Since young, tang yuan, AKA ah balling, has always been one of my all-time favourite traditional desserts. Soft and bouncy on the outside, these glutinous rice balls are often stuffed with sweet fillings such as ground peanut, black sesame, and red bean paste—they’re served hot in a Chinese-style sweet soup, which makes them exceptionally shiok on a cold day outside! To help you sort your sweet tooth cravings, here are our top 10 tang yuan shops in Singapore for traditional ah balling and unique renditions.
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This family-run business, which has been around since 1947, has multiple locations islandwide, including one at Golden Mile Food Centre and another in Chinatown. Besides classic fillings such as peanut and black sesame, 75 Ah Balling also offers lesser seen options of Matcha and Yam tang yuan. Prices start at a wallet-friendly $2.20 for three pieces, which come in your choice of soup: Peanut, Almond Milk, Ginger, or Longan Red Date. Get the first option for something more traditional—their signature Peanut soup is said to be boiled for over 12 hours!
Read our 75 Ah Balling review!
Website | Full list of outlets
75 Ah Balling is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @organisedchaos.oc
With many outlets across the island, including one in Chinatown, Mei Heong Yuen Dessert is said to be one of the oldest traditional dessert shops in Singapore. Regulars love their Glutinous Rice Ball In Ginger Soup ($4), which comes with your choice of peanut or black sesame tang yuan. The former is said to be chunky with peanut bits, while the latter boasts a creamy, almost lava-like texture. Besides traditional ah balling, the store also sells a wide range of old-school desserts such as Sesame Paste ($3.80) and Green Bean Soup ($3.50).
Read our Mei Heong Yuen Dessert review!
Website | Full list of outlets
Mei Heong Yuen Dessert is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Hulk
For traditional desserts in a modern setting, head to Jin Yu Man Tang, an underrated gem in East Coast. Here you’ll find a huge range of classic Chinese-style desserts, including the popular Red Bean Paste + Peanut Rice Balls ($5.30++) and Sesame Paste + Sesame Rice Balls ($5.40++). Besides tang yuan, the cosy eatery is also popular for their HK-style milk puddings, so definitely give them a try if you’re in the area!
Check out our Jin Yu Man Tang review.
Address: 66 East Coast Road, #01-03, The Flow@East Coast, Singapore 428778
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: 6214 3380
Website
Jin Yu Man Tang is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Bryan Chan
If a piping hot bowl of tang yuan on a late night sounds right up your alley, visit Dessert First. This halal-friendly eatery might be most famous for their snow ice, but you’ll also find classic Chinese desserts such as Sesame Paste with Tang Yuan ($5.80) and Gingko Barley ($5.80) here. You can also try their Coated Tang Yuan ($4.80); this unique dessert gets your four glutinous rice balls tossed in a sweet peanut or sesame mix.
Address: 8 Liang Seah Street, #01-04, Singapore 189029
Opening hours: Mon-Tue, Thurs 1pm to 12am, Fri-Sat 1pm to 1am, Sun 12:30pm to 12am
Tel: 6333 0428
Website
Dessert First is a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Foong Yee Lau
Tong Shui Desserts is another noteworthy Chinatown eatery with a wide assortment of Chinese desserts. They’ve been in People’s Park Centre for a long time, and are well-loved by the older folks around the area! Order their Almond Paste W Rice Balls ($5), which consists of tang yuan in a creamy almond paste, or go for the Ginger Soup W Rice Balls ($4) for something more classic. They also have Chendol ($3.50) and Hong Kong Mango Sago With Pomelo ($4.50) if you’re in the mood for something cold!
Address: 101 Upper Cross Street, #02-58, People’s Park Centre, Singapore 058357
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 8:30pm
Tel: 6532 0552
Website
Tong Shui Desserts is not a halal-certified eatery.
DDSD is a relatively new hawker stall in Hong Lim Market and Food Centre run by a young couple. They specialise in fresh tau huay made with Canadian GMO-free soybeans, with options such as Black Sesame Sauce Beancurd ($2.40) and Red Bean & Peach Gum Beancurd ($3.40). Another popular pick is the Tang Yuan Beancurd ($3.60), which comes with the best of both worlds: black sesame and peanut ah balling. You can even DIY your own bowl with their array of toppings, including grated peanut (+$0.50), grass jelly (+$0.50), and even more tang yuan (+$1).
Read our DDSD review!
Address: 531A Upper Cross Street, #02-53, Hong Lim Complex, Singapore 051531
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 9:30am to 1:30pm
Website
DDSD is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Chowzan Dessert
If you frequent taco spot Huevos, you might have come across Chowzan Dessert, a cosy dessert house right next door. This two-storey cafe offers a whole slew of sweet treats, from traditional Chinese tong sui to Thai-inspired desserts. Try their Black Glutinous Rice Coconut Milk And Tang Yuan ($5)—creamy pulut hitam with peanut and black sesame ah balling—or go light with the Tang Yuan With Longan Red Date Soup ($5.50), which comes with five glutinous rice balls.
Address: 801 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198769
Opening hours: Daily 1:30pm to 11pm
Tel: 6297 7718
Website
Chowzan Dessert is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: flynnx
Darkness Dessert is another spot to bookmark for your late-night sweet tooth fix. This dessert place in the CBD offers traditional sweets including Ginger Soup With Glutinous Rice Balls ($4.50) that’s prepared with old ginger, wolfberries, and red dates, as well as Black Sesame Paste ($4.50): freshly ground and roasted black sesame seeds. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, get the Yam Paste With Glutinous Rice Balls ($5.50), a bestseller comprising creamy orh nee with four bouncy tang yuan balls.
Check out our Darkness Dessert review.
Address: 100 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088521
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 5pm to 11pm, Fri 5pm to 12:30am, Sat 1pm to 5:30pm, 7pm to 12:30am, Sun 1pm to 5:30pm, 7pm to 11pm
Tel: 8842 1263
Website
Darkness Dessert is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: neo shuhui
Since its opening in 2003, Ah Chew Dessert has been garnering a loyal fanbase over the years for its consistently good traditional desserts. Regulars return for the Rice Ball Mochi ($2.80): dry tang yuan balls coated in a sweet and fragrant peanut mix. You can also get their QQ tang yuan in the form of Ginger Soup With Rice Ball ($3.40) if you prefer something more traditional. They have plenty more old-school desserts to choose from, including fresh milk puddings, mango sago and more!
Address: 1 Liang Seah Street, #01-10/11, Liang Seah Place, Singapore 189032
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12:30pm to 12am, Sat 1:30pm to 1am, Sun 1:30pm to 12am
Tel: 6339 8198
Website
Ah Chew Dessert is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Alex Soo
Gong He Guan is another Chinatown gem serving traditional desserts in a comfortable setting. Their Ginger Soup Tang Yuan ($4.20) includes two sesame and two peanut tang yuan in a clear ginger broth that’s slightly sweet and soul-warming. You can also expect other old-school treats including Yam Paste With Pumpkin And Gingko Nut ($6.50), Sesame Mix Almond Paste ($4.50), and Steamed Fresh Milk Pudding ($5.50). If you’re out to splurge, consider ordering their special Fresh Top Grade Cave Bird’s Nest With Rock Sugar ($36) to share.
Address: 28 Upper Cross Street, Singapore 058337
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: 6223 0562
Website
Gong He Guan is not a halal-certified eatery.
Now that you know the best places for tang yuan and ah balling in Singapore, save this list for the next time you’re craving this traditional dessert!
If you’re up for more old-school flavours, read our guide to the best black sesame desserts, including black sesame paste and mochi buns. Otherwise, read our Ralph Lauren Cafe coverage if you’re looking for something newsworthy to check out this weekend.
Featured image adapted from @organisedchaos.oc and Alex Soo
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