Tian Xin Lou 添心楼 sits smack in the middle of JB Old Town’s most Instagram-worthy shophouse trio. You can’t miss it – three units painted in traffic light colours that practically scream for your attention. Chai Ji Fish Soup rocks the red on the left, Tian Xin Lou claims the green middle spot, and Bei’s Pastry rounds out the yellow on the right.
After countless rounds of Nanyang cafes and hipster joints, we needed something different. That’s how we stumbled into this dim sum joint that’s been quietly serving up Cantonese classics just opposite IT Roo Cafe and on the same stretch as The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen.
The Tian Xin Lou Experience
Walk up to the second floor for more seating space. The ordering system stays simple – tick what you want on the order chit and pass it to the staff. No fuss.
They start us off with Tie Guan Yin tea at RM2.50 per person (minimum two people). The teapot comes with unlimited hot water refills, and your cups arrive sitting in hot water – proper traditional Cantonese yum cha style. Swirl those cups around to sanitise them before pouring your first cup.
The air-conditioned environment keeps you comfortable while you feast. Staff members stay attentive – they’ll refill your teapot without being asked and clear empty plates promptly. When you’re done eating, head downstairs to the counter to settle your bill.
The Food: Hits, Misses, and Everything Between
Double Treasure Porridge (RM8.90)
This isn’t your typical single-portion bowl. The serving size easily feeds two people, packed with ginger strips, century egg, and salted egg. The porridge tastes comforting and flavoursome, with a gentle kick from white pepper. Perfect for warming up your stomach before the main event.
Fried Durian Bao (RM13.90)
Golden brown perfection that hits you with durian aroma the moment you cut into it. The bao resembles those crispy fried mantou we love with chilli crab – substantial and satisfying.
The durian filling leans more towards durian kaya than pure pulp, but that works in its favour.
Five Star Prawn Dumplings (RM7.90)
These beauties arrive crispy and crunchy on the outside with proper prawn dumpling filling inside. You can actually taste chunky prawn pieces – not the mushy paste you sometimes get elsewhere.
Special Fried Rice Noodle Rolls (RM8.90)
Think chee cheong fun meets fried carrot cake. The dish packs proper wok hei with beansprouts, egg, and preserved radish (chye poh). Those little pork lard bits seal the deal.
Sichuan Eggplant (RM8.90)
Cute bite-sized portions that taste like quality Hakka yong tau foo. The flavour doesn’t lean heavily mala, but it’s still delicious enough to order again.
Lychee Shrimp Balls (RM9.90)
This dish seems to be trending at dim sum places lately. The exterior stays crispy while the inside delivers that familiar sotong ball texture. Solid execution overall.
Shrimp Mai (RM7.50)
More like a pork meatball wrapped around a small prawn than traditional siew mai. The meat stays juicy and flavoursome – a hearty twist on the classic.
Shrimp Balls Tofu (RM7.90)
Essentially a shrimp ball perched on top of silky egg tofu. Tastes like siew mai without the wrapper – simple but effective execution.
The Misses
Red Oil Shrimp Wonton (RM9.90)
The dumplings themselves taste fine, but the sauce disappoints. It’s too sour from the vinegar, and honestly, Abundance’s version does it better.
White Tea Taro Balls (RM9.90)
Interesting concept – taro mochi with salted egg custard lava filling.
The taro part lacks flavour, and you can’t really taste the white tea. It’s more novelty than substance.
* prices indicated above are before service charge and service tax
The Damage: Value for Money
Our entire feast came to RM114.40 after service charge and tax – roughly S$35 after currency conversion. That’s reasonable money for the portion sizes and quality you get, especially when you factor in the current exchange rate.
Final Verdict
Tian Xin Lou delivers a satisfying dim sum experience with above-average quality across most dishes. Sure, there are a few misses, but the hits outweigh them comfortably. The traditional yum cha atmosphere, attentive service, and reasonable prices make this a spot worth returning to.