The lifestyle cluster New Bahru at Kim Yam Road has been filling up with more tenants.
In the new Factory Block, you can find food names such as Fico, Kios Minang, Kulon, Laifaba, Orh Gao Peh Gao, Parlour Gelato and Sushiro (Ah, finally more casual dining).
This is along with retail and lifestyle brands including Beams, Stacked Store, Veja and Yeti.
And I also found Dumpling Darlings in the mix, one of the few newer F&B names there with its own dine-in space.
I first had Dumpling Darlings years ago at Amoy Street, back when it felt like a cheeky little CBD ‘secret’ that everyone somehow already knew about.
Since then, the brand has expanded to Circular Road and now New Bahru.
The menu is built around dumplings, egg noodles, small plates, and drinks.
For noodles, there are Miso Mushroom Noodles ($11), Jajang Pork Noodles ($11), Sichuan Pork Noodles ($11), and XO Prawn Noodles ($13).
The XO Prawn Noodles ($13) came across as the more seafood forward option, tossed with XO seafood sauce, soy tare, prawns, fried shallots, spring onions, nori seaweed, tobiko and a hanjuku egg.
The noodles had a springy bite, with enough sauce clinging to each strand without turning wet or heavy.
To me, it was like ramen but with a more localised savoury taste.
The Jajang Pork Noodles ($11) was heavier and earthier, with Korean jajang minced pork belly, soy tare, smoked leek sofrito, fried shallots, sesame, spring onions, cucumber and hanjuku egg.
Compared to the XO Prawn Noodles, this had a deeper, meatier profile. And of course, the hanjuku egg made it even better.
Dumplings are served in a “gang of five”, with options such as The Original ($8), Spicy Sichuan ($9), Veggie Mandu ($9), Karana Momo ($9), Prawn & Crab ($11), Fried Pierogi ($9), and Smoked Duck ($11).
The Original ($8) dumplings are probably the safest starting point if you have not been to Dumpling Darlings before.
These come with minced pork collar, ginger soy sauce, napa cabbage and black vinaigrette.
The filling had enough juiciness, with a gentle ginger lift and light cabbage sweetness. The black vinaigrette brought a tangy edge, which helped brighten the pork.
If you come during the weekdays, there is also a lunch set at $19, which comes with one iced drink, four dumplings, and one egg noodle.
I still like that Dumpling Darlings does not try to be another traditional dumpling shop.
Some flavours work better than others, but at least there is a sense of play. And a noodles and dumplings set under $20 feels reasonable enough.
Dumpling Darlings – New Bahru
New Bahru #01-07, 58 Kim Yam Road, Singapore 239359
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun), 10am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)
Dumpling Darlings – Amoy Street
44 Amoy Street, Singapore 069870
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Fri, Sun), Closed Sat
Dumpling Darlings – Circular Road
86 Circular Road, Singapore 049438
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
Other Related Entries
10 New Bahru Restaurants and Cafes to Explore
Orh Gao Peh Gao (Serene Centre)
Fico (East Coast Parkway)
Laifaba Wanton Noodles & Roasted Meats (Bt Batok)
Sushiro (Orchard Road)
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