Chin Mee Chin—the famous old-school confectionery—is reopening at its original location at 204 East Coast Road. While it was earlier reported that Chin Mee Chin would be returning in March this year, there was a delay and it would be reopening in 15 Sep 2021 instead.

Specialising in local kopi, traditional kaya toasts and soft boiled eggs, this is the ultimate go-to destination for an authentic retro Singapore experience. The legendary coffee shop is also known for its baked goods such as Swiss rolls, cream horns, luncheon meat buns and sugee cakes.

Established in 1925, the legendary coffee shop has been closed for two years and according to an article by The Straits Times, it is making a comeback in partnership with the Ebb & Flow Group, which is behind food and beverage concepts such as The Dragon Chamber, Tigerlily Patisserie, and Sommer Dining.

Madam Sharon Tan, the granddaughter of the confectionery’s late founder, and her mother, Madam Leoang Kwang Ling (Chin Mee Chin’s main managing partner) remain shareholders in the business and will be working closely with the new partners to pass on their heritage recipes.

The seating capacity of the new Chin Mee Chin will be doubled to 50 seats, including a new alfresco area.

Stepping into Chin Mee Chin brings this nostalgic feeling—from the green floor tiles and marble round tables to the way the aunties shout across the room with your orders—almost as if time stood still in the good old days.

We cannot wait for Chin Mee Chin to reopen!

Chin Mee Chin
204 East Coast Road
Singapore 428903

Few things in life satisfy as much as the Kaya Toast—a traditional Singapore-style breakfast. It has undoubtedly become a staple for many Singaporeans since generations ago, and today, it is still widely loved.

We enjoy the old-school fare in various ways—dipping it in soft boiled egg, coffee, or just having it on its own. Very often, it is also paired with a set meal of two soft boiled eggs and your choice of coffee or tea.

You can find renditions of this dish almost everywhere you go, and to get you started, here are 11 Best Kaya Toasts In Singapore.

#1 YA KUN

Ya Kun is one of the most frequented coffee stalls in Singapore, with its history dating back to the early 1940s.

The kaya from Ya Kun—made up of eggs, coconut milk, sugar and pandan—is sandwiched between crisp brown toasted bread. The household brand constantly keeps up with the trend to offer new menu items, and the consistency is the reason for our loyalty.

Ya Kun Kaya Toast
1 Harbourfront Walk, #B2-26, Vivo City
Singapore 099253
Tel: +65 6225 5789
Sun to Thu: 8.15am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 8.15am – 10.30pm
Nearest MRT: HarbourFront

#2 FUN TOAST

Fun Toast was originally Kheng Nam Hong, a coffee house widely known by the early residents of Telok Ayer Street. It has since rebranded to a fun-loving label where the younger generations of Singaporeans can better relate to.

One of their signatures includes the Kaya Butter Soft Bun set (S$5.20) which features kaya smothered on buns that are crisp on the outside and incredibly soft on the inside. We highly recommend you to dip it into their soft-boiled eggs for an elevated flavour.

Fun Toast
Citylink Mall, 1 Raffles Link, #B1-04, Singapore 039393
Tel: +65 6533 1233
Mon to Thu: 7am – 8.30pm
Fri: 7am – 9.30pm
Sat: 8am – 9.30pm
Sun & PH: 8am – 8.30pm
Nearest MRT: City Hall

#3 KILLINEY KOPITIAM

The pioneer outlet of Killiney Kopitiam was founded in 1919 and still operates along Killiney Road today; it is the longest standing Hainanese coffee shop in Singapore.

Other than the kaya toast (S$2.40 for 2 slices), the coffee shop also dishes countless of local delights such as their famed Laksa and Curry Chicken. The standards across various outlets have dropped over the years, but the original branch at Killiney Road is still as good as before.

Killiney Kopitiam
67 Killiney Road, Singapore 239525
Tel: +65 6734 3910
Mon, Wed to Sat: 6am – 10pm
Sun, Tue & PH: 6am – 6pm
Nearest MRT: Somerset

#4 TOAST BOX

Established under the BreadTalk group, Toast Box prides itself on offering authentic breakfast that will bring one back to the 70′s.

It is set to ignite nostalgia amongst the Singaporeans, completing the experience with a good Nanyang cuppa and grilled Kaya Toasts (S$1.70 per slice). Other standouts from the menu include the Floss Toast and Crunchy Peanut Butter Thick Toast.

Toast Box
AMK Hub, No. 53 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, #01-01, Singapore 569933
Tel: +65 6484 6591
Daily: 7am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Ang Mo Kio

#5 OLD TOWN WHITE COFFEE

Though the food at Old Town White Coffee is slightly pricier, their Kaya Toast (S$1.60 per slice) is still worth a shot.

Originating from Malaysia, this franchise is now a familiar name in Singapore too. Patrons visit them for fragrant white coffee and an array of simple but delectable local fares.

Old Town White Coffee
180 Kitchener Road
#B1-31/32 City Square Mall
Singapore 208539
Tel: +65 6509 8355
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park

#6 KAFFE & TOAST

Being the halal subsidiary of Coffee & Toast, Kaffe & Toast offers Kaya Toast at S$1.80 per serving. Their kaya spread is made with more doses of egg yolk and is generously slathered on each slice of freshly grilled bread.

We also love with the Mackerel Otah Bun that comes with fish otah.

Kaffe & Toast
Singapore General Hospital (SGH), 4 Hospital Drive, Level 1, Singapore 169608
Tel: +65 6221 0136
Mon to Fri: 7am – 8pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 8am – 5pm
Nearest MRT: Outram Park

#7 TONG AH EATING HOUSE 

Known for its rich history since the 1930s, Tong Ah has since moved a few doors from its original location to reside in the same space as Potato Head Folk.

Be sure to catch them toasting the kaya toast on traditional charcoal grills and you can even request for your toast to be extra crispy. Their formula? Toasting it thrice before scraping off the charred parts using a condensed milk lid.

Tong Ah Eating House
35 Keong Siak Road, Singapore 089143
Tel: +65 6223 5083
Daily: 7am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Outram Park

#8 HEAVENLY WANG

Heavenly Wang serves a mean slice of Kaya Toast (S$1.50), with thick butter slices and a sweet kaya spread generously tucked in between slightly crisp bread.

This halal eatery also whips up several other Singaporean classics too, so be sure to try out their signature Mee Siam that is well-loved by the locals.

Heavenly Wang
277 Orchard Road, #B2-07/08, Orchard Gateway, Singapore 238858
Mon to Sat: 8am – 9:30pm
Sun & PH: 9.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest MRT: Somerset

#9 GOOD MORNING NANYANG CAFE

The kaya toast (S$1.60) at Good Morning Nanyang Cafe is really unique. Their kaya spread is freshly made in-house, following the recipes of a man from Segamat; so rich, luscious and subtly sweet. But this is what sets them apart from the rest—they use ciabatta instead of regular white bread.

Other toast selections include the Orange Ciabatta set, with caramelised orange peel added to bring about a robust element in the toast.

Good Morning Nanyang Cafe
Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road, #02-03, Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 9650 3256
Daily: 8.30am - 8.30pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest MRT: Orchard

#10 HILL STREET COFFEE SHOP

Hill Street Coffee Shop evokes a sense of nostalgia that is hard to beat.

Their Kaya Toast (S$2.50) spots a different execution with the replacement of steamed bread—and we love it so much. Expect to sink your teeth into the incredibly soft white bread, coated with a generous kaya spread with a distinct coconut element and topped off with pieces of savoury butter.

Hill Street Coffee Shop
Supertree Grove, Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Tel: +65 6702 3373
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Bayfront

#11 TOAST HUT

One of our favourites in this list, Toast Hut is a place that is worth all the hype and crazy queues. The owner heads over to the stall at 4am every morning to prepare for the opening of the stall so patrons can get their coffee-fix as early as 6.30am in the morning!

Their Kaya Butter Toast (S$1.60 for 4 pcs, S$3.00 for a set) goes extremely well with the aromatic and fragrant coffee.

Toast Hut
51 Old Airport Road #01-52
Old Airport Road Food Centre
Singapore 390051
Daily: 6.30am – 1.30pm
Nearest Station: Dakota

Birdfolks is an American fried chicken and kopi-centric eatery and the latest food establishment to open up at NEWest along West Coast Drive. It exudes a rather cafe-like vibe but their menu offerings speak of something entirely different.

Fusing the qualities of good old American fried chicken along with their little twist of Asian influence in the form of a dark, robust coffeeshop kopi, this quirky eatery aims to start a new ball rolling which breathes nostalgia in a whole different light.

Fried chicken paired with homegrown coffeeshop kopi? That’s genius!

Photo Credit: Birdfolks

This is a joint that’s decorated like a cafe, serving up fried chicken between sandwiches, with rice or on its own along with some nibbles, sweet treats, traditional kopi and house-made tea.

Photo Credit: Birdfolks

The Signature Chicken Rice Box (S$9.90) consists of edamame, sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, sous vide egg and chunks of boneless fried chicken, all of which sit atop their house special rice.

Take your pick of the tasty rice which comes in a variety of flavours such as Cilantro Lime, Tomato Oregano, Original or Garlic Butter—the Garlic Butter Rice is pretty hot among patrons.

Photo Credit: Birdfolks

Before the bird hits the fryer, it lies submerged in a brine for a considerable amount of time, allowing it to stay super moist and succulent even after being deep-fried.

All these talks about fried chicken have honestly got our appetites fired up. Whether its expertly cooked fried chicken or a decent cuppa to get you through the day, you just know that Birdfolks will get it all sorted out for you.

Birdfolks
1 West Coast Drive
#01-75 NEWest
Singapore 128020
Tel: +65 9028 5485
Daily: 12.00pm – 9.00pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

Kaya toast and eggs is the nation’ favourite breakfast combination. Together with an aromatic cup of local-style coffee or tea – or what we affectionately call kopi or teh – it is the simplest form of comfort food and one that we will never get sick of.

Whenever we dine at YaKun or Toast Box, we’d wish for an operator to reinvent the environment of a toast-and-eggs joint with a modern and cafe-like take. So when we heard about La’ Coffee - located next to Old Hen Coffee Bar in the Rangoon Road neighbourhood - we headed down on its first week of operation to check them out.

La’ Coffee is not your usual kaya toast places like Yakun and Toastbox; it is quite essentially a modern café that focuses on old school snacks such as traditional bread like Kaya Toast (S$3.50), Butter Sugar Toast (S$3.50); traditional coffee and tea (S$3.50 – S$4) – Teh, Teh O, Kopi C, Kopi O – as well as Asian snacks like Yam Cake (S$4) and Chee Cheong Fun (S$4). You can opt for the Combo Set (S$8.50) which comes with toast, half boiled eggs and coffee/tea.

Actually, La’ Coffee is a really good concept, but it could have been more well-executed if more thoughts were put into the designing of the place, as well as the little details like its music and choice of furniture.

Nonetheless, it is one new kid to check out. Prices are naturally higher than your usual kaya toast places, but what you get in return is a different café experience – think of having traditional coffee in a clean and comfortable modern spot.

La’ Coffee
88 Rangoon Road #01-02
Tel: +65 6341 7525
Mon to Thu: 8am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 1am
Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park