This Traditional Dessert Place Is One Of Singapore’s Oldest, Has Delicious Almond Paste And Ah Balling

Mei Heong Yuen Dessert in Chinatown

Image credit: Sally Lee via Google Maps

Located on Temple Street, a short four-minute walk from Chinatown MRT Station, is Mei Heong Yuen Dessert, one of Singapore’s oldest dessert shops. 

Image credit: Shev N via Google Maps

Known for its notoriously long queues, the shop serves both hot and cold desserts in nostalgic flavours. Fun fact: they’ve been around since 1950!

Image credit: Mei Heong Yuen Dessert Singapore

One of their cheapest items on the menu is the Almond Paste ($3.50). According to reviews online, the paste is said to be on a thicker side with a smooth consistency. There is also the Almond With Egg White ($5.50), a creamy and smooth dessert that some of us may remember eating growing up.

Image credit: Mei Heong Yuen Dessert Singapore

An elevated version of this dessert is the Almond Black Glutinous Rice ($4), which comes with added pulut hitam for extra sweetness. Feel free to add toppings, priced from $1 with options such as lychee, longan, ginkgo, and even ice cream!

Image credit: @organisedchaos.oc

If you’re looking for something more filling, order yourself the Glutinous Rice Ball In Ginger Soup ($3.50), AKA ah balling tang yuan. Both peanut and black sesame are available for your choice of filling, and you can mix the two flavours as well. The sesame filling is said to have a creamier consistency as compared to the peanut’s chunky texture.

Image credit: @_opopopop

Don’t forget to try their famous Snow Ice desserts, starting from $5. If you can’t decide from their 18 different flavours, popular picks include the Mango Ice ($6.50) and Green Tea Ice ($5.50), or opt for Durian Ice ($7) and Sesame Ice ($5.50) for something more adventurous. Mei Heong Yuen’s shaved ice desserts come in large portions so you can consider sharing one with a friend.

Image credit: @jellymagically

Traditional cakes or ‘gao’ are also available at affordable prices, such as the Three Colour Cake ($3)—pumpkin, yam, and carrot cake—as well as the signature Mango Roll ($3.50): think chee cheong fun but with mango instead of meat filling.

For more good food in Chinatown, check out our 17 Chinatown Food Gems guide. If you’re looking for more traditional desserts, read our Darkness Dessert review.

Address: Temple Street, #63-67, Singapore 058611
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 6221 1156
Website
Mei Heong Yuen Dessert is not a halal-certified eatery.

Feature image adapted from Shev N via Google Maps, @organisedchaos.oc, and Sally Lee via Google Maps