RUXU Funan review: Not Just Another Chinese Dessert Cafe

Chinese food and beverage concepts have been on the rise lately, so it’s easy to think: oh no, not another one. I initially wondered if the hype here would fade. But months later, RUXU is still running a full house at 3pm on a weekday. That says something.

When I first saw RUXU at Funan, I thought – man, they really made good use of that space. It’s an oddly carved-out corner unit, yet they’ve managed to turn it into one of the cosiest traditional-modern cafes around.

I’ve visited twice now. Each time, I don’t feel the same rush or turnover that you get at places like Starbucks. Maybe it’s the warm lighting, the wooden interior, or the way the seats feel. Whatever it is, people tend to stay. And I can see why.

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Both times, we ordered quite a few items so we could try each of their offering groups: pastries, tea and desserts.

We started with their well-known Claypot Brewed YingDe Black Tea Yuen Yeung Latte ($6.50). I lifted the lid and sniffed at it curiously.

Yes, there really is a smoky claypot aroma. Incredible. As a hot drink, I genuinely enjoyed it. It has that familiar tea-and-coffee balance you’d expect from a good yuen yeung. I’m still not sure how it would translate iced.

I'd order it again, but only if I'm craving tea + coffee (since I'm a coffee gal).

Next up, we tried the egg tart, which is said to be one of their bestsellers. It was flaky and pleasant, but didn’t quite stand out the way we expected a bestseller to. Still, it satisfied our egg tart cravings, so we were happy.

Caramel Croissant Tart ($2.80)

Since my friend went for the egg tart and tea, I chose the Phoenix Milk Custard with Rice Wine and Mochi ($6.80) dessert bowl because it sounded unusual – and at Unique Finds, that matters.

Phoenix Milk Custard with Rice Wine and Mochi ($6.80)

It turned out to be one of the most memorable items. The wine leaves a lovely aftertaste that works surprisingly well with the creamy custard.

I didn’t expect milk and wine to mesh well together, but somehow it does. The mochi bits also gave the dessert a fun texture: the custard was soft, while the mochi made it pleasantly chewy. I would order this with friends again.

I also tried their onigiri-looking item ($3.50), officially called the “Seaweed and Pork Floss Fluffy Bun”, which is exactly what it sounds like. It was savoury and pleasant, with a slightly playful appearance, though taste-wise it wasn’t the standout for me.

If you visit, you might want to prioritise the tea and desserts, which feel like the real highlights here. The vibes are spot on, and that makes up a big part of the experience.

The menu definitely offers some genuinely unique ideas, which makes the visit feel worthwhile.

📍 RUXU, 107 N Bridge Rd, #01-11 Funan, Singapore 179105