This Cute Maxwell Food Centre Kiosk Has Niko Neko Matcha Latte And Kaya Butter Waffles

Market At Maxwell is a new kiosk beside Maxwell Food Centre

There’s no shortage of matcha beverages lately, found in both speciality cafes and home cafes. I wouldn’t have thought of sipping my matcha in a hawker centre, though; illuminated by the unrelenting Singaporean sun, we chanced upon Market At Maxwell: a cute, placid stall right next to Maxwell Food Centre. 

Directly opposite the main entrance of Maxwell MRT Station, the picturesque kiosk dishes out three categories of drinks: Matcha, Matcha Cloud, and Coffee. They also have Matcha Waffles, topped with a variety of fillings. 

The standard Matcha Latte uses two types of matcha powder: Yuri ($6.50) and Ajisai ($7.50), both sourced from premium matcha brand NIKO NEKO and originating from the Mie province in Japan. 

Freshly hand-whisked upon preparation, the Yuri Matcha Latte was deliciously rich and umami, undiluted by the creamy milk. It was mainly earthy without being too bitter, and a tinge of sweetness helped balance out the grassy notes.

Their signature Down Right Dirty ($7.50) is made by combining milk and hojicha, before being topped off with a macchiato-style matcha foam cream. The roasted notes of the hojicha complemented the smoothness of the milk and matcha cream, but we felt that it dominated the drink, leaving the matcha flavour a little too faint in the background. 

I was also expecting the drink to contain a shot of coffee, as the word ‘dirty’ would imply. Nevertheless, I thought the blend of dark brown with vibrant green was eye-catching, and the flavours would be perfect for those who enjoy the intense, smoky notes of hojicha.

Unlike other strawberry matcha lattes that layer strawberry puree with milk and a pure matcha shot, the version here is a Strawberry Matcha Cloud ($6.50), where the aforementioned matcha foam is used instead. We loved the delightfully sweet chunks of strawberry in the compote, which was thick and paired well with the creamy milk. However, just like the Down Right Dirty, we thought the matcha foam was rather light, taste-wise. 

The stall also has Matcha Waffles, but it felt more like an afterthought, with the fillings being rather neighbourhood bakery entries, ranging from Peanut Butter to Hazelnut Chocolate. 

At $4 a pop, the Singapore Kaya Butter Waffle was a messy affair as the copious amount of butter melted inside the hot waffle. While I loved how thick and fluffy the waffles were, the supposed matcha flavours were lacking, perhaps overshadowed by the rich kaya and butter. 

$6.50 beverages at a hawker centre might not be the most affordable, but that might be partially justified given the Market At Maxwell’s location in the CBD, and it being a tourist hotspot. However, its whimsical storefront makes for quintessentially aesthetic social media posts, standing out from the neighbouring stalls. 

For great eats at the neighbouring Maxwell Food Centre, check out our Maxwell Food Centre guide. If you’re craving good matcha and want to DIY at home, check out our guide to the best matcha powders in Singapore.

Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-K1, Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9pm
Website
Market at Maxwell is not a halal-certified establishment. 

Photos taken by Nabila Malek.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.