Gram—famous souffle pancakes from Japan—is coming to Singapore.

You’d probably have seen photos and boomerang videos of these fluffy pancakes on Instagram. They jiggle when you shake the plate, they really do. Gram Cafe & Pancakes will be opening in Singapore at VivoCity level 2 in June 2019.

The soufflé pancakes come in a stack of three thick pieces. The cream-coloured goodie is cooked to order and served warm, and freshness is guaranteed. This means you should tuck into it right after taking your photos and boomerang videos.

And yes, they do live up to the hype. It is not just a marketing gimmick as you might see it as. Well, we admit we were sceptical too but hell, were we proven wrong!

In Japan, Gram Cafe & Pancakes serves only 20 soufflé pancakes at these three timings—11am, 3pm & 6pm. It is not clear if Gram Cafe & Pancakes Singapore will have the same approach.

Gram Cafe & Pancakes Singapore
VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

Miyagawa Honten—125-year-old Unagi Speciality Restaurant—is opening its first-ever overseas outlet in Singapore.

With the arrival of so many international brands in Singapore this past couple of months, it has been a challenge to keep track but one, in particular, that has got us stoked out of our minds is the renowed unagi speciality restaurant, Miyagawa Honten.

For those who are unfamiliar, Miyagawa Honten is one of Tokyo’s most well-known unagi restaurants, with a history that spans 125 years. Its first outlet was Tsukiji Miyagawa Honten back in 1894, and it has since grown from strength to strength, now operating 20 outlets in Japan alone!

The restaurant’s very first foray out of Japan and the very first one out of Japan will be known as Ichinoji Miyagawa and we are all ecstatic to get our hands—or rather our tastebuds—on their speciality eel that boasts a unique, thick and somewhat spicy sauce—very different from the usual unagi dishes that we are familiar with.

The 34-seater restaurant located at Riverside View, Robertson Quay will serve unagi in three of its signature styles: hitsumabushi, seiro mushi and donburi.

Hitsumabushi is a traditional Nagoya’s style of cooking freshwater eel that involves slitting the eel open along the belly and grilling it whole without steaming beforehand. This style of preparing freshwater eel can be enjoyed on its own or with dashi, nori, wasabi and green onion.

For those who are wish to experience and savour the natural flavours of grilled unagi at its purest should definitely opt for the donburi option that features clean flavours and neutrally-flavoured accompaniments to really bring out the taste of the fish.

Photos credit: Miyagawa Honten

Ichinoji Miyagawa Singapore has yet to announce its official opening date. Watch this space as we bring you the latest news about its opening in Singapore.

Ichinoji Miyagawa Singapore
01-05 Riverside View
Robertson Quay Singapore 238251
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

Totti Candy Factory—popular cotton candy store from Tokyo—is opening in Singapore at Northpoint City for 3 months. It will start in early March and the store will be selling its magnificent rainbow cotton candy treats for three months until end May 2018.

For those of you who have never heard of Totti Candy Factory, it is famous for its gorgeous cotton candy which is probably two times the size of your head and comes in dazzling pastel hues.

Totti Candy Factory’s store in Harajuku experiences queue every single day and you can watch as the staff members spin the floss and bring your cotton candy dreams to life.

Totti Candy Factory
1 Northpoint Drive,
Northpoint City South Wing #01-135
Singapore 768019
Daily: 11am - 10pm
Nearest Station: Yishun

Photo Credit: The Maple Mania SG

The Maple Mania—Tokyo’s famous Maple Butter Cookie—is now in Singapore!

Established in 2013, The Maple Mania is well-known for its Maple Butter Cookie that is ranked as the number one best-selling product in Tokyo Station for three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017.

A sister company of famous cheese cookie chain, Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory, The Maple Mania focuses on using pure maple syrup directly sourced from Quebec, Canada in its pastries.

What makes their maple syrup unique is the mixture of toffee, spice, herbs and floral flavours in it. Packed with this sweet syrup, The Maple Mania’s buttery cookies are perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

Here’s what you can expect from The Maple Mania’s flagship store at ION Orchard.

Photo Credit: The Maple Mania SG

The Maple Mania’s latest international business expansion to Singapore shores means that so you no longer have to fly all the way to Tokyo to get your hands on their delicious pastries!

Photo Credit: The Maple Mania SG

Besides the Maple Butter Cookies (S$13.50 for 9, S$25 for 18 and S$42 for 32), the store is also known for its Maple Baumkuchen (S$29.90) with a caramelised top, as well as the delicate Maple Financiers (S$16.80 for 6 and S$32 for 12).

Photo Credit: The Maple Mania SG

The notable Maple Baumkuchen is another bestseller at Tokyo Train Station. The cake is infused with pure maple syrup and the crystallized maple sugar are sprinkled over the cake to create a crunchy texture.

Photo Credit: The Maple Mania SG

If you are looking for a special Christmas gift to give this year, then look no further as these maple treats are not excessively sweet while retaining its original maple flavour that will delight both children and adults.

The Maple Mania
2 Orchard Turn
#B3-K2, ION Orchard
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 9248 8475
Mon to Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

If you have a soft spot for Japanese pastries, you’re in for a treat. Japan’s number one cheese cookie confectionery, Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory, has made its way to our sunny island and opened its very first outlet at Raffles City Shopping Centre.

Hailing all the way from Tokyo, Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory is widely known for their luxurious Salt & Camembert Cookies made from the finest ingredients—Hokkaido milk and rare French Guérande salt. The combination of sweet and savoury tones in this melt-in-your-mouth cookie would get you hooked in no time.

Here’s what you can expect from this popular Japanese confectionery’s first outlet in Singapore.

Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory’s cookie range features well-balanced flavours and ingredients that are sourced from different countries.

There are Salt & Camembert Cookies made with rare sea salt from France (S$12.80 for  10 and S$24 for 20); Honey & Gorgonzola made with Rosemary Honey from Spain and veined Italian blue cheese from Gorgonzola Italy (S$14 for 10 and S$26 for 20); and Porcini & Gouda Cookies made with Porcini mushrooms from Italy (S$14 for 10).

Alternatively, if you’re a die-hard milk lover, The Milk Cheese Cake (S$29.50) is another treat to go for. The moist fluffy cake is made with cream cheese from France and blended with Hokkaido fresh cream, along with premium cheese and milk mousse that gives it that rich, luscious flavour and soft texture.

The Milk Cheese Cake is only sold as a whole but one slice is never enough, right?!

Here’s another one of their bestsellers—Strawberry Milk Roll Cake filled with milk and strawberry cream made from sweet and juicy Amaou strawberries and a touch of strawberry jam. This fluffy sponge cake is a perfect teatime snack to share with your friends and family.

Photos Credit: Tokyo Milk Cheese Singapore

Looking for something different? Try their Cow Cow Sundae (S$8.50). This velvety soft serve ice cream is made with the finest ingredients such as cream cheese, rich Jersey milk and gouda cheese from Hokkaido.

The sundae is served in a cup (S$4.50) or a cone (S$5.50) with a piece of Salt & Camembert Cookie and a slice of Milk Cheesecake—the best of Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory all gathered in a cup. What more can we ask for?

Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-73, Raffles City Shopping Center
Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 9248 8476
Mon to Sun: 11am - 9.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

YOKU MOKU—Japan’s famous Confectionery known for its Cigare butter cookies—is opening in Singapore. The flagship store is located in ION Orchard and it will officially open in January 2018.

For those of you who cannot wait to get your hands of their signature Cigare, we are happy to report that YOKU MOKU will be opening pop-up stores at ION Orchard (Level 1, from 01 Dec to 31 Dec 2017) and Takashimaya (Level B2 near Cold Storage, from 4 Dec to 25 Dec 2017).

YOKU MOKU currently has over 150 stores in Japan and more outlets in the US, Middle East, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, India. Singapore is the next stop.

The famous confectionery will be offering a wide range of butter cookies, including Billet Au Chocolate Au Lait, Pleine Lune, Bateau De Macadamia as well as the well-loved Cigare.

YOKU MOKU Singapore
ION Orchard Level 1
01 Dec to 31 Dec 2017
Daily: 10am – 10pm

Takashimaya (near Cold Storage)
Christmas Fair, Level B2
04 Dec to 25 Dec 2017
Daily: 10am – 9.30pm

Photos credit:
yokumoku.co.jp
vivreatokyo.com
shun-gate.com

MINIONS CAFE is slated to open in Singapore this November!

Managed by the same team behind the extremely successful Pokémon cafe, PARCO is bringing the first pop-up MINIONS CAFE to Singapore from 23 Nov 2017 to 21 Jan 2018. Fans of this cute yellow cartoon character in popular animated film ‘Despicable Me 3′ must not miss it for anything in the world!

Here in Singapore, guests can expect a myriad of Minion-themed food and beverages at the cafe and be spoiled with over 14 options on the menu that are inspired by the movie’s characters and stories.

Here’s an overview of what you can expect from MINIONS CAFE Singapore.

The MINIONS CAFE operated as the “The Despicable Me 3 Cafe” in Japan at five “THE GUEST cafe&diner” outlets located in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo and Fukuoka during July and September this year.

Following the cafe’s theme, guests can expect to be impressed with a myriad of Minion-themed mains, sides, beverages and desserts that make for great photo taking opportunities.

MINION-THEMED FOOD

For instance, you can choose to start your meal with the Minion’s Great Escape Cream Stew (S$20.90)—which looks extremely appealing, with a giant Minion character right in the center of the pan.

The yellow rice is mixed with saffron powder to give it that dark yellow hue and we recommend having it with the savoury cream sauce given at the side to boost the overall flavour. Every order comes with a mini salad drenched in thousand island dressing.

If you are craving for some fried food, pick the Minion Riceball Party (S$21.90)! Kids will love the fun-looking minion rice balls that come with accompanying sides such as crispy french fries and deep-fried tempura.

Alternatively, they also have other minion-themed mains such Minions Vacation Plate (S$23.90) and Pizza Box (S$13.90).

MINION-THEMED DRINKS

Feeling thirsty? Go for the Up-side-down Minion Jelly Soda Drink (S$12.90), Gru & Lucy “Grucy” Soda (S$8.90) or the Be Bad! Café Latte which can be served either hot (S$8.90) or cold (S$9.50). Although we must say, they really look too adorable for consumption!

MINION-THEMED DESSERTS

Of course, you have to end your meal with yet another Minion-themed dessert—S’more & Minion’s Ice Cream. What you get in this dessert is a scoop of refreshng mango ice cream and perfectly torched marshmellows that melt in your mouth.

As much as we enjoyed it, we had to pair the sweet treat with digestive biscuits to balance the sweetness on our palates.

Other dessert items on their menu include Minion Pudding (S$24.90) and Caramelised Banana (S$16.90).

Visitors can also look forward to exclusive MINIONS CAFE Original Goods which are not available elsewhere at the cafe. Besides that, there will also be other official “Despicable Me 3” merchandise on sale for you to shop to your heart’s content.

MINIONS CAFE – THE GUEST cafe&diner
181 Orchard Road
#03-23/24/25, Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/11/minions-cafe-singapore/feed/ 7 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/07/pablo-singapore/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/07/pablo-singapore/#comments Fri, 28 Jul 2017 07:20:24 +0000 Julee Ooi http://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=140058 Continue reading →]]>  

PABLO Cheese Tart is opening its first outlet at Wisma Atria in Singapore in early August!

Hailing all the way from Osaka, PABLO’s Baked Cheese Tarts are extremely well-known for their cheesy and crumbly baked cheese tarts. You no longer have to fly all the way to Japan to have a taste of it anymore because there is an outlet in Singapore.

Since news arrived in mid-April that the famous Baked Cheese Tart brand will be opening its first outlet in Singapore, we have been waiting for this day to come. Here’s what you can expect.

Fans of this Japanese brand would know that PABLO takes pride in producing freshly baked Cheese Tarts at their onsite kitchen daily. Flavours include the original Freshly Baked Cheese Tart, Matcha Cheese Tart with Shiratama & Azuki and Chocolate Cheese Tart which comes with rich chocolate bits.

These cheesy delights are going at S$15 each and yes, you really have to try their legendary cheese tarts for yourself. Similar to the ones in Japan, PABLO’s Baked Cheese Tarts are so soft that they jiggle when you shake them!

Other items you can look forward to indulging include PABLO Mini (S$3.50/piece), PABLO Mini Matcha (S$3.80/piece) and PABLO Mini Chocolate (S$3.80). The mini cheese tarts came with crumbly crusts which went very well with creamy cheese fillings.

However, do note that the PABLO Mini Chocolate and PABLO Mini Matcha tarts are not available during the opening. They will be released at a later date.

Those who are in the mood for something better, treat your taste buds to the Premium Cheese Tart (S$28). It comes with a caramelised top just like a creme brulee!

Wait, that is not all. If you are looking for a drink, why not try some PABLO smoothies (from S$7.80)? This Classic Cheese Tart flavour will impress all cheese lovers as it is extremely flavourful and its unique taste is not like any we have tried before.

Pablo Cheese Tart Singapore
435 Orchard Road
#01-02/03 Wisma Atria
Singapore 238877

If you love cheese tarts, read our guide on the 10 best cheese tarts in Singapore.

Kurasu Singapore is a four-day-old coffee shop that is hidden within Odeon Towers. Originating from Kyoto, this is the Japanese brand’s first venture in Singapore and the cafe is sharing the venue with District6, a co-working office space.

Their minimalistic design, fragrant coffee aroma and soothing ambiance draw in many creatives and individuals who are able to enjoy some alone time or to catch up on work.

Serving specialty coffee from selected roasters around Japan and Matcha Latte, this is one destination you have to stop by for a morning pick-me-up.

The cafe is already gaining popularity among those who are working nearby. So, we would recommend visiting the cafe before or after lunch hours if you are seeking a quiet environment.

Have your coffee by the floor-to-ceiling glass window as you watch the morning crusade pass by or choose to lounge on the comfortable sofas around the cafe.

Kurasu Singapore brews coffee from All Seasons Coffee in Tokyo and Taoca Coffee from Hyogo. Besides that, they also source coffee beans from Brazil, Colombia and Ethiopia and thereafter, have them roasted by Single O in Australia.

If you are interested to find out more, the friendly baristas are more than willing to exchange and share their coffee knowledge with you.

We went for their Cappuccino (S$5), which was a delightful blend of rich espresso and hot milk to create a strong flavour that is not too harsh for the average person.

If caffeine is not your thing, Kurasu Singapore has another signature drink—Matcha Latte (S$5), whereby the matcha powder is from Morihan, Kyoto.

Their Matcha Latte leans towards the sweeter side, so those who are not a fan of the bitter aftertaste in matcha drinks should enjoy this.

As Kurasu Singapore is currently in soft launch, do note that the menu will be updated again to accommodate new chocolate drinks, baked goods and more.

Kurasu Singapore
331 North Bridge Road
#02-01, Odeon Towers
Singapore 188720
Mon to Fri: 8am – 5pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

Character cafés are on the rise here in Singapore and adding on to the ever-growing list is the spanking new Gudetama Café Singapore. Gudetama is Sanrio’s latest character and quite possibly the current most popular one. It is no doubt that the whole world is in love with this adorable lazy egg.

Officially opening its doors to the public on 30 November 2016, Gudetama Café Singapore will be serving a myriad of cute Gudetama-themed desserts that will make your hearts melt. We were thrilled to step into the café with cosy lighting and intimate egg-shaped booths around. Spanning a large area of 2,300 square feet, the cafe at Suntec City can sit up to 112 people. Of course, expect snaking long queues in the first few weeks.

Here are some of the dishes you can expect from Gudetama Café Singapore.

Note: For those of you who are heading down to Gudetama Cafe Singapore, it is located near to Suntec City Convention, not Suntec City Tower 3.

Gudetama Café Singapore is a joint venture between two local food brands, The Soup Spoon and Joe & Dough.

Teaming up with popular author and food stylist Shirley Wong (aka Little Miss Bento), they have crafted a menu with some seriously visually-appealing options. Whip out your cameras because you are going to have a fun time photographing them!

EGG-CEPTIONAL SIDES

Two highlights from the sides menu are Gudetama Lobster Onsen (S$16) and Truffle Fries in a Cone (S$16.50). While the latter was sinfully addictive and admittedly a great snack to munch on while waiting for your mains, it was nothing special. You can skip this safe option to go for something a little more adventurous—the Gudetama Lobster Onsen.

The lobster bisque was delightfully rich and creamy, with a very distinct taste of the luxurious shellfish.

EGG-CELENT MAIN COURSES

Gudetama Café Singapore serves a decent range of main courses with a total of 10 options for you to pick from. Popular treats like Rib-”I” Don’t Care (S$28.50), Eggcited Cajun Chicken with Waffles (S$23.90) and “Shiok” Pork Ribs (S$38.50). We liked that the menu is quirky, with a subtle hint of Singlish to appeal to the local crowd.

The Rib-”I” Don’t Care is an adorable name for their Chargrilled New Zealand Grass-Fed Angus Ribeye Steak dish. You can pick the preferred doneness of your steak and it is served with rich and generous wild mushroom sauce, served with grilled vegetables and sweet potato mash.

The Eggcited Cajun Chicken with Waffles is also a wonderful choice and we really loved the marinate on the poultry.

EGG-SQUISITE DESSERTS

Who can miss their huge range of adorable desserts? They have 5 desserts on their actual menu and plenty of other smaller desserts available at the storefront for dine-in or takeaway.

One that stood out the most for us was the Ta-Ma-Go (S$17.90). Shaped like adorable tamago sushi, this dish actually comprises “sushi cheesecakes” coated with rice puffs and topped with fluffy egg sponge cake. It is also served with matcha curd (like wasabi) and maple syrup (like soy sauce).

The Shoyu Ramen (S$21.50) is another twist on a savoury dish. It is actually chocolate mousse cake with Feuilletine, chestnut Mont Blanc, earl grey jelly and orange tuile. Served on the side is some panna cotta with sweet rose tea.

The Iced Tea Coolers (S$8.50 each)—namely Straw-Very “Lazy” and Hula Hula—were pretty generic and run-of-the-mill.

Intrigued by this new character cafe? It is certainly worth a visit because some dishes really surprised us with its taste. However, as with most of these “gimmicky cafes”, do not have high expectations of the food. They are primarily attractive because of their aesthetics.

Nonetheless, the dishes are totally cute and creative, and if you are keen, join in the queue from 30 November 2016. Happy lazing around with Gudetama!

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 3 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

Gudetama Cafe Singapore
3 Temasek Boulevard
#01-361 Suntec City Mall
(Near to Suntec City Convention)
Singapore 038983
Mon to Thu: 9am – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 8am – 10pm
(Last order 9.30pm daily)
Nearest Station: Esplanade/ Promenade

LeTAO—a dessert chain from Hokkaido known for its two-layered fromage cheesecake—is opening in Singapore.

It will be setting up a takeaway kiosk at ION Orchard’s Basement 1 on 08 December 2016. Aren’t you already excited? These Japanese cheesecakes are taking over the world and we cannot be happier!

LeTAO’s signature double Fromage (S$28 for 12cm cake) comes with a layer of baked cheesecake and unbaked cheesecake. It is made with mascarpone from Italian cheese producer Ambrosi—from the Lombardy region in northern Italy—as well as fresh cream, wheat and eggs from Hokkaido.

Besides the Double Fromage Cheesecake, you can also look forward to the Chocolat Double Cake (S$28 for 12cm cake)—a combination of chocolate cake and Fromage cheese.

Other goodies from LeTAO include Royale Montagne, Premier Maalu and Biscuit au Fromage.

LeTAO’s Fromage Cheesecake is actually not new to Singapore. Those of you who frequent Isetan’s Food Fairs might remember that LeTAO’s cheesecakes were available in Singapore back in 2013.

Guys, get ready to queue!

LeTAO
ION Orchard
Basement 1, 2 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238801
Daily: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Gudetama Cafe is opening in Singapore at Suntec City this November.

Fans of Sanrio’s lazy egg character will probably have heard of Gudetama Cafe in Osaka, as well as Gudetama Cafe by Izumi Curry and the dim sum pop-up restaurant at Dim Sum Icon in Hong Kong. We can finally look forward to Gudetama Cafe in Singapore!

Gudetama Cafe Singapore has yet to release any information, but from what we know, it will be serving an array of Gudetama-themed food and drinks such as breakfast in pan, waffles, soft-serve, pizza and coffee.

While we are apprehensive about such Character cafe’s food because they have proven to be subpar thus far (though there are selective dishes that were not too bad), we trust that Gudetama Cafe Singapore will be better because they’ve got a special consultant onboard for the menu, and it is Little Miss Bento!

Of course, this also means everything will be exceptionally photogenic. Now, we can’t wait for this!

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

Gudetama Cafe
3 Temasek Boulevard
Suntec City Mall #01-361
Nearest Station: Promenade

Singaporeans need their daily dose of caffeine and there is really no lack of cafes in town that provide good coffee. While most cafes are starting to look similar, FabCafe – a futuristic cafe with state-of-the-art new fabrication technology like 3D printing and laser cutting – has opened up in the ArtScience Museum that aims to bring technology, creativity and food together.

FabCafe puts together innovations such as 3D printers and laser cutters together with food and drinks—a concept which you cannot find elsewhere in Singapore. Having outlets in Taipei, Barcelona, Tokyo, Bangkok and Hida, this is the latest FabCafe opened by the organisation.

Photos Credit: FabCafe Singapore

You will find your usual cafe fare at FabCafe, such as pastries, cakes and croissants. Visitors will get to enjoy food that has been laser-cut, or see 3D printing over their cups of coffee.

If that isn’t enough for you, sign up for FabCafe’s workshops, events and meetups where you will gain knowledge on digital fabrication, and share ideas and opinions with other like-minded creative individuals. This is a chance for you to unleash your inner creativity!

We cannot wait to see how this cafe is going to inspire our community and the change it will bring to the cafe scene in Singapore.

FabCafe Singapore
ArtScience Museum
6 Bayfront Ave
Singapore 018974
Daily: 7am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront

The first Crafholic Pop-Up Cafe is here in Singapore from now until 13 November 2016.

Kki Sweets — a popular Japanese dessert shop in Singapore — has collaborated with Craftholic Singapore to bring the first Craftholic Cafe in Singapore. Located at the School of the Arts (SOTA), the store is the first outside Japan, and will only be here until 13 November 2016.

The pop-up cafe is located at the School of the Arts (SOTA) and it is the first outside Japan!

Fans of Crafholic plushies can look forward to Craftholic themed meals, including dishes such as Sloth Garlic aioli Roast Chicken Sandwich with Truffle Potato Chips, Rab-shaped Pancakes, decorated parfaits, beverages and a limited edition – Singapore Pandan flavour Soufflé cheesecake.

You will also be able to purchase the new Otona Craft and limited edition collaboration badges collection at the Crafholic Pop-Up Cafe. Crafholic members will be entitled to 10% discount for F&B purchases.

Crafholic Cafe Singapore x Kki Sweets
1 Zubir Said Drive
Singapore 227268
Tel: +65 6225 6650
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

Photo Credit: Craftholic Singapore

Singaporeans live for great food, and we are not ashamed of it. Even when we travel, we have a list of go-to places – famous cafes, Michelin-star restaurants and what-have-you.

We know too well those moments when indulging in BAKE Cheese Tarts on the streets of Tokyo and enjoying a pizza in PizzaExpress in London, and wondering when would be the next we could savour them again.

Luckily for us, Singapore has more and more international brands setting foot on our shores, and we are infinitely closer to satisfying all our cravings.

Now, let us take a look at the 13 Popular Overseas Dining Concepts That Opened In Singapore in 2016.

BAKE CHEESE TART

Originating from Kinotoya confectionery store in Hokkaido, BAKE Cheese Tart was founded by Shintaro Naganuma who strongly believes that freshly baked tarts taste the best and that only fresh ones can be sold to its customers.

BAKE is hence very well-loved for their cheese tarts for they are baked on the actual premises – nothing but fresh, fragrant, warm cheese tarts.

#B4-33 ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238801
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

BURGER JOINT NYC

New York’s cloak-and-dagger burger restaurant – Burger Joint – made its debut in Singapore on 03 May 2016, with its first outlet at Amoy Street. Proudly deemed as a burger restaurant without all the fluff of gourmet burgers, Burger Joint makes genuinely unpretentious burgers that have left the harshest of critics in awe.

They have been known to refer to their burgers as anti-gourmet burgers. Although there is nothing wrong with a tasty gourmet burger, the main idea of the burgers at Burger Joint is to just serve up some honest and delicious burgers – maybe even the best one you will ever have.

#01-03
115 Amoy Street
Singapore 069935
Tel: +65 6221 8648
Mon to Wed: 11am – 11pm
Thu to Sat: 11am – 12am
Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

FABCAFE

Singaporeans need their daily dose of caffeine and there is really no lack of cafes in town that provide good coffee. While most cafes are starting to look similar, FabCafe – a futuristic cafe with state-of-the-art new fabrication technology like 3D printing and laser cutting – has opened up in the ArtScience Museum that aims to bring technology, creativity and food together.

ArtScience Museum
6 Bayfront Ave
Singapore 018974
Daily: 7am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront

GUDETAMA CAFE

Gudetama Cafe is opening in Singapore at Suntec City this November.

Fans of Sanrio’s lazy egg character will probably have heard of Gudetama Cafe in Osaka, as well as Gudetama Cafe by Izumi Curry and the dim sum pop-up restaurant at Dim Sum Icon in Hong Kong. We can finally look forward to Gudetama Cafe in Singapore!

3 Temasek Boulevard
Suntec City Mall #01-361
Nearest Station: Promenade

GREYHOUND

Greyhound Cafe, famous fashion and lifestyle cafe in Bangkok, will be opening in Paragon come November. With the brand’s background in fashion and graphic design, the new café is set to impress – in terms of both interiors and food.

We are looking forward to seeing the space, the specially designed staff uniforms, as well as being able to try the food that people often rave about. One item to look out for is the popular Greyhound Famous Fried Wings.

Paragon
290 Orchard Road
Singapore 238859
Nearest Station: Orchard

HONOLULU

Honolulu Café was founded in Hong Kong during the 1940s, and it started out as a humble eatery selling Hong Kong-style coffee and tea and baked confectionery. The casual eatery is renowned for their flaky egg tarts, pineapple buns and Hong Kong milk tea.

Local chefs from Hong Kong’s Honolulu Café are sent to Singapore to ensure that the dishes served here remain similar to the flagship store’s.

No trip to Honolulu Cafe is complete until you have tried their signature Honolulu Egg Tarts (S$1.70++ each). Each palm-size flaky pastry encases to-die-for sweet soft egg custard; the dough had been frozen overnight and folded into many layers to achieve a crisp shell.

#01-33F/G The Centrepoint
176 Orchard Road
Singapore 238843
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

KAM’S ROAST GOOSE RESTAURANT

Kam’s Roast Goose – famous roast goose restaurant from Hong Kong – is opening in Singapore at Pacific Plaza this October. Kam’s had always been one of our favourite Hong Kong restaurants. We are glad that we no longer have to fly abroad just to satisfy our roast goose cravings.

Pacific Plaza
9 Scotts Road
Singapore 228210
Nearest Station: Orchard

KISS THE TIRAMISU

Kiss The Tiramisu, the popular South Korean Tiramisu soft-serve ice cream joint, is set to open in Singapore soon! Their first outlet will be located right in the heart of Orchard Road, at Orchard Gateway.

Kiss The Tiramisu has been a hit in South Korea ever since its debut in Hongdae, fusing two popular desserts into one awesome treat. Tiramisu and soft serve ice cream are like two peas in a pot. Each tiramisu soft serve from Kiss The Tiramisu is also served in a swanky gold-rimmed plastic “wine glass” for your perfect social media photo.

277 Orchard Road #01-15 Orchard Gateway
Singapore 238858
Nearest Station: Somerset

KYUSHU PANCAKE

Kyushu Pancake’s famed pancakes are made with seven different grains that are grown in Kyushu – the gem of Japanese agricultural regions. The result is a premium pancake mix that gives the perfect texture and unique taste.

The 42-seater outlet in Novena opened on 11 May 2016 and offers the Kyushu Butter Milk Classic Pancake, Salted Caramel French Toast, Matcha Azuki Waffle, Egg Benedict Pancake and Matcha Montblanc. Signature drinks that are served include Matcha Latte, Fresh Fruit Tea and Special Milk Tea.

#01-08 Novena Regency
275 Thomson Road
Singapore 307645
Tel: +65 6352 6265
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Novena

PIZZAEXPRESS

This popular pizza chain has over 500 outlets in United Kingdom, various European countries, Hong Kong, India and the Middle East. PizzaExpress is now open in Singapore and sits on the basement level of Scotts Square.

The doughs are all made fresh on the spot, and you can watch the chefs in action via the open kitchen.

Classic pizzas include a variety of different flavours on a slightly thicker dough. They are smaller in size, which is great for solo diners. We had a taste of a popular flavour – Lava (S$20) which is topped with olives, burrata cheese, chilli oil, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella and passata, and fresh basil.

Scotts Square
6 Scotts Rd
Singapore 228209
Tel: +65 6538 0083
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

POPBAR

Popbar, the famed popsicle store from The U.S., is opening in Singapore at Plaza Singapura. We tried Popbar’s popsicle when we were in New York City and trust us when we say that they taste as good as they look. With the opening of Popbar in Singapore, there is no need to fly all the way to the States to have a taste of these Insta-famous popsicles.

The store will be housed in Plaza Singapura, and from what we understand, it is set to open within the next few weeks.

Plaza Singapura #B2-64
68 Orchard Road
Singapore 238839
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

SMOOTHIE HOUSE

This is Taiwan’s most popular and bestselling shaved ice store that sits along Yong Kang Street. Singapore’s Smoothie House imports the blocks of ice directly from Taiwan so you can be assured that the quality and taste will be exactly like the original snowflake ice in Taiwan.

Mango Snowflake Ice with Panna Cotta (S$12.90) is their signature and probably the most ordered item in their Taiwan stores. Many reasons to love this bowl, indeed. Why, just look at the generous chunks of fresh mango atop the powdery snowflake ice. And a panna cotta to top, too!

A little fun fact: every piece of mango is sliced with precision to ensure a consistency in the size for the best dining experience, and the number of mango chunks is even on each side! Also, every bowl of Mango Snowflake Ice actually comprises almost a whole mango fruit.

#01-08 Westgate
3 Gateway Drive
Singapore 608532
Tel: +65 6710 5567
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Jurong East

TAI CHEONG BAKERY

Tai Cheong is an institution in Hong Kong, and its egg tarts are well-loved by people from all around the globe. Egg tart is one of the must-try local food in Hong Kong, and we are extremely delighted to know that Tai Cheong Bakery’s egg tarts can be found at he basement of Takashimaya now!

Other than the much-lauded egg tarts, the old school bakery is also selling pineapple buns (bolo buns), doughnuts, egg rolls, pastries and local cha chaan teng dishes.

Tai Cheong Bakery’s egg tarts are priced at S$7.60 for a box of 4.

#B208-5 Takashimaya Shopping Centre
391 Orchard Road
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 8223 1954
Daily: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Kyushu Pancake, a popular pancake cafe from Japan, is coming to Singapore and its first outlet will open on 11 May 2016.

These healthy pancakes sure are different from the usual sweet desserts we are used to, and with their arrival, it is bound to change the “pancake scene” in Singapore!

Established in 2012, Kyushu Pancake is well loved for many reasons. Its famed pancakes are made with seven different grains that are grown in Kyushu – the gem of Japanese agricultural regions. The result is a premium pancake mix that gives the perfect texture and unique taste.

Following its success in Tokyo is other successful outlets in Kyushu and Taipei. And we are looking forward to its flagship in Singapore – a 42-seater outlet in Novena.

Some of the dishes that you can expect at Kyushu Pancake Singapore include Kyushu Butter Milk Classic Pancake, Salted Caramel French Toast, Matcha Azuki Waffle, Egg Benedict Pancake and Matcha Montblanc. It will also be serving signature drinks such as Matcha Latte, Fresh Fruit Tea and Special Milk Tea.

Kyushu Pancake Singapore
275 Thomson Road
Novena Regency #01-08
Singapore 307645
Tel: +65 6352 6265
Nearest Station: Novena

Photos credit: Japan Times and All About Japan.

BAKE Cheese Tart - the famous Hokkaido cheese tarts that we are so obsessed with – is coming to Singapore!

BAKE has just confirmed its opening date of its first outlet at the basement food hall of Ion Orchard on 29 April 2016. Each cheese tart will sell for S$3.50, and customers can buy six at S$19.50.

Originated from Kinotoya confectionery store in Hokkaido, BAKE Cheese Tart is founded by Shintaro Naganuma, the eldest son of Akio Naganuma – the president of Kinotoya confectionery store in Hokkaido.

BAKE strongly believes that freshly baked tarts taste the best, hence insisting that all their cheese tarts to be baked on the actual premises to ensure that customers enjoy them fresh out of the oven. Nothing but fresh, fragrant, warm cheese tarts.

The cheese mousse is made from blending three different types of cream cheese using cheese from Hakodate in Hokkaido. The cookie tart base is first baked in Japan. Once it reaches Singapore, it is baked with the cheese mousse for the second time to create a twice-baked pastry.

The end result is sweet, creamy and slightly salty cream filling cocooned in a buttery tart base. We’ve hardly had such satisfying tarts and just a bite of Bake’s cheese tarts and our lives changed forever. Yes, it was that amazing.

There were snaking queues when BAKE Cheese Tart first opened in Hong Kong and Bangkok.

And since queuing for food is a national hobby in Singapore, we are definitely foreseeing a long queue when BAKE finally opens in Singapore at ION Orchard.

BAKE Cheese Tart
2 Orchard Turn
#B4-33 ION Orchard
Singapore 238801