I was invited to try out the signature lunch menu at SHOU, a handmade dim sum restaurant at the new-ish KADA building beside Maxwell food centre. I was intrigued because the dim sum disparity in Singapore is huge - you have the local cheap and cheerful 126 alley types vs the super premium hotel types and nothing much in between except maybe Tim Ho Wan. Dim sum for lunch in the CBD is also another rarity since dim sum typically takes quite a long time to serve and eat and is hence reserved for the weekends/PH. I was thus pleasantly surprised by the Signature Lunch Set at SHOU.
For just $21.90++, there is a 10-hour simmered broth chicken pao fan (great for those with shellfish allergies!). It also comes with 3 steamed and 3 fried dim sum items and a cup of premium Yunnan Pu 'Er tea from 100-year-old tea trees. The value alone is incredible - but of course, how did it taste?
The restaurant itself is nice and minimal - it turns into a Japanese izakaya by night, hence the bar. But the rest of the restaurant, while somewhat non-air conditioned, was cooling and well ventilated.
Here's the simple dim sum and food menu. Prices look really decent to me for this economy, in this location.
I really love the dessert offerings and the fact that drinks include dim sum beverages like Hong Kong milk tea, coffee and pu'er (choice of 100 or 200 year old).
The chicken pao fan was delicious. One bowl was enough for sharing between two (we got another noodle dish on top of the set's). The broth was rich, comforting and full of umami that can only come from hours on the stove, not MSG. Amongst the dim sum, my favourites were the steamed siew mai and har gao. They tasted handmade - and that is the point of dim sum to me! None of that factory mass production stuff. The pan-fried beancurd skin shrimp roll was yummy too. 4/5
I'm still thinking of the Deep-fried pork belly noodles, mild spicy ($10.50) which we got to share as well. The noodles were perfectly al dente, not alkaline, and goes well with the incredibly fatty pork belly that melted in our mouths. 4.5/5
Outside of the set lunch, we also tried their House special savoury shrimp dumplings mild spicy (5 pcs for $5.80) which was the right mix of sour and spicy. 4.5/5
There was also the Pan-fried radish cake (5 pcs for $5.50) which is yet another dim sum favourite. Here it was executed really well with the exterior crispy while the interior remained moist and flavourful. Takes skill! 4.5/5
Lastly, not pictured, but as part of the set the Honey Osmanthus Wolfberry Jelly was also superb. I was so full by then but the jelly disappeared in a flash in front of me, and unless magic was involved, I was the culprit! It was the perfect light and sweet palate cleanser for the meal.
I would highly recommend checking out SHOU, as it surpassed my every expectation. The CP ratio is super high and the food was delicious. The only downside to be prepared for is the massive food coma after lunch. But there are tonnes of coffee places nearby so you will be fine!
🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if you are in the area
💁 Bookmark this ✔️
SHOU Handmade Dim Sum
KADA Maxwell, #01-02, Singapore 069183
11am to 2.30pm daily, walk-ins welcome
Thanks to SHOU for the invite!
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