Coffee aficionados in Singapore went absolutely crazy when popular Japanese coffee shop % Arabica opened its first store in Singapore at Arab Street last year.
Since then, the renowned coffee chain that hails from Kyoto, Japan has opened another 2 outlets in Singapore at 313@Somerset and Chip Bee Gardens.
While % Arabica is known for its stellar cups of coffee, the brand’s venture at Chip Bee Gardens has introduced a food section to their menu so you can enjoy some scrumptious nosh that pairs perfectly with their soothing cups of coffee. This is also the only % Arabica outlet in the world to have a food menu.
From hearty bowls of Shiso Pasta to their outrageously juicy Beef Katsu Sando, here is what you can expect from % Arabica at Chip Bee Gardens.
Like all their other outlets, the Japanese coffee shop is decked out in its signature clean and minimalistic white interior. The shop space is also more spacious as compared to their first store at Arab Street and it has both air-conditioned seating as well as an al fresco area.
The food menu for % Arabica at Chip Bee Gardens has been specially curated by Michelin starred chef Chen Lanshu, named Veuve Clicquot Asia’s Best Female Chef for 2014, as part of S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna’s Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Every dish she has presented in this ensemble has been carefully considered and crafted to pair well with % Arabica’s skillfully brewed cuppas, so you know that you’ll be in for a treat.
SWEET PEA SALAD
If you want something light and refreshing to munch on while you enjoy your freshly brewed coffee, you can opt to get the Sweet Pea Salad (S$16). The simply put together salad comes with sweet peas, tangy feta cheese and juicy guava that is finished off with a spritz of olive oil.
HOMEMADE YOGHURT WITH FRESH BERRIES & FRUITS
Diners who enjoy something on the creamier side can go for the Homemade Yoghurt with Fresh Berries & Fruits (S$18). This comes with a generous serving of smooth Swiss yoghurt that is topped with crunchy organic nuts, cereal with fresh kiwi and plump kiwi, blueberries, raspberries and bananas.
The combination, while simple, is wholesome and packed with plenty of nutrients, making it a great option for breakfast or a healthy snack.
GRAIN PORRIDGE MAISON
For a heartier meal option to start off your day with, we recommend getting % Arabica’s Grain Porridge Maison (S$20). The set features a bowl filled with a mix of freshly cooked oatmeal, corn and tri-coloured quinoa.
We love how diners are given the choice of being able to customise their porridge however they like with the provided condiments. Each bowl of porridge comes accompanied with a tray of pinch bowls containing hot milk foam, homemade raisins and your choice of Okinawa dark brown sugar or bacon salt.
BEEF KATSU SANDO
We promise you that you won’t regret getting the Beef Katsu Sando (S$32) from % Arabica. Period.
The dish features a meaty slab of Japanese Wagyu tenderloin that is deep-fried to give it a crisp golden brown exterior. This is then wedged between two pieces of lightly toasted bread and enhanced with a dash of mustard and ketchup so as not to overwhelm the natural flavours of the beef.
Lusciously juicy and packed full of umami, the beef, despite being very thick, was extremely tender. While this dish is one of the pricier items on the menu, rest assured that it is well worth every cent.
FEDELINI WITH SHISO PASTA
Earthy and nutty with a slight citrus taste, The Fedelini with Shiso Pasta (S$24) is great for pasta lovers who want something that is light and not too cloying or heavy on the palate.
Here, al dente pasta is cooked with luxurious Echiré butter, extra virgin oil and a lavish helping of Green shiso. The pasta is then finished off with some crunchy pinenuts for texture. While the dish uses a simple amount of ingredients, each and every component is of top-notch quality and comes together perfectly to create a blend of flavours and textures you will definitely enjoy.
CROQUE MADAME
We love a dense, chewy piece of sourdough with a crisp, crackly crust and the ones used for % Arabica’s Croque Madame (S$22) ticks off all the right boxes.
Sandwiched between two thick slices of their fragrant sourdough toast is a layer of salty Serrano ham and gruyère cheese. This is finished off with a runny free-range hen’s egg that is gingerly perched atop the toast. Slice into the egg yolk and allow it to be soaked up by the bread, helping to meld all the various elements of the dish together.
CAFE LATTE (HOT & ICED)
Of course, how could we miss out on % Arabica’s coffee? The brand prides itself for its use of quality coffee beans which are harvested from their own farm in Hawaii as well as sourced from various places around the world.
A piping hot cup of their classic Cafe Latte (S$7 for short, S$8 for tall) is great for days when you need a shot of energy or a morning perk-me-up. Aromatic with a slightly nutty taste, % Arabica’s Cafe Latte had a pleasantly bitter aftertaste that was soothed by the mellow creaminess of the milk.
For a rendition that will help you beat Singapore’s sweltering heat, you can also opt to get the Iced version of it for S$8.
SPANISH LATTE (HOT & ICED)
Coffee fanatics who prefer having their coffee a little on the sweeter side will love the Spanish Latte (S$7.8 for short, S$9 for tall), which was actually first created in % Arabica Kuwait. The drink comprises sweetened condensed milk that is balanced with the bitterness of the coffee.
MATCHA LATTE
Another popular drink at % Arabica which pairs excellently with their food menu is the Matcha Latte (S$8.60 for short, S$9.60 for tall). Smooth and earthy with a distinct matcha flavour, the Matcha Latte nailed the matcha to milk ratio and the bitter notes of the matcha harmonised perfectly with the full-bodied milk. This is easily one of the best matcha lattes you can get in Singapore.
They also have an iced version (S$9.60) for people who prefer their drinks cold.
% Arabica Chip Bee Gardens
44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-58
Singapore 278116
Tel: +65 6261 4516
Sun to Thu: 8am – 6pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village
This post was brought to you by % Arabica.