Ren Ren — Ambrosial Desserts Hidden In The Basement Of Siglap Centre

After a long, tiring day at work, the one thing that we look forward to is some good dessert to sweeten up the mood. Therefore, we are always on the hunt for places that sell solid desserts so that we know where to run to when we need a little pick me up.

Hidden away in the basement of Siglap Centre, lies Ren Ren, a humble hole-in-a-wall that serves up pretty darn good Chinese desserts. Despite its lacklustre appearance, this humble dessert joint boasts an extensive array of sweet treats and more importantly, they are made fresh daily by the old couple that runs it. Even though the place is a little far out for us, we would gladly make a trip down here any day to indulge in their heavenly desserts. We promise you; it’s that good!

Their no-frills stall is located in the basement of Siglap Centre and is run by an adorable, elderly and couple who are very polite and incredibly friendly.

First up, we tried their Chilled Black Rice with Vanilla Ice Cream (S$3.70). In all honesty, we were initially a little sceptical to try it out because we have never heard of a rice and ice cream combination in our entire lives. However, we definitely did not have any regrets!

The dessert features a bowl of black glutinous rice that was soaked in a generous amount of sweetened coconut milk and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Give the dessert a good mix and you’ll create a sweet, sticky concoction that is absolutely irresistible. The coconut milk and ice cream evenly coat the rice and adds the perfect amount of sweetness and creaminess to it without being too overpowering.

When it comes to a dessert as iconic as chendol, you best believe there’d be high expectations to go along with it. Thankfully, Ren Ren Desserts did not disappoint in this regard. Their Chendol (S$2.90) is simple, yet done right and the quality of it being made entirely by hand adds a certain charm about it too.

The bowl was piled high with shaved ice that is soaked in a deliciously fragrant Gula Melaka. The dessert was also topped with a copious amount of green jelly and red beans which added texture and a satisfying dulcet flavour that we could not get enough of.

The shop owner also told us that they use only freshly squeezed coconut milk in their desserts and not the store-bought ones that often come in cartons, which probably explains why the flavour of the chendol itself seemed more robust and non-artificial.

Ren Ren Desserts
B1-23, Siglap Centre
55 Siglap Rd
Singapore 455871
Tel: +65 9117 8228
Tue to Thu, Sat & Sun: 1.30pm – 7.30pm
(Closed on Fridays and Mondays)
Nearest Station: Kembangan