Five Star Dim Sum (Sunset Way)

Have been hearing about a recent opening of a new dim sum restaurant in the Sunset Way neighbourhood over the past couple of weeks — turns out, the new establishment is actually a new outlet of Five Star Dimsum 五星点心 which has taken over the shop units in between Buttercream and Cake as well as En Ramen at the foot of Blk 106 Clementi Street 12. Yes — this Five Star Dimsum is the same Five Star Dimsum that we have come to know that had first established their presence in the local F&B scene at Mei Ling Street, and also subsequently having operate another location at Shun Li Industrial Complex at Sims Drive. Comprising of a small indoor dining area and a larger outdoor dining area, there are plenty of seatings for its patrons here; the interior space featuring a rather simple set-up with the use of lantern-like ceiling lamps and a feature wall comprising of some oriental elements — all that, as well as mirrors that helped to make the space look a little bigger. Whilst Five Star Dimsum is an establishment that is better known for their Hong Kong-style Dim Sum offerings which they have been serving up ever since their beginnings at Mei Ling Street, it does seem that Five Star Dimsum had expanded their food offerings quite a fair bit at their Sunset Way location — the menu comprising of items split across categories such as HK Cheong Fun, Congee, Steamed Dim Sum, Dim Sum Buns, Fried Dim Sum, Baked Dim Sum, Fish, Zichar, Claypot and Soup. Beverages available at Five Star Dimsum’s location at Sunset Way would include local Nanyang-style Kopi & Teh, chinese tea, Ribena, canned drinks and Iced Luo Han Guo — just to name a few.

Having previously visited Five Star Dimsum when they had first opened its doors at the The Young Ones Eating House at Mei Ling Street, we recalled that Five Star Dimsum was an establishment that did better in their steamed and baked dim sum over their fried dim sum. One of the items that we had not yet given a try at Five Star Dimsum would be their HK Crispy Shrimp Cheong Fun. Five Star Dimsum does not describe the elements that are featured in their dishes on the menu — that being said, the HK Crispy Shrimp Cheong Fun is one of those newer Hong Kong-style Chee Cheong Fun dishes that has become a little more commonly found these days at Chinese restaurants / Hong Kong-style dim sum establishments where it features rice vermicelli rolls encased with fried spring rolls containing shrimp within. Coming with soy sauce drenched all over the rice vermicelli rolls, the first impressions were that there was sufficient soy sauce that came with the rice vermicelli rolls as well. Digging into the HK Crispy Shrimp Cheong Fun, the rice vermicelli rolls were silken and smooth; we also liked that it was of an appropriate thickness where it was sufficient to encased the fried spring rolls within without breaking, but didn’t feel as though it was too thick when one chews through the rice vermicelli roll. Considering how the soy sauce was drenched above the rice vermicelli roll rather than being poured onto the plate first before placing the rice vermicelli roll on the plate, the light and crispy batter of the fried spring roll that came with prawns within had soaked up quite a bit of soy sauce and it was evident that the texture of the spring roll is a little affected by this — definitely a dish that one should start having the moment that it arrives the table. Otherwise, the shrimp does help to provide a bit of bite to the item, and the soy sauce was actually pretty flavourful with an evident savoury and lightly sweet note that provided a good contrast of flavours for the dish. Other dishes that we had managed to try out during the same visit made to Five Star Dimsum at Sunset Way would include more regular dim sum items such as the Steamed Prawn Siew Mai — we personally felt that the Steamed Prawn Siew Mai was a decent item to have, though one thing we did note is how the Steamed Prawn Siew Mai was more evidently meaty for a variant that mentions the use of prawn; the Steamed Prawn Siew Mai carrying quite a firm texture and was one that felt as though it came with a higher proportion of pork.

We also tried the Crystal Steamed Shrimp Dumplings which we found to be pretty generously packed with shrimp and came in a larger size than what most establishments would serve up; we liked how the dumpling wrappers were well-made — sufficiently thick to encase the fillings without breaking, but still delicate overall. The shrimp also provided a hint of its natural sweetness to the dish as well. The Steamed Sesame Bun was interesting on paper — that being said, this felt like a version of the coffee bun that is being served up at some other establishments considering how the sesame filling for the bun do seem to featured a red bean paste base; the notes of both red bean and sesame being fairly evident though the paste itself is a little bit on the dense side. A dish that is also better enjoyed once it is being served to the table, we did notice the bun to be on the slightly thicker side of things and also gets a little more dried up; losing a little bit of fluff when one leaves it sitting around the table for a while. We were really curious about their Claypot offerings considering how this is a fairly new addition to their menu — going for the Claypot Sausage Rice, this item comes with waxed meat and Chinese sausages coming atop a bed of rice that had already been drizzled with soy sauce. We felt that the Claypot Sausage Rice was a little lacking on the heavier sweet and savoury flavours from the soy sauce and the greasiness that would lacquer the rice grains which would also allow for the existence of some charred grains for a better texture; it also lacks the smokiness due to the non-existence of the charred grains as well. Priced at $0.90, the Kopi here could be probably one of the lowest-priced cup of Nanyang-style Kopi around the island; whilst they did add in quite a fair bit of condensed milk, this was still a relatively strong brew that is better brewed than some coffeeshop stalls / food courts / hawker centre stalls out there. Overall, we felt that Five Star Dimsum is a fairly decent spot to head to for its steamed and baked dim sum offerings — the prices of its Dim Sum and Congee dishes are all priced up to $5.50 per item, while the priciest dish would be the Deep Fried Soon Hock Fish at $30. That being said, we do feel that some work is needed for them to look into their newer offerings such as their Claypot Sausage Rice which we felt was a little lacking. Considering how Sunset Way is a spot that is more noted for establishments serving up zichar-style dishes and live seafood, Five Star Dimsum does provide a good alternative option considering its range of Dim Sum that gives it a unique edge over the other dining establishments that are located in the neighbourhood.