This month I got more adventurous and really tried to find NEW cafés that nobody else talked or wrote about. Some cafes featured do not even have a proper Facebook page.
That’s the fun, right?
Some of my foodie friends are lamenting that new cafes in Singapore are getting boring. Yes and no.
Many are just cookie cutters – more of the same thing, or merely imported brands and concepts. (I have learnt that what works in other countries may not work here because we need to know WHY it worked.)
I am human too. After 80 over cafes visited this year (no joke), there are but a few bright sparks. However, there are still some hidden places to be discovered, and I am hopeful.
Five Oars Coffee Roasters
39 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore 088462 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Melbourne Inspired Cafe With Loads Of Brunch Items
Five Oars Coffee Roasters along Tanjong Pagar Road is said to be Melbourne-café inspired.
It certainly looks attractive (ie instagrammable) from the outside, with effective use of greens and a square-shaped seating arranging to create an illusion of space.
For the menu, there is an extensive list of brunch items, followed by a couple of pastas and rice bowls. The recommended items included Cured Ocean Trout ($22.50), Strawberry Avocado ($18.00), Mentaiko Mac & Cheese ($20.50); while its dinner menu offers Beef Wellington ($32.00) and Duck Gnocchi ($21.00).
However, the price is towards the expensive side. It certainly got a lot of attention from bloggers during the opening days, but think it can have a more enticing menu to keep people talking and coming back. Five Oars Coffee Roasters (Tanjong Pagar)
Riz Labo Kitchen – Singapore
Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, Japan Food Town, 04-49, 435 Orchard Road Singapore 238877 (at Bar Nippon)
Opening Hours: 11am – 5pm (Mon – Sun)
Jiggly Japanese Pancakes From Omotesando Tokyo Arrives At Wisma Atria>
Riz Labo Kitchen from Omotesando Tokyo has opened at Japan Food Town Wisma Atria.
Not for long though, as this is a pop-up concept only from 21 July till 20 October 2018, 11am till 5pm daily.
The menu is very concise, with only 4 pancakes available: Plain ($15), Matcha ($18), Premium Chocolate ($18) and a limited edition (only 10 per day) Strawberry Berry Ice-cream Kawaii Riz Labo Style ($20).
Unlike other pancakes, Japanese do it quite differently with a jiggly (cue Boomerang moment), fluffy, melt-in-the-mouth texture.
A distinguishing factor for Riz Labo Kitchen’s pancakes is that they are gluten free using self-cultivated rice flour (instead of wheat flour), light brown sugar, organic soy milk and rice oil.
While we generally enjoyed the pancakes, we can’t say the same about its service. Riz Labo Kitchen Singapore (Wisma Atria)
Lowe’f Artisanal Sandwiches. Pastries. Coffee
1 Queen Street Singapore 188534 (Bras Basah MRT Exit A)
Tel: +65 87674859
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Fri), 8:30am – 6pm (Sat), Closed Sun
Hidden Artisanal Sandwich & Pastries Cafe With Delicious Bakes
The bakery cafe is located at Queen Street Singapore, a short walk from Bras Basah MRT and Art Museum.
However, it is slightly inconspicuous and so there is always a likelihood of people walking past without taking notice.
The menu certainly looks promising. Recommend items include Citrus Cerviche Salmon, Avocado & Ikura ($15); Queen St Chicken Sandwich added with Don’s mom’s Hainanese chilli sauce ($14); Good Morning Burger ($7.5) – brioche burger bun, cage free scrambled eggs, UK aged orange cheddar, pickled shallots & coffee mayo; Lowe’f Big Brekkie ($14) which includes brioche pullman, egg confit, roasted cherry tomatoes, edamame, bacon, brown button mushrooms and choice of spicy pork sausage or smoked beef sausage.
I think Lowe’f needs more support and love. Lowe’f (Queen Street)
Keep & Commune
237 South Bridge Road Singapore 058786 (Chinatown MRT)
Tel: +65 6304 3231
Opening Hours: 8am – 11pm (Mon-Fri), 10am – 11pm (Sat), Closed Sun
(Note: Commune is opened from 8am – 6pm during soft launch period)
Cafe By Day, Tapas-Bar By Night
Commune is the café part of the business, focusing on single origin and custom blend coffee, with food cooked from local produce and fresh herbs grown in-house.
Superbowls are offered during lunchtime, with offerings of Piadina ($15) – rustic Italian flat bread spread with cream cheese, filled with salad & prosciutto di Parma; Popeye Lou ($15) – marinated & crumbed chicken leg, melted cheese topped with Jalapeño peppers with hand cut chips; Rendang Meatballs ($16) – homemade meatballs slow cooked in spicy dark coconut cream sauce; and Chilean Mussels ($18) cooked in homemade laksa broth
I thought it was slightly too off the radar, especially with that many new cafes in the vicinity. (Plus, “Commune” is getting to be a really common name here. 4 NEW cafes in Singapore with either “commune” or “communal” in its name. Serious.)
Kakuida’s
12 Gopeng Street, #01-23 Icon Village, Singapore 078877 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 6260 1801
Opening Hours: 8am – 7:30pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 5pm (Sat), Closed Sun
Japanese Vinegar Drink & Donut Shop Opens In Singapore
Kakuidas specialises in “Kurozu”, also known as “Japanese Black vinegar” – sometimes called ‘wonder-food’ that has been perfected with 200 years of traditional brewing by kurozu masters since the Edo period (1800s).
Over at the Singapore outlet, it offers drinks such as Homemade Kurozu Ice Lemon Tea ($3.90), Pina Colada Fruit Tea with Kurozu Konnyaku ($3.50 / $3.90), Organic Apple Kurozu ($5.50), Honey Ginger Kurozu with Orange Peel ($3.90).
To me, the highlight is the donuts coming in flavours of Original ($1.90), Chocolate ($2.20), Matcha ($2.20) and Sweet Potato ($2.20).
The donuts are made using rice flour imported from Japan, added with kurozu to enhance the flavour. Kakuida’s Kurozu (Tanjong Pagar)
Kaori Atelier
10 Duxton Hill Singapore 089594
Japanese Café Serving Japanese Don, Salad Bowls and All Day Breakfast
I thought the people behind Kaori Atelier captured the mood of a typical Japanese café with its décor and music. Got the “feels”.
The café is opened by the people behind Xin by Divine Palate.
Food wise, you can expect Katsu Don ($12), Gyu Don ($14), Chicken Katsu Salad ($8) and All-Day- Breakfast plates ($12, $18).
It is still in its opening days, so I think it is getting a hang of things. A lady told me they could stay miniature clay and baking classes in the venue really soon.
Tiong Bahru Bakery – Chip Bee Gardens
43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-74, Singapore 278115
Tel: +65 6877 4868
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm Daily
Tiong Bahru Bakery Opens At Holland Village
Tiong Bahru Bakery has opened its 4th outlet at Chip Bee Gardens, still featuring its signature butter Croissants ($3.20) which are baked fresh every 2 hours.
The new place has a 1930s local sweet shop-inspired décor, a grab-and-go takeaway express lane, with a striking Three Wise Monkeys Mural by local artist/X.
I thought it was quite appropriate… especially ”speak no evil”. Just enjoy the coffee, Kougin Amann and leave the gossips at the door.
TenRen Tea Singapore
Chinatown Point #01-07, 133 New Bridge Road Singapore 059413 (opposite McDonalds)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Famous Taiwan Bubble Tea Chain Arrives In Singapore
One of Taiwan’s leading tea chain TenRen’s Tea 天仁茗茶 has opened in Singapore, with its first retail outlet at ChinaTown Point. (Also read: 10 Must-Try Bubble Teas In Taipei)
The 800-square feet store at ChinaTown Point offers bubble tea, traditional tea drinks, as well as tea leaves, snacks and teaware.
Customers can have the choice of grab-and-go ready-made drinks or a leisurely cuppa over snacks.
In Singapore, TenRen’s menu features a range of ready-made drinks, including its signature 913 King’s Oolong Tea Latte ($3.50 for medium, $4.90 for large), Orange Green Tea ($4.00 for medium, $5.60 for large) and Taro Green Tea Latte ($4.70 for medium, $6.50 for large).
Pasta Madness Café
146 Jalan Bukit Merah #01-1090 Singapore 160146
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm
Homely Café Serving Very Interesting Pastas
To be really honest, websites seldom feature places like this – inconspicuous, hidden under a HDB flat, serving not-exactly-instagrammable dishes.
The interior is a mish-mash of furniture, and menu printed on A4 paper in a mixture of fonts may not be that inspiring.
But the food really sounds interesting, and made me want to visit it. I saw BBQ Sambal Chilli Stingyray Pasta ($9.90), Lor Mee Pasta with Japanese Katsudon Chicken ($6.90), and Seafood Fried Hokkien Mee ($6.90) on its Chef’s Daily Special.
While I thought that the Sambal Chilli Mushrooms Aglio Olio ($4.90) was too spicy, I really liked the Laksa Roasted Chicken Pasta ($8.90) which had flavours that reminded me of the laksa-taste I cannot find anywhere else in Singapore now.
Egg Stop
60 Paya Lebar Road, Paya Lebar Square, #01-62 Singapore 409051 (Paya Lebar MRT)
Opening Hours: 10 am – 10 pm (Mon – Sun) (Anticipated opening: 3rd August).
Korean Inspired Sandwich Café
Seeing double? Egg Stop or Egg Drop?
Not to be confused with the popular Korean sandwich place Egg Drop, Egg Stop is a local-brand located at Paya Lebar Square.
This is a said to be a “Korean sandwich shack with an influence of American style breakfast comfort food”, and also serves up freshly brewed coffees and sparkling ades.
The Egg Stop sandwiches feature two slices of thick, buttery milk bread freshly baked daily then toasted.
Its signature ($4.90) contains creamy scrambled eggs, caramelised onions, mayonnaise and a specially blended sauce. The other recommendations include Smoked Chicken ($6.90), classic Chicken Ham & Cheese ($4.90), Avocado & Egg (S$7.90), and Teriyaki Beef (S$7.40) sandwiches.
Watch out, Isaac Toast?
Other Related Entries
10 NEW Cafés In Singapore July 2018
12 NEW Cafés In Singapore June 2018
10 NEW Cafés In Singapore May 2018
10 NEW Cafés In Singapore April 2018
10 NEW Cafés In Singapore March 2018
12 NEW Cafés In Singapore January 2018
14 NEW Cafés In Singapore February 2018
* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Nicholas Tan @stormscape. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
The post 10 NEW Cafés In Singapore August 2018 – Korean Egg Stop Sandwich, Taiwan’s TenRen Tea, And Local Stingray Pasta appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.