Kream & Kensho: Kampong Bahru's New Japanese Fusion Cafe
The area of Kampong Bahru and Everton Park used to be quite the bustling street of shophouses. However, the streets seemed to have quietened down a lot these days. In fact, Strangers’ Reunion which has been closed for refurbishment for a while now, seems to have given up it’s location. And now, taking over the physical space and joining the fray of new cafes that have opened up this year, is Kream & Kensho.
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As you enter the space, you’ll notice the familiar layout and minimalist decor of Strangers’ Reunion.
Kream & Kensho is furnished in a similarly inviting and bright space, with ample daylight pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, while the rest of the cafe is bathed in a glow of soft, warm light.
On a busy Saturday afternoon, we waited about 15 minutes for a table of two, which wasn’t too bad.
On the menu, you’ll find flavours commonly found in Japanese cuisine, which I thought was a nice change of pace from your usual brunch suspects.
The menu is expected to change, as Kream & Kensho are understandably still finding their feet.
What they do have now though, is a concise menu that most definitely works, from smaller plates to share, to bigger mains.
We had the Sakura Ebi Capellini (S$18), which is essentially an oil-based pasta dish topped with sakura ebi and fish roe. Seasoned with shio kombu (strips of kelp traditionally boiled in soy sauce and other ingredients) and la-yu (Japanese chilli oil), the dish was fragrant and packed with flavour. The pasta was also not too soft, which I personally liked.
The blend of flavours came together beautifully with just the right amount of kick to it. Mind, some might find the dish to be a little spicy thanks to the la-yu, especially for those not as inclined to spicy food.
We also tried the Ricotta and Lavender Matcha Toast (S$12), which is a pretty unique and inspired choice.
The buttered brioche is topped with ricotta cheese, grapes, lavender and crushed pistachio. To finish it off, the dish is drizzled with honey. It is essentially a sweet toast, and though there was ricotta cheese, any saltiness from the cheese was overpowered by the other ingredients. The brioche was wonderfully crisp though.
Next, we had the Kombu Truffle Fries (S$15) to share, which I have to say was a real winner.
I’ve tried many iterations of truffle fries in cafes round the island, and you’ll normally expect to find a bowl of fries topped with parmesan shavings. Here at Kream & Kensho, you’ll find them topped with delicious kombu (dried kelp) instead, served with an additional side of truffle paste.
For some, it might be a bit much, but I personally loved the abundance of flavours, and it is truly addictive. Even down to the last few strips of fries, the taste never wavers, which is an absolute delight.
Over on the drinks menu, you’ll find an extensive and at this point, expected in cafes, selection of coffee and tea, as well as their signature drinks. You’ll also have beers and wines to choose from.
We had the Iced Matcha Latte (S$7) pictured below, and the Iced Yuzu Matcha (S$7) as seen above. The matcha latte was not as sweet as I’ve had in some other cafes, though just for aesthetic purposes, I would’ve loved to see more of the layers in the drink when first served. Never mind though, as the yuzu matcha did just that. The taste of the yuzu was quite strong, so expect to taste more yuzu than matcha despite the glass leading you to believe the opposite.
Overall, I thought the food and drinks were pretty good, though notably not cheap with service charge added on to the bill.
In total, we paid about S$65 for two, though we were stuffed by the end.
Other gripes?
We were sat at a table located along the wall, with built-in benches complete with pillows and cushioned seats.
The reason why I’m writing about this, is that personally, the bench was way too high for the table. Your dining partner, who would be sat across from you on a regular wooden chair, would not actually be equal to your eye line.
This means you’re sat at a higher position than the person you’re dining with, which I thought was quite odd. Not to mention that for those of us who are not as tall, your feet won’t be resting comfortably on the ground. And for those of us who are taller, you’ll be bending over the table more than what is personally comfortable to have your food.
In spite of that, overall, I enjoyed my experience at Kream & Kensho.
I love the space and interior, and the food’s interesting enough to set it apart from the intense cafe competition.
To think it only opened its doors in late September, the crowd that packed the cafe during my visit is testament to the fact they’re definitely one to check out.
With the changing menu, I expect the food selection to be different again not soon after this review is up, but so long as they stick to their focus and quality, I don’t see why they won’t land on winning dishes to eventually make up a more permanent menu.
Kream & Kensho is a lovely addition to the cafe scene in Singapore, and I for one hope they stick around.
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WHERE | 35 KAMPONG BAHRU RD, SINGAPORE 169355
