Tong Sui Desserts & Drinks (Sunnyvale) — Restaurant in Sunnyvale

I absolutely love the coconut puddings here! This place has replaced boba milk tea in my life.

I have now tried almost all of the flavors!

Here are my favorites. Note that I personally prefer mild and lightly sweet flavors.

My top favorites are the: Signature Coconut Pudding - This is a refreshing light pudding that tastes like fresh coconut water with some milk (lactose free, according to Tong Sui) with possibly a little sugar added. The coconut flakes add a little bit more sweetness and a crunchy texture to go with the pudding.

Osmanthus Sweet Rice Coconut Pudding - This pudding consists of a light jelly made from osmanthus (a small fragrant, yellow flower) with a thin layer of rice between the osmanthus jelly and the signature coconut pudding. The rice has a mild aroma of rice wine that I really enjoy

Close second favorites are: Double Layer Coconut Pudding - Same as the signature with a layer of jelly made from coconut water on top of the signature pudding.

Strawberry Coconut Pudding - Also similar to the signature with a layer of strawberry flavored coconut pudding on top of the signature pudding. The strawberry flavoring is very light and natural.

Taro and Purple Yam Coconut Pudding - This is a great flavor combination. This is a puree of taro and purple yam on top of the signature pudding. I think the puree is probably lightly sweetened. If you're lucky and you get one freshly made, then the taro and yam are still warm on top of the pudding.

Red Bean Mochi Coconut Pudding - This is another great combination. The mochi is very soft and easy to scoop up with a spoon and it is mixed in with red bean and then put on top of the signature pudding. When I had this, it was a holiday special.

Good but not my preference: Matcha Coconut Pudding with Red Bean - I do love matcha flavors but I felt like matcha masked the coconut pudding flavor that I was looking for.

Chocolate Coconut Pudding - The chocolate pudding on top is really good but I definitely felt it heavily overpowered the mild taste of the signature pudding below.

Not my preference: Rosewater Peach Gum Coconut Pudding - This is a signature pudding topped with an unsweetened rosewater and peach gum jelly. This pudding is probably my least favorite but I also don't really enjoy rose...

I've been coming here way too often for a little over a year or so. It's not the closest bubble tea place, or the cheapest, but it's definitely my favorite. I can't say I've been to every boba place in the South Bay to compare, but I've been to a lot.

The drinks are a bit on the pricier side, but are super fresh and made with high quality ingredients. You'll frequently see fruit shipments come in, or A2/A2 milk from Alexandre Family Farm. They also rotate their menu with seasonal items based on what is in season which is pretty awesome and makes it easy to come back!

Any of their drinks are excellent and it's hard to pick a favorite. I don't know if it's just the quality of the ingredients or they are just better at making stuff, but I definitely think it's a tier above most other shops. They definitely have drinks that are a bit different than a normal bubble tea place, so if you are scared of new things, watch out for that I guess?

The puddings are also excellent. Again, they're on the pricey side, and the portions aren't that big. I'd say one is a bit too large for one person, but it's maybe a tiny bit on the small side for splitting. Still worth it in my opinion given the quality though!

They also have some other snacks from other shops which are good and rotate a bit.

A few tips/notes: they do not accept cash you can order online (use square checkout instead of the alternatives if you want to collect points for drinks) save the jars from the puddings: 10 gets you a free pudding (classic flavor, but you can just pay the difference if you want something else) they get busy, especially on the weekends it's mainly for take out, there are a few places to sit outside,...

Tong Sui Desserts & Drinks in Sunnyvale offers an interesting take on traditional desserts, though it didn’t quite match my personal preferences.

Signature Dishes: Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t love their tong sui signature dishes. As a huge coconut fan, I felt like the addition of flavors like strawberry or vanilla made it taste a bit too western for my liking, taking away from the authentic coconut flavor I enjoy. While the concept is creative, the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Pricing: The pricing definitely felt a bit high for what you get. While the desserts are decent, I don’t think they justify the cost, especially considering the size and flavor profile of the dishes.

Service: The service, however, was great. The staff were helpful and friendly, offering suggestions and answering questions with a smile. They made the experience much more pleasant, and I appreciate their attentiveness.

Ambience: The ambience was solid as well. It’s a cozy space with a relaxed vibe, making it a nice place to unwind while enjoying your dessert. The atmosphere contributes positively to the overall experience.

Overall, while Tong Sui Desserts & Drinks has a nice vibe and good service, the desserts and pricing didn’t quite work for me. It’s worth checking out if you’re open to their unique take on traditional flavors, but it wasn’t exactly what I...