7 of the Best Dim Sum Spots in Johor Bahru and Why You Should Check Them Out
Aside from housing some of Malaysia’s famous buildings and historical sites, one thing that Johor Bahru has is good food. Whether you’re looking for classic street foods or fine-dining restaurants, you can expect this city to deliver!
One thing I noticed, however, is that the city features an abundance of Taiwanese and Chinese restaurants. As someone who absolutely LOVES dim sum, I feel extremely lucky to have frequented the city, as I’ve tried tons of authentic spots that offer this delicious dish.
Fast forward to today and I’ve already been to countless restaurants in the city to know where to enjoy some nice freshly-steamed dim sum. And since you were kind enough to click on this article, I’m going to share my favourite ones with you!
Din Tai Fung JB
— Media credit: dintaifungmy
Address: Level 2, Lot J2-06, 07, 08, 09, 108
Contact details: +60 7-207 0069
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$$
Leaving out Din Tai Fung on a list of the best dim sum restaurants is like talking about the best basketball players without mentioning Michael Jordan. It’s one of the best Taiwanese chains not only in Malaysia but worldwide, and its rewards and Michelin Star speak for themselves!
It’s not hard to see the reasons for its success though, as it’s home to some of the best handmade dumplings and dim sum on the planet. For instance, one of their most famous offerings is the xiao long bao, which are dumplings of broth and meat—chef’s kiss!
They also offer shrimp and pork shaomai, both of which are amazing to eat on their own or with a side of stir-fried rice. Speaking of rice, their menu also features rice meals like porkchop egg rice, which is perfect for those looking for something heavier.
Pro tip:
We also recommend getting the chocolate xiao lang bao, which is exactly what it sounds like! This is, in my opinion, the best thing to order when you’re about to end your meal so that you can wash away all the fishy and meaty taste lingering in your mouth.
Hijrah Dim Sum JB
— Media credit: hijrahdimsumjb
Address: 42, Jln Beringin
Contact details: +60 16-668 0258
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you’re looking for halal dim sum spots, then Hijrah Dim Sum should be on your radar! It’s one of the few of its kind in Johor Bahru, and it’s also an amazing restaurant, in general, because of its wide selection of unique selections of dim sum and many other Chinese/Taiwanese dishes.
Among this selection is their salted egg bun, which is a one-of-a-kind dish that’s full of flavour that’s best paired perfectly with a plate of their char kway teow. Another bun that you should try is the BBQ chicken, which is kind of weird at first, but you’ll eventually come to love it!
If you’re looking for something along the lines of dim sum and dumplings, however, you have to get their shark’s fin siew mai! You can enjoy this dish any way you can but if you want our advice, dip it in some soy sauce with chilli garlic—you’ll thank us later!
Pro tip:
The place is almost always packed, especially during the weekends. To avoid queues, we recommend visiting on weekdays or anytime after the lunch rush.
Say Yes Hong Kong Dim Sum
— Media credit: cher_on_a_break
Address: 66, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3
Contact details: +60 18-965 3002
Operating hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Cost: $
Say Yes Hong Kong Dim Sum is one of the best budget-friendly options for frugal foodies (guilty as charged). Don’t be fooled though, as its cheap price point doesn’t reflect its quality—in fact, everything from their menu looks, feels and tastes premium!
We absolutely love their selection of classic dumplings and dim sum such as hao you dim sum and red bean baos. However, it would be a disservice not to mention their unorthodox offerings like duck feet and chicken claws.
They’ve also been around for more than 30 years so a lot of people relate this place with their childhood. It doesn’t show its age though, as it features modern revamped designs and up-to-date facilities.
Pro tip:
End your meal with their locally famous egg tarts! These amazing little pastries feature a super creamy interior while maintaining a crispy shell—yum!
Gui Yuan Restaurant
— Media credit: vwinstonn
Address: 27, Jalan Dedap 8
Contact details: +60 12-723 5560
Operating hours: Wednesday to Monday: 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Cost: $
Gui Yuan Restaurant is another dim sum spot that offers reasonable prices for their offerings and if you ask us, it can stand alongside other premium restaurants. One of the reasons we say this is because it boasts a Michelin Star under its belt.
They’ve also been around since 1995 and they’ve been building upon the same recipe and following the same principles of using fresh ingredients. With that being said, if there’s anyone who’s qualified to offer authentic dim sum in JB, it would be them.
You can’t go wrong with any of the dishes from their menu, but if you’re overwhelmed by the choices, we recommend getting the crispy deep-fried prawn balls. Meanwhile, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you must order their beloved chicken feet.
Pro tip:
We would recommend renting a car or booking a Grab to get here. Since the restaurant is located in a quaint neighbourhood, commuting isn’t really a great option, as the nearest bus stops are too far away for walking.
Gim Cheng Dim Sum Restaurant
— Media credit: ladyironchef
Address: 2, 2, 1, Jalan Sagu 36
Contact details: +60 16-712 1257
Operating hours: Thursday to Tuesday: 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Cost: $
Gim Cheng Dim Sum Restaurants is one of those no-frills eateries that solely focus on providing authentic and delicious dishes. The dishes in question here are, as you may have gleaned from its name, dim sum, and different kinds of them!
One of our favourite versions of this dish that they offer is the barbeque pork bun, which features a hot and steamy interior and a soft exterior. Of course, it wouldn’t be a dim sum restaurant without some shiu mais, more specifically, over 60 versions of them!
We also love the rich history behind this restaurant, as it’s been around since the early 1970s, and they’ve never charged too much since then. In fact, it’s one of the best value-for-money options, as they offer free-flowing drinks throughout your dining experience here!
Pro tip:
If your tastebuds are feeling adventurous, we recommend trying the century egg! It may look and smell weird at first but trust us, you won’t regret tasting it.
Tasixi Hong Kong Dim Sum
— Media credit: feedmethatnow
Address: 11, Jalan Camar 1/3
Contact details: +60 17-769 1184
Operating hours: Daily from 6:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Cost: $
If you want a taste of authentic Hong Kong cuisine without leaving the country, then Tasixi Hong Kong Dim Sum will be right up your alley! You can expect everything from their menu to be made with a Hong Kong-style approach, from their classic siew mai to their buns and more.
One of our favourites from their menu is the vegetable dumpling, which replaces the ground pork/shrimp with some leafy greens! We usually order this alongside their classic siew mai with the hopes of balancing out our calorie intake with something healthy.
We also recommend checking out their chee cheong fun, which is one of Malaysia’s top street foods. There’s just something about its silky noodles that leaves us wanting more!
Pro tip:
If you’re planning on commuting, one of the best things you can do is to ride the bus and drop off at the Perlis Mall bus stop. From there, you only have to walk for a couple of minutes to reach Tasixi Hong Kong Dim Sum!
Chang Man Dim Sum
— Media credit: changman_dimsum
Address: 1, Jalan Bestari 7/2, Taman Nusa Bestari
Contact details: +60 7-244 4936
Operating hours: Daily from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $
Having been around for more than 5 decades, Chang Man Dim Sum has really nailed this iconic Taiwanese dish to a tee. Throughout its tenure, it has garnered several awards including best dim sum award—I mean, it doesn’t get more legit than this!
It’s no surprise how they’re able to keep running after all these years too, as they offer an impressive selection of dim sum. There’s no wrong item from their menu, but if you want our advice, we recommend going for their crab roe siew mai.
Pro tip:
The best way to get here is by taking the bus and dropping off at the Lotus Bukit Indah. From there, all you have to do is cross the street and you’ll find this restaurant!