The First Dessert: Affordable Cantonese dessert in Vancouver
The First Dessert is a small Cantonese dessert shop located on Victoria Drive in Vancouver with prices under $10.
We were invited to try 2 desserts for a media tasting, but I have visited The First Dessert before with my family because we are Cantonese and my parents prefer desserts that are not too sweet. This blog post will be a combined review of our 2 visits.
The vibe
The First Dessert is a small dessert shop so there’s limited seating (maybe around 8 tables). The interior is pretty simple with some random Christmas decorations but one thing that stood out to me were the tables and stools – they look like the authentic Cantonese style furniture you will see in historical dramas! Imagine the dark red-brown wood, curvy legs and glass table tops. I thought this was a really cool touch.
You will be given free tea when you first sit down, and then you can order at the counter. They only take cash/debit.
Dessert review
Here is everything we’ve tried in our 2 visits to The First Dessert. Prices are rounded to the nearest CAD for simplicity.
Sesame paste ($7)
My parents ordered this sesame paste, which is actually more like a soup. A lot of the desserts here can be ordered hot or cold so throughout the year you can still enjoy. This version of the sesame paste can come with additional toppings like walnut, black rice, etc.
My mom said that the aroma of this sesame soup was really nutty and delicious.
Ginger milk + mango ($10)
My usual go-to dessert is tofu pudding with mango, but I didn’t see tofu pudding with mango on their menu (only tofu pudding without mango). So I tried this ginger milk with mango instead.
It came out in a little teapot and the server explained that after we pour the ginger milk into the bowl, if we just wait for a bit, the milk will solidify and it will become like pudding. After it solidifies, you can then put the chopped up mango on top and eat it together.
I thought this was really cool (and fun for kids)! However, I did find the taste of the ginger milk to have too strong of a ginger flavour. So although it tasted much healthier, I still prefer tofu pudding with mango instead.
Steamed eggs with milk + peach resin ($9)
Alternatively, I also tried steamed eggs with milk and peach resin (you can see it in the first photo on this post). Again, I am hoping for a taste and texture similar to tofu pudding with mango.
I really liked the warm steamed eggs with milk (we ordered it hot). It was very comforting and I liked the subtle eggy flavour. The texture was very jiggly and soft!
However, the peach resin wasn’t as fruity as I was hoping it would be. It’s like little blocks of jello infused with some peach flavour.
Mango mango with mini mochi + sago ($9)
Lastly, we got this mango mango dessert twice during both visits because we really liked it! It comes with a lot of mango flavour, sago, and mini mochis. This one is a cold dessert and it tastes very fruity and refreshing.
Final thoughts
Loewe’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
We had a really great experience both times at The First Dessert. Their menu is super affordable and you can enjoy their desserts year-round because you can have them hot or cold.
My parents felt the food was authentic since my family is Cantonese, and they really enjoyed the flavours and the simplicity of the restaurant. I just wish they would add a tofu pudding with mango 😗!
If you’ve never had Cantonese dessert before, I recommend you to check out The First Dessert. I know sometimes it’s weird to think about a warm soup as dessert, but it can be very comforting and not overly sweet!
Sincerely, Loewe