After trying Yunnan flower cake at Pasar Eatai, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
If you’ve never heard of it before, the name can be a little misleading. It’s not really a cake at all, but a delicate, flaky pastry called xianhua bing, a traditional Yunnan specialty made with edible rose petals and a sweet, fragrant filling. It has been around for more than 300 years, dating back to the Qing Dynasty, which made me even more curious about this little pastry when I first tried it.
I honestly didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. One bite was all it took for me to fall for its lovely floral sweetness. The flavour was simply unique, unlike anything I had tried before. It was subtle, fragrant, and just different enough to stay in my mind long after I had finished it.
The problem was, Yunnan flower cake isn’t exactly something I could easily find in Malaysia. I had been looking around for it for quite some time, hoping I would stumble across somewhere selling it. The fact that I couldn’t simply pick one up whenever I felt like having it only made me want it more.
Then one day, I found out that Dimsusu sells rose-themed pastries. Of course, I got excited and had to pay a visit to the bakery.
✅ About Dimsusu
Dimsusu is Malaysia’s first rose-themed bakery, and its concept immediately caught my attention. The bakery uses natural rose ingredients imported from Yunnan, China, across its breads, cakes, and pastries, with more than 70 varieties available.
The rose concept isn’t limited to one or two signature items either. You’ll find it throughout the menu, from breads and pastries with rose-infused fillings to beautifully decorated creations where the rose theme is part of the presentation.
I noticed during my visit is that Dimsusu states that its products are no pork and no lard, and there were also a few Muslim staff working at the bakery. I would describe it as a Muslim-friendly bakery, although it does not hold official JAKIM halal certification. If you have any concerns about the ingredients or preparation, I would recommend checking directly with the bakery before visiting.
✅ First Impression
I had walked past Dimsusu quite a few times and I honestly thought it might be one of those places where I’d end up paying a little too much for a piece of pastry. Everything looked so beautifully presented.
Things changed when I found out that Dimsusu was a rose-themed bakery. Suddenly, one thought popped into my head:
“Maybe they sell Yunnan flower cake.”
That was enough to make me finally walk into the bakery. Unfortunately, the flower cake I was looking forward to was already sold out when I first visited.
I could have simply left, but then I saw the pastry display. Everything looked so tempting, and the rose theme was impossible to miss. Roses appeared throughout the display, from the colours and decorations to the pastries themselves. Suddenly, I found myself wanting to try everything.
The bakery itself isn’t particularly large, with just a few tables arranged in a simple kopitiam-style setting for customers who want to sit down and enjoy their pastries. They serve a selection of beverages as well, so you can sit back and enjoy your pastry with a drink. I actually liked the smaller space. It felt cosy, while the red roses and romantic details gave the interior a soft and slightly elegant feel without making it feel too formal.
I ended up spending quite a bit of time just looking through the pastry display and trying to decide what to get. At that point, I already knew I wasn’t going to leave empty-handed.
A few weeks later, I returned for my second visit, and this time, I finally got to buy the Yunnan flower cake. The pastry display looked quite different from my first visit, and I also got to try their mochi taster.
✅ The Menu & What I Tried
The menu isn’t limited to rose-flavoured pastries. There is quite a wide selection of breads, buns, croissants, bagels, cakes, mochi and other pastries, with the rose theme appearing in different ways throughout the menu. Some are quite obvious, like pastries decorated with rose petals, while others are more subtle, using rose as part of the filling or flavour.
There are also choices ranging from pizza and sandwiches to Wellington, for those who prefer savoury options.
Here’s what I’ve tried so far:
- Rose Cheese Bagel
I don’t think I’ve ever had a bagel before. I’m much more of a doughnut person, so this was definitely a first for me.
I was pleasantly surprised by the texture. It had that slightly chewy bite that I actually enjoyed, while the rose cheese filling was generous enough to complement the bagel without overwhelming it. The filling did lean slightly towards the sour side, and the more I ate it, the more noticeable the sourness became.
It wasn’t a problem for me though, as I can tolerate sour flavours.
But honestly, what convinced me to pick it up in the first place was the rose petals covering the outside of the cheese filling. They looked so pretty against the pastry that I couldn’t resist. It was one of those moments where the appearance alone made me curious enough to try it.
And I’m glad I did.
The combination of the bagel texture, creamy cheese, and floral rose notes made this one of my favourites among everything I tried at Dimsusu.
- Mango Cream Cheese Bun
As someone who is a big fan of mango, this was another pastry that caught my eye. The cream and yellow mango drizzle on top made it hard to ignore, and I immediately found myself wondering what it would be like inside.
This one, however, wasn’t quite what I expected.
When I took my first bite, I realised the cream cheese was spread across the surface rather than tucked inside the bun as a filling. I think I had mentally prepared myself for a soft, creamy centre, so I was a little disappointed when there wasn’t one.
I don’t think it was a bad pastry though. The bread itself was soft, and the combination of mango and cream cheese worked nicely without being overly sweet, though the mango flavour itself wasn’t very noticeable.
I think my disappointment was more about what I expected it to be rather than the pastry itself. Personally, I would have enjoyed it more if the cream cheese had been inside the bun.
- Seasalt Croissant
I wasn’t quite sure why it’s called a Seasalt Croissant, because it doesn’t really look like a croissant to me. It looks more like a bun, or even shio-pan. Either way, my partner was drawn to it because he has always liked pastries that are simple and rely on good texture and flavour. No filling, no fancy toppings, just a simple pastry as it is.
From the outside, it looked fluffy and slightly shiny, with a golden surface that made it look freshly baked. When we took a bite, the inside was soft with a subtle saltiness that came through nicely.
There are no strong fillings or flavours competing with the bread. It’s simply soft, lightly salty, and doesn’t need a lot going on to be enjoyable.
I can imagine having this with a cup of coffee, especially the way we usually enjoy pastries in Asia, dipping a little piece into our coffee. Comforting.
- Golden Rose Pastry
And finally, the pastry I came for: flower cake. Okay, the name isn’t the same, but I had to give it a try because it looked almost exactly the same. I was hoping they would be exactly the same, just with a different name.
Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
The overall concept was there, and I could taste the rose flavour, but the texture was where I felt it fell short. Instead of the delicate, flaky pastry I was hoping for, I found the outer pastry noticeably thicker and less flaky than the one I had tried at Pasar Eatai.
The thicker pastry also seemed to dominate the flavour. Rather than letting the floral rose filling shine, I found myself tasting more of the flour and pastry, which muted the rose flavour that I was actually looking forward to.
It wasn’t terrible, and I could still appreciate what Dimsusu was trying to achieve with the combination of pastry and rose. I just had a very specific expectation in my head.
Unfortunately, this version just didn’t give me the same experience.
✅ Is Dimsusu Worth The Price?
For me, the prices at Dimsusu are fairly reasonable. Most of the breads and pastries I looked at were below RM10 each, although the exact price depends on what you choose. Some of the more elaborate pastries and specialty creations can cost a little more, particularly those with extra fillings, toppings, or decorative elements.
I wouldn’t consider Dimsusu a budget bakery, but I also didn’t find the prices unreasonable for the type of pastries they offer. You’re paying a little more for the presentation and variety, but most items are still affordable enough to pick up a few different things and share.
Personally, I think the pricing works best if you’re visiting to explore rather than buying just one item. You can choose a few pastries with different flavours and textures without spending a huge amount, which is exactly what I ended up doing.
So, is Dimsusu worth the price?
I would say yes.
Just don’t expect it to be the cheapest bakery around. For me, the appeal is more about the variety and the experience of trying something different.
✅ Location & Opening Hours
The bakery is right at the end of the mall, next to Johnny’s Restaurant, so it’s fairly easy to spot once you’re in the right section.
Since it is located inside the mall, parking is generally convenient, although it can get very busy during peak hours, especially on weekends and public holidays. If you’re visiting mainly for Dimsusu, I’d suggest parking closer to the West Wing so you don’t have to walk too far across the mall. Since Dimsusu is towards the far end of the mall, knowing which side to head towards can save you quite a bit of walking.
📍 Dimsusu @ IOI City Mall
LG78B & LG78C, West Wing, Lower Ground Floor
🕒 Opening Hours:
Daily: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
✅ Will I Come Again?
Yes.
Even though the Golden Rose Pastry didn’t quite live up to my expectations for the flower cake, it didn’t put me off Dimsusu. There are still several of their rose-themed pastries that I’ve already got my eye on, and I spotted a tiramisu that looked way too tempting to leave for another day.
I also really appreciated that the pastries weren’t overly sweet, as that’s something I personally ejoy.
I think that’s the thing about visiting a bakery like this. Not every pastry is going to be a personal favourite, and that’s perfectly fine. My experience with the Mango Cream Cheese Bun was more about my own expectations, while the Golden Rose Pastry simply didn’t have the texture and flavour balance I was hoping for. The Rose Cheese Bagel, on the other hand has become one of my favourites.
So for me, it really comes down to what you choose. Dimsusu has a wide selection, and I don’t think you can judge the entire bakery based on one or two pastries. There are enough interesting flavours and combinations to make me want to go back and try something different next time.
Dimsusu is worth visiting if you’re curious about rose-flavoured pastries or simply want to try something a little different from the usual bakery fare.
The rose-themed concept alone makes Dimsusu an interesting place to explore.
Wanderhoney Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Love,
X, Auri 💛
