“Kak Hani, ever had a meal at Canning Dim Sum?” my colleague asked.
“Nope.”
That was my honest answer.
Even though I was born and raised in Ipoh, I had never heard of the place. Apparently, Canning Dim Sum is quite famous in Ipoh and has even gone viral. Knowing myself, I never really pay much attention to places that go viral. I simply go, sometimes completely at random, and decide for myself if I like them without knowing the entire internet has already been there.
To be fair, I have had my fair share of experiences with viral places that turned out to be disappointing. Plus, dim sum has never been one of my favourite foods, so it is not exactly something I go looking for.
Then, recently, my partner mentioned Canning Dim Sum. That little lightbulb went off in my head.
“Wait… isn’t this the place my colleague told me about?”
At that point, curiosity won. I thought, why not give it a try? So, we went. No expectations. Just me, a hungry stomach and one simple question in my head: Will Canning Dim Sum make it onto the Wanderhoney-approved list?
✅ About Canning Dim Sum
Canning Dim Sum is a homegrown Ipoh brand that first opened its doors in June 2018 in Canning Garden, Ipoh. The brand focuses on traditional Chinese-style pau and dim sum with a contemporary touch, using their very own homemade recipes and offering halal options that can be enjoyed by diners from different backgrounds.
What caught my attention while reading about the brand was its colourful selection of dim sum. Canning Dim Sum uses ingredients such as dragon fruit, butterfly pea flower, pumpkin and capsicum to create some of its vibrant colours. The restaurant also has more than 60 items on its standard menu, so there is quite a bit to choose from.
The brand has since grown beyond its original Canning Garden outlet, but its roots remain firmly in Ipoh.
For someone who was born and raised there, I have to admit it is slightly embarrassing that I had never even heard of the place until my colleague mentioned it to me.
✅ First Impression
I visited Canning Dim Sum’s Bangi outlet, which opened in June 2026.
It was huge.
I honestly did not expect the place to be this big. I did, however, expect it to be packed with customers, considering how popular Canning Dim Sum has become.
When we arrived, a staff member greeted us, took our name and asked us to wait in the waiting area. Instead of the usual few chairs squeezed near the entrance, there was a long, comfortable seating area with enough space for quite a few people. I was suprised by it.
There was also a trolley filled with packets of chips that customers could take for free while waiting for their table. I thought that was a cute little touch. At least you have something to munch on instead of standing around wondering how much longer you have to wait.
Thankfully, we did not have to wait very long. It took around 10 minutes before we were shown to our table.
The restaurant was busy when we visited, though it never felt overwhelmingly crowded. Most of the tables were round, with a food court-style setup, and there was enough space between them to make the dining area feel spacious and relaxed. I also appreciated that we did not feel like we were sitting right next to another table, which gave us a little more privacy while eating.
✅ How Ordering Works
Once we settled at our table, we ordered our drinks before heading straight to the food counter.
This was where things got interesting.
Getting the food is pretty straightforward. You simply pick up a tray and a trolley and start choosing whatever catches your eye. If you are unsure about anything, the staff are around to assist. Most of the dishes are already prepared and placed on plates, so you can take your time browsing through everything before deciding what you want.
There were plenty of staff around the counter, and this was one of the things I genuinely appreciated during our visit. They were more than happy to explain the dishes, answer our questions and tell us what each item was. They remained friendly and patient, even when we kept asking questions. I thought that was a nice reflection of the service because, with so many different-looking dishes on display, it can be a little confusing if you are not familiar with the menu.
They also had a straightforward system for keeping track of everything we picked. We were given a piece of paper when we were seated, and every time we took a dish from the counter, the staff would note it down.
That piece of paper stayed with us throughout the meal and was handed to the cashier when it was time to pay.
Simple, easy and fuss-free.
✅ The Menu and What We Had
As the name suggests, dim sum is the star of the show here, although Canning Dim Sum serves more than just the usual steamed bamboo baskets you might expect. The menu is divided into several sections, including Dim Sum, Fried Selection, Steamed Pau, Congee & Cheong Fun, and Dessert, with quite a variety under each category.
For someone like me who does not normally go looking for dim sum, I actually liked this part. There were so many things to look at that we found ourselves choosing dishes simply because they looked interesting.
Here is what we had.
- Shrimp Cheong Fun
This was my first time eating Cheong Fun, so I honestly had no idea what to expect. I am very glad I decided to give it a try here because this ended up being my favourite dish of the entire meal.
The rice noodle roll was soft, smooth and delicate, with that slightly slippery texture that made it really easy to eat. It was light and did not feel heavy at all, yet it was still flavourful enough to make every bite enjoyable. I particularly liked the contrast between the delicate rice noodle and the tender shrimp filling inside.
What really brought everything together was the seasoned soy sauce, chilli paste and crispy fried onion. The combination of sweet, savoury and slightly spicy flavours worked really well, and I especially loved the chilli paste.
I honestly did not expect my first taste of Cheong Fun to leave such an impression.
- Crystal Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gow)
This one was my partner’s favourite.
The translucent skin was soft and slightly chewy, while the shrimp filling had a pleasant bite to it. The shrimp flavour came through nicely without being overly strong, and the whole thing was quite satisfying in just a few bites.
It was simple, but it got the basics right.
- Chicken Siew Pau
This was one that I enjoyed, although it did not quite make the cut for me.
I liked that the pastry layer was not too thick, so it did not feel like I was eating more pastry than filling. The chicken filling was generous and savoury, while the outer layer gave way easily with every bite.
It was good, no doubt.
It just did not give me that oh, this is really good moment.
- Fried Salmon Skin
We decided to try the salmon skin because we had never tasted it before and wanted to see what it was like.
Well, where do I begin?
The texture was very similar to the fish snacks or fish chips you would find locally. It was served with salad and shredded carrot on the side. I would not say it was bad. It just did not leave much of an impression. We felt it was a bit of a waste of money when we could have spent it on another dish instead.
At least now I can officially say I have tried salmon skin.
- Salted Egg Steamed Pau
Now this was one I really enjoyed.
The moment I bit into it, I got that creamy salted egg filling I was hoping for. The pau itself was soft and fluffy, which paired really well with the rich, savoury flavour.
I actually found myself savouring every bite and not wanting to finish it because it was that good. In fact, while eating it, I was already looking around the restaurant wondering if they sold frozen ones that I could bring home.
Good news, they do.
So yes, I am definitely coming back for these.
- Smoked Duck Roll
This one was probably our least favourite.
We picked it mainly because we wanted some variety. We already had chicken, fish and shrimp, so the word duck caught our attention. I thought the smoked duck would give the roll a deeper, more savoury flavour.
Instead, the taste reminded us more of a hotdog.
The texture was fine, and there was nothing particularly wrong with it. The smoked duck was nicely wrapped around the filling, but the sausage-like flavour was much stronger than the duck itself. It almost completely masked the smokiness I was expecting.
For us, this was one of those dishes where trying it once was enough.
- Siew Mai
The Siew Mai was one of the dishes we enjoyed.
It had a nice, tender texture with a savoury filling, while the topping added a slight pop of flavour and texture. It was not something I would necessarily go out of my way to order, but it was definitely a pleasant bite.
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp
This was another standout for me.
I really liked the combination of lemon and garlic here. The lemon brought a light, slightly tangy freshness to the dish, while the garlic added a deeper savoury flavour. Together, they worked really well with the shrimp.
What I enjoyed most was how well-balanced everything was, with the lemon and garlic complementing each other instead of one flavour taking over.
I have always enjoyed a good lemon and garlic combination, so perhaps I was always going to like this one.
✅ Is the Price Worth It?
The menu ranges from around RM3.90 to RM16.00 per dish, depending on what you choose, with most of the dishes we picked costing around RM8.90 for three pieces. Individually, I would say the prices are reasonable considering the portion, presentation and overall quality.
At the same time, it can add up quite quickly, especially if you are like us and want to try a little bit of everything.
For me, Canning Dim Sum is more of a place I would stop by for a quick dim sum session or a little food adventure rather than somewhere I would go for a full lunch or dinner regularly… but I still think the experience and quality make it worth trying.
So, pricey? A little.
Worth it? For me, yes, especially if you come with someone and share.
✅ Location and Opening Hours
Canning Dim Sum currently has four locations, including its original outlet in:
- Canning Garden, Ipoh
- Dim Sum Discovery by Canning in Ipoh
- Canning Dim Sum Miri, Sarawak
- Canning Dim Sum Bangi (Reviewed Outlet)
Parking was generally easy during my visit. There is a car park area directly in front of the restaurant, although it can fill up during busy periods. If you cannot find a spot there, there are additional parking spaces along the road, although you may need to walk a little to get to the restaurant.
Canning Dim Sum Bangi
⏰ 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📅 Closed every Wednesday
Official Website: Canning Dim Sum
✅ Will I Come Back?
Absolutely.
For someone who does not usually go out looking for dim sum, I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed the experience. Not every dish was a winner for me, but the ones I loved, especially the Shrimp Cheong Fun, Salted Egg Steamed Pau and Lemon Garlic Shrimp, were good enough to bring me back.
I also liked how relaxed everything felt, from the moment we arrived until we paid. Nothing felt overly fancy or complicated, which suited me just fine.
I would definitely come back, especially for the Cheong Fun and Salted Egg Steamed Pau.
So, after finally discovering Canning Dim Sum years after it became popular in my own hometown, does it get the Wanderhoney stamp of approval?
Yes, it does.
Now I just need to figure out how I managed to miss it for so long.
Wanderhoney Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5)
Love, Auri 🌻
