Café Barco @ Kaki Bukit - New Japanese-Western Fusion Cafe by Wunderfolks

Wunderfolks, which started as a home-based business in 2020, gained popularity for its tarts in various flavours.

Building on its success, the brand expanded beyond its physical stores and ventured into a new concept with the opening of Café Barco, a Japanese-Western fusion café in Kaki Bukit. It is conveniently situated within the Techview Building and just a short walk from Kaki Bukit MRT Station.

Iced Matcha Latte 3/5

Our meal began with the Iced Matcha Latte. We wished it had a stronger matcha flavour, as the drink leaned much more towards the milky side.

Cold Tofu 3/5

We had the Cold Tofu ($6), which is on the light side. It is served with a Japanese sesame dressing and topped with spring onions, nori, and sesame seeds.

Corn Croquette 3.5/5

Next, we tried the Corn Croquette ($8), which had a crunchy exterior and creamy interior. It was served with a sweet-tasting Barco brown sauce.

Tater Tots 3.5/5

The Tater Tots ($7) were well-fried and crispy but felt a bit plain. A bit of seasoning or a dipping sauce would have elevated this dish.

Mentaiko Egg Mayo Sando 4.2/5

The Mentaiko Egg Mayo Sando ($8.80) was a delightful treat. The creamy mentaiko egg mayo mix was nicely balanced and not overly rich. It was sandwiched between lightly toasted, fluffy bread. The tobiko sprinkled on top added a nice savoury pop to each bite.

Big Breakfast 4/5

A crowd favourite at Café Barco is the Big Breakfast ($14), a classic brunch dish featuring scrambled eggs, sautéed mushrooms, vine tomatoes, a hash brown, mesclun salad, and bread. While it didn't break any new ground, it was decently executed.

Curry Chicken Katsu Don 4.2/5

Among the mains, our top pick was the Curry Chicken Katsu Don ($14.80). The dish featured slices of crunchy, well-seasoned chicken katsu served on a bed of Japanese rice and a flavourful Japanese curry with potato and carrot chunks. The katsu remained tender.

Mentaiko Pasta with Salmon 3.5/5

On the other hand, despite its popularity, the Mentaiko Pasta with Salmon ($18.80) fell short of expectations. We found the dish to be more creamy than mentaiko-flavoured, leaving us wishing for a stronger mentaiko presence to better complement the linguine, grilled salmon, onsen egg, and tobiko.

For dessert, Café Barco offers an array of their signature Tarts alongside other pastries. Additionally, the café stocks canelés from Flourcrafts, which you can pre-order for pickup or purchase on the spot.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Café Barco
Techview
#01-02
1 Kaki Bukit View
Singapore 415941
Tel: +65 9749 7940
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Nearest MRT: Kaki Bukit (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 8pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Kaki Bukit MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes [Map]

Daiyusan Sushi Bar @ Kim Chuan Drive - Hidden Gem In Taiseng Serving Donburi, Sushi And More

Nestled within an industrial area in Tai Seng, Daiyusan Sushi Bar is a hidden restaurant serving authentic Japanese cuisine such as finely aged sashimi, sushi, and even Omakase dining experiences in a beautiful space decorated with a canopy of wagasa, a traditional Japanese paper umbrella embellished with Japanese motifs.

Chawanmushi of the day 4/5

We started the meal with the Chawanmushi of the day ($7.90), which comes in different ingredients depending on what is available for the day. We had the ones with Shirako and Squid. The chawanmushi features a lovely silky smooth egg custard which pairs perfectly well with the shirako and squid.

Premium Seven 4/5

The Nigiri Sushi Platter is prepared fresh to order and is available in sets of five, seven and nine pieces, which cost $19.90, $45.90 and $59.90 respectively. We had the Premium Seven ($45.90), featuring an assortment of flavours.

Deluxe Chirashi Zushi 4.2/5

One of the signature donburi, the Deluxe Chirashi Zushi ($59.90), is the meal's highlight. The indulgent don consists of assorted fish cubes coupled with luxurious Russian caviar, uni and ikura. What stood out was the rice that was seasoned differently, tossed with truffle oil and furikake. We also found tiny bits of mushrooms and rice puffs that provided an additional textural bite compared to the standard sushi rice. Alternatively, you can go for the Kaisen Don (S$39.90), which comes topped with a variety of top-quality dry-aged sashimi.

Words and photos by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Daiyusan Sushi Bar
55 Kim Chuan Drive
Precise Tree
#02-03
Singapore 537098
Tel: +65 87878747
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Nearest MRT: Kaki Bukit (DT Line), Eunos (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Kaki Bukit MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop near block 661 (Stop ID 72041). Take bus number 87. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to Kim Chuan Road. Turn right onto Kim Chuan Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map}

2) Alight at Eunos MRT station. Take Exit C. Cut across the food centre. WAlk to bus stop along Jalan Eunos, at block 7 (Stop ID 83101). Take bus number 25, 55, 51 or 854. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to Kim Chuan Road. Turn right onto Kim Chuan Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 22 minutes. [Map}