Before the arrival of Western sweets, Singapore had nonya kueh. Captivatingly colourful, scrumptiously sweet (and sometimes, savoury), whimsically wobbly, strikingly shaped, and all-around alluring, nonya kuehs have managed to defy the attrition of time, and has firmly ingrained itself into the nation’s collective palate.

Nonya kueh (or Malay kuih) is a type of dessert created in the South-East Asian region, serving as bite-sized snacks for the peckish to intersperse throughout the day. More than a tea-time snack of the elderly or an occasional treat your adoring grandparents indulged you with, nonya kueh forms an integral part of the Peranakan culinary heritage.

While many traditional desserts are struggling to stay relevant to present-day dessert preferences, nonya kuehs have not only seamlessly transitioned into modernity, the recent resurgence of interest in Peranakan fare has skyrocketed them to the forefront of our consciousness as well.

Whether you’re kueh-ving for a classic treat or something with a more contemporary spin (or even both!), we have put together a guide for you to track down all your favourite kuehs and more!

Photo Credit: https://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/ah_meng/

AH MENG

A place with no shortage of good food, Hong Lim Market hides another gem: Ah Meng. Huddled on the second floor, passersby who wander into visual range are instinctively drawn to the array of kueh and the perpetual fragrance of coconut.

Renowned for having kuehs with delightfully velveteen textures, some regulars swear by the Sweet Potato Ondeh Ondeh for having the optimal ratio of skin to filling, while others consider the Gula Melaka Tapioca Kueh with its literal burst of caramel their favourite treat instead.

Block 531A Upper Cross Street
Hong Lim Food Centre, #02-45
Singapore 051531
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/babachewssg/

BABA CHEWS

The resident restaurant of Hotel Indigo, Baba Chews is notable for effortlessly converging traditional Peranakan flavours with Western and local flavours. While the restaurant does not serve traditional nonya kuehs, the one kueh they do serve has received nothing short of stellar reviews from locals and visitors alike: Kueh Durian.

Inspired by kueh dadar, the dish comprises of a wonderfully creamy durian mousse wrapped in aromatic pandan crepes before being topped with a scoop of honeyed gula melaka ice cream. A perfectly nectarous treat!

86 East Coast Road
Katong Square
Singapore 428788
Tel: +65 6723 2025
Daily: 6.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Eunos

Photo Credit: https://www.burpple.com/f/fClX3PKU

BOROBUDUR SNACKS SHOP

On the exterior is a weatherworn, greying shop front that looks like it has been taken straight out of a time machine; in contrast, a bright, vivid assortment of neatly lined nonya kuehs sits just by the entrance. This is one of Bedok’s best-kept secrets: a longstanding Indonesian sweets specialist that serves kuehs with tastes from a bygone era.

While their traditional kuehs – they have uncommon classics too! – are fantastic, the all-time customer favourite is their Durian Ambon with its rich durian flavour held within a spongy, airy texture.

537 Bedok North Street 3
Singapore 460537
Tel: +65 6442 7637
Daily: 6.30am – 6.30pm

Nearest Station: Bedok North

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/candlenut.sg/

CANDLENUT

The first Peranakan restaurant to achieve the prestigious Michelin Star, Candlenut’s fare is one that celebrates the time-honoured flavours of Peranakan cuisine with the occasional modern twist.

Wishing to share a taste of his childhood, and wanting to show the world that our humble dessert is worthy of a spot in a Michelin-starred establishment, Chef Malcom offers a handmade, elevated version of his favourite kueh, the kueh salat, every night in his restaurant. The catch? Due to the laborious process, only 20 plates are available daily.

17A Dempsey Road
Singapore 249676
Tel: 1800 304 2288 (Local calls only)
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

Photo Credit: http://www.harrianns.com/

HARRIANNS NONYA TABLE

A homegrown family brand, HarriAnns started in 1940s as an unassuming pushcart business in the Tiong Bahru district. Since then, the brand has blossomed into a chain that offers not just nonya kueh, but several self-contained Peranakan mains as well. Despite that, the linchpin of the brand still resides in its nonya kueh, each carefully handcrafted with cherished family recipes.

Their Rainbow Lapis Kueh is the brand’s unexpected signature; boldly vibrant and delicately supple, the best way to fully appreciate this treat is to savour it by layer.

230 Victoria Street
Bugis Junction Towers, #01-01A
Singapore
Tel: +65 6238 1200
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 8.30pm
Sat & Sun: 8.30am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Bugis
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

Photo Credit: www.hjmaimunah.com/

HJH MAIMUNAH

One of the more acclaimed nasi padang establishments in Singapore, Hjh Maimunah serves homecooked-styled Malaysian and Indonesian nasi Padang. Besides savoury dishes, you can find one of the most extensive collections of traditional kueh in Singapore.

With a variety of thirty available, you can find everything from the popular kueh kaswi to rarer alternatives like the kueh wajik (a saccharine, sticky glutinous rice morsel). The secret to the almost magical consistency and quality of the kueh? You can thank Chef Supinah, the brand’s dessert chef for her unwavering exacting standards!

11 & 15 Jalan Pisang
Singapore 199078
Mon to Sat: 7am – 8pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Tel: +65 6297 4294
Nearest Station: Bugis
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

JI XIANG CONFECTIONARY

For fans of ang ku kueh, listen up. An ang ku kueh specialist (their menu only comprises of the oval-shaped treat), Ji Xiang has been serving this snack from 1985, gradually reshaping the public’s perception of it with their palatable rendition since.

Adopting the nonya style, the skin of the kueh here is chewier, providing a more gratifying mouthfeel. As of writing, it has a selection of 8 flavours that include the traditional peanut filling and sweet bean paste, to more modern additions like coconut and their seasonal durian variants.

Block 1 Everton Park
#01-33
Singapore 081001
Tel: +65 6223 1631
Mon to Sat: 9am – 5pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/kimchookuehchang/

KIM CHOO KUEH CHANG

“A taste of culture, borne from traditions” – since 1945, Kim Choo Kueh Chang has been a proud custodian of Singapore’s nonya history and culture, presenting the public with an authentic, homely taste of Peranakan fare.

In addition to its outstanding rice dumplings, Kim Choo still produces old-school nonya kuehs. Although the selection is less robust today, the kitchen handcrafts each kueh with unpretentious precision, doling out flavours reminiscent of a relative’s kitchen at reasonable prices.

109/111 East Coast Road
Singapore 428801
Tel: +65 6741 2125
Daily: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Marine Parade
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/KUEHGARDEN011245/

KUEH GARDEN

Another ang ku kueh specialist, Kueh Garden has taken a similar approach to Ji Xiang by including a choice selection of new flavours alongside its traditional offerings. Unlike Ji Xiang’s, the skin of the kuehs here are thinner; a bite will split the skin apart easily, revealing the thick layer filling within.

Besides the usual red bean, green bean and peanut flavours, the brand’s more unique flavours include coffee and green tea for caffeine lovers, and a creamy durian version that is available year-round.

348 Jurong East Avenue 1
Singapore 600348
Tel: +65 6294 9182
Mon: 7.30am – 3.00pm
Tue to Sat: 7.30am – 7.00pm
Fri: 7.30am – 5.00pm
Nearest Station: Chinese Garden

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/pg/LekLimNonyaCake/

LEK LIM NONYA CAKE CONFECTIONARY

Food heritage brands in Singapore are naturally disappearing, with many younger generations scions unwilling to take on the task of upholding typically laborious traditional techniques and methods. This could have been the fate of Lek Lim too if current third-generation owner, Gavin, did not trade his corporate job to take over his parents’ legacy.

Besides their glistening, sizable ang ku kuehs and usual collection of sweet nonya treats, the brand offers a mixture of equally appetising savoury morsels – including their chive kueh and soon kueh – as well.

Bedok North Street
Block 84, #01-21
Singapore 188017
Tel: +65 6449 0815
Mon to Sat: 5am – 5pm
Sun: 5am – 2pm
Nearest Station: Tanah Merah
**  Multiple outlets islandwide.

Photo Credit: https://www.burpple.com/@phoebetingsy

LINA CONFECTIONARY & TRADING

Most of the kuehs in Singapore have a predominant local Peranakan or Malay influence. But for those seeking treats with more of an Indonesian twist – usually holding a sweeter profile – besides Hjh Maimunah, Lina in Alexandra can provide you with kuehs moulded closer to the flavours of our south.

Since 1989, Lina has been hand-making all their confectionaries, an arduous tradition that endures even today. Besides their Steamed Rainbow Lapis and lapis cakes, try their kueh dadar for a tongue-tingling taste experience.

124 Bukit Merah Lane 1
Singapore 150124
Tel: +65 6271 6996
Daily: 9.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/MakkoTeckNeo/

MAKKO TECK NEO

Hidden in the quiet estate of Telok Blangah is a Peranakan café specialising in nonya comfort food. Despite its modest choice of location, Makko Teck Neo always seems to have at least one occupied table in its premises, a testament to the quality of its fare.

Featuring a full-fledged kueh menu, take your pick from 16 distinct sweet and savoury morsels from Kueh Talam to Rempah Udang. Typically served in either pairs or triplets, these desserts are both wallet-friendly and marvellous for sharing with your tablemates.

Block 35 Telok Blangah Rise
#01-303
Singapore 090035
Tel: +65 6275 1330
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 9.45am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Telok Blangah

MILK MOONS

The sister brand of Chalk Farm, Milk Moons is a spinoff that focuses on the colourful flavours of the region while retaining the rustic charm the siblings’ cakes are known for.

While the display tends to be filled with a satisfying sight of perfectly smooth and round cakes, closer observation shows that some of these creations are really just enormous cylinders of kuehs. For a truly indulgent kueh experience, grab a hefty slice (or even the entire cake) of their bestselling kueh salat and kueh lapis.

391 Orchard Road
Takashimaya, #B208-5
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65
Daily: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/MollyNonyaCakeandConfectionaryPteLtd/

MOLLY’S NONYA CAKE & CONFECTIONARY

A true-blue family-run establishment, after Molly’s husband-wife founding duo retired, their dream to propagate the flavours of nonya treats to the nation was inherited by their son and daughter, both of whom continue to serve their parents’ 50-year-old recipes today.

Packed shoulder to shoulder, to disperse any potential choice paralysis from their very respectable offering of kuehs, try their ondeh ondeh – with a coconut-infused gula melaka centre – and their special Red Bean Lapis for a taste of a home away from home.

104 Hougang Avenue 1
#01-1121
Singapore 530104
Tel: +65 6286 4234
Mon to Sat: 5am – 7.30pm
Sun: 5am – 7.30pm
Nearest Station: Kovan

Photo Credit: https://www.mrskueh.com/

MRS KUEH

There are many ways a parent can showcase their love. Perhaps it’s through gift-giving, or maybe it’s through bringing their kids on adventures; for others, it’s through food. That was the case for the real Mrs Kueh, the mother and inspiration of the brand’s founder, Maureen.

Effortless creative, stylishly contemporary and a wicked cook – these are the distilled values that Maureen hopes to impart into her sweets. Available only online or at Clan Café, the lovingly crafted classic kueh salat is a luxurious treat not to be missed.

97 Frankel Avenue
Singapore 458222
Mon to Fri: 11am – 5pm
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Nearest Station: Kembangan
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

Photo Credit: https://www.rainbowlapis.com/

RAINBOW LAPIS

No prizes for guessing what Rainbow Lapis’ signatures are. (Not just the Rainbow Lapis, but its Lapis creations in general!) Created with the hope of preserving and extolling the heritage of kueh in Singapore, all sweets here are crafted to a quality sufficient to uphold the significance of these sweets to our culinary history.

Besides the two obvious customer favourites, other sweets you should try include their fluffy apong belak, and if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll be able to sample the brand’s very own interpretation of the Eurasian kueh putugal.

101 Upper Cross Street
People’s Park Centre, Level 1
Singapore 058358
Tel: +65 6244 8719
Daily: 8.30am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/RumahBebeSG/

RUMAH BEBE

Found right next to Kim Choo, Rumah Bebe is one-half a heritage boutique cum private museum specialising in Peranakan paraphernalia, and one-half a traditional Peranakan restaurant. Sticklers for tradition, the food here brims with the rich flavours of the cuisine. The downside? Get ready to pay for said quality.

For lovers of kueh ambon, why not try its cousin, kueh bingka here instead? Similarly crafted from tapioca, the cake is denser, thus inviting a more intense tapioca and coconut flavour than its ambon counterpart.

113 East Coast Road
Singapore 428803
Tel: +65 6247 8781
Tue to Sun: 9.30am – 6.30pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Eunos / Paya Lebar

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/TheBlueGinger/

THE BLUE GINGER

A staple for fans of nonya food, The Blue Ginger has long been a beloved brand of many of Peranakan lineage, and has recently achieved recognition with its delectable yet sensibly priced fare.

Offering a rotational selection of kuehs – with the exception of the evergreen kueh salat and kueh bingka at their Great World branch – whether you are greeted with the prismatic colours of their rainbow lapis or the lively flavours of their springy ambon, it will likely be an exquisite treat well worth the surprise.

97 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088518
Tel: +65 6222 3928
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar
** Multiple outlets islandwide.

TIONG BAHRU GALICIER PASTRY BAKERY

A stalwart bastion of nonya sweets, Tiong Bahru Galicier has been enamouring senses since its inception, enrapturing with its beautiful array of traditional kuehs. So prominent is its reputation that regardless of the time, you will likely find a mix of the curious and hungry in its midst.

Go for the classics here for a taste of nostalgia – their kueh kosui and ongol-ongol are results of a precarious culinary balancing act, and their putu ayu have both a coconut and gula melaka crown for added flavour and texture contrast.

Block 55 Tiong Bahru Road
#01-39
Singapore 160055
Tel: +65 6324 1686
Tue to Sun: 10am – 8.30pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/Tok-Panjang-Nonya-cafe-149218025748186/

TOK PANJANG NONYA CAFÉ

If the spirited owner of the café catches you eyeing his enticing assortment of nonya sweets, you can expect to be the recipient of a heartfelt spiel about his kuehs. For those who sample his wares, you’ll understand why he is as resolute as he is: his kuehs are really good.

The counters typically empty by midday – his especially plush kueh koswee tend to be the first to disappear – so head over early to avoid disappointment. If you’d prefer to get an all-encompassing taste of his sweets, try the 5-kueh platter instead.

1 Jalan Anak Bukit
Bukit Timah Plaza, #B1-52C
Singapore 588996
Tel: +65 9273 7979
Daily: 9am – 5.30pm
Nearest Station: King Albert Park