The more well-known dumpling spots are often established chains like Din Tai Fung and Paradise Dynasty, and to be fair, they make excellent dumplings.
However, the higher price tags can be hard to justify for regular indulgence. With that in mind, I decided to explore hawker stalls for alternatives, which led me to discover a hidden gem: Ah Wang La Mian Xiao Long Bao at Zion Road.
While Zion Riverside Food Centre isn’t the most convenient location, it’s absolutely worth a visit if you’re nearby.
This truly showcases the quality of the food. The stall is owned by Ah Wang, who hails from China with his family, which is also the inspiration behind its name.
Ah Wang hand-makes all the dumplings fresh daily and prepares them only upon order. I started with my usual favorites and decided to add a few extra dishes to try as well.
My top pick is definitely the Szechuan Spicy Wantons (S$5.50 for 10). I’m not exaggerating when I say these are the best I’ve had in Singapore. With 10 generously sized pieces, it’s fantastic value for money!
These wontons boast a silky smooth skin—thin but just enough to encase the fresh prawn and pork filling perfectly. I love the interplay of textures, from the velvety skin to the crunch of the prawns and the firm bite of the pork.
The bright red sauce might look intimidating, but don’t worry—it’s not as fiery as it seems. With a well-balanced mix of chili oil and vinegar, the sauce enhances the flavours beautifully. It leans slightly more sour than spicy, but the tanginess is just right, making these wontons irresistibly appetizing and addictive.
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Next, I dug into their Steamed Mini Buns (S$5.50 for seven), also known as xiao long bao. They’re slightly smaller than the ones at the big chain restaurants, but for the price, I was seriously impressed. Honestly, these might be the cheapest and most delicious xiao long baos I’ve come across!
The skin was perfectly translucent with just the right amount of bite—not too thick, and definitely not floury. The minced pork filling was savoury and flavourful, and it paired beautifully with the sweet, comforting soup inside. While I usually prefer a spicier broth, these still had that satisfying, melt-in-your-mouth goodness that totally hit the spot and quenched my xiao long bao craving.
We decided to explore their noodle offerings, and I opted for the La Mian with Fried Bean Sauce (approximately $4.00). While the dish was enjoyable, the sauce lacked the depth of fragrance I anticipated, which somewhat subdued the overall savory profile. Additionally, the pork chunks were slightly smaller than expected, which made it difficult to achieve a satisfying bite.
We also tried the Beef Noodles Soup (S$4), which is served with the same noodles in a cloudy brown broth. At first glance, it looked incredibly appetizing. However, the broth turned out to be quite mild, which made the noodles taste rather plain on their own. The highlight of the dish was the beef slices—lean, but I actually preferred them that way. They added both texture and flavor, especially when paired with the noodles in a single bite.
Address: 59 Zion Rd, Singapore 247784
We kindly present : 
