Last night, I went back to Aljunied again, because somehow this area always feels like it has one more hidden food spot waiting to be discovered. š I was walking along Sims Avenue when I spotted 126 Dim Sum, and the vibe immediately caught my attention. Itās not one of those huge, fancy dim sum restaurants with endless carts and a massive menu, but honestly? Thatās exactly why I wanted to try it.
The dining space is on the smaller side, but itās comfortable enough for a simple dinner. The place feels clean, casual, and very āno stressā, the kind of spot where you can just sit down, order a few items, and enjoy your meal without overthinking it. I also liked how you can actually see the action happening: dim sum being steamed fresh in those traditional-looking bamboo steamers. Thereās something about that classic steamer stack that instantly makes the whole experience feel more authentic. Fresh food, made to order, served hot, simple, but very satisfying.
They have plenty of dim sum choices too. Of course, it canāt compete with the mega-restaurants that offer a āmenu the size of a book,ā but for me, it doesnāt need to be complex to appreciate dim sum. Sometimes a smaller selection just means they can focus on quality and consistency, and I respect that.
For my meal, I ordered Beef Hor Fun as my main, and added Da Pao and Lotus Pao on the side (because yes, I came hungry LOL).
Letās start with the Beef Hor Fun. The portion was generous, like, the kind of serving that makes you think, āOkay wow, I might struggleā¦ but Iāll try.ā The noodles were glossy and saucy, and you could tell it was cooked with a good amount of heat because that wok-char fragrance was there. The overall taste leaned savory, and the sauce coated the flat noodles nicely, giving that slippery, silky texture that hor fun lovers usually crave.
But hereās my honest take: the ratio of noodles to beef felt a bit imbalanced. There were beef slices, yes, but the noodles were a mountain. I ended up unable to finish the noodles, even though I tried my best. The good news is the beef itself was actually quite good. The slices were thick and tender, and they didnāt feel dry. If they adjusted the portion slightly, or added a little more beef, it would have been much more satisfying and balanced.
Now the star of the night (at least for me) was the Da Pao. This one really reminded me why I like dim sum so much in the first place. The bun-to-filling ratio was on point: soft, fluffy bun outside, with a filling that felt generous and hearty. Every bite felt comforting, and it didnāt feel like one of those buns where you chew mostly dough and only get a tiny bit of filling. This one was properly satisfying.
The Lotus Pao was my āsweet endingā planā¦ but I have to be honest, I was already full by the time I got to it. š I still took a few bites though, and itās definitely a nice way to finish the meal if you have space left. Next time, I might save it for takeaway or share it, because after that hor fun portion, my stomach was basically waving a white flag.
Overall, 126 Dim Sum is a comfy little spot for a casual dim sum dinner, freshly steamed, simple, and enjoyable. Iāll definitely come back for another round of dim sum exploring (and maybe order a slightly lighter main next time).
Bon appetit!
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