Power Coffeehouse Review: Chicken Lu Rou Fan And Kaya Almond Toast At This Bedok Cafe

Power Coffeehouse at Bedok

I have lived in Bedok all my single life. Growing up, Bedok was such a bore, where my only source of good food was from hawker centres such as Bedok 85 Fengshan Food Centre and Simpang Bedok. Thankfully, when the cafe wave hit Singapore, Bedok was affected and my ‘hood took a turn for the better with plenty of good cafes and hipster BBT shops sprouting up. One of the O.G. Bedok cafes—To-gather Cafe—has since closed its shutters, and taking over its space is Power Coffeehouse.

Food at Power Coffeehouse

When I think of cafe food, I think of avocado toast, English breakfast sets, and all the ang moh jiak you can think of. However, Power Coffeehouse strays from the usual brunch fare with Asian food with a slight twist. 

A fan of Taiwanese cuisine, I decided to try their Ayam “Lu Rou” Don ($8.50), which comes with braised chicken and a sous vide egg. The portion was generous, with huge and juicy chicken chunks covering half the bowl of rice. I hate dry food, so I mixed the egg in immediately to give everything a creamy coating.

While the chicken was succulent, the black sauce was too sweet for my liking. The honeyed tang overpowered any savoury notes, and after a while I got sick eating this dish. 

The Power Nasi Goreng ($8.90), on the other hand, was full of punchy and savoury notes. I opted for the Shiok Sambal over the Yangzhou fried rice, and was welcomed with waves of fiery goodness in every bite.

The fried rice comes with three huge stir-fried prawns, a handful of fried scallions and ikan bilis, as well as a sous-vide egg. Mixing the egg in lent the same creaminess to the rice, while the fried shallots ensured the entire dish wasn’t too rich, with its crispy texture. 

The prawns were served deshelled, so you won’t have to worry about peeling the prawns. While I thought I would have been bored with the fried rice after a few bites, the spiciness from the sambal, saltiness from the ikan bilis, and onion-like pungency from the shallots made me unable to put my spoon down—up until I wiped the plate clean.

Aside from rice bowls, Power Coffeehouse also serves toasts that go beyond the usual kaya butter ones. We knew we had to get the unique Power Almond Kaya with Maple Drizzle ($5.80 a la carte, additional $2 for a set) that’s marked by a star. Here, a white piece of bread is lightly toasted and topped with kaya, sliced almonds and a drizzle of maple syrup. The bread was more pillowy soft than toasted, pairing well with the crunchy texture from the almonds. 

I would have preferred if the kaya and maple syrup were sweeter though, as the only prominent taste in this dish came from the almonds. 

The toast set comes with a Kopi Latte or Teh Latte, which weren’t much to shout about. The taste was flat and a proper hawker stall coffee would have fared better.

Ambience at Power Coffeehouse

Bright and cheery, Power Coffeehouse stands out with its yellow walls and blue-tiled counter that resembles old-school chess tables at HDB estates. The service staff are friendly, although they can be a little slow in taking down the order and making the drinks. On a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of how intimidating it is, Power Coffeehouse stands at a low 1. I would feel totally comfortable coming here in my pyjamas thanks to its laid-back vibe. 

The verdict

For a cafe, Power Coffeehouse does not rank high in my books. However, taking into consideration its target audience—i.e. the boomers living in this ageing neighbourhood—I would say that this new Bedok cafe fits right in with its Asian grub and casual ambience. It wouldn’t be my top choice if I’m dining at Bedok, but I will come by willingly if everywhere else is crowded. 

Address: 84 Bedok North Street 4, #01-27, Singapore 460084
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 10pm
Tel: 6445 1011
Website

This is an independent review by Eatbook.