Over the past few years, black sesame, like orh nee, has grown into quite a trendy flavour. While it used to be thought of as more traditional, often found in the likes of tang yuan and hot black sesame paste desserts, black sesame has gone through a renaissance. Now, you’ll find it in treats ranging from lava buns to madeleines, gelato to cheesecake, and plenty more.
If you’re a goma ride-or-die, here’s where to find some of the best black sesame desserts and snacks in Singapore, ranging from the old-school to the new.
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Image credit: @twoambakes
A few of the home-based businesses that boomed during the pandemic were responsible for making black sesame cool again, with twoambakes being one of them. The Instagram baker started off by selling gooey, indulgent desserts she called Terrines in flavours such as matcha, hojicha, and goma. Since then, she’s elevated her offerings, serving up limited-time treats with a black sesame twist, from Goma Tiramisu, a Goma Kinako Mochi Bar, and plenty others. twoambakes only sells via bake sales, so stay tuned to their Instagram page for their drops.
Website
twoambakes is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @dilutedcoke
Diluted Coke is another popular Instagram baker that frequently uses black sesame across her inventive bakes. One of her most popular items is the Black Sesame Cake Tub, a layered creation comprising a walnut and black sesame crumble, a black sesame sponge, and mousse, all topped off with a goma and honey drizzle. She releases black sesame-themed boxes from time to time too, with different dessert creations designed around the star ingredient. Preorders open every Monday on her Instagram page, and her boxes are currently priced at $38.50.
Website
Diluted Coke is not a halal-certified eatery.
We love seeing Western-style bakeries set up shop in hawker centres, selling premium French bakes at wallet-friendly prices. Cat In The Hat is one such establishment you’ve got to check out. Located in Golden Mile Food Centre, the bakery is run by a mother and a daughter, who sell a range of treats, including tarts, madeleines, financiers, and scones. Most of their items are priced under $5 too. If you love black sesame, get your hands on their moreish Black Sesame Financier ($3), which elevates the moist almond cake with a healthy dose of roasted goma.
Read our Cat In The Hat review.
Address: 505 Beach Road, #01-106, Golden Mile Food Centre, Singapore 199583
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 3:30pm (or sold out)
Website
Cat In The Hat is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Image credit: @acalastar
OG black sesame paste lovers, swing by Mei Heong Yuen to get your fix. Fans call this one of the best places to get your black sesame tong sui fix. Priced at $5, their black sesame paste is so thick it clings to the back of your spoon, smooth, and laced with just the right amount of sweetness—perfect to get you through a rainy day. Aside from the hot dessert, they also have a nutty Sesame Shaved Ice for an affordable $6.50!
Website
Full list of outlets
Mei Heong Yuen is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @iris.nihao
We’re big fans of old-school waffles at Eatbook, and while peanut butter is our filling of choice, we’re not saying no to pandan waffles with a black sesame spread. The Bencoolen-based cafe offers their signature pandan waffles—made with a batter infused with fresh pandan leaves—with a black sesame spread, priced at $2.80. Have this treat alongside their affordable, house-made coffees, sold hot or iced.
Read our Crescent Waffle & Sandwich Shop review.
Address: 190 Middle Road, #01-17, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 8am to 3pm
Website
Crescent Waffle & Sandwich Shop is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @mylittlebakery_sg
If you love Japanese mochi, you definitely want to add My Little Bakery to your list. The home-based baker has caused quite the buzz on Instagram for their loaded mochis, most notably, their Taro & Salted Egg Lava Mochi. The Black Sesame Mochi also offers plenty to shout about—you get thin, goma-infused mochi skin wrapped around a healthy dose of nutty, black sesame cream, complete with a slice of fluffy sponge. Order a box that has six different pieces for $29.90, so you get to try them all. They take orders via WhatsApp, at 8228 2490, or Instagram DM only. Click their website below for ordering details.
Read our My Little Bakery review.
Website
My Little Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @michjelinguide
Traditional dessert lovers will love getting their black sesame fix at Tong Shui Desserts, a hidden gem located in Chinatown. Most of their menu is pretty affordable, especially their hot dessert range. You can get your black sesame soup fix here in various forms—Plain ($3.50), with Almond Paste ($3.50), with Walnut Paste ($3.50), or, our favourite, with Tang Yuan ($4). The latter pairs the comforting, not-too-sweet soup with QQ tang yuan balls, adding a welcome texture to the overall dessert.
Address: 101 Upper Cross Street, #02-58, People’s Park Centre, Singapore 058357
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 8:30pm
Tel: 6532 0552
Tong Shui Desserts is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @foodconvos
Japanese dessert lovers, take note: Matchaya, obviously best known for their matcha desserts, also has quite a lot to offer if you love goma. Their Kurogoma Soft Serve ($6) is a crowd-pleasing sweet treat that isn’t too sugary, and is great to enjoy on the move. Their Kurogoma Choux Puff ($6) is another must-try, combining a generous amount of nutty black sesame cream with an airy choux shell with a dark chocolate glaze to boot.
Website
Full list of outlets
Matchaya is not a halal-certified eatery, but only uses halal-friendly ingredients.
Gelato cafe Cotta opened in Tanjong Pagar last year and quickly became a foodtok darling. The gorgeous second-floor cafe is best known for its unique flavours—think Zesty Pink Guava and Yuzu Tequila—as well as their house-made ice cream sandwiches. We definitely recommend ordering the Matcha Goma Cookie Sandwich ($7+), a treat that combines bittersweet matcha cookies with a matcha-goma gelato middle. Creamy and crispy, nutty and sweet, this is one balanced dessert.
Read our Cotta review.
Address: 104A Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088524
Opening hours: Fri 1:30pm to 11pm, Sat 12:30pm to 11pm, Sun 12:30pm to 10:30pm
Website
COTTA is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @bertweekendeats
OG ice cream cafe Apiary is a name you’ll hear quite a bit when asking for the best black sesame ice cream you can get in Singapore. Their take on the flavour stars roasted black sesame that’s delightfully nutty and fragrant, with just the right amount of sweetness. A scoop costs $4.50, but you can also get this flavour in a 500ml pint to take home, for $19. When dining in, enjoy the scoop with their house-made charcoal waffles to double up on the darkness. Waffles are priced at $6.50.
Website
Full list of locations
Apiary is not a halal-certified eatery.
Kele is a household name when it comes to roll cakes, with their kaya and durian offerings being some of its bestsellers. Goma lovers, don’t sleep on their Black Sesame Peanut Roll Cake ($10.90) though. The dessert sees an airy black sesame chiffon wrapped around a nutty, fragrant, and slightly salty peanut cream that’s great for sharing.
Website
Full list of locations
Kele Roll Cake is not a halal-certified eatery, but they do not use pork or lard.
Vanda Botanical Desserts went viral online for being one of the first to offer mochi gelato in Singapore. But, that’s not all they offer—the cafe does a delicious Black Sesame Gelato as well. Priced at $3.90 a scoop, the gelato is rich and intense, made with black sesame sourced specifically from Japan’s Mie prefecture. You can give the scoop a mochi upgrade too, with an additional $1.50.
Read our Vanda Botanical Desserts review.
Address: 313 Orchard Road, #01-16, 313@Somerset, Singapore 238895
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Vanda Botanical Desserts is not a halal-certified eatery.
Japanese bakery Muyoo is well-loved for their mochi breads, especially their Black Sesame Mochi Bun ($3). Airy brioche is filled with a thick black sesame paste made with seeds sourced from Taiwan, and a round of QQ mochi, giving you equal measures of bite and chew. Fans have praised this for being one of the best black sesame buns in Singapore too!
Read our Muyoo review.
Website
Full list of outlets
Muyoo is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @breadbreadonly
If you love your black sesame fillings gao gao, you will love Just Dough’s signature Black Sesame bun. Priced at $2.30, Just Dough swaps out the usual tanzhong brioche for a steamed bun, which it then fills with a potent black sesame paste. The filling-to-bread ratio is often almost 80:20!
Read our Just Dough review.
Website | Full list of locations
Just Dough is not a halal-certified eatery.
682 Min Jiang Kueh in Hougang became an Instagram sensation a couple of years back thanks to their loaded pancakes. Their Black Sesame ($1.50) option stars a fluffy, thin pancake skin, folded over a substantial amount of black sesame paste. Fair warning, though: you gotta really love black sesame to enjoy this because it can get too jelak if you don’t.
Read our 682 Min Jiang Kueh review.
Address: 682 Hougang Avenue 4, 682 Ming Jiang Kueh, Ming Ji Coffeeshop, Singapore 530682
Opening hours: Tues, Thur-Sun 5am to 12pm
682 Hougang Min Jiang Kueh is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @breadmilkclub
Goma bao buns have surfaced at many Chinese eateries lately, but Bao Today’s version comes up top for us. Priced at $3 for two, these buns have a filling that’s just the right middle ground between gritty and smooth. It’s best to enjoy them fresh at the restaurant, but if you da bao these, steam them lightly before digging in—the filling turns into molten black sesame lava.
Website
Full list of outlets
Bao Today is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @foodbaby.sg
Halal-certified min jiang kueh eatery Munchi Pancakes became popular when they first opened because of their unique MJK fillings, ranging from Thai milk tea to strawberry cream cheese. Kick it old school with their Black Sesame Pancake ($1.80), which stars a fluffy, thick pancake, and a chunky sesame paste with actual seeds within.
Read our Munchi Pancakes review.
Website | Full list of outlets
Munchi Pancakes is a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @saccarphile
Kueh And Snacks, AKA Ah Ma Kueh, has been operating out of the Bukit Merah ‘hood for 30 years. They sell handmade Teochew kueh, both savoury and sweet. The latter includes their Black Sesame Ang Ku Kueh ($1.30), which comes with a QQ, mochi-like kueh skin, and an aromatic, slightly gritty black sesame middle. It’s not too sweet as well!
Address: Block 125 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-164, Alexandra Village C3, Singapore 150125
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 8:30am to 7pm
Tel: 6273 5875
Website
Kuehs And Snacks is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @gailybakes
Gaily Bakes has grown into quite a popular Instagram bakery thanks to their unique French-Japanese fusion bakes. While their desserts are seasonal, you can look forward to goma surfacing in a fair few, from mini bundt cakes to caneles filled with a black sesame praline. They sell bake boxes every week, so keep your eyes peeled for when their orders open on their Instagram page.
Website
Gaily Bakes is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you love black sesame desserts, then check out these places! For more sweet treats and where to find them, read our guide to the best late night dessert places in Singapore.
Featured image adapted from @gailybakes and @dilutedcoke
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