11 unique rice dumplings in Singapore to try in 2023
It’s that time of the year again when you see rice dumplings everywhere in Singapore.
Rice dumplings, known also as zongzi, are commonly eaten around the Dragon Boat Festival (duan wu jie), which typically falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, or on June 22 on the Gregorian calendar this year.
While there’s comfort in the familiar bak chang, nyonya chang and kee chang that have served us well over the years, unique rice dumpling flavours have been popping up in recent years.
If you’re craving something a little different and special to bring to family gatherings or parties with friends, here’s a list of 11 unique rice dumpling flavours for Dumpling Festival 2023 in Singapore.
Unique, savoury rice dumplings in Singapore
1. Abalone unagi bak chang onigiri – Kuriya Japanese Market
Various outlets across Singapore
Open: Operating hours vary across stores
If you love Japanese konbini (convenience store) food, then Kuriya Japanese Market’s fusion zong-nigiri – a portmanteau of the Chinese word zongzi and the Japanese word onigiri – might catch your fancy.
As much as I love my rice dumplings, grappling with the oily lotus leaves as I unwrap the rice parcel isn’t quite as enjoyable. In this regard, a crispy nori sheet over the glutinous rice in place of lotus leaves is very much welcomed!
This is the second year the Japanese food chain is bringing these convenient rice dumplings wrapped with seaweed back, and it has launched new flavours such as abalone unagi bak chang (S$4.20) and matcha chocolate azuki shiratama (S$3.80).
Purchase the rice dumplings in-store or order online at Kuriya Japanese Market’s website.
2. White pepper crab dumpling – Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant
Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm)
Mention local favourites and the ubiquitous chilli crab comes to mind. But why settle for just chilli crab in a zongzi in Singapore when you can have a more unique white pepper crab dumpling (S$22) by the folks at Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant?
In case you’re wondering if this combination works – trust me, it does. The restaurant has been selling this flavour since 2020 and brought it back for the dumpling festival in Singapore this year because of how popular it is.
It comes with generous chunks of crab meat, seasoned with a good amount of freshly ground white pepper and black-eyed peas. Not quite the chilli crab you’re used to, but delivers a good peppery kick regardless.
Order rice dumplings from Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant online or by calling the restaurant at 6831 4605.
3. Brown rice dumpling with wagyu beef – Si Chuan Dou Hua
Parkroyal on Kitchener Road, Level 3, 181 Kitchener Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11.30am to 2.30pm, 6pm to 10.30pm), Saturday and Sunday (11.30am to 1.15pm, 1.30pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10.30pm)
Known for serving up quality Sichuan-style cuisine, Si Chuan Dou Hua has one-upped the rice dumpling flavour variety by introducing premium ingredients such as abalone, wagyu and truffle.
One of its most decadent and unique rice dumplings in this year’s mix is its traditional Cantonese brown rice dumpling with wagyu beef (S$20.80), only available at its Kitchener Road outlet. It’s perfect for those who love rice dumplings but prefer an alternative meat choice apart from the usual pork or chicken fillings.
If you’re keen on gifting its rice dumplings, Si Chuan Dou Hua is offering a complimentary thermal carrier with purchase of its dumpling bundles. It is also offering a Dragon Boat Festival set menu for those who might want to dine out in celebration of the occasion.
Order Si Chuan Dou Hua’s rice dumplings online or call the restaurant at 3138 5359 for more details on its dumplings or set menus.
4. Szechuan mala chicken rice dumpling – Hai Tien Lo
Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 2.30pm, 6pm to 10pm)
Haven’t quite gotten over the everything-mala trend yet? If so, then this Szechuan mala chicken rice dumpling (S$21.60) might give you the spicy, numbing kick you need.
Stuffed with chicken thigh, black fungus and lotus root, and flavoured with the all-familiar Szechuan peppercorns with a smattering of Chinese rice wine, grab this hot favourite from Pan Pacific Singapore before it sells out!
Order rice dumplings online from Pan Pacific Singapore and opt for delivery or self-collection.
5. Black truffle charred barbecue Iberico pork dumpling – Paradise Group
Various outlets across Singapore
Open: Operating hours vary across stores
Pork is used quite commonly in bak changs in Singapore, but have you tried one with Iberico pork and black truffle sauce, no less?
Paradise Group’s black truffle charred barbecue Iberico pork dumpling (S$13.80) is tender, juicy and aromatic all within one rice parcel.
You can order its rice dumplings in-store at any Paradise Group restaurant excluding Le Ten, Para Thai, Le Shrimp and Le Nu.
Call your Paradise Group outlet of choice ahead of time to ensure availability before heading down.
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6. Oat rice dumpling with mushrooms – Tung Lok
Various outlets across Singapore
Open: Operating hours vary across stores
Want to get your rice dumpling fix but worried about calories and the healthiness of glutinous rice? Tung Lok’s got you with its healthy rice dumplings that come with oat rice.
Out of all its rice dumplings, its oat rice dumplings with mushrooms (7-piece bundle for S$50.50) is arguably the healthiest of the lot.
These dumplings not only come mixed with oats, which are nutritionally rich, but the dumplings are also vegetarian, with mushrooms as its primary ingredient. Expect to find fresh shiitake mushroom, nameko pearl mushroom and fresh king oyster mushroom in the mix.
You can order it via Tunglok or also via Shopee.
Unique sweet and dessert rice dumplings in Singapore
7. Kee zhang with D24 durian dip – Min Jiang
Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11.30am to 2.30pm, 6.30pm to 10.30pm), Saturday and Sunday (11am to 12.30pm, 1pm to 2.30pm, 6.30pm to 10.30pm)
7A and 7B Dempsey Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11.30am to 2.30pm, 6.30pm to 10.30pm), Saturday and Sunday (11am to 2.30pm, 6.30pm to 10.30pm)
Kee zhang is a plain alkaline rice dumpling that is made from the usual glutinous rice but soaked in lye water. It is usually served plain, dipped in sugar, or stuffed with sweeter fillings such as nuts and dates.
Imagine our pleasant surprise when we came across Min Jiang at Goodwood Park’s kee zhang (S$12 nett for 3 pieces), served alongside the extremely fragrant D24 durian dip.
Goodwood Park Hotel is known for its quality durian desserts, so this kee chang with D24 durian dip combination is a must-try if you’re both a rice dumpling lover and a durian fan.
Order it for dine-in or takeaway at Min Jiang and Min Jiang at Dempsey. If you prefer having it at home, you can also order it from Goodwood Park Hotel’s The Deli or on The Deli’s website.
8. Genmaicha Rice Dumpling Ice Cream – Swensens
Various outlets across Singapore
Open: Operating hours vary across stores
Family restaurant Swensen’s Singapore is no stranger to making ice-cream versions of everyday food, like fried chicken.
This Dragon Boat Festival, Swensen’s is continuing this tradition with its rice dumpling ice cream, but with an all-new Genmaicha (roasted brown rice) flavour (S$8.80).
Unlike a traditional rice dumpling where the lotus leaf wrappers aren’t edible, you can consume every part of this pseudo rice dumpling! Yes, even its salted egg chocolate bon bon centre!
Purchase it for dine-in or takeaway at all Swensen’s and Earle Swensen’s outlets before June 22.
9. Hokkaido sweet potato ‘lava’ rice dumpling – Peach Blossoms
Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Level 5, 6 Raffles Boulevard
Open: Monday to Friday (12pm to 3pm, 6.30pm to 11pm), Saturday and Sunday (11am to 3pm, 6.30pm to 11pm)
If you’re looking for all-out unique rice dumplings in Singapore, then Peach Blossoms’ Hokkaido sweet potato ‘lava’ rice dumpling (S$20.80) definitely takes the cake.
Remember when steamed custard buns or liu sha bao were all the rage a couple of years back? This is essentially a liu sha bao in rice dumpling form.
Peach Blossoms has blended purple and orange Hokkaido sweet potato into a smooth, rich custard, and combined this with butterfly blue pea rice — the perfect mix of sweet and savoury. Its blue and purple colours are also quite the sight.
Order your rice dumplings from Peach Blossoms by calling 6845 1118 or visiting the Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay website.
10. Butterfly pea flower kee chang with kaya jam – 藝yi by Jereme Leung
Raffles Singapore, 1 Beach Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 2pm, 6pm to 9.30pm)
If you can’t quite stomach a whole regular rice dumpling, then these petite beauties from 藝yi by Jereme Leung at Raffles Singapore are just right for you.
The Chinese restaurant is offering butterfly pea flower kee chang with its signature kaya jam (five pieces for S$28), a product of celebrity master chef Jereme Leung’s culinary efforts.
You can have these dumplings for dine-in at yi by Jereme Leung or purchase them for takeaway from Raffles Grab and Go up till June 22.
11. Thai Sweet Potato And Coconut Dumpling – Soi Social
Hotel Michael, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway
Open: Wednesday to Sunday (12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 11pm)
To round off our list of unique rice dumplings, why not try a fusion rice dumpling from Resorts World Sentosa?
In commemoration of the Dragon Boat Festival 2023, the Soi Social team has come up with a Thai sweet potato and coconut dumpling (S$128 for a set of six rice dumplings), which comes with sweet potato, lotus seeds, taro chunks, and coconut flesh.
If you’re a huge fan of mango sticky rice or anything glutinous and coconut-y, we can see you enjoying this rice dumpling variation of it!
The dumpling flavour is only available as a set of six. Check out Resorts World Sentosa’s order site for more details on the other dumpling flavours before June 22.
For more ideas on what to eat, check out our guide on chilli oil dumplings and healthy desserts.
Kuriya Japanese Market, Si Chuan Dou Hua, Paradise Group restaurants, Tung Lok, Min Jiang, Swensens and 藝yi by Jereme Leung are on the GrabFood delivery service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited.
You can also book a ride to these places selling rice dumplings in Singapore.
Sarah Chua
Author
Sarah is constantly seeking out new coffee spots and cocktail bars around the world, and should probably drink more water while at it.
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