Lolleroll Hong Kong Food Blog — In a move that has delighted dessert lovers across the city, Yan Chi Chu (仁芝初), a beloved Mong Kok institution celebrated for its traditional hand-ground sweet soups, has launched an unlimited dessert buffet starting at just HK$45 per person. The promotion, available daily from 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM, offers diners one hour of unlimited access to eight classic Chinese dessert soups, with an optional HK$3 upgrade that unlocks four premium养生 (health-nourishing) varieties. Located at G/F, 6 Hung Fai Building, 2Q-2Z Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok, the shop has been drawing long queues since the offer began, with no end date announced yet.
A Legacy of Hand-Ground Craftsmanship
Yan Chi Chu has built its reputation on a steadfast commitment to traditional methods. Unlike many modern dessert shops that rely on pre-mixed powders or instant bases, this Mong Kok staple insists on stone-grinding its signature items—black sesame paste (芝麻糊), almond cream (杏仁露), and walnut cream (合桃露)—from scratch daily. The process is painstaking: raw black sesame seeds are first soaked, then slowly dry-roasted in a wok until they release their natural oils without burning. “You have to listen to the sound and smell the aroma,” explains owner Mr. Au, describing the art of knowing when the seeds are perfectly crisp. Only then are they ground with rice slurry to achieve that signature thick, grainy texture—no cornstarch, no shortcuts.
The same dedication applies to the almond and walnut creams. Almonds are roasted to unlock their oils, then ground with a touch of white sesame for extra silkiness. Walnuts are blanched to remove bitterness before being transformed into a velvety, nutty elixir. The result? Desserts that taste of pure, unadulterated ingredients—no preservatives, no artificial colors.
The Buffet: What’s on Offer
The basic HK$45 per person plan grants one hour of unlimited servings from eight classic choices:
- Hand-ground black sesame paste
- Hand-ground walnut cream
- Hand-ground almond cream
- Smooth coconut purple rice pudding (椰汁紫米露)
- Smooth red bean soup (紅豆沙)
- Smooth green bean soup (綠豆沙)
- Smooth wheat congee (麥米粥)
- White fungus with ginkgo and beancurd skin (白果薏米腐竹)
For just HK$3 more—bringing the total to HK$48 per person—diners unlock four premium additions:
- Papaya with stewed snow fungus (木瓜燉雪耳)
- Rock sugar stewed papaya (冰糖燉木瓜)
- Traditional beauty-enhancing stewed peach gum (古法養顏燉桃膠)
- Mulberry mistletoe lotus seed tea (桑寄生蓮子茶)
Given that a single bowl of stewed peach gum typically costs more than HK$48 on the regular menu, the upgrade pays for itself after just one serving.
Smart Dining Tips
To make the most of this offer, keep these practical points in mind:
- Time limit: Each session runs for exactly one hour from the moment you sit down.
- Ordering rules: You can request only one bowl per order, but you may reorder as many times as you like within the hour.
- Waste policy: Any leftover exceeding half a bowl will be charged at the item’s regular menu price, so order conservatively.
- Availability: All items are served while stocks last, so popular choices like peach gum may run out later in the afternoon.
Beyond the Buffet: Signature Creations Worth Trying
While the unlimited offer is the main draw, Yan Chi Chu’s regular menu features inventive twists worth exploring. The French-style purple rice pudding (法式紫米露) layers crème brûlée, purple rice pudding, and coconut milk in precise proportions, topped with tangy pomegranate and mango jelly for balance. The mango coconut purple rice pudding piles generous chunks of Philippine mango onto sweet, chewy purple rice in coconut milk. For those seeking deep comfort, the whole pear stewed with Sichuan fritillary bulb (原個雪梨燉川貝) delivers a clear, fragrant broth packed with pear, longan, and rock sugar—a classic remedy for dry throats.
Location and Contact
- Address: Shop 6, G/F, Hung Fai Building, 2Q-2Z Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon
- Phone: 3111 8709
- Buffet hours: 1:30 PM – 7:00 PM daily (one-hour dining limit from time of seating)
- Validity: From now until further notice
The Bigger Picture: A Revival of Heritage Desserts
Yan Chi Chu’s buffet is more than a bargain—it’s a signal that Hong Kong’s traditional dessert culture is adapting to modern dining habits. In an era where bubble tea chains and Instagrammable parfaits dominate, this offer reintroduces younger generations to the subtle pleasures of hand-ground nut creams and slow-simmered herbal teas. For just HK$48, diners can sample a dozen varieties that would normally cost HK$30 to HK$50 each à la carte.
As food costs rise and competition intensifies, such creative promotions may become a lifeline for heritage shops. For now, Yan Chi Chu invites sweet-toothed Hongkongers to rediscover why hand-ground desserts have been cherished for generations—one bowl at a time.