Cafe Nesuto Review: Popular Brunch Cafe At ION Orchard With Mains Under $30

Cafe Nesuto has brunch and cakes at ION Orchard

ION Orchard might be better known for its shopping, but it also has its fair share of “atas” cafes, including Violet Oon, The Marmalade Pantry, and Cafe Nesuto. Given its patisserie concept, I’ve always thought of Nesuto as more of a dessert spot, so I was surprised to see their Orchard cafe’s menu—instead of just cakes and pastries, they run a full kitchen with a wide range of savoury brunch fare. This piqued my interest, and I decided to drop by to see if it lives up to its reputation beyond desserts.

Food at Cafe Nesuto

The menu at Cafe Nesuto is pretty extensive, featuring brunch mains, desserts, coffee, and matcha. There’s a selection of cakes on display at the counter, making it hard not to get distracted while ordering. I also appreciated how the menu lists allergens clearly, which is a thoughtful touch.

We were recommended the Roasted Potato & Leek Soup ($16++) to start, topped with sour cream foam, bacon bits, and fresh chives. Unfortunately, the bacon bits weren’t very crispy, and I wished there were more chives to lift the flavours and add a bit more freshness. The soup, while earthy and comforting, felt a tad one-note.

It came with a side of bread for dipping, which I enjoyed for its crisp exterior, though it was a little hard to bite through. 

If you enjoy salads, the Warm Seaweed and Salmon Salad ($27++) is worth considering, though it sits on the pricier side. You get a good portion of salmon, along with hung yoghurt—a thick and creamy yoghurt commonly featured in Indian cuisine—orange slices, shaved fennel, dill, and a lemon dressing that ties everything together nicely. 

Overall, the salmon was not overly fishy,  and was soft and flaky, though not quite melt-in-the-mouth. If I were to nitpick, I would have preferred the salmon skin to be crispier.

Moving on to mains, we had the Nesuto Scrambled Egg Rice with Bacon ($25++) and Braised Miso Chicken Leg ($26++). There’s also a more affordable option for the former that features only ikura at $19++. The dish was served with Japanese rice, house-made tare sauce, maple-glazed bacon, and house-made chilli.

My colleague was a big fan of this dish, noting that the bacon tasted quite similar to char siew, with the fatty and lean parts melding together rather than standing out as distinct layers. The chilli on the side reminded us of Lao Gan Ma, adding a savoury, spicy kick that cut through the richness nicely. I also enjoyed the scrambled eggs, which were not heavily seasoned and complemented the bacon well, though I wished they were slightly fluffier. 

I preferred the Braised Miso Chicken Leg, which was fork-tender and generously portioned, served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes with broccolini on the side. It was also generously topped with genmai, AKA roasted brown rice kernels, for a pleasant crunch.

Instead of a traditional French brown sauce, Nesuto’s version used Japanese miso, which gave the dish an umami profile. That said, I did wish for something lighter or more refreshing on the palate—perhaps a raspberry sauce—for better contrast.

For dessert, we had the French Toast with Maple and Seasonal Fruit ($16++), which is also part of Nesuto’s brunch menu. It featured brioche toast, fresh strawberries, vanilla chantilly sour cream, and maple syrup served on the side, so you can adjust the sweetness to your liking.

The brioche was slightly crisp on the outside and soft inside, holding up well without turning soggy. The sour cream vanilla chantilly added a light creaminess with a gentle tang that kept things from feeling too rich, while the thick strawberry compote was pleasantly tart, though the strawberry slices leaned sour.

For dessert, we were recommended the ION Orchard-exclusive Matcha Red Bean Cake ($12++), a soft matcha sponge cake layered with smooth red bean cream. The matcha brought a gentle, earthy bitterness, while the red bean came through more prominently, adding a steady sweetness that rounded it out.

To wash everything down, we ordered the Iced Kyoto Uji Matcha Latte ($9++) and the refreshing Lychee Oolong House Made Cold Brew Tea ($8++). As a matcha fan, I approved of Nesuto’s version—layered with milk at the bottom and unsweetened, grassy matcha top. It leaned milky, which made it approachable for beginner matcha drinkers, though purists might prefer more of those distinct grassy notes. 

Ambience at Cafe Nesuto

The cafe features an open-concept space where you can people-watch or be the one being watched. Our table definitely drew a bit of attention when the spread arrived.

Aesthetically, the cafe is warmly lit with wooden furniture, anchored by a curved counter where the bakes are displayed, often catching the eye of passersby.  The front of the cafe sticks to neutral shades, while the back introduces smaller, rounded tables paired with a bolder navy blue accent for contrast. 

Nesuto is about a five-minute walk from Orchard MRT Station.

Cafe Nesuto – Eatbook review

I’ve been wanting to try Nesuto for a while, so I was glad I finally did. The bakes are still the clear standout for me, especially the Matcha Red Bean Cake, which honestly feels like reason enough to make a return trip on its own. The mains were well-executed, though nothing too memorable, but were generously portioned and mostly priced under $30—a solid plus for a cafe in this area. I would definitely be back again to try their other ION-exclusive cakes. 

In the meantime, check out our Orchard food guide for more eats in the area. Otherwise, read our Chan Susu review—it’s a new dessert cafe in Somerset with lava taro balls, pistachio paste and more.

Address: 2 Orchard Turn, #04-27/32, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: 6047 0334
Website
Cafe Nesuto is not halal-certified.

Photos taken by Heather Ng.
This was a media tasting at Nesuto.