For those that do not know, “dim sum” refers to a style of Chinese food which is prepared as small, bite-sized or individual portions of food and is traditionally served in small steamer baskets or on small plates. Dim sum means snacks in cantonese, however if translated literally it means touching one’s heart. Dim sum is typically greasy and made to relieve one’s hunger for a good while, therefore it is usually consumed as breakfast. However, Clan Dim Sum Restaurant which is located in Sri Petaling is different from others in that aspect. Due to their operating hours being from 8pm until 2pm(yes, 8pm! This is not a typo!) as well as their famously fresh and delicious dim sum, the restaurant attracts huge crowds of customers throughout the wee hours of the night until the morning. These customers come from far and wide just to taste their famous dim sum. Besides that, this particular dim sum restaurant is also the original creator of the "鸡窝包”(Gai Wo Bao).
A full page newspaper feature about their famous chicken coop steamed bun
Literally translated, it means “chicken coop steamed bun”. Many newspapers and tv channel programmes have featured this unique dish which has 糯米鸡(lo mai gai), steamed savoury glutinous rice with chicken contained as a filling inside a fluffy steamed bun.
As I have never tasted this unique dish before as well as their famously delicious yet reasonably priced dim sum (which came as a huge shock to Yuen Yee), Yuen Yee and I decided that it was high time I paid a visit to the restaurant. After a long journey of approximately 40 minutes on the road, we finally reached the restaurant.
A Singaporean tv channel food programme visiting Clan Dim Sum restaurant in 2009
View of restaurant from the outside
Even though it was already past the peak hours for breakfast, we could still see many tables filled with people. This is a testimony to the popularity of their dim sum. After a quick selection of a few varieties of dim sum among the huge selection available, we immediately dug into the food as soon as the waiter deposited the dim sum on our table post steaming. Again, for those that are not familiar with dim sum restaurants, waiters carry huge trays of dim sum to every table for customers to pick out the kinds they want. After that, the ones picked out are sent back to the kitchen to be steamed until piping hot before it is ready to be enjoyed.
Only a small part of the huge selection of dim sum available
True to their popularity, the dim sum at Clan Dim Sum Restaurant was exquisite. It was truly love at first bite. We had chosen a few varieties that were less seen at other dim sum restaurants such as green siu mai, chiu zhau siu mai, pei dan mai, ham dan mai, ha kuen and fried prawn dumplings.
They were all excellent in taste and texture, fresh and juicy whereas the meat contained inside was very fresh and sweet. We couldn’t stop eating and even managed to eat more than what we could usually manage because the dim sum was just too delicious. For all the dishes we ordered which was about 8 in total, our bill summed up to a mere RM30. We were pleasantly surprised and happy at the very reasonable price for such superb taste and quality even though it was a well known restaurant.
Chiu Zhau Siu Mai
Gai Wo Bao
Fried Prawn Dumplings
ha kuen or fried prawn roll. Even though it looks exactly the same as the ha kuen offered in any other dim sum restaurant, the difference is evident once you bite into it. The prawn meat is exceptionally sweet and fresh whereas the finely chopped vegetables mixed in between brings out the lusciousness of the pork meat, perfecting the taste.
Pictured on the left: Green Siu Mai Right: Ham Dan Mai
ham dan mai, or salted egg dumpling. Its ingredients are largely similar to regular siu mai, the only difference is that it contains a salted egg yolk inside. At the first bite, you will taste the unmistakeable powdery and mildly salty taste of the salted egg yolk, but after a few chews the egg yolk will blend with the sweet prawn meat, accentuating its freshness and sweetness. This is a must try for egg yolk lovers!
Kristin loves the delicious Siu Mai
Yuen Yee approves!
They were all excellent in taste and texture, fresh and juicy whereas the meat contained inside was very fresh and sweet. We couldn’t stop eating and even managed to eat more than what we could usually manage because the dim sum was just too delicious. For all the dishes we ordered which was about 8 in total, our bill summed up to a mere RM30. We were pleasantly surprised and happy at the very reasonable price for such superb taste and quality even though it was a well known restaurant.
The leftovers
For those that would like to try out their dim sum too, I recommend that you visit the restaurant in the morning or around midnight. Even though these are their peak hours and the restaurant would be packed with customers, but the dim sum served would also be the freshest during these times. Clan Dim Sum Restaurant can be located at:
140, Jalan Radin Anum 1,
Taman Sri Petaling, Sri Petaling,
57000 Kuala Lumpur
GPS : N03 04.012 E101 41.455'
Operating hours : 8pm - 2pm
(supper available)
Contact : 019-3825 45
After the very satisfying and filling meal, we were feeling a little bloated. Therefore we decided to drop by IOI mall which was situated nearby to walk off the stuffed feeling. A few hours of window shopping and a karaoke session later, we decided we had space in our stomachs for some dessert. As such, we headed to Little Pantry to sate our cravings.
According to Yuen Yee, Little Pantry is a theme restaurant similar to The Garden lifestyle store and cafe in One Utama and usually has waitresses dressed up as maids. I was pretty excited to see these so called maids, but to my disappointment they were no where to be seen. Oh well, perhaps I was just unlucky and it just happened to be the waitresses’ off day. They were having a buy one free one pasta deal which was very tempting, especially because Yuen Yee said they served good pasta.
Unfortunately our stomachs were not feeling up to the challenge so we just settled for the dessert we came for. They had a few kinds of desserts on display and they looked very attractive displayed in the glass cabinet.
There was also a promotion for desserts, RM5.90++ for any 1 slice of cake and 1 cup of hot drink which made it cheaper than the price for 1 slice of cake according to the price shown below the cakes displayed.
After choosing the cake of our choice, we settled down in a nice corner. The overall look of the restaurant’s interior was elegant and quaint, it gave me the impression of an english garden. The decorations were very pretty and cute as well and I had fun looking around at the various decorations while waiting for the cake and cappuccino we ordered to arrive.
The shop front
Very attractive deal!
Beautiful display of desserts
Doesn't make sense...
Elegant surroundings
Almost feels like we're eating outdoors
A different style of decoration in a partitioned off area for birthday parties
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| A closer look |
Cute flower shaped balloons
Quaint decorations
After a few minutes, the cake was served and the cup of cappuccino came shortly after. We had chosen black forest cake as it was recommended by the waiter serving us. The cake consisted of three layers of chocolate cake with whipped cream and cherries in between. There was also a layer of solid chocolate on top with a blob of whipped cream and a whole cherry to top it off.
The black forest cake in question
And also, the cappuccino
The cake tasted good, but I’ve had better. The cappuccino was okay as well, the coffee was a little too bitter even with added sugar for my taste. But for the price it was a good deal.
Enjoying the cake
My bitter face
Perhaps I shall return another day to try their pasta as well.
And this! Peach and apple crumble, looks absolutely delish.
The bill came up to RM7.90 after adding government tax and service charges. After paying the bill, we left sated and happy. For people who would like to visit Little Pantry and try out their food, they are located at:
G02 & G18 Ground Floor,
IOI Mall Puchong,
Bandar Puchong, Batu 9 Jalan Puchong,
47100 Puchong, Malaysia
