No matter how full I am, I will always have space for dessert — kinda like a dessert stomach, if you will. One type of dessert that I absolutely cannot resist is traditional Chinese desserts. So when I saw Fa Si Xi making its way around social media, I definitely had to give them a go.
Fa Si Xi is located along Jalan Sultan, near Hotel Boss and trust me when I say that you’ll definitely be able to spot them, especially with their vibrant mahjong themed decor. As you step inside, you’ll notice that the walls are lined with larger than life poker cards and mahjong tiles.
The gambling theme extends right down to the tables, as each table sports a different game like poker cards, mahjong tiles and even casino chips. They’ve even taken things up a notch and created a photo corner with life-sized mahjong tiles — make sure to snap some quirky pics there while you’re waiting for your desserts!
Aesthetics aside, they specialise in traditional desserts, AKA tong sui, like black sesame paste and mango pomelo sago, alongside popular Malaysian and Cantonese fare.
Probably my favourite dessert on the menu was the Grass Jelly All In (S$12.80). It comprises chewy pearls, crunchy water chestnut, red bean, taro balls, grass jelly cubes, peach gum and a generous dollop of orh nee. It’s really the perfect refreshing dessert for a hot day, while giving you a little bit of everything in one bowl.
The highlight was definitely the orh nee paste for me. It was milky, creamy and smooth with bits of yam inside so you know they used the real stuff to make this. Orh nee lovers will definitely love the bold flavours in this — even as someone who doesn’t like orh nee, i really enjoyed it, that’s how good it was.
One of the most unique desserts on the menu was the Pistachio Paste (S$8.80). Fun fact they’re one of the (very) few dessert spots in Singapore to offer it, so of course we had to give it a go.
As someone who isn’t a fan of pistachio, I was actually pleasantly surprised by the taste and the gorgeous green colour. Flavour-wise, it was fragrant, nutty, milky and creamy — almost like a pistachio milk of sorts. I also loved that the dessert wasn’t overly sweet, which made it even more enjoyable, without feeling jelak. It’s also best enjoyed hot, so make sure to devour it the moment it is served to you!
What’s a Chinese dessert shop if they don’t have the quintessential Mango Pomelo Sago, am I right? Fa Si Xi’s Mango with Pomelo Sago (S$7.80) definitely ranks pretty high in my list of best mango desserts.
The dessert was not overly sweet — which seems to be a recurring theme around all their desserts so far — and came with large chunks of mango. I absolutely loved the mango cream which had a sweet fragrance. I also liked that the dish wasn’t overshadowed by sago, instead they changed it up by adding some water chestnut pearls into the mix to give the dessert some crunch.
Apart from serving desserts, Fa Si Xi also has savoury dishes like the Signature Penang Prawn Mee (S$12.80) which comprises prawns, pork ribs, lean pork, kang kong and thick yellow noodles doused in a spicy assam broth. The broth is really comforting with a slight tangy finish and a well-balanced spice kick.
For those who can’t take spice, the Penang Prawn Mee (S$9.80) is the one for you. It has a slightly lighter broth and comprises kway teow, lean pork, and prawns.
But of course, Fa Si Xi also has special platters for those of us who can’t decide between having a savoury snack or some sweet desserts. Go for the Da Si Xi (S$11.80) which comprises a serving of curry fishballs, golden sweet potato balls, black sesame paste and peanut paste.
I don’t know about you, but Fa Si Xi has already won me over and I’ve already made plans to head back to try their other desserts like the Almond with Peach Gum (S$6.80), Durian Chendol Ice (S$10.80) and the Durian Mousse (S$11.80).
BRB while I cosy up with a bowl of black sesame paste dessert tonight!
Fa Si Xi
Instagram
📍 500 Jalan Sultan, Hotel Boss #01-11, Singapore 199020
🕑 1pm–11pm (Tue to Sun), Closed on Mon
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Photos by Marcus Leong
I'm either mean or a meme, there's no in between.