Cover Lineup of rice dumplings at Peach Blossoms for the Dragon Boat Festival (Photo: Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay)

Here’s the down-low on where to get rice dumplings, or bak zhang, made with the best ingredients for the Dragon Boat Festival on June 10

It wouldn’t be the Dragon Boat Festival without rice dumplings. Also known as “zong zi” or “bak zhang”, these dumplings are just as important to the festival as dragon boat races. Every year, many look forward to peeling the steamed bamboo leaves wrapped around the triangular parcels to unveil a delectable creation of sticky glutinous rice and a sweet or savoury stuffing.

With the Dragon Boat Festival falling on June 10 this year, the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese calendar, we decided to round up the best places to find rice dumplings—each crafted with the best ingredients. Whether you prefer Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese or Nyonya dumplings, or traditional or innovative variants, there’s something for everybody this year. 

Don’t miss: 5 things you should know about the Dragon Boat Festival

1. Peach Blossoms

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Above Lineup of rice dumplings at Peach Blossoms for the Dragon Boat Festival

You can’t go wrong with the classics—advice that Peach Blossoms has clearly heeded with its lineup of rice dumplings this Dragon Boat Festival, albeit with some elevated touches. For sharing with family, there is the premium XO Cantonese rice dumpling weighing a whopping kilogram, chock-full with ingredients such as abalone, conpoy and Kurobuta pork belly, laced with fragrant XO sauce. There is also the traditional Hakka Kurobuta pork belly rice dumpling, which includes gems like fermented beancurd, Japanese flower mushroom, and salted egg yolk. But for a breath of fresh air, don’t miss out on the Hokkaido sweet lava rice dumpling, which comes filled with sweet potato custard within butterfly pea-coloured rice—a sweet treat that’s as good on the eyes as it is on the palate.

Available to order at eshop-prsmb.panpacific.com from May 13 to June 10.

2. Hua Ting

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Above Dumplings at Hua Ting

All of Hua Ting’s favourite rice dumplings are on offer this year from now to June 10. There is, of course the classic Cantonese rice dumpling, as well as a particularly aromatic black truffle bak zhang for you to savour. But if you’re at Hua Ting, its signature supreme rice dumpling is the dumpling to get. Stuffed with South African abalone, conpoy, pork belly, roast duck and mushroom, this bak zhang brings together classic flavours and ingredients in a delicious package.

3. Cherry Garden

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Above Kurobuta pork rice dumpling with sweet preserved vegetables and organic black garlic

This Dragon Boat Festival, Cherry Garden is putting out a trio of rice dumplings, prepared in time-honoured ways with premium ingredients. There is, of course, a traditional bak zhang that’s always a perpetual favourite, but for an updated classic, opt for the Kurobuta pork rice dumpling instead, which also includes sweet preserved vegetables and organic black garlic for powerful flavour. Vegetarians won’t be left out either with the wild mushroom bak zhang, which also comes flavoured with black truffle. 

Available to order at singapore.mandarinorientalshop.com from now till June 10. 

4. Golden Peony

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Above Lineup of rice dumplings at Golden Peony for the Dragon Boat Festival

At Golden Peony, executive Chinese chef Ku Keung has made sure to remain true to tradition with this year’s lineup of rice dumplings, while injecting a dose of playfulness into his creations. There are all-time favourites such as the Hong Kong-style rice dumpling and the black pepper chilli crab rice dumpling with Bedford scallops, but this year, there are new creations such as the Golden Peony signature London duck bak zhang, or the multigrain rice dumpling that’s laced with a spicy and tangy kimchi sauce. Round it off with a sweet offering, a mango sticky rice dumpling that’s best enjoyed with coconut milk.

Available to order at conradcentennialsingapore-theterrace.wi-q.com from now till June 10. 

5. Jia He Grand Chinese Restaurant

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Above Lineup of rice dumplings at Jia He Grand Chinese Restaurant for the Dragon Boat Festival

Whether you prefer traditional Hokkien bak zhang or the fragrant nyonya zhang, an array of classic rice dumplings await you at Jia He Grand Chinese Restaurant. This year, look out for the newest creation for the Dragon Boat Festival, the sambal nyonya rice dumpling with salted egg yolk, which asserts a savoury profile on a traditionally sweet rice dumpling. 

Available to order from shop.jiahe.com.sg from now till June 10. 

6. Yan Ting

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Above Rice dumplings for the Dragon Boat Festival at Yan Ting

Executive Chinese chef Chan Chun Shing is making his Dragon Boat Festival debut this year with three rice dumplings for Yan Ting. There is the classic pork belly and salted egg yolk bak zhang, but if you’re looking for something more indulgent, the abalone and golden dried scallops dumpling puts forward a powerfully umami seafood experience for your palate. Vegetarians, the monkey head mushroom dumpling doesn’t miss out on flavour at all with the addition of preserved vegetables. 

Available to order at yanting.oddle.me from May 10 to June 10. 

7. Yì by Jereme Leung

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Above Rice dumplings for the Dragon Boat Festival at Yì by Jereme Leung (Photo: Raffles Hotel Singapore)

You can always expect elevated Chinese delicacies at Yì by Jereme Leung, and its lineup of rice dumplings this year is no different. This year, Leung has crafted two new flavours redolent with local flavours—take the bak kut teh bak zhang, which is stuffed with salted egg yolk and pork ribs simmered in the iconic pepper broth. Or the yunnan rose petal kee chang, a smaller, sweeter variation that comes with a bottle of the Raffles Hotel’s signature kaya. 

Available to order at rafflesgrabandgo.com from May 10 to June 10.

8. Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant

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Above Rice dumplings for the Dragon Boat Festival at Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant

Lovers of Cantonese-style rice dumplings, make sure to look out for Wan Hao’s selection of premium bak zhang to spice up your Dragon Boat Festival. Luxurious ingredients are guaranteed, of course; the five-head abalone bak zhang, for one, is stuffed with scallop, dried mullet roe and Ibérico pork to make one glorious dumpling, while the crab meat with XO conpoy sauce hits the right spot with its spice and umami. Of course, there is always the signature pork and salted egg bak zhang, and if you’re looking for something sweet, the pandan gula melaka with shredded coconut and quinoa is a fun adaptation of the iconic ondeh ondeh.

Available to order at celebratorydelights.com from May 8 to June 10. 

Read more: The different types of rice dumplings

9. Summer Palace

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Above Steamed abalone dumpling available for the Dragon Boat Festival at Summer Palace

The newly reopened Summer Palace at Conrad Singapore Orchard is gearing up for the Dragon Boat Festival with a range of four rice dumplings created by dim sum chef Leong Kwok Sing. The ultimate offering is the abalone bak zhang, which is accompanied by premium ingredients such as Kurobuta pork, roast duck, and conpoy. The Kurobuta pork bak zhang polishes up nicely as well, with shiitake mushroom, roast duck chestnut and more, though you might also like the morel mushroom dumpling, featuring black mushroom and truffle with oat, barley, sweet corn, green beans, and more. Round it off with the lotus paste dumpling, best enjoyed with osmanthus honey.

Available to order at conradsingaporeorchard-togo.wi-q.com from May 27 to June 10. 

10. Man Fu Yuan

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Above Rice dumplings for the Dragon Boat Festival by Man Fu Yuan

Over at Man Fu Yuan, a particularly diverse range of rice dumplings awaits you to take home. There is the ever-popular Nyonya chang, stuffed with minced pork, sweetened winter melon, dried shrimp and laced with XO sauce, though if you would like to have a vegetarian version of this bestseller, opt for its plant-based meat option, which also swaps out the dried shrimp for mushrooms. The bak zhang with red bean and honey and red dates may also be a welcome sweet option, as will the Japanese sweet potato and black sesame bak zhang. A grand Cantonese bak zhang with red quinoa, weighing a whopping one kilogram, is also up for grabs, starring two five-head abalones, pork belly, giant dried shrimp, roasted duck, and conpoy.

Available to order at intercontinentalshoppe.sg from May 13 to June 10. 

11. Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant

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Above Wagyu beef cheek rice dumpling available at Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant

At Li Bai, two new rice dumplings are up for grabs alongside two classic iterations, appealing to both the adventurous and the traditionalists. The first new creation is the Australian Wagyu beef cheek bak zhang, a cut of meat famously prized for its tenderness, accompanied by a host of other premium ingredients such as morel mushrooms, dried scallop, and red quinoa. The second is the golden kansui bak zhang, served with osmanthus syrup and dragon fruit sauce. If not, go for classic offerings such as the traditional pork belly and roast duck rice dumpling, or the abalone and pumpkin bak zhang, which balances sweetness with assertive umami.

Available to order at shopatsheratonfestive.com from May 20 to June 10. 

12. Hai Tien Lo

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Above Selection of rice dumplings available for the Dragon Boat Festival from Hai Tien Lo

Some of the best things in life are made for sharing, and at Hai Tien Lo, that includes its very own supreme rice dumpling, which is packed with abalone, pork belly, roast duck, whole dried scallops, and more—best shared with four to six of your most cherished loved ones. Otherwise, for a more playful take on bak zhang, go for the black pepper foie gras sausage rice dumpling, which comes stuffed with smoked duck, roast chicken and chicken cheese sausages, doused with a black pepper foie gras sauce. This year, Hai Tien Lo’s sweet dumplings are inspired by local flavours—go for the pulut hitam for a visual and gustatory treat, or indulge in the Teochew-style dumpling with yam paste and ginkgo nuts, taking after the comforting orh nee dessert. 

Available to order at panpacificsingapore.oddle.me from April 2 to June 10. 

13. Feng Shui Inn

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Above Selection of rice dumplings available for the Dragon Boat Festival from Feng Shui Inn

This year, Feng Shui Inn at Resorts World Sentosa presents a trio of rice dumplings designed to maximise flavour. There is no skipping out on the Imperial Abalone bak zhang, which also includes preserved mustard greens for a burst of flavour, though the Double Delight dumpling with grilled unagi and smoked bacon is sure to leave an impression with its distinctly savoury profile. As for its sweet dumpling, the Yuan Yang bak zhang makes use of black glutinous rice and gula melaka-infused lotus paste. 

Available to order at rwsentosa.com from now till June 9. 

14. The Intan Nyonya Chang

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Above Nyonya chang by The Intan Nyonya Chang

As the founder of private museum The Intan which houses a grand collection of Peranakan antiques, Alvin Yapp puts in his all to preserve his Peranakan heritage—which is why his rice dumpling business, The Intan Nyonya Chang, is so beloved. Started during the pandemic, this online shop specialises in the traditional Nyonya chang, a sweet rice dumpling which is made with minced pork, winter melon strips, and ground coriander. Blue pea flower also dyes the glutinous rice a pleasant shade of blue, making this the ideal Nyonya chang to get this Dragon Boat Festival.

Available to order at the-intan.com. 

15. Yàn

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Above Eight Treasures Yangcheng rice dumpling at Yàn

For hearty Cantonese bak zhang, cast your gaze to Yàn, which has curated a series of three rice dumplings to mark the Dragon Boat Festival. Take the Eight Treasures Yangcheng bak zhang, which is large enough to share with friends and family with its filling of Australian pork belly, house-roasted duck, salted egg yolk and more. If not, the Kurobuta pork and cowpeas dumpling with shiitake mushrooms is just as delicious, but if you’re looking for something more classic, the spiced pork meat and salted egg yolk bak zhang will surely hit the spot.

Available to order at yan-restaurant.myshopify.com 

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Ethan Kan
Dining writer, Tatler Singapore
Tatler Asia

About

Ethan is a dining writer with Tatler Singapore. Trained in literary arts and filmmaking, their work has previously been published in Esquire Singapore, Men's Folio, and with the Asian Film Archive and the Singapore International and Film Festival, across a wide range of interests from gastronomy to fashion and arts criticism. 

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Ethan writes about exciting news in the F&B industry, specialising in fine dining, exclusive spirits launches, and new restaurants. They are always looking for riveting voices to bring something fresh to an already-dynamic industry.

Follow them on Instagram at @faustiangourmand.