and affordable dim sum buffets. Recently, we caught wind of Richman Dim Sum, a newly opened stall in Ubi. It’s helmed by an ex-restaurant chef with over 30 years of experience at big names such as Crystal Jade and Mercure Hotel. You’ll find a wide selection of more than 40 dishes here, priced from just $2.90.

Curious to see if it’s worth a trip down to the quiet neighbourhood of Ubi, we decided to give the food here a try.

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My colleague and I kicked off our meal with something less commonly seen in a typical dim sum restaurant. The Crispy Popiah Rice Rolls ($6.80 for six) feature crispy popiah skin and cai poh wrapped in velvety smooth cheong fun.

The crispy popiah skin quickly soaks up the sweet soy sauce, so don’t wait too long before digging in, as it’s best enjoyed hot while the crunch is still intact. This turned out to be our favourite item as we loved the combination of chewy and crispy textures. The sauce was also pretty addictive without overpowering the flavours of the cheong fun.

A delicious alternative to this is the Beetroot & Rice Crisps Rice Rolls ($7.80 for six), which sees the same QQ popiah skin dyed vibrant pink. 

Here, cai poh is swapped out for about two to three pieces of bouncy prawns. Unlike the Crispy Popiah Rice Rolls, though, we found this version to lean a tad saltier, as cai poh wasn’t present to balance out the salty sauce base.

A close runner-up for us was the adorable Crispy Mushroom Snails ($5.80 for three). It comprises a snail-shaped, deep-fried pastry that’s coated with a layer of chewy mochi on the inside. Within the pastry’s chewy skin are all kinds of delicious ingredients: mushrooms, tender chicken and more, with juices oozing out with each bite. 

Our only gripe is that it was a pretty oily dish, so we recommend pairing it with a refreshing cold drink to cut through the richness and keep things from getting too jelak.

Moving on to dim sum classics, my colleague particularly enjoyed the Teriyaki BBQ Siew Mai ($6.80 for three)—a fun twist on the staple, featuring juicy siew mai generously coated in their house-made smoky BBQ sauce.

We also liked that each siew mai was lightly fried on top, adding a nice touch of char for extra depth of flavour.

The Mentaiko Shrimp Dumplings ($6.80 for three) were a bit of a mixed bag. 

Other than the dollop of mentaiko sauce atop each piece of har gao, it was otherwise a pretty ordinary dish, with nothing to shout-out about. Perhaps a slight torch of the sauce with some ebi roe to top it off would have made it more memorable.

Not forgetting the most affordable item on their menu, the Fresh Shrimp Yong Tau Foo ($2.90 for three) comes deep-fried in a beautiful golden brown. 

Unlike what we were promised on the menu though, we found the sauce did not coat each piece of tofu thoroughly. Overall, this dish ended up tasting more like a budget filler than a standout one.

Bolo bun lovers, give the Classic Polo Buns ($6.80 for three) a shot. These come with the signature crisp, sugary cookie crust on top, though unlike the usual golden-brown version, this one skips the smoky, slightly burnt flavour. While we appreciated its sweet crust, it did crumble a little too easily with just a light touch.

The char siew filling inside was nothing out of the ordinary, and we wished they were a bit more generous with it.

The Charcoal Char Siew Buns ($5.80 for three) are an alternative for those who prefer to go without the sugary crust on top. But don’t be fooled by its charcoal black colour, as it tasted just like any ordinary char siew bao. 

The filling had a high fat-to-meat ratio, giving it a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that we enjoyed. Like the Classic Polo Buns, though, we wished they were a bit more generous with the filling.

Another must-have in any dim sum eatery is the Fresh Shrimp Crispy Beancurd Rolls ($4.80 for six). 

Crisp beancurd skin envelops juicy shrimp, which are then fried to golden perfection. Despite being left out for a while, the beancurd rolls retained their nice crispness, giving a satisfying crunch when bitten into.

Pair your dim sum with the Cantonese Dried Vegetables & Salted Pork Porridge ($3.80), comprising a small comforting bowl of porridge. 

Texture-wise, we thought the congee could have been a tad thicker. As for its taste, we thought the saltiness of the pork could be stronger. There was nothing much to shout out about overall, but if you’re big on congee, give this a try to see if it’s to your liking!

After you’re done with the feast, round off with some sweet treats. 

There are a total of six desserts on the menu, including the Signature Richman’s Chocolate Yogurt Bear in Avocado Puree ($6.80), said to be a must-try. You get smooth and buttery avocado paired with rich chocolately notes! For something a little more traditional, go for the Brown Sugar Caramel “Ma Lai” Cake ($4.80), comprising a huge sponge cake that has a hint of caramel notes.

Unlike most coffee shops in Singapore, Richman Dim Sum offers the rare perk of dining in an air-conditioned room tucked inside the coffee shop. Just head towards the toilets, and you’ll find the entrance on your left.

Step in, and you’ll find yourself in a huge 100-seater room with banquet-style tables perfect for big family gatherings or group celebrations.

For easy access, the newly opened stall is a quick six-minute walk from Ubi MRT Station.

Now, back to my question of whether Richman Dim Sim is worth a trip down to the quiet neighbourhood of Ubi. The short answer: not quite, only because we found the dim sum here pretty average overall. That said, not everything was a miss; the Crispy Popiah Rice Rolls and Beetroot & Rice Crisps Rice Rolls we started with were definite highlights.

Overall, we’d say Richman Dim Sum is worth a visit if you’re already in the area. But if you’re not nearby, there are plenty of other solid dim sum spots that might be more convenient and just as satisfying.

For more food recommendations, read our guide to the best char kway teow in Singapore, where we tried and ranked 10 stalls. We also have our cheap restaurants in Singapore guide if you’re on a budget!

Address: 71 Ubi Crescent, #01-05, Excalibur Centre, Singapore 408571
Opening hours: Daily 7:30am to 4pm
Website
Richman Dim Sum is not a halal-certified eatery.

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