Seng Coffee Bar: Hearty Brunches with an Asian Twist
Another new cafe opening up along the East Coast? It’s more likely than you think.
Meet Seng Coffee Bar, the perfect place for brunch with an absolutely stunning interior.
Read: Gentle Roast— Upper Thomson’s Newest Aesthetic Brunch Cafe
Read: Brotherbird Coffeehouse— Famous Mochi Donuts Reopens at Bali Lane
Read: Three’s a Crowd— New Rugged and Industrial Halal Ice Cream Cafe at Little India
Read: The Brewing Ground— New Glasshouse Cafe in Joo Chiat
Read: Simple Cafe 簡單。— Minimalist Taiwanese-Style Cakes and Pastries Cafe
Read: House Downstairs: New Scandi Style Cafe at Ghim Moh
With the use of earthy tones and tiles on the counter and floor at the entrance for extra texture, the space is bathed in a soft, warm glow; making it a peaceful place to spend an afternoon.
Started by a father and daughter duo (said father’s Gu Zao Ren Taiwan Porridge outlet is just next door!), Seng Coffee Bar is closest to Kembangan MRT station.
There is quite a hearty menu here, from all-day breakfast options (till 5pm), to a delightful selection of mains, sides and desserts.
One of the top recommendations was the Fried Cod Fish Burger (S$23). On first look, the burger appeared like a posher Filet O Fish, but thankfully tasted much better than first impressions. The miso cod fish patty was flavourful and not dry, and paired brilliantly with Chef Chua’s tartare sauce— adding a bit of zest to the proceedings. A basket of truffle fries completed the dish, and considering many places do not offer truffle fries as a standard side, it’s nice to see they didn’t scrimp on making this dish a bit more value for money.
The Salted Egg Chicken Burger (S$16) on the other hand came with curry leaves, though the curry taste was not very evident. Similarly, this burger came with truffle fries as well. The chicken was juicy and tender, and went well with the salted egg.
Of the two burgers, I definitely preferred the fish, but mostly because I’m not the world’s biggest fan of salted egg, so I imagine this might fare better in the eyes of a salted egg lover.
The Pork Belly Risotto (S$20) was delicious, and the favourite of my party. The Aburi pork belly was divine, tender, juicy and packed with flavour. Paired with the bed of risotto, collagen broth, asparagus and parmesan cheese, this dish was wiped clean in a jiffy.
The Grilled Sea Bass (S$22) was served with sautéed baby spinach, olive dust, lotus chip, basil oil and dressed with a lemon wedge. The lemon helped bring out the flavours nicely, but there were quite a number of small, fine bones though.
The Rosti (S$18) however, was a bit of a disappointment. The russet potato pancake, complete with a sunny side up, cheesy sausage, kale chips and creamy mushroom sauce seemed a mouth-watering combination on paper, but the rosti was a very thin layer and felt a little over fried.
To share, we had the Roasted Curry Cauliflower (S$12) with parmesan cheese and pine nuts. The cauliflower was fresh and crunchy, and I felt the curry flavour was pretty light on the palette, which meant it was not too cloying.
Over on the dessert menu, the Berry Waffle (S$16) came with a mixed berry compote infused with umeshu and vanilla ice cream, complete with a drizzle of strawberry sauce. The waffles were not crispy, but the flavours balanced well, though this is a winning combination that is hard to get wrong.
Lastly, the Chocolate Lava Cake (S$12) with berries and crispy chocolate bits, came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as well. The cake was moist, soft, and chewy, though the chocolate lava was a little more viscous and less on the flowy side of things.
Coffee here was good too, and begins at S$3.50 for an espresso, and S$5 for a flat white, which is pretty standard for cafes these days.
The iced drinks were served in quirky but similarly aesthetically pleasing glasses, like the Iced Matcha Latte (S$7.50), Iced Houjicha Latte (S$7.50) and Apple Peach Sparkle (S$8), which were wonderful afternoon pick-me-ups.
Overall, Seng Coffee Bar is one of the more outstanding new cafes I’ve tried. With an infusion of popular Asian flavours, this makes for a nice twist on classic brunch favourites, simultaneously setting them apart from other brunch cafes.
Read: @3— New Minimalist White Swedish Cafe at Kampong Bahru
Read: The Chir Cafe + Bar: New Korean-Inspired Cafe at Holland Village
Read: Strangers’ Reunion— A New Return to Kampong Bahru
Read: Alchemist at The Mill— Hidden Sleek Coffee Spot in a Kitsch-Gothic Building
Our favourite was definitely the Pork Belly Risotto, though the other mains were pretty good as well.
It’s no surprise that the East Coast has some of the stiffest competition around when it comes to cafes, but there’s a reason why Seng Coffee Bar packed in the crowds. I hope to see them stick around, and I will not be surprised if they become an East Coast mainstay soon enough.
Read: PRAIRIE by Craftsmen— Bukit Timah’s New Beautiful Cafe with a Courtyard
Read: The Bravery— Aesthetic Halal Brunch Cafe Reopens At Telok Ayer
Read: Necessary Provisions— Aesthetic Healthy Vegetarian Brunch at Tanglin
Read: Degree Celsius— New Minimalist White Coffee Bar at Dhoby Ghaut
WHERE | 389 CHANGI RD, SINGAPORE 419838
