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6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Din Sun Kopitiam: Must-try affordable dragon fruit dim sum, salted egg bun & chee cheong fun in Chinatown
While kopitiams are scattered all over Klang Valley, finding one that's both public transport-friendly and not tucked inside a shopping mall can be surprisingly tricky. Luckily, the Chinatown area (yes, good old Petaling Street) is a little goldmine for just that. My latest discovery led me to Din Sun Kopitiam, a charming little spot that's not quite in the heart of Chinatown, but just a few blocks shy of it. Design-wise, Din Sun is a bit of a peculiar one. It's not exactly your typical cosy coffee shop, but it does have a certain snugness to it. You'll find a mix of the usual plastic tables and chairs with wooden ones here, yet it doesn't lean fully into the modern cafe aesthetic. It's kind of old-school from the rustic walls…but that was it. My colleague and I tried to pin down the perfect phrase to describe it, but we ended up just moving on to the food. The menu was delightfully affordable, with some fun picks to try. And the servers were genuinely warm and welcoming. If you're the type who gets a little nervous exploring new eateries solo, this place might just ease you into it like a mother's embrace. Beyond your usual kopitiam staples like nasi lemak and noodles, Din Sun Kopitiam also offers a rather extensive dim sum selection. We decided to ease into the meal with something a little different: the Steamed Prawn Dumpling with Dragon Fruit (RM7.80 for 3 pieces). The dumpling wrapper looked just like dragon fruit skin, complete with speckles that mimicked the seeds. The filling, while tasty and nicely seasoned, was an ordinary mix of bouncy minced chicken. Yummy, yes, but not exactly groundbreaking. And no, there was no actual dragon fruit flavour to be found. Next up was what we weren't sure to call a light snack or dessert: the Salted Egg Yolk Bun (RM6.80 for 2 pieces). These pale-green buns were larger than expected, and noticeably firmer than the usual soft, pillowy baos. Texture-wise, they reminded me more of apam, with a hint of tanginess likely from fermented rice flour. As for the filling, it was buttery and rich, which explained its slightly uneven texture. Flavour-wise, it tasted more like regular custard than anything distinctly salted egg. Butter Kaya Kopitiam: Chinatown's must-visit coffee shop for pandan kaya lava toast, buttermilk clam noodles & jumbo rojak rolls Of course, we couldn't leave without trying their Steamed Chee Cheong Fun (RM8.80 for mixed filling). Instead of the usual bok choy, it came with romaine lettuce. The rice noodle sheets were noticeably thicker than the usual version, and the mixed filling leaned heavily on chicken rather than shrimp. Still, the soy sauce it was served with was flavourful, and the crisp shallots on top added a nice finish. A little drizzle of chilli oil on the side would've taken it to the next level though. My favourite dish of the day turned out to be the Stir-Fried Radish Cake (RM8.80). It came as golden, crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside radish cake cubes tossed in a fragrant soy sauce mix. What really elevated the dish, though, were the kucai leaves and taugeh. Both added their own flavours and crunch, and tied everything together with a lovely wok hei aroma. To round things off with something a bit more filling, we shared a plate of Char Kuey Teow (RM12.90), which arrived in a generous portion. Instead of the usual ingredients like Chinese sausage or cockles, this version was stir-fried with cabbage and carrots. There was a slight sour note and an unusual hint of ghee that left me a little puzzled. It was tasty, no doubt, but if you're expecting regular CKT, you might raise an eyebrow or two. Most of the dishes we tried at Din Sun Kopitiam leaned more towards the safe side. The one-note flavour stayed within a familiar zone of umami and savoury, mostly driven by the classic soy-oyster sauce combo. Nothing too complex or bold, but everything was undeniably well-seasoned and thoughtfully prepared. If you're in the mood for something comforting and gentle on the palate — nothing too spicy, greasy, or overwhelming — this spot fits the bill nicely. Expected damage: RM6.80 – RM12.90 per pax Ho Kow Hainan Kopitiam: Must-try nasi lemak, kaya toast & dim sum in Chinatown – worth the hype? The post Din Sun Kopitiam: Must-try affordable dragon fruit dim sum, salted egg bun & chee cheong fun in Chinatown appeared first on
Independent Singapore
25-05-2025
- Independent Singapore
Diner got charged $5.30 for chicken rice instead of $4.30 for not being 'clear' with his order
SINGAPORE: A diner claimed on social media that he was charged for a pricier chicken rice set meal even though he never requested it, and was later blamed by the stall staff for not being clear with his order. In a post shared on the r/askSingapore subreddit on Saturday (May 24), the diner said the incident occurred at a chicken rice stall in a local kopitiam where he had been a regular for the past two years. He wrote, 'I simply said 白鸡饭 打包 (white skinned chicken rice takeaway). The menu says it's $4.30. He then charged me $5.30, and I asked why.' In response, the staff told him, 'You didn't say normal or set, so I made the set.'' When he pointed out that he never asked for the set, the staff insisted that the order was already made and couldn't be changed. 'I told him, 'I want the normal one.' But he kept repeating, 'You didn't say, I made already. Can't change.'' 'I didn't pay. I walked away. He started shouting and cursing till the whole kopitiam was staring at me.' He added that this wasn't how the stall usually operated. For the past two years, it has always been run by an elderly uncle. 'It was an elderly, equally unfriendly chap, but he would at least ask if I wanted to upgrade to the set. I think that is normal to ask for an upsell, which I usually say no to,' he said. 'But today, the elderly chap isn't there. It's a pair of guys [I've] never seen before. I think the franchisee might be rotating staff around, maybe to improve sales. I don't think I'm in the wrong, am I?' the diner wrote, asking fellow netizens for their thoughts. 'We should not be encouraging this kind of behaviour from hawkers.' In the comments section, a lot of people agreed that the diner did the right thing by standing his ground. Some of them expressed that they were glad the diner didn't just accept it quietly and walk away with the wrong order. They pointed out that a lot of people would have just paid the extra dollar to avoid any awkwardness, but the fact that he spoke up showed courage. One individual said, 'Kudos to you! The stall must have pulled this off multiple times since the majority will not confront when caught in this situation. It's not about the $1 difference or being unable to pay the extra.' Another commented, 'You're not in the wrong. We should not be encouraging this kind of behaviour from hawkers. Let him scream, it will only reflect poorly on him, as now the entire coffee shop knows what he did.' A third added, 'Yes, you never say set. He was trying to pull a fast one. He probably got away with many others, but not you. Good job.' A few others also mentioned that this kind of situation seems to be happening more frequently. One shared, 'It's becoming pretty common now. My side here also has a chicken rice stall, and the same thing happened twice, once to me, once to my wife. I warned her, be specific when ordering from that stall.' In other news, a local employee has shared on social media that a newly hired colleague is being relentlessly bullied in the company group chat based on her looks, and is now questioning whether she should speak up or remain silent to protect her own workplace relationships. The employee, who works in an international company made up of both local and expatriate staff, said that the local team shares a casual group chat typically used for lighthearted banter. 'We usually engage in lighthearted small talk, and everyone is genuinely nice to each other; buying snacks for each other, and taking the initiative to celebrate birthdays, just a friendly environment overall,' the employee said. However, she revealed in her Reddit post on Tuesday (May 20) that the tone of the chat shifted noticeably following the arrival of the new colleague, whom the employee described as 'a little chubby and admittedly not very good looking.' Read more: SG worker shares new colleague is being bullied, asks if she should step in Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)
