s kitchen, old-school push cart trolleys to carry food around and servers that evoke Hong Kong style trolls who push their food carts, stamping your menu card as they pass tables; all while being extremely attentive – perhaps knowing they will get more tips if more orders come through?
Dim sum is typically served in small plates to encourage sharing and family dining. A typical menu might include dumplings, roasted and fried items, noodles, sweets, soups or congee. When dining at dim sum restaurants, flag down servers when they pass your table to ask them for what you desire and wait until the food arrives to your table.
Classic dim sum dishes include steamed pork buns, beef shank, spareribs in black bean sauce, shrimp dumplings (har gao) and xiu long bao (shrimp and chive dumplings). More modern restaurants have begun using check sheets so customers can order their food without flagging down servers.
Not the Best Dim Sum in Town
Dim sum dining in New York City has quickly become a hit, appealing to diners of all tastes and cultures alike. Be it soup dumplings or fried treats; traditional cart pushing or buffet dining experiences there is something here for you in Chinatown and NYC’s best dim sum restaurants list.
Tim Ho Wan offers a selection of tantalizing mock meat dishes without resorting to sauces to mask their flavor, and offers some of the most authentic siu mai (steamed pork dumplings) around.
Buddha Bodai, hidden on the 7th floor of an HDB car park, is an unlikely find. But once there, you may never want to leave! As both kosher and vegetarian dim sum restaurants, this hidden gem proves how the experience transcends any diet restrictions with flying colors – their menu boasts classics such as steamed BBQ pork bun and custard salted egg yolk bao.
Bernal Heights’ family-friendly dim sum spot consistently receives rave reviews for its delectable Shanghai-style delights, such as steamed beef and pork xiao long bao and other specialities like their famous dan dan noodles and California beef noodles! Open for dine-in, take-out, and delivery services.