Chin Mee Chin Confectionery Review: 100-Year-Old Heritage Bakery In Joo Chiat

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery is a popular bakery cafe in Joo Chiat

When it comes to old school breakfasts, Chin Mee Chin Confectionery used to be top of mind⁠—until they announced their closure in 2018. It was to the great dismay of many Singaporeans, who had grown up spending many a morning with the traditional bakery’s luncheon meat buns, kaya toasts, and more.

Just in case you missed it, Chin Mee Chin has been around since 1925, making the heritage bakery 101 years old this year. Its closure marked a bittersweet end to a beloved institution’s long-running chapter, but the bakery has since reopened with a new direction. It is now helmed by the original family in partnership with Ebb & Flow Group.

The legendary old-school bakery is also set to open its second outlet at NEX Serangoon soon, bringing its nostalgic bakes to more customers islandwide.

Food at Chin Mee Chin Confectionery

You can’t possibly visit Chin Mee Chin Confectionery without having the Kaya Toast ($2.80) and Eggs ($2.20). The kaya is made with the same recipe and in the same metal container as when they first started in 1925! Toasted over a charcoal fire, the buns are pillowy and light. I do wish there was more butter, though, but that’s a strictly personal preference.

There’s something deliciously homey about the Kaya (from $7), which you can usually purchase separately to enjoy at home. It’s aromatic and not overly sweet, with a creaminess from the low and slow cooking of the egg custard.

For a most traditional way of enjoying kaya toast, dunk it into the soft boiled eggs, mixed in with dark soya sauce and pepper!

For better value, get the Kaya Toast Set ($6.20), which comes with your choice of hot Kopi ($2) or Teh ($2). Alternatively, you can top up $1 to upgrade the drink to a Milo, or $1.50 for Iced Milo Dinosaur.

We also had the Luncheon Meat Bun ($2.80), which definitely had that old-school flavour and feel. The bun menu includes Laksa Bun, Hae Bee Hiam Bun, and Otah Bun, each priced at $2.80. Definitely give the Hae Bee Hiam Bun a shot, if only for its generous and extra aromatic filling.

Another bun you might want to try is the Pang Susi ($2.80), which takes a familiar cai png flavour of minced meat sauteed with potatoes, stuffed into the centre of a bun.

What I did enjoy, I must say, was the Cream Horn ($2). This generously sized pastry was light as air, and left no oily feeling on my fingers even as I ripped it into two. The pastry flaked like a dream, though you shouldn’t expect any taste of pure French butter from eating this. It’s an old-school pastry, done well.

The pastry horn was piped to the brim with an equally light buttercream. There are no frills to this—no fancy flavours or additions—just good ol’ plain buttercream. They aren’t stingy with it, either, so you’ll be getting a good amount of poufy creaminess with each bite.

The Plain Cupcake with Cherry Topping ($2.30) and Chocolate Cupcake ($2.50), while simple and uncomplicated, didn’t taste artificially flavoured. Don’t waltz in here expecting soft, fluffy new age-style cupcakes; these are old-school, with some bite and not entirely moist.

On the cakes front, there’s Pandan Chiffon Cake Slice, Gula Melaka Coffee Chiffon Cake, and Yuzu Chiffon Cake Slice ($2.80 each), as well as Sugee Cake ($2.90).

Ambience at Chin Mee Chin Confectionery

In staying true to the OG Chin Mee Chin we knew and loved, much of the storefront and interior has been conserved and refurbished.

There are both indoor and outdoor seats at the revamped Chin Mee Chin. You can choose to sit indoors and bask in the original, albeit refurbished, feel of the place, although you’ll have to contend with the proximity of other guests who are queueing for their turn to order.

Otherwise, they have a small number of patio seats just outside, overlooking the quiet Chapel Road, and Church of the Holy Family. What’s nice is that the patio is blocked off from the pedestrian walkway with potted plants, and there is a healthy distance. It’s a little inconvenient to get here if you don’t drive, because Marine Parade MRT Station is a 10-minute walk away.

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery – Eatbook Review

Chin Mee Chin’s return has been glorious news for many of us, who’ve grown up with memories of the grand old dame. It’s heartwarming to see that, although they’re back under new management, they’ve remained true to the soul of the brand while making improvements to the original classics.

For other old-school bakes, check out our Love Confectionery feature. The traditional bakery has been in Alexandra since 1979, which makes them 47 years old this year.

Address: 204 East Coast Road, Singapore 428903
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 4pm (last order at 3:45pm, or sold out)
Website
Chin Mee Chin is not halal-certified.

Photos taken by Emily Teu.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.SG