Imagine this: it's 7:45am on a Saturday morning in Taman Century, Johor Bahru. The air still carries that cool early-morning weight, and somewhere ahead of you, a cloud of bamboo-steamer smoke drifts out from a shophouse door. Then you see it — a queue stretching down Jalan Serigala, managed by a uniformed security guard. At a dim sum restaurant. Before 8am. On a weekday.
Welcome to Pin Ming Xuan Dim Sum (品茗轩), located at 10, Jalan Serigala, Taman Century Garden, 80250 Johor Bahru. Rated 4.4 stars from over 2,000 Google reviews and reviewed by the Johor Kaki food blog in April 2025 as the 总行 (headquarters flagship), this place has earned every minute of that wait. It is, as far as anyone can tell, the only dim sum restaurant in JB that requires crowd control before 10am on a weekday.
Is Pin Ming Xuan Halal?
No — Pin Ming Xuan is NOT halal-certified and is not suitable for Muslim diners. The menu features pork throughout: steamed pork ribs, char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), and siew mai made with pork and prawn. Muslim guests should seek halal alternatives in the area. This point is worth being clear about upfront so nobody makes a wasted trip.
What Makes It So Good, La?
The short answer: everything is steamed to order. There are no trolleys rolling stale baskets around the room. You tick your order on a paper chit, and the kitchen fires fresh. That alone separates Pin Ming Xuan from most dim sum halls in the city.
The signature dishes that reviewers keep coming back for include:
- Pan-fried carrot cake (RM6.90) — crispy outside, silky within, with just enough wok hei to make you close your eyes for a second
- Golden Corn Custard / Salted Egg Bun (RM5.90–RM7.90) — the lava situation inside is genuinely dangerous and genuinely delicious
- Shrimp siew mai — plump, tightly wrapped, arrives on the table still steaming
- Phoenix feet (chicken feet) with house sauce — gelatinous, sticky, the kind you gnaw on while staring into the middle distance
- Shanghai xiao long bao — soup dumplings done right, with a skin thin enough to see the broth sloshing inside
- Shark Fish Dumpling (RM12.90) — the priciest item on the menu and the one people photograph most
Individual baskets range from RM5.90 to RM12.90. Order generously for two people and expect a bill somewhere around RM60 — reasonable for the quality and the portions you get.
What Time Does Pin Ming Xuan Open?
Hours vary slightly by day, so pay attention here:
- Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday: 7:30am – 4:00pm (note: Monday may close as early as 1pm according to some visitor reports — call ahead if you plan a Monday afternoon visit)
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:00am – 4:00pm
The restaurant is open daily. No off days listed by major review sources, but public holidays tend to draw the biggest crowds.
Insider tip: arrive before 8:30am on weekends or public holidays. The security staff manage the queue in shifts, and the restaurant prioritises table turnover fast — this is not the place for a slow two-hour yum cha. You eat, you enjoy, you move on. That's the culture here and it works.
How Far Is Pin Ming Xuan from KSL D'Esplanade?
This is where it gets shiok for guests staying at Southern Homestay's KSL D'Esplanade units. Pin Ming Xuan at 10, Jalan Serigala, Taman Century Garden sits approximately 300 to 500 metres from KSL D'Esplanade on Jalan Seladang — both are in the same Taman Century neighbourhood. Multiple reviewers describe it as a 5-minute walk from KSL City Mall, with some noting the restaurant is "opposite KSL Mall." Roll out of bed, walk five minutes, join the queue. That's the morning sorted.
Is There Parking at Pin Ming Xuan?
Street parking along Jalan Serigala and the surrounding Taman Century Garden roads is available, but fills up fast on weekend mornings. If you are driving, plan to arrive by 8am to find a spot within comfortable walking distance. If you are staying nearby — say, at KSL D'Esplanade — just walk. Seriously, the 5-minute stroll beats circling for parking any day.
Quick Reference
- Name: Pin Ming Xuan Dim Sum (品茗轩) — Taman Century Flagship (总行)
- Address: 10, Jalan Serigala, Taman Century Garden, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
- Phone: +6017-767 7399
- Hours: Fri–Mon 7:30am–4pm | Tue–Thu 8am–4pm (Mon may close ~1pm)
- Halal: NOT halal. Pork dishes on menu. Not suitable for Muslim diners.
- Price range: RM5.90–RM12.90 per basket; ~RM30–RM60 per person with generous ordering
- Google rating: 4.4 stars from 2,000+ reviews
- Distance from KSL D'Esplanade: ~300–500 metres (approx. 5-minute walk)
- Google Maps: Open in Google Maps
Is the Queue Really That Bad?
Honestly? It can be. One reviewer reported a 40-minute wait on a Friday morning. Another noted they have "never seen it without a queue." But here is the thing — the queue moves. Once seated, service is brisk and the food comes out fast because it is steamed fresh per order. You are not waiting for food once you sit down; you are mainly waiting for the table itself.
If long waits are not your thing, Pin Ming Xuan operates two additional branches: one in Kota Puteri and one in Horizon Hills. These tend to have shorter queues than the flagship on Jalan Serigala. But the OG experience, with the crowd and the steam and the security guard waving people through — that is worth doing at least once.
Planning a trip to Johor Bahru? Book your stay at Southern Homestay — our studio and 2-bedroom units at KSL D'Esplanade are just a 5-minute walk from Pin Ming Xuan on Jalan Serigala, Taman Century. WhatsApp us at +60 12-708 8789 to check availability.