Lei Garden: Michelin-Starred Lunch with Dim Sum & Peking Duck
Lei Garden stands out as a top pick for outstanding Chinese cuisine in Singapore. This Michelin‑starred restaurant is particularly renowned for its elegant dim sum and signature Peking duck.
Taste of Hong Kong at Lei Garden
Dining at Historic CHIJMES
A well-known name in Singapore, Lei Garden traces its roots back to Hong Kong as a fine-dining Cantonese restaurant. Its Singapore home is on the first floor of CHIJMES, just a short walk from City Hall MRT station.
CHIJMES — short for the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Middle Education School — is a historic complex that once served as a Catholic convent and girls’ school.
Today, it has been transformed into a vibrant dining destination, home to around 30 restaurants and bars.
A Gothic-style chapel rises high into the blue sky, standing as its most recognizable landmark.
Elegant Setting for Special Occasions
A walk through the white cloisters brings you to Lei Garden, tucked away in a corner of CHIJMES.
Inside, the spacious dining area exudes a calm, sophisticated elegance.
Spanning two levels, large and small round tables are generously spaced to accommodate groups of all sizes.
Private rooms are also available, making it an ideal choice for anniversaries, formal celebrations, and special occasions.
Gourmet Lunch Highlights
Lunch-Only Dim Sum
Once seated, a cup of fragrant pu-erh tea arrives — the perfect start to the meal.
This lunch gathering brought together five colleagues, including three Chinese Singaporeans with discerning palates. With such local expertise at the table, they took charge of ordering.
The meal began with a selection of lunch-only dim sum, with the classic siew mai among the first to arrive.
Silky cheong fun followed, along with crisp, golden spring rolls.
Carrot cake — a beloved Singapore hawker favourite — arrived next, its punchy chilli and fragrant XO sauce making it irresistible.
Most dim sum dishes are priced around $8–10 each, with the menu available only during lunch hours.
Unexpected Peking Duck
The Peking duck arrived at the table before anyone realised it. There may even have been a tableside carving by the chef, but the lively conversation meant the moment went completely unnoticed.
Lei Garden is often counted among Singapore’s “big three” Peking duck restaurants, alongside Min Jiang and Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck. It was an unexpected treat — especially since Peking duck is rarely available without a prior reservation.
Savoury Noodles
Next came a mysterious noodle dish.
Since the ordering had been left entirely to others, the exact name remained unknown — though it may well have been noodles made with leftover Peking duck.
Thick, chewy noodles stir-fried in a dark, savoury sauce made for a satisfying dish that disappeared in no time.
Classic Chinese Desserts
The lunch concluded with traditional Chinese desserts.
A charcoal dumpling filled with rich salted egg yolk and a chilled mango sago topped with juicy pomelo — both offered a delightful finale.
It was the perfect sweet ending to a thoroughly satisfying Chinese meal.
Final Thoughts
Lei Garden, a Michelin‑starred favourite, is renowned for its authentic Hong Kong‑style Cantonese cuisine — refined dishes that continue to impress even Singapore’s most discerning diners.
Its lunch menu is highly recommended, offering the best of both worlds — signature Peking duck and freshly made dim sum. Priced more reasonably than dinner, it’s a perfectly balanced option for those seeking excellent value without compromising on quality.
Lei Garden
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