Get The Viral Cheesy Kunafa Dessert At This Hawker Stall In Joo Chiat

Jay And Twins has the viral kunafa in Joo Chiat

If your social media feed has been flooded with videos of the viral cheesy kunafa—a dessert consisting of shredded pastry layered with cheese and drenched in generous amounts of sauces—you can now try it at Jay And Twins. This humble stall at Joo Chiat Complex is said to be one of the OGs offering the trendy dessert in Singapore.

Here, you can get kunafa in six flavours: Pistachio, Biscoff, Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate, Nutella, and Dark Indulgence. We decided to try Nutella and Pistachio, the top two flavours recommended by the staff. Each kunafa is priced at $15, which is pretty reasonable if you share it with a friend or two. 

FYI: kunafa derives from the traditional Middle Eastern or Turkish dessert pastry kunefe. The traditional version is similar to the kunafa we’re familiar with: it comprises melted cheese encased in kataifi, AKA a crispy string pastry. The only difference is that the original dessert is layered with a simple sugar syrup instead of the thicker sauce we see in modernised renditions.  

As a stickler for keeping dishes as traditional and authentic as possible, I was slightly sceptical about the dessert at first. But to my pleasant surprise, this Gen Z-coded version turned out to be quite enjoyable. I recommend the Nutella flavour as the chocolate and cheese paired really well. 

It was a delightful union of sweetness from the sauce and saltiness from the cheese within the pastry—a flavour combination that is hard to go wrong in my books. Plus, the stretchy cheese from the copious amount of melted cheese did not disappoint! 

There was also a good mix of textures, from the crispiness of the pastry to the chewiness of the melted cheese, and the smooth sauce that coated the whole dessert. All in all, it was truly decadent. 

For more viral foods to check out, read our feature on the offbeat coriander coffee at Coffee Bee. Else, read our guide to the best dessert spots for award-winning gelato, pretty cakes and more! 

Address: 2 Joo Chiat Road, Chew N Chat Food Court, #01-1127, Joo Chiat Complex, Singapore 420002
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11am to 9:30pm, Fri 10:30am to 10pm, Sat-Sun 10:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: 9757 4400
Website
Jay And Twins is a Muslim-owned eatery. 

Photos taken by Marcus Neo.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg