YamCha Hong Kong DimSum in Johor Bahru Taman Orkid 饮茶港式点心 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✱

This little shop, YamCha Hong Kong DimSum 饮茶港式点心, tucked away in quiet Taman Orkid serves one of the best dim sum in Johor Bahru.

When I arrived at the nondescript looking shop this morning, I didn't expect myself to say this by the end of brunch.

饮茶港式点心. 看来不起眼的点心店, 竟然是卧底藏龙. 点心师傅有十五年经验. 出道时跟香港点心师傅学习. 曾在新加坡著名的利苑酒家当点心厨师. Alan 师傅做出来的点心精致美味. 价钱又很合理. 是值得一试的点心店. 营业时间每天7点半到五点. Jalan Seri Orkid 31, Taman Seri Orkid.



YamCha Hong Kong DimSum looks like any typical Malaysian shop lot eatery in a laid back residential neighbourhood. Inside, decor is non existent - just some simple furniture and ceiling fans - no air con.

But, there is much more than meets the eye.



Partner and chef, Alan has a strong dim sum background. The Penangite started work at a dim sum restaurant 15 years ago in his hometown under a Hong Kong dim sum chef. From his HK sifu (master), Alan learnt Cantonese and a solid grounding in HK dim sum. Alan then worked in dim sum restaurants in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, before going to the famed Lei Garden in Singapore.



Two years ago, Alan partnered buddy Herman to launch YamCha Hong Kong DimSum 饮茶港式点心 in Taman Orkid. Herman is the brother of Adrian, owner of the popular Chang Man dim sum in Taman Nusa Bestari 👈

YamCha HK DimSum has an intimate kampung feel - Alan and Herman were constantly engaging their customers, most of whom are regulars from the neighbourhood.




The menu is on the wall. The prices are very reasonable.



Herman invited me to drop by his shop to try Alan's dim sum and started us off with Dumpling Soup (price RM6).



One mouthful of this broth.. and wow! it immediately got me sitting up. The broth has a robust crustacean savouriness balanced with sweetness. Alan made this broth by boiling prawn heads, pork socket bones and old hens.



Tenderly juicy minced pork filling with bits of carrot wrapped in smooth wanton skin.

We enjoyed all the different dim sum that followed. The ingredients were fresh and every piece was made in YamCha's kitchen by Alan and his crew.



Fresh shrimp dumpling.



Shrimp Mai.



Spicy Sichuan (Pork) Dumpling.

Alan created this when he was working in Singapore which he made for his co-workers from Sichuan, China. Just a slight spicy hint.



Deep Fried Carrot Cake. Nice crisp outside while the inside is a soft radish mash punctuated with bits of savoury lup cheong (Cantonese wax sausage).



This xiao long bao is as delicious as any that I have tasted in Malaysia, Singapore or Shanghai. The delicate skin barely holding in the tongue scathing hot savoury sweet broth and soft minced pork ball inside.



Signature (Mock) Shark Fin Dumpling.

The light tea colour broth was gently savoury sweet with distinct Chinese cooking wine taste.



The fillings were mushrooms and prawns.



Spicy Champion (Pork) Dumpling.

Pork dumplings in a watery soy based sauce garnished with spicy bits of chili and ginger.



Deep Fried Taro Puff.

Extremely flaky and crispy outside with the feather light crisps falling all over the table with every bite 😂



The mashed yam paste skin wraps well marinated sweet savoury minced pork.



Liu Sha Bao.



Many layers of savoury sweetness - from the sweet fluffy skin with real pandan flavour to the blend of sweet warm golden salted egg yolk custard inside.



Malal Cake.

Old school sweet moist spongy cake.



This house made sambal chili loaded with dried shrimps is full of savoury spiciness - it makes everything tastes better.



Try this 三大民族 blend of pu erh tea, chrysanthemum and gan cao (licorice root) 菊花甘草和普洱 for it's layers of bitter, sweet and herbal taste.



4-Star (out of 5). YamCha Hong Kong DimSum is a humble little eatery that serves one of the best dim sum in Johor made by a former Lei Garden (Singapore) chef. Prices are very reasonable too. Worth the drive to this residential neighbourhood off the beaten track but really not that far from food hubs like Taman Ungku Tun Aminah which is just 5 minutes drive away.

Disclosure: Please note that this was an invited tasting.



Restaurant name: YamCha Hong Kong DimSum 饮茶港式点心
Address: 4 Jalan Seri Orkid 31, Taman Seri Orkid, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
GPS: 1°30'32.0"N 103°38'14.8"E | 1.508879, 103.637458
Tel: +60 17-772 7907
Hours: 7:30am to 5:00pm

Non Halal

Date visited: 6 Dec 2016

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