Yuen Yeung: This TikTok-Viral Chinese Dessert Cafe Has 1H Queues—Is It Worth The Wait?

Yuen Yeung is a new dessert cafe in Chinatown

I grew up a sucker for traditional Chinese desserts. Be it iced kachang, tang yuan, or green bean soup, a hearty bowl of traditional Chinese dessert never fails to put a smile on my face. That’s why I was excited to hear about a new kid on the Chinatown block: Yuen Yeung, widely known as “yuan yang” in Singapore, is a popular Hong Kong beverage made using coffee and tea. The new cafe offers both traditional and modern Chinese desserts, ranging from mochi dessert bowls to classic milk puddings, and I was eager to see if it would be a newfound favourite dessert cafe.

Food at Yuen Yeung

My colleague and I had a total of four desserts and the crowd-favourite Matcha Mochi Peaks ($6.40+) was the first we tried. At first blush, we were intrigued by the choice of ingredients in this dessert bowl. There was matcha ice cream atop a creamy white paste, topped with a generous amount of QQ brown sugar pearls—never once have I had such a combination! 

A mouthful of this creamy dessert got me looking at my colleague with a confused look, as what I thought would have been chewy mochi balls was a rice mochi paste of sorts. I later learned that the mochi paste is made using boiled glutinous rice, where it’s soaked, steamed, and then pounded into a paste thinner in consistency than typical Japanese mochi.

Though I appreciated the interesting twist to the mochi, I wished it was chewier. But overall, my colleague and I liked how the sweet brown sugar pearls paired well with the bitter matcha, making for a delectable bittersweet treat that even those new to matcha can enjoy. 

Next, the Handcrafted Rice Mochi with Red Bean Paste ($4.90+) was served with creamy red bean paste and the same rice mochi.

The red bean paste was rather average, similar to those in traditional iced kachang. Though this dessert didn’t stand out to us, it’s an option that red bean lovers will love!

If matcha desserts don’t entice you, the pistachio desserts at Yuen Yeung probably will. The Pistachio Paste ($8.60+) was a hot pick—nutty, creamy, and sweet-savoury, the perfect three-in-one in a delicious bowl of traditional Chinese dessert. 

It was served in a small bowl, albeit filled to the brim with a creamy, vibrant green paste topped with salted pistachio bits.

On the first bite, we thought the paste could have been a tad thicker, but after a few spoons, we realised that its lighter texture helped to quell the heaviness. It wasn’t overly sweet, and we loved the textural contrast between the crunchy pistachio bits and the creamy base. Overall, the bowl was simple yet done so well. In fact, my colleague enjoyed it so much that he polished it off to the last drop! 

We couldn’t end our dessert experience without trying the Signature YuenYeung Grand Slam Milk ($8.80+). 

Expect an Instagram-worthy dish—that’s also surprisingly healthy—featuring grass jelly, peach gum, lotus nuts, red bean, and house-made sweet potato balls that are carefully plated and served in a large bowl. 

A small cup of fresh milk was also provided for an extra touch of creaminess.

This dessert wasn’t as sweet as the ones we previously tried. If you have a sweet tooth, worry not as extra sugar can be added to your liking. Our only gripe was the lotus nuts; they could have been cooked more to achieve a softer texture.

For a hot day out, opt for the Fresh Strawberry Coconut Milk Snow ($8.90+) instead, comprising sweet strawberry chunks, smooth shaved ice, and creamy ice cream. Alternatively, for something more indulgent, consider their Taro Paste Rice Mochi & Black Rice with Milk Snow ($6.50+) or Fresh Mango & Black Rice with Coconut Snow ($9.80+).

Ambience at Yuen Yeung

The 50-seater cafe has both an indoor and outdoor dining area, which felt pretty spacious to us. Also, the simple yet modern interiors reminded me of Taiwanese cafes nestled in a quaint neighbourhood. The cafe is relatively quiet during the day, so we recommend coming before dinner to avoid the crowd.

Yuen Yeung is tucked away along Neil Road, just a three-minute walk from Maxwell MRT Station, so you don’t have to walk far to get your dessert fix!

Yuen Yeung – Eatbook review

Though we felt that the desserts didn’t quite deliver the wow factor we were looking for, we recommend Yuen Yeung for those looking for pretty dessert cafes that combine traditional and trendy ingredients. 

If you like matcha, pistachio, or red bean, give Yuen Yeung a try to see if it’s to your liking! I have to say, the Pistachio Paste is a must-try here.

In other food news, check out our guide to the best Ramadan bazaars in Singapore this 2025, including the popular Kampong Gelam bazaar! Alternatively, read our Bon Broth review for an atas personal hotpot experience at Raffles City, a new restaurant concept by the Michelin-starred Chef André Chiang.

Address: 43 Neil Road, Singapore 088825
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 11pm
Website
Yuen Yeung is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Marcus Neo and edited by Tan Tao Zhi.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.