Teochew Handmade Pau Review: Handmade Bao And Dim Sum Under $2 In Toa Payoh

Teochew Handmade Pau has handmade bao in Toa Payoh

In 1966, some of Singapore’s first HDB units were built in Toa Payoh. Since then, the estate has become a place many residents and shop owners call home. Teochew Handmade Pau is part of this equation as well, as they have been around since 1993.

Mr Yeoh, the owner of Teochew Handmade Pau, has been dishing out handmade bao and dim sum here for more than 30 years. He first started the business in the hopes of providing his children with formal education. Having been here for so long, the stall has naturally gained the respect of many. Not only was the stall the largest in the whole hawker centre, but it was also decorated with newspapers and certificates commending uncle’s bao. The large words from the majestic-looking plaque on top of the signboard translate to: “Those with great virtue will bring happiness”. 

Food at Teochew Handmade Pau

The stall carries a wide variety of bao, in different sizes too! We got the small-sized bao so that we could try more flavours. Each item is also relatively affordable, with nothing more than $2. 

We started with their Small Pork Bao ($1) and were pleasantly surprised upon the first bite. The bao dough was thick, which I deem the hallmark of handmade bao. The filling was a delight as well. Usually, the filling of a pork bao is lightly marinated. But here, this stall’s house-made marination leaned more toward a dark soya sauce base, giving a caramel-like sweetness to the meat throughout. I think this was my favourite bao out of the bunch we ordered.  

Before heading to the stall, we were psyched to try their Bian Rou Bao ($1) AKA kong bak bao. This is because they had received praise from newspapers for maintaining the classic flavour of kong bak bao while using leaner cuts of pork. The flavour of the meat was not bland, and in fact, well-marinated— what it lacked in fat, it made up for the flavourful braise. But unfortunately, the filling was just too little. 

As the savoury bao underwhelmed us, we turned to their sweet bao hoping they would be better. We got the Red Bean Bao ($1) and Lian Rong Shou Tao ($1), and both were not too sweet. The paste in the Red Bean Bao had a strong nutty flavour without the starchiness of the beans. 

As someone who is used to seeing large longevity bao in traditional Chinese ceremonies, the smallness of this Lian Rong Shou Tao AKA lotus paste bao was admittedly quite cute. But we found it a pity that there was more dough than filling, and the lotus paste had nothing to write home either. 

But things started to look up when we tried the other dim sum. We got both the Special Made Siew Mai ($1) and the Glutinous Rice ($2). 

The siew mai was large and meaty, so much so that it filled up my entire mouth. As I took my first bite, I was greeted by a burst of well-marinated meat juice! The siew mai went well with their house-made chilli sauce too, balancing out the rich and meaty flavours. 

As with all the other meat-based dishes at the stall, the Glutinous Rice also featured lean meat, which worked well here because it did not make me feel as jelak as sticky rice often does for me. The lack of fat was also compensated with the copious amount of sesame oil in the rice. A mouthful of this with a dab of the house-made chilli was very satisfying. 

Ambience at Teochew Handmade Pau

The nearest station to Teochew Handmade Pau is Braddell MRT Station, which is an eight-minute walk away. The stall is located at the corner on the second floor of Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre. We liked that the hawker centre was well-ventilated, but found that the seating area was quite dark. You also might have to consider getting your goods to go as the area tends to get crowded during lunchtime. 

The verdict

Overall, my breakfast from Teochew Handmade Pau was enjoyable. Had I been given more filling than bao dough, though, I think I would have given a higher score. I felt that the siew mai was the star of the show, so I would definitely stop by for some if I am in the area again. 

For more dim sum content, read about House Of Bao and their soft shell crab bao! Or if you are in the area, check out our Three by Garamika review for legit Indonesian food in Toa Payoh.

Address: 127 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #02-02, Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre, Singapore 310127
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 6am to 2pm
Tel: 6254 2053
Website
Teochew Handmade Pau is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Daryl Lim.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.