NBCB Review: $8.90 Brioche Burgers, Horlicks Milkshake And More In Katong

NBCB for brioche burgers and more in Katong

When NBCB first opened its doors in Orchard Central, they took the social media world by storm for their tongue-in-cheek branding and gourmet burgers. Previously a home-based business, the popular burger joint has recently expanded to a second outlet, this time on the ground floor of i12 Katong.

In case you’re wondering, NBCB is short for “Nothing But Cheese Burgers”. The homegrown brand offers handcrafted burgers, fried-to-order sides, and milkshakes in local flavours. We visited their East Coast branch for a taste!

Food at NBCB

If you’re a regular at their Orchard outlet, you’ll be pleased to know that the menu at their new Katong location is largely the same. Burgers are priced from $8.90 for the BLT or CCB burger, the latter of which comes with a single chicken patty.

We went straight for their most popular item, which was also the most expensive on the menu, the DCB ($15.90). Consisting of two handmade beef patties, stacked between fresh veggies, melty cheddar, NBCB’s secret sauce, and brioche buns, the Double Cheese Burger was a good hefty size. 

The beef patties were incredibly juicy and tender, which resulted in the meat’s fat and juices seeping into the brioche buns over the course of our shoot. I’d recommend you to tuck in stat, as the bread was soaked and the veggies turned soggy by the time we were ready to tuck in. Nonetheless, this was a delicious burger—albeit a rather pricey one. 

We also tried the WTF ($9.90), a new addition to the eatery’s menu. This came with fried fish slices instead of beef, and a house-made tartar sauce. The same brioche buns were used here.

Unfortunately, this burger was anything but memorable. The fish slices, which weren’t that many to begin with, tasted lacklustre and were slightly overcooked. While I liked how the buns were slightly sweet, which paired well with the savoury fillings, I found them to be on the drier side. They also deflated rather quickly, making the burger look rather small and unimpressive. According to an employee, NBCB sources their brioche buns from an external supplier, but the recipe belongs to the burger brand. 

If you’re still feeling peckish, go for a side of Kantang of the Day with Truffle Mayo dip ($7.90). The skin-on, hand-cut fries were served piping hot, with a side of black truffle-spiked mayo.

These fries were well-seasoned, pairing well with the creamy dipping sauce. The dip, which came with specks of mushroom bits, was deliciously earthy and umami, though it leaned salty. 

Milkshakes and burgers are a match made in heaven, and NBCB capitalises on that with a local twist. There’s the outlet-exclusive Pandan Coconut Milkshake ($4.50), but we preferred the Horlicks Milkshake ($4.50) instead. The former had a slightly artificial pandan aftertaste, which I wasn’t a fan of. Perhaps some gula melaka would make the drink more palatable and add the depth it lacked.

Ambience at NBCB

NBCB at i12 Katong is a 12-minute bus ride from Mountbatten MRT Station. It’s not the most convenient mall to get to, but boasts a myriad of food options around the hood. 

The eatery is located in the air-conditioned mall, with an open seating area right next to the kitchen and ordering counter. Black tables and yellow seats elevate the look of the space, but it’s still a casual concept for quick meals or catchups, instead of special occasions.

The verdict

Although there were a few hits and misses during our experience, NBCB is worth checking out if you’re in the area. Prices aren’t exactly the cheapest here, but you get to dine in air-conditioned comfort. Just stick to their signature beef burgers, and give their fries a go if you’re feeling extra hungry.

For more grub in the mall, check out our guide to must-eat food places in i12 Katong. Alternatively, read our Joo Chiat food guide for the full list of cafes, restaurants and hawkers in the area!

Address: 112 East Coast Road, #01-17, i12 Katong, Singapore 428802
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 9pm
Tel: 8872 0160
Website
NBCB is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Jasper Juay.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg.