Tang Xu Dessert House, Ipoh: A Tong Sui Story from Gunung Rapat

In short: Tang Xu Dessert House is a new-style tong sui shop at 364, Jalan Gunung Rapat in Ipoh. It grew out of an Ipoh childhood spent around bowls of sweet soup. The founder, who also runs the shop, says she later went to China to learn the craft from dessert masters.

Where is Tang Xu Dessert House?

You’ll find Tang Xu on Jalan Gunung Rapat, in the Gunung Rapat area of Ipoh. It is a Chinese new village known for its heong peah biscuits, and it sits close to the limestone cave temples of Sam Poh Tong and Nam Thean Tong.

That makes Tang Xu an easy sweet stop after a morning among the caves. Look for the shop sign that reads Kafe Tang Xu Dessert House. The shop is known for bowls like mango pomelo sago, red bean soup with glutinous rice balls, and Yang Yan San Bao, a “three treasures” beauty dessert soup.

Whispers of old Ipoh

Long before Tang Xu opened its doors, there was a sound every Ipoh child knew: ceramic spoons clinking against dessert bowls in the cool evening air.

For the founder, who grew up in Ipoh, tong sui (sweet soup) was never just a sweet thing at the end of the day. She says it was the rhythm of neighbourhood life. Her family sat together after dinner. Easy laughter carried down quiet streets. And in every bowl there was a kind of care that nobody needed to say out loud.

Those memories stayed with her. She says they planted a lifelong respect for sweet soup culture, and for the way a shared bowl brings people together.

A journey to the source

She wanted to keep that living heritage going. So, she says, she set off for China to learn from the people who still keep the old craft, and placed herself under seasoned dessert masters.

What she learned there, and the name she brought home to Ipoh, are where Tang Xu’s story really begins.

Read the rest of Tang Xu's story in the Aevum app

Find out what the masters in China taught her, and what the name Tang Xu really means.

Download the Aevum app (coming soon)

Report an error · Something wrong, incomplete or culturally insensitive? Tell us and we aim to review it within 5 working days.

Questions

What is Tang Xu Dessert House?

Tang Xu Dessert House is a new-style Chinese dessert house in Gunung Rapat, Ipoh. It serves tong sui, the Cantonese sweet soups many Ipoh families share after dinner, from slow-simmered traditional bowls to modern creations.

Where is Tang Xu Dessert House in Ipoh?

Tang Xu Dessert House is at 364, Jalan Gunung Rapat, 31350 Ipoh, Perak, in the Gunung Rapat area of Ipoh.

What is Tang Xu known for?

Tang Xu is known for mango pomelo sago, red bean soup with glutinous rice balls, Yang Yan San Bao (a 'three treasures' beauty dessert soup) and its Yin-Yang Paste.

Who started Tang Xu Dessert House?

Tang Xu was started by a founder who also runs the shop. She says she grew up in Ipoh with tong sui as part of family life, and later travelled to China to learn traditional sweet soup making from experienced dessert masters.

Sources

• Story shared by the business owner with Aevum (2026), with photos supplied by Tang Xu Dessert House
• Business registration certificate, Tang Xu Dessert House, SSM (address)
• foodpanda Malaysia, Tang Xu Dessert House (Gunung Rapat) listing (name, area)
• Wikipedia (Chinese), article on Gunung Rapat (Gunung Rapat as a Chinese new village, heong peah, nearby cave temples)
• Sin Chew Daily, Perak edition (2022), Chinese-language feature on food and hidden sights in Gunung Rapat