We recently brought our folks to Peach Garden at Thomson Plaza for their Weekend Dim Sum Hi Tea Buffet, taking advantage of their 4-for-3 dining promotion (one dines free with every three paying adults). Sounds like a good deal on paper, but was it really worth it? Let me spill the tea—both figuratively and literally!

The Basics: Timing, Pricing & Reservations

The Weekend Dim Sum Hi Tea Buffet at Peach Garden (Thomson Plaza) is available exclusively on Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays. Priced at $28.80++ (which comes to just under $35 per person after taxes), it initially seemed reasonably affordable for a dim sum buffet in Singapore.

While I’d recommend calling ahead for reservations, walk-ins might work too—the restaurant wasn’t full even on our Saturday visit.

I had previously dined at this Peach Garden outlet twice with colleagues, but this was my first time trying their hi tea buffet specifically.

Ambience & Setting

Unlike many dim sum restaurants that boast bright, airy spaces, Peach Garden at Thomson Plaza is tucked away in an enclosed area without windows. The lack of natural light gives it a rather formal atmosphere, resembling a hotel ballroom more than a casual dining spot. It’s the kind of space you’d expect to see booked for weddings or celebration events—not necessarily where you’d imagine a relaxed weekend dim sum session.

Service Style & Food Presentation

Once seated, service staff promptly appeared with steamed and fried dim sum trolleys, depositing various baskets and plates on our table. Along the side of the restaurant, live stations offered congee and laksa, complemented by a modest buffet line featuring additional dishes.

The Food Spread: Hit or Miss?

Buffet Line Highlights

The self-service buffet line featured:

• Black vinegar pig trotters
• Steamed prawns with Chinese wine and herbs
• Peking duck wraps
• Ngoh hiang popiah
• Fried string beans

I was pleasantly surprised to spot Peking duck wraps—something I rarely see at other dim sum buffets. However, the excitement was short-lived as they were all pre-wrapped and tasted somewhat dry. The duck meat resembled regular cold roast duck rather than authentic Peking duck.

The ngoh hiang popiah’s prawn crackers were a standout—fried to a perfect crisp with an addictive crunch, though admittedly very oily. The black vinegar pig trotters were adequately tender and gelatinous, but the sauce lacked robustness. While the prawns were fresh, their accompanying broth was disappointingly weak.

Steamed Dim Sum: Standard Fare

The steamed dim sum selection was pretty standard. The siew mai and har gow contained chunky prawn pieces, which was nice, but taste-wise, everything was mediocre. Nothing particularly stood out or impressed.

Fried Items: Just Average

Similarly, the fried dim sum items were average at best. Nothing was terrible, but nothing was amazing either—just middle-of-the-road offerings that failed to excite our taste buds.

Live Stations: Nothing Special

We sampled both the century egg congee and laksa from the live stations. Again, they were perfectly normal but nothing to write home about. The flavours were acceptable but lacked the depth you’d hope for from freshly prepared dishes.

Sweet Endings: Desserts

The dessert selection included:

• Chilled jelly royale
• Osmanthus jelly
• Bubur cha cha
• Mingo ice cream (three flavours)

The chilled jelly royale was the standout—refreshingly cold with aiyu-like jelly and colourful “tadpole” jellies that popped pleasantly in the mouth. The osmanthus jelly tasted more like honey—sweet but lacking the distinctive osmanthus fragrance. Unfortunately, the bubur cha cha had a burnt aftertaste, likely from sitting too long in the pot.

Service Highlight: The Friendly “Uncle”

Despite our underwhelming food experience, I must commend one particular staff member—an adorable and friendly “uncle” manning the buffet line. He enthusiastically encouraged me to take more food and even suggested I grab some ice cream as we were leaving. His warm hospitality was genuinely the brightest spot of our visit.

The Unexpected Tea Charge

Our mediocre meal ended with an unpleasant surprise at payment time. We discovered that Chinese tea (refillable) was charged separately at $5++ per person—totaling $25++ (almost $30 after taxes) for our party of five. So much for the “one person dines free” promotion when the “savings” essentially covered just the cost of tea!

What particularly irked us was that this tea charge wasn’t mentioned anywhere on the promotional materials. When we sat down, staff automatically brought tea to our table without asking, naturally leading us to assume it was included in the buffet price. This assumption proved costly.

The Verdict: Is Peach Garden’s Weekend Dim Sum Hi Tea Buffet Worth It?

The Weekend Dim Sum Hi Tea Buffet at Peach Garden (Thomson Plaza) offers a decent variety but falls short on execution. With most items being merely average and the unexpected tea charges effectively negating the promotional discount, the value proposition is questionable.

Pros:

• Reasonable variety including some unique offerings (Peking duck)
• Friendly service (especially from the buffet “uncle”)
• Comfortable, air-conditioned setting

Cons:

• Average food quality across most items
• Hidden charges (tea at $5++ per person)
• Lack of natural lighting creates a formal rather than relaxed atmosphere
• Most dim sum items were unmemorable

If you’re specifically looking for a Weekend Dim Sum Hi Tea Buffet in the Thomson area, Peach Garden at Thomson Plaza might serve as an option, but temper your expectations—both for the food and the final bill. And perhaps ask about tea charges before they pour your first cup!

Have you tried the Weekend Dim Sum Hi Tea Buffet at Peach Garden? What was your experience like? I’d love to hear your thoughts!