Kali Kali has fresh bagels in a Bendemeer food court
I love my bagels. I always have a stash of frozen ones in my freezer and make a monthly pilgrimage to Two Men Bagel House, so when I heard about Kali Kali, a new bagel spot near the office, I jumped at the chance to check it out.
The new bakery sits in the corner of Local Chapter, a food court tucked inside an office building just a five-minute walk from Bendemeer MRT Station.
The bagels are handmade and baked fresh on-site daily, using halal-sourced ingredients. What sets Kali Kali’s bagels apart is their buttery base, similar to that of a shio pan. I spoke to the founder, who wishes to remain anonymous, and he shared that he wanted to create a bagel that’s chewy without being overly dense, with a distinct crust inspired by the trendy salt bread.
For an unadulterated taste of their bagels, consider the Bagel & Schmear Set ($6.50), with three savoury and three sweet bagel flavours to choose from.
We went for the Cheddar bagel with Caramelised Onion schmear. The bagel was chewier than what I’m used to, but I enjoyed the bite. The cheddar flavour was subtle, letting the umami-packed onion schmear take centre stage. FYI: all the schmears are house-made.
The Pandan Gula Melaka bagel, paired with Strawberry schmear, was another winner.
The pandan-infused bagel had a glossy gula melaka coating and a crunchy, buttery base that caramelised around the edges. The strawberry schmear was just as enjoyable, with a sweet, creamy flavour and a tangy finish.
If you’re after something more substantial, the open-faced bagels are your best bet, though they’re fairly pricey at $11 to $15 for a food court setting.
The Avo & Lox ($15) was our top pick, loaded with smashed avocado, smoked salmon, capers, and fresh dill. Briny, savoury, and tangy, with a creamy finish from the avocado, this was a real banger.
For something lighter and more protein-packed, consider the Basil Chicken ($12). This was probably one of the healthiest bagel sandwiches I’ve tried, made with basil cream cheese, chicken breast, and cucumber slices. The chicken was a little dry, but the fragrant spread helped make up for it.
Otherwise, go for The Deli ($14), a classic combination of beef pastrami, caramelised onion cream cheese, and gherkin.
Do note that the food court is not air-conditioned and can get fairly packed with nearby office workers during lunchtime. We recommend dropping by earlier to beat the crowds and secure your bagels.
In other news, Mid-Autumn Festival is coming right up! Check out our guide to the best mooncakes for 2026, perfect for gifting your friends and family. You can also read our guide to the best zi char eateries in JB if you’re crossing the Causeway soon.
Address: 114 Lavender Sreet, #01-68, CT Hub2, Local Chapter, Singapore 338729
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am to 4pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am to 5pm
Website
Kali Kali is not halal-certified.
Photos taken by Marcus Neo.
This was a media tasting at Kali Kali.
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