When I think of good Nanyang cuisine, the popular Malaysian chain Oriental Kopi comes to mind. Recently, we stumbled upon Singapura Nanyang Coffee at Marina Square that bears a striking resemblance to the JB-famous brand, from their flaky egg tarts and frothy XL kopi to the distinctive green and brown accents of the interior.
Their menu spans a large range of dishes: think rice, noodles, soup, pastries, toast and more!
A popular item is the Kaya Butter Toast Set (from $5.80+), a classic combo featuring thick slabs of butter paired with a generous spread of coconutty Hainanese kaya, all between two thin slices of toast, and served alongside two soft-boiled eggs.
The crispy toast served as the perfect vessel for soaking up the rich and velvety eggs.
Complete your set with a hot Kopi or Teh. FYI, you can upgrade your drink to their XL Kopi C Ice or Teh Milk Ice for an extra $1.70+ or $1.50+, respectively. They’re also available a la carte at $3.70+ and $3.50+.
The drinks came in giant mugs and were filled till the brim. They were thick and frothy, and had just the right amount of sweetness.
For something more substantial, we recommend the Char Siew Kolo Mee ($7.90+), starring springy egg noodles tossed in shallot oil and a sweet-savoury sauce, and then topped with minced pork, crispy pork lard, thick slices of char siew, and fresh bak choy. The set also comes with a bowl of wonton soup.
We enjoyed each slice of char siew, which was juicy, tender, and packed with flavour.
There’s also the Ayam Berempah Nasi Lemak ($10.90+), which pairs a fried chicken leg with fluffy coconut rice, a fried egg, ikan bilis, peanuts, fresh cucumber slices, and a sweet-spicy sambal.
The chicken was crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. The meat was infused with an aromatic spice blend, complementing the fragrant rice.
Don’t miss out on their freshly baked Egg Tarts ($5+ for two).
We were wowed by the ultra soft and silky egg custard filling, encased in a buttery, flaky crust.
Singapura Nanyang Coffee is located on the second floor of Marina Square, a quick five-minute walk from Esplanade MRT Station. It’s also within walking distance of Promenade MRT Station. They get quite busy during peak hours, so we recommend coming down early.
In related content, check out Heartland By Enjoy, a hidden Nanyang cafe in Tampines with pork belly nasi lemak and coconut kopi! Otherwise, read our Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe feature.
Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-220A/221A/222A, Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Opening hours: Daily 9:30am to 8:30pm
Tel: 6272 0000
Website
Singapura Nanyang Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Jordan Ong.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg