Review: New Chinese dessert spot Yuen Yeung delivers comfort with a twist

Singapore’s appetite for Chinese desserts has seen a quiet but steady boom in recent years. 

From traditional tong sui stalls, such as the likes of Yat Ka Yan, to trendy cafes reinterpreting classics with modern flair, locals are increasingly turning to these places for comforting bowls of warm pastes, chewy jellies, and shaved ice as post-meal go-tos.

The latest to the dessert scene is Yuen Yeung, which opened in late February, in the Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood, brimming with hip cafes, bars, and notable restaurants. 

Unlike other traditional Chinese dessert spots, however, Yuen Yeung takes a less common route, instead choosing to lean into richer, more decadent desserts anchored by freshly made rice mochi paste.

Simply put, it has taken something decidedly nostalgic, jazzed it up with mochi paste, and is serving it up in a space that feels more lounge than old-school kopitiam.

The backstory

We first learnt of the spot thanks to the virality of its pistachio paste surfacing on our social feeds, and our interest was also piqued by the fact that it has apparently attracted lengthy queues since opening.

While the Cantonese term “yuen yeung” more commonly refers to the mixed coffee and tea drink from Hong Kong, the cafe is so-named as the desserts are divided into hot and cold varieties — with a focus on handcrafted rice mochi paste.

We understand that the rice mochi here is made with boiled glutinous rice. The rice is first soaked, and then steamed, making it stretchy enough to be pulled and beaten into a paste.

Attentive Japanese mochi lovers may notice a difference, though. Yuen Yeung’s version is thinner and more elastic, likely a result of its labour-intensive prep. 

However, thin texture or not, it’s still a textural treat, especially if you love your chewy desserts.

Aside from its meticulously crafted desserts, even the seating hints at a thoughtful experience. Here, you’ll only find spacious wise chairs (with no tiny stools in sight) and a warm, inviting ambience that encourages you to linger, and not just take the space as a quick dessert pitstop.

Our verdict

Yuen Yeung does well in its approach of leaning into richer tong sui-style bowls, with the addition of its signature mochi. 

The addition of that means that its desserts are a slightly heavier take than your usual herbal jelly or iced beancurd dessert bar — but that’s clearly what sets it apart.

The desserts are also more decadent and flavourful than what you expect of a Chinese dessert spot, and tends to attract a younger crowd. A no-brainer, too, given its proximity to trendy cafes and bars such as The Coffee Code and Puffy Bois Pizza.

Despite slightly higher-than-average prices (most bowls hover around S$6, though there’s nothing above S$10), the variety and handcrafted elements make this a worthy post-meal stop.

If you’re coming in a small group, we’d recommend ordering a variety of desserts to share (as opposed to getting a bowl each) — from the pastes to the pudding to the shaved ice options — as each dessert tastes quite distinct from the other.

What it’s good for

First up, we opted to go with the most flavourful of the lot: The ultra-rich durian coconut mousse (S$7.60). With pure durian pulp, silky coconut mousse, coconut jelly, and sago pearls, this bowl is not only a textural delight, but is deliciously rich without being too overwhelming.

It’s one we’d gladly order again if we revisit the spot (even though we’d love a smidge more durian and wouldn’t have minded forking out a little extra for it).

The real star, though? We were equally surprised that the accolade went to none other than Yuen Yeung’s matcha mochi peaks (S$6.40). Sure, it’s a straightforward dessert with matcha ice cream, brown sugar pearls, and rice mochi paste, but we weren’t expecting to like it that much.

Because the rice mochi paste comes hot, the matcha ice cream slowly melts into a luscious, creamy sauce, which contrasts beautifully with the sweet chewy pearls and mochi paste.

Visually, this dessert may not be the prettiest, but if anything it proves that one should always hold your judgement till the first taste — the matcha was well-balanced with bitter and sweet notes, and we thoroughly enjoyed the textural contrast of the semi-melted ice cream and chewy rice mochi.

In fact, for us, this dish alone would make us return to Yuen Yeung.

While many of Yuen Yeung’s desserts tend to lean on the richer side, the signature Yuenyeung Grand Slam milk (S$8.80) provides a more refreshing option.

It’s available either hot or cold (we went with the cold option) and comes filled with ingredients such as grass jelly, red bean, lotus nuts, peach gum, and in-house-made sweet potato balls.

As it’s only mixed with milk (as opposed to traditional Chinese desserts that come with a sugary base), much of the dessert’s taste comes from its individual components, which are only mildly sweet. 

It was a little too light for us, but we can see how this would make an excellent choice if you’re craving a lighter palate cleanser after a heavy meal. 

What it could improve on

The desserts we tasted at Yuen Yeung proved to be hit after hit, so we were surprised when its social media-viral pistachio paste (S$5.80) didn’t exactly win us over.

Sure, at first glance this bowl could easily be any pistachio lover’s dream — a whole dollop of pure creamy, rich pistachio sauce to be enjoyed as is. 

However, we reckon it would’ve shone better as a topping in the other desserts or as a separate pistachio creation — on its own, the texture felt cloying after a few spoonfuls, and the taste became flat after repeated consumption. 

Let’s be clear: It’s not a bad pistachio paste; it just could have done with other contrasting components, such as something crunchy or even a cold jelly, to create a more robust dessert.

And while this isn’t something for the crew to improve on, it’s something to be mindful of, if you do decide to head down: Wait times can stretch past 15 minutes, so come ready. Luckily, the comfortable chairs and warm ambience make waiting a lot more bearable.

Our quick takes

Is it conducive to conversation? Yes, although more intimate conversations should probably not happen here as it’s easy to catch wind of other conversations around the room. Since it is also in its opening days, the atmosphere here is lively, and when larger groups arrive, it can get hectic.

Is a reservation necessary? The cafe doesn’t take reservations. However, dropping by on a weekday afternoon would be a better option if you want to avoid the crowd (and a possible queue!).

How to get there? Yuen Yeung is a 3-minute walk from Maxwell MRT station Exit 3.

HungryGoWhere paid for its meal at this restaurant for this review.

For the latest eats, read our story on Sri Lankan flavours at Station by Kotuwa. Alternatively, check out our guide to vegan food in Singapore.

Do explore the GrabFood Dine Out service for awesome deals.

You can also book a ride to Yuen Yeung restaurant at Neil Road.