After more than a century in Katong, Chin Mee Chin has finally ventured beyond its East Coast home with a new outlet at NEX. Founded in 1925, the heritage confectionery is best known for its old-school bakes, kaya toast and traditional kopi, served against its unmistakably nostalgic backdrop.
Ham & Cheese Danish 2.8/5
Choux au Craquelin
Kaya Custard & Dark Chocolate Choux au Craquelin 2.8/5
Among the new and outlet-exclusive offerings are the Ham & Cheese Danish ($3.60) and Choux au Craquelin, available in Kaya Custard ($3) and Dark Chocolate ($3). Unfortunately, neither really impressed us. The Danish was served at room temperature and was rather hard, and given its small size, I didn’t find it particularly worth the price. The Choux au Craquelin fared slightly better, although the cream filling tasted somewhat artificial to me. Between the two flavours, I preferred the Kaya Custard over the Dark Chocolate. On the plus side, both were thankfully not overly sweet.
Smashed Fried Chicken w Housemade Sambal Sandwich 3.5/5
They also offer a selection of ready-to-eat sandwiches, and we tried the Smashed Fried Chicken with Housemade Sambal ($8.80). The portion is decent, with soft bread and well-seasoned fried chicken, but the sandwich doesn’t quite hold everything together—be prepared for a slightly messy meal. I was hoping for a stronger kick from the housemade sambal as its flavour was rather faint, but the nicely seasoned fried chicken helped make up for it.
Kaya Toast 4/5
The best thing we tried was, unsurprisingly, one of Chin Mee Chin’s classics — the Kaya Toast ($2.80 à la carte). Its signature kaya has that familiar slightly curdled appearance and is generously spread over a soft, round bun with a slab of butter. Unlike at the original outlet, the buns here are not charcoal-toasted. In fact, the ones we had barely seemed toasted at all, which was a little disappointing. Still, the combination of soft bun, kaya and butter remains comforting and nostalgic, and this is easily the one item I would return for.
Kaya Cloud Kopi 3.5/5
We also tried two outlet-exclusive drinks. The Kaya Cloud Kopi ($5.50) comes topped with a creamy foam carrying a subtle kaya flavour. It reminded us of Starbucks’ recent National Day creation, though once the foam mixes into the kopi, the kaya flavour becomes almost indistinguishable.
Roselle Cucumber Tea 1/5
The Roselle Cucumber Tea ($4.50), unfortunately, was the weakest item of the meal. It tasted predominantly like cucumber-infused water and didn’t leave much of an impression. I’d stick to Chin Mee Chin’s regular local-style kopi or teh instead.
The 26-seat self-service cafe gives Chin Mee Chin’s nostalgic identity a more contemporary interpretation. It features familiar details from the original outlet, with an open bakery display and a visible coffee counter.
Being inside NEX makes Chin Mee Chin much more accessible for those who don’t often make the trip to Katong, although the limited seating means the outlet can get very busy. The new and exclusive items were a mixed bag for us, with some needing a little more refinement.
Photos and words by Jaslyn. An avid cook who lives to eat and travel for food. Note: This is an invited tasting.
Chin Mee Chin
NEX
23 Serangoon Central
B2-60/61
Singapore 556083
Website
Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC, NE Line)
Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 930pm
Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT Station. Take Exit B, G or H. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 3 minutes. [Map]
