ONDA By Park Bench Deli Review: Loaded Sandwiches, Grilled Cheese And More In Clarke Quay

ONDA By Park Bench Deli for loaded sandwiches

Update: ONDA is permanently closed.

From famed LA chain Eggslut to the rise of local names such as 46 Mittsu and Eggciting, the loaded sandwich trend has become a life of its own. Joining the scene is ONDA by Park Bench Deli, which aims to introduce a taste of Cuban Miami to local palates.

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Food at ONDA By Park Bench Deli

The main menu is concise, with a total of four sandwiches and one Hot Dog ($12) to choose from. Sadly, the hot dog wasn’t available when we visited on a weekday morning. It was a pity as we were looking forward to trying their house-smoked beef sausage.

On the sandwich front, the Cubano ($16.50) was a unanimous favourite. You won’t go wrong with this classic sammie, which sees house-cured sweet ham and lechon, alternating with swiss cheese, tucked in grilled soft roll slices. The mild and nutty cheese went well with the savoury, meaty fillings, while the pickles were a welcomed addition to cut through the richness of the filling.

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We were impressed with how packed this number was. It wasn’t too jelak, despite being filled with a generous amount of shaved ham slices and well-seasoned roasted pork.

There’s also the Cheesesteak ($16.50): beef brisket with sauteed peppers, onions, cheese sauce, and jalapeno for spice. Held by soft rolls, the juicy filling was a good balance between sweet and savoury. 

Unfortunately, the beef was slightly overdone and had more chew than I’d like. I felt that they could have been more generous with the filling too, especially at this price point. 

The classic Grilled Cheese ($14) is given an upgrade here, with sourdough rye slices toasted over browned butter. Two types of cheese are used: emmental and cheddar. The former added nutty and buttery notes, while the cheddar added a pleasant sharpness. It leaned towards the rich and greasy end, but the tomato dip helped to offset some of the indulgence.

Although I enjoyed the flavours in this sandwich, I was disappointed by the lack of a cheese pull, which is essential to any good grilled cheese sandwich in my books.

The stall also offers two sides, Chicharron ($5) and Onda Trail Mix ($5). We tried the former, which came with a tangy chilli sauce for dipping. Unfortunately, the fried pork rinds were stale and bland, so I think it’s best to stick to the sandwiches instead.

Caffeine addicts can get their cup of joe here. If you want something sweet, I’d recommend going for the La Rosita ($7): iced Cuban coffee with milk and caramel. The dark roast paired well with the creamy milk, and I appreciated the hint of sweetness from the light-handled drizzle of caramel, which made the drink siew dai.

Ambience at ONDA By Park Bench Deli

This hole-in-the-wall concept sits in a quiet spot just across from Boat Quay—a brisk 12-minute walk from its famous sister Park Bench Deli. The nearest train station is Clarke Quay MRT Station, which is conveniently located five minutes by foot. 

We were there on a weekday morning and easily found a seat at the counter. Sandwich seekers started to stream in during the lunch hour, but there wasn’t a snaking queue at any point in time. There aren’t many seats available as the space is rather small, so if you can’t snag a chair, I’d suggest eating on the go. 

The verdict

While the Cubano was delicious, there were more misses than hits at ONDA by Park Bench Deli. We left feeling rather unsatisfied, and considering the prices paid, I was expecting more. Perhaps our dining experience could have been salvaged if they were more generous in the amount of filling given. What’s probably the most disappointing to me is that there wasn’t a cheese pull for the Grilled Cheese—a basic component in my books for any cheesy sandwich. 

Nonetheless, ONDA is still worth a stop as it’s centrally located and not too far from the MRT Station. I would pop by if I’m back in the area and craving a hearty ham sandwich with coffee to-go. 

If you’re looking for more sandwiches to try, read our Breakfast Grill review for Cheetos-coated chicken sammies and more in the East. Alternatively, check out our Hello Arigato review for Angus beef sandos in Thomson!

Address: 21 Lorong Telok, Singapore 049033
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10:30am to 3pm
Website
ONDA is not a halal-certified eatery.

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Photos taken by John Lery Villanueva and edited by Zi Hui Tan.
This is an independent review by Eatbook.sg.