This 58-Year-Old Stall Sells Rare Lotus Seed Dessert And More At Margaret Drive

Soon Heng Hot & Cold Desserts at Margaret Drive Hawker Centre

Old-school desserts stalls in Singapore are dime a dozen, though few have truly withstood the test of time the way Soon Heng Hot & Cold Desserts has. Established in 1964, this hidden gem of a Chinese dessert stall used to be located at Tanglin Halt Food Centre. However, since that kopitiam was slated to close down, Soon Heng Hot & Cold Desserts recently moved operations over to the new Margaret Drive Hawker Centre.

Image credit: Marcus Goh

Fans keep coming back to Soon Heng Hot & Cold Desserts for the nostalgia that comes steeped in each bowl. Some have been patrons since they were young children, and recall the owner of the dessert stall making their wares from scratch, instead of relying on store-bought bean and yam pastes, for example. 

Image credit: @mun_chong

There are around 30 desserts on the menu, most priced under $2. Quite a significant number of treats are priced at just $1.50, including Ice Kacang, Chendol, Bo Bo Cha Cha and more.

Image credit: WT Wong

One thing they’ve been well known for is selling lian ji suan, AKA Teochew Lotus Seed Dessert ($2.50). This is a rare find in dessert stalls these days, as it is quite painstaking to prepare and cook down. Lotus seeds are a costly ingredient, and require multiple steps to get them to the soft texture you find in this dessert. One misstep and you get something grainy, and slightly bitter.

Image credit: Happy Cat

If you’re a hot desserts fan, the lotus seed dessert has a texture akin to tau suan, except the seeds have much more of a bite to them than split mung bean. 

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Other must-tries include their Pulut Hitam ($1.50), where black glutinous rice is slow-cooked till thick and sticky, then finished with slightly salted coconut cream.

The Tau Suan ($1.50) is another hit with fans. The soup itself is sticky, starchy, and sweet, while the youtiao is crispy, golden, and fried fresh on-site.

For more old-school desserts in Singapore, read our Geylang Serai Chendol review. Otherwise, read more about Jin Jin Hot Cold Desserts, which sells the famed Power Chendol and Gangster Ice Kacang.

Address: Blk 38A Margaret Drive, #02-24, Margaret Hawker Centre, Singapore 142038
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 6am to 4pm
Soon Heng Hot & Cold Desserts is not a halal-certified eatery.

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Featured image adapted from Happy Cat and Marcus Goh