Back in October last year, my colleague and I visited Joji’s Sandwich Parlour, run by the same people behind Joji’s Diner, a popular American diner in Serangoon. Recently, the concept has been rebranded to Joji’s Deli, offering pasta, sandwiches and more!
Joji’s Deli sports the same retro look as their previous sandwich parlour, complete with vintage pop culture posters, old graphic tees pinned to the wall, as well as cool arcade games. They are located next to Joji Diner, which is a 10-minute walk from Serangoon MRT Station.
Expect a few sandwiches from their old menu, such as the Classic Reuben ($18) and Shrimp Po’ Boy ($18), which we managed to try previously. The former features hickory wood-smoked Angus beef brisket, while the latter stars generous amounts of Cajun grilled shrimp.
The latest addition to the Joji lineup are their housemade pasta dishes. For starters, we tried the classic Carbonara ($14), which featured Reginette, a type of long and flat, wavy pasta shape.
This particular pasta allowed the peppery, egg yolk-based sauce to cling and coat each noodle strand. A sprinkle of finely-diced pancetta, generous amounts of grated parmesan cheese, and a creamy poached egg completed the dish.
Next up, we had the signature Butter Crab ($14), which was like a slightly more flavourful aglio e olio, paired with cherry tomatoes and crab meat.
Reginette pasta were coated in a butter reduction, laced with garlic, pepper, and a dash of lemon zest—the sauce was simple but formed the glue that held the dish together.
Pasta aside, we also tried the St Louis Baby Back Ribs ($14), a favourite they retained from their sandwich parlour menu. We got to pair this main dish with two sides, which included Potato Salad, Onion Rings, Mixed Greens, Pasta Salad, and Cajun Fries. Out of all the sides, we recommend the cajun fries as they were well-seasoned and crispy.
As for the ribs themselves, they were hickory-smoked and brined over four days, which lent the meat a rich and smoky, barbecue flavour with a slight sweetness. But the texture was subpar at best, and there was not a lot of meat on the bones so I’d skip ordering this dish.
My dining companion and I also ordered a sharing plate of Fresh Calamari ($12). We had no complaints about these breaded, deep-fried squid rings, except that we wished that they had topped our plate off with more.
Just like Joji’s Diner and the former Joji’s Sandwich Parlour, this place opens till 12am daily making it a good supper spot!
If you have a sweet tooth, read our list of best dessert spots for gelato, cake, doughnuts and more! Alternatively, check out Bored Tacos in Lavender if you’re into Mexican food.
Address: 536 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534551
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 12am
Tel: 9100 9030
Website
Joji’s Diner is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Kyla Wong and edited by Paula Formantes.
This was a media tasting at Joji’s Deli.