Always remember to leave space for dessert! From almond and yam paste to glutinous rice balls and mango sago pomelo, read on to find out which are the 9 best traditional dessert shops in Singapore for Hong Kong and local-style desserts that will hit your sweet spot.
1. Ah Chew Desserts
When you think of traditional desserts, Ah Chew Desserts is a place that jumps to mind. The pioneer of local dessert shops, Ah Chew Desserts started from a humble stall along Liang Seah Street. The brand has now grown to be an old-school traditional dessert heaven with more than 50 desserts to choose from!
Signature desserts here include the Durian Mango Sago with Pomelo ($5.80), Milk Steamed Egg with Red Bean ($3.80), Black Glutinous Rice with Vanilla Ice Cream ($4.20), Durian Sago Desserts ($6.50), Hashima Red Date Soup ($9), and White Fungus Papaya with Almond ($3.50). All classic favourites that can satisfy your sweet cravings any time of the day, diners can expect to find both cold and hot variations for most of the desserts.
Wait no longer! Head down to enjoy a taste of nostalgia with Ah Chew Desserts’ wide range of desserts made with stellar quality ingredients today.
Location: 1 Liang Seah St, #01-10/11 Liang Seah Place, Singapore 189032
Opening Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 12:30 pm – 12 am, Fridays, 12:30 pm – 1 am, Saturdays, 1:30 pm – 1 am, Sundays, 1:30 pm – 12 am
2. Hup Ka Foon
You’ve heard of the iconic Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, but have you heard of family-owned dessert shop Hup Ka Foon? Located merely a stone’s throw away from Chinatown MRT station and the temple, their Cantonese-style Cendol is the most popular dessert here.
Drizzled with an impressive amount of coconut milk and gula melaka, the Cendol is made up of perfectly balanced portions of red bean, green pandan jelly, and ice.
Despite this being a traditional dessert hut, diners will be pleasantly surprised to find a few classic dim sum items on their menu! The Yam Cake ($3.50) and Chee Cheong Fan ($2.80) are fluffy and delicious dishes that you can order before digging into their sweet desserts. A noteworthy savoury menu item is the Bowl Zhang ($3.80). Their unique rendition of Bak Zhang, the glutinous rice dumpling is served without its usual leaves and tastes best when paired with their especially fiery in-house chilli sauce.
Try out the varied menu at Hup Ka Foon for yourself when you swing by Chinatown!
Location: 18 Sago Street, Singapore 059017
Opening Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 12:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Closed on Mondays
3. Tian Wang @ Jalan Besar
Tian Wang is the perfect place for you if you love mahjong and desserts! A local dessert cafe that opens late most days of the week, the interior is designed after the owner’s love for mahjong. An entire wall in the spacious cafe is patterned with Mahjong-themed wallpaper decorated with game tiles and motifs.
Dessert choices include D24 Durian Mousse ($6), Durian Sago ($5.80), Durian Bubur Cha Cha ($5.80), Mango Sago ($4.20), Coconut Milk Mango Ice ($4.20), Barley Ginkgo Nut ($3.80), Bubur Cha Cha ($3.80), Red Bean with Lotus Seeds ($4.20), Honeydew Popping ($4.20), Peach Gum ($6.80) and more.
We recommend going for the Yam Paste with Pumpkin and Ginkgo Nut ($4.80). Smooth and tasty with strong hints of nutty flavour, this traditional dessert is a yummy late-night treat not to be missed out on!
Those who are health conscious will be pleased to know that Tian Wang’s desserts’ sugar levels are kept lower, without interfering with the taste. Visit this place whenever you’re craving for traditional sweet treats in the middle of the night!
Location: 145 Jalan Besar Singapore 208863
Opening Hours: Tuesdays to Thursdays, 5 pm – 2 am, Fridays & Saturdays, 5 pm – 3 am, Sundays, 5 pm – 2 am, Closed on Mondays
4. Ji De Chi Dessert
A popular dessert chain that has set up shop in many parts of Singapore, few are strangers to Ji De Chi Dessert.
Featuring a menu of both traditional and modern renditions of your favourite desserts, this well-known dessert stop serves up a range of desserts, with signature offerings such as the Durian Snowflake with Black Glutinous Rice ($7.60), Yam Sweet-in-Heart Sago ($5.60), Mango Pomelo Sago with Grass Jelly ($5.60), Matcha Tofu Snowflake ($6.60), and Durian Snowy Ice ($7.90).
Your friendly neighbourhood guru, drop by your nearest outlet to satisfy your sweet tooth today!
Location: https://www.jidechi-dessert.com/
Opening Hours: Daily, 11 am to 10 pm
5. Gong He Guan
Here’s another dessert place to add to your list of supper spots in town! Centrally located at Geylang, Gong He Guan is a late-night dessert hunt that serves around 17 varieties of desserts and a couple of bottled herbal teas.
Choose from a variety of cold and hot menu options to suit your sweet cravings. The most expensive item on the menu here is the Fresh Top Grade Cave Bird’s Nest with Rock Sugar ($33). Made with premium-grade ingredients proven to have multiple beneficial effects on one’s health, it is no wonder that this dessert comes with a hefty price tag!
Open till 2:30 am daily, Gong He Guan is a must-visit for those who love traditional Hong Kong Style desserts. Gather your friends and head down to Gong He Guan for your next supper trip!
Location: 217 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389277
Opening Hours: Daily, 9:30 am – 2:30 am
6. Jin Yu Man Tang
With over 100 authentic Chinese desserts to choose from, there’s definitely something for everyone to enjoy at Jin Yu Man Tang! Be sure to try their popular Taro Ball with Grass Jelly, Red Bean, and Mango, with each scoop giving you a delightful surprise.
For Mango lovers, you definitely can’t miss out on the Mango with Mini Rice Ball, which is an elevated version of Mango with Sago. Their signature Shun De Double Layer Milk ($3.60) originated from Shunde in Foshan China. You can also opt for other toppings such as red bean, mango, lotus seeds, walnut, almond, and papaya. Another hero product is their soft and silky Ginger Milk Pudding ($4) that melts in your mouth.
Not only are these insta-worthy desserts delicious and comforting, but they are also wallet-friendly, making them the perfect dessert spot to check out!
Location: 66 East Coast Road, The Flow #01-03 Singapore 428778
Opening Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 11:30 am – 10:30 pm, Sundays, 11:30 am – 10 pm
7. 75 Ah Balling Peanut Soup
Started by Mr. Aw Kim Chye, 75 Ah Balling has been operating for over seventy-one years, serving up a classic and comforting favourite of Singaporeans. The heritage brand has been passed down from generation to generation, ensuring its legacy continues to live on.
With over three outlets islandwide, enjoy delicious glutinous rice balls with different fillings such as Matcha Balling, Red Bean Balling, Sesame Balling, and Yam Balling with different soups. Fans of this nutty and delicious soup paste should give this legendary dessert place a try!
Location:
1. Golden Mile Outlet
Address: 505 Beach Rd, #01-75, Golden Mile Food Centre, Singapore 199583
Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays, 11 am to 8.15 pm, Saturdays & Sundays, 10 am to 8.15 pm
2. Chinatown Outlet
Address: 335 Smith St, #02-113, Chinatown Complex, Singapore 050335
Opening Hours: Daily, 8 am to 8 pm
3. Bedok Outlet
Address: Blk 85 Bedok North Street 4, #01-25, Bedok 85 Market, Singapore 460085
Opening Hours: Daily, 11.30 am to 10.30 pm
8. 115 Tang Shui
A family business now run by third-generation owners, 115 Tang Shui is a well-known dessert shop for all things naturally sweet among the locals. Famed for its traditional sweet soup, the stall has various desserts, including daily special and seasonal items. Mainstays such as green bean soup, red bean soup, and various pastes are available every day.
Whatever soup you’re craving for, you can be sure that 115 Tang Shui has it! Crowd favourites include Fragrant Herb Green Bean Soup ($1.90) and gelatinous Red Bean Soup ($2). For something slightly sweeter, the Bobo Chacha ($1.90) is the perfect treat that will satisfy both your sweet and savoury dessert cravings. Topped with sweet potatoes, yam, tapioca flour and coconut milk, this wonderful mix of flavourful soup and sweet toppings will surely have you coming back for seconds.
Location: 335 Smith St, #02-206, Singapore 050335
Opening Hours: Daily, 7:30 am – 5:30 pm, Closed on Tuesdays
9. House Of Dessert
A cooling and refreshing dessert to beat the heat? Yes, please! Being one of the only few dessert stalls in Singapore serving Watermelon desserts, House of Dessert is a must-try. Their Watermelon Ball is filled with watermelon pieces, coconut milk, and corn bits, with everything blending in perfect harmony. Do take note that this is a rather popular choice, so it can be sold out quickly.
Traditional desserts like Tau Suan, Longan, and White Fungus are also offered here for those who prefer something a little more old-school. If you’re a big fan of old-school desserts and are ever in the East, do consider dropping by this hidden gem!
Location: 137A Tampines Street 11, #01-02, Tampines Round Market And Food Centre, Singapore 522137
Opening Hours: Daily, 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, Closed on Mondays & Thursdays
Traditional Dessert Spots With Old School Favourites
For those with a penchant for good old-school desserts, these traditional dessert spots are where incredible sweet treats await. Hurry, bookmark this list and make your way down to satisfy your sweet tooth today!
Cover Photo: Singapore Foodie, @k.foodd (Instagram), @75ahballing (Instagram), @jidechi_dessert (Instagram)
For more food guides, check out 9 Affordable Restaurants With Meals Under $10 (Singapore 2023 Guide)
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