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Cheap is good, yes? Many Singaporeans definitely nodded their heads at this statement. I can guarantee that No Name Dessert in Siglap has to be one of the cheapest local dessert stalls out there, hands down.
With inflation on the rise, lots of our beloved desserts have surged in price. However, this particular dessert spot has still kept prices low, with their most expensive item Durian Chendol at only S$4! A truly rare find amongst the rest, in my opinion.
My first impression of No Name Dessert was the surprise at its quaint space. With its location hidden under an HDB block which is nowhere near any malls, I almost missed this dessert space in my search.
Given its straightforward menu of either chendol, jelly, cocktail or hot desserts, the indecisive can rest easy. However, their most popular item has to be their Cheng Tng (S$2.20), as that was their speciality back when the stall was still called No Name Cheng Tng.
Personally, I would have never guessed that this place serves cheng tng that has been named one-of-the-best in Singapore by several publications. In No Name Dessert’s case, appearances can truly be deceiving.
Unfortunately, there is no longer a seating area available, which was definitely a bummer. However, the HDB block seats nearby make for a perfect dining space to enjoy your freshly made treats. It made for a peaceful snack session, which I did not mind one bit. Definitely a stark difference from the bustle everywhere else in Singapore.
Despite the remoteness of the store, they enjoy a steady traffic of customers ranging from Secondary school kids to the elderly. It seems that this place is considered a hidden treasure trove of desserts, for those who live nearby.
What I tried at No Name Dessert
Of course, Cheng Tng is a must-order here, thanks to the hype about it. Feeling rather peckish, I also decided to get a Chendol with Corn (S$3.50). It is important to note that their basic Chendol (S$3) contains only the basics — red bean, green rice flour jelly and coconut milk. For folks who prefer theirs with specific toppings, there is Corn, Grass Jelly (S$3.50) and even Durian!
For its price point, the cheng tng’s ingredients were not too shabby. They contained the 8 classic ones that include longan and sweet potato. I was definitely expecting less, but there were plenty of goodies within to enjoy. My wallet and stomach were in glee, for sure.
To my surprise, all the ingredients were impeccably done. With sago that was the perfect bouncy texture to lots of snow fungus that provided a lovely chew, this cheng tng immediately had my seal of approval.
On the other hand, some ingredients were on the scarce side, notably the sweet potato and ginkgo nuts. It made sense to me since the prices were low.
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What I loved most had to be the broth, which was extremely comforting. With my first sip, I could tell that it was housemade straight away, from its authentic herbal flavour. This will definitely garner older folks’ approval since it is not too sweet. With the ingredients soaking up this base, the dessert made for the perfect soothing snack.
For the chendol, a thorough stir is needed to distribute all the ingredients evenly. A picture is in order so you can admire the beauty of the separate colours in the icy dessert before its ‘destruction’.
My personal preference is to have my chendol extra cold. So, No Name Dessert’s choice of adding both shaved ice and ice cubes made for a creative yet effective solution. The soft shaved ice broke away easily with each mouthful, quickly earning my thumbs up.
As expected, the corn combined with the rest of the ingredients to make a satisfying mixture of textures — crunch from the corn, chewiness from the green jelly and soft bites of red bean. I also adored the combined sweetness of all 3, which sweet-tooth me appreciated immensely.
Despite all the praise, I have to admit that the chendol became jelak after a few mouthfuls due to the amount of coconut milk ladled over it. This, in turn, overwhelmed the gula melaka flavour and gave the dessert more of a one-dimensional taste. However, since I prefer this classic dessert as more gula melaka-like, perhaps it is just personal preference.
Final Thoughts
No Name Dessert is an incredible surprise find, with extra cheap desserts that do not compromise on quality. I can see myself coming back to try more of their selection, especially the hot ones (which are the store’s bestsellers). Where else can you find home-y desserts at this price?
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