There are memorable milestones in every Singaporean foodie’s life. Your first plate of Hainanese chicken rice. Your first bite into a $1 ice-cream sandwich in the Singapore heat. And your first Liu Sha Bao. The moment you burst open your very first bao and let the molten custard slowly ooze out.
The Liu Sha Bao has become an indispensable part of the local Dim Sum macrocosm. But with the hundreds of options we have at our fingertips, the problem is no longer how to get your Liu Shao Bao fix but where to get it. Nothing is worse then getting hyped up only to end up visiting disappointing places and being left with unsatisfied cravings.
So over the last few months, we’ve made it our mission to visit and photograph every reputable Liu Sha Bao place in Singapore. We aimed to come up with the ultimate list of 12 of the greatest Liu Sha Baos you could find in Singapore. This list includes famous bao places, cheaper hawker alternatives and even a supermarket which distributes good quality Liu Sha Bao all over Singapore!
Enjoy the Liu Sha Bao popping adventures that await you!
The Liu Sha Bao here looks like standard breakfast bao, but its gooey center goes surprisingly well with the fluffy bun. The hint of sweet goodness also makes it a good cure for sweet cravings – an ideal comfort food for the nocturnal among us.
Price: $3.80 for 3
Address: 214 Geylang Road, Lorong 18
Alternative: Swee Choon
The salted egg mixture, though buttery, was extremely flavorful. In fact, the filling was so generous it soaked through the bottom layer of the bun.
If you are searching for an explosive and scrumptious experience, look no further.
Price: $4.50 for 3
Address: 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-49 Sunshine Plaza
Listed as one of Singapore’s Top 10 Chinese Restaurants and deemed as the home of some of the best Liu Sha Bao, the expectations are bound to be high. However, my experience there was sub-par.
That being said, their Crispy-fried Japanese eggplant topped with pork floss totally stole the show for me. On the other hand, their Xiao Long Bao was just mediocre, if not below average.
Price: $5.50 for 3
Address: No. 2 Orchard Turn, #04-07 ION Orchard
Branches: Paradise Group outlets
It would probably be hard to build a consensus for contempt on this one, but I genuinely thought that it was nothing more than a mouthful of oil and pastry, with a granulated aftertaste which did not sit well with me. The greasiness put me off, and it did not help that the filling was not flavourful enough to compensate for its lack of texture.
Even though the copious amount of lava did drop some jaws, I do not think that it deserves all the hype. Nevertheless, Bryan was won over by the unique oven baked texture of the bao. So it could turn out to be a huge hit for you, so give it a try and form your own opinion!
Price: $5.60 for 3
Address: #02-01 Plaza Singapura
Fun fact: Only the orange colored bun contains Liu Sha. The yellow and lavender buns are filled with corn bits and yam paste respectively. Perfect for the fickle-minded!
Price: $4.70 for 3
Address: 2 Lorong Mambong, Holland Village
However, their Liu Sha Bao did not amaze me to the same degree – there was barely enough lava to go with the bun. The filling was unusually viscous for me, although the salted egg did complement the grainy texture very well.
Price: $4.50 for 3
Address: #05-42/45 Paragon, 290 Orchard Road
Branches: Imperial Treasure Restaurants
An ingenious fusion of traditional Pandan is bound to turn some heads, and their ala-carte Dim Sum buffet steals the show with an irresistible price of $19.80++ on weekdays – which means you’ll get unlimited servings of Liu Sha Bao. Attention all gluttons, mark this buffet on your to go list!
Address: 130 Amoy Steet, Singapore 049959
Alternative: Swatow Seafood Restaurant
Out of all the Liu Sha Baos I have tried, Yi Dian Xin has the runniest lava. The mess I left behind was a proof of the powerful spurts this unassuming champ was capable of – a surprise for many people too, I’m sure. Although it lacks piquancy, I favour it for how homely it actually tastes. The smoothness of the lava certainly has no contenders.
Price: $3.30 for 3
Address:: 1012A Upper Serangoon Road
The infused flavor is not overwhelming and comes forth only as a pleasant aftertaste. The bun, though, has a cakey texture when consumed slightly cooled, so it is best to have it hot. Apart from that, the runniness of the filling either make a believer out of you or puts you off with its grease.
Price: $4.80 for 4
Address: 70 Zion Rd, Singapore 247792
Alternative: Outlet at Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre
Neither too savoury nor heavy, it is a convenient fix for those who crave it round the clock, available for less than a dollar! Baker Talent has 9 outlets islandwide, and its bread selection impresses with great quality at an unbelievable low price. Check them out if you haven’t already.
Address:
Alternative: Barcook Bakery
Together with the Chilli Crab Pau, it is the newest item listed under SMH’s latest premium range. Indeed, it is a dream come true for every Liu Sha Bao lover to have it readily accessible in every neighbourhood.
You probably have doubts over the quality of such an incredible steal. Well, grab a pack and try it for yourself. I, for one, have been enjoying the convenience of savouring it in the comfort of my own home. Requiring only 10 minutes of steaming, it is fuss-free and certainly delivers in terms of quality.
Address: Every NTUC Supermarket!
The steamed versions usually end with a mushier oomph that we are familiar with, but frying the bun yields a distinction that enhances its palatability. It scores in every aspect, leaving me with no doubts about crowning it a champion and favorite.
Price: $12 for 6
Address: #02-00 Hotel Intercontinental, 80 Middle Road
When it comes to food, the price you pay does not always affirm the quality of the food you get. If you don’t mind alfresco dining hawker style, I believe many humble businesses are able to serve better Liu Sha Baos that put restaurants to shame.
With that, do let us know in the comments below on your choice of Liu Sha Bao. The ooze doesn’t stop till the cows come home!
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