The Guide To Cafe-hopping Around Serangoon Gardens

You might know the quiet neighbourhood of Serangoon Gardens for the famous Chomp Chomp Food Center filled giant sugar cane drinks and barbecued food, or the Serangoon Gardens Food Center that is home to many hawker gems. But apart from housing traditional eateries, this place is a hot bed of quaint cafes that are located in rather close proximity to one another. So the next time you’re in the area, pop by some of these cafes for your tea-time caffeine fix or to satisfy that brunch craving.

1. Little Wimbly Lu

Fans of Wimbly Lu can now pop by their sister outlet at Serangoon Gardens, where they serve a lean menu of some of their star desserts and baked goods, including waffles and pancakes paired with a selection of their ice cream. And we might have just found the winning combination for the perfect afternoon tea – Earl Grey Iced Milk Tea ($4) and a slice of Lemon Meringue Pie ($7.50). The bergamot flavours ran strong with every sip of the milk tea, and we loved how it matched the bright and zesty zing of the lemon meringue pie.

2. The Coffee Daily

The Coffee Daily’s unpretentious and minimalist setup might look run of the mill, the menu is anything but. We had the Philly Cheese Roll ($14), which looked like a plain toasted brioche sandwich. But cut into it and you’ll realise it came stuffed with tender slices of oven roasted and caramelised onions enveloped in a blanket of melted provolone and parmigiano-reggiano cheese, making for a hearty appetite filler your stomach will thank you for.

3. Nunsongyee

This little bingsu cafe is tucked away in the outskirts of Serangoon Gardens, and the Black Saemi Bingsu ($18.90) provided a sweet and cool escape from the sweltering heat. Instead of ice cream, this bingsu came with a huge scoop of red bean paste and a generous sprinkle of sliced almonds and black sesame to lend this dessert a nutty aroma in every bite. Mix everything together for an explosion of crunchy, chewy and creamy texture. Some other flavours include the classic Pat Bingsu ($12.90) and fruity Blueberry Bingsu ($15.90).

4. Oblong

You’ll be greeted with the smell of freshly toasted waffles once you step into Oblong, which is incidentally what you should order. We had their Supreme Combo ($12) where we paired our Strawberry Shortcake Waffle with a cup of chamomile tea for a quintessential afternoon tea snack. Crisp waffle squares sandwich a layer of strawberries and cream, and it came topped with a scoop of sea salt caramel with pistachio that was recommended by the staff. We liked how the sea salt helped cut through the sweetness, and the airy waffles made it a light and fluffy dessert great for a post-meal indulgence.

5. One Man Coffee

One Man Coffee is another cafe that decided to set up a sister outlet within Serangoon Gardens. Sharing the space with a pizza bar, you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for this cosy little outlet. And more than just a good cup of coffee, we loved how the Gashouse Eggs ($10) was a simple dish that tasted comforting and delicious. Essentially a grilled cheese sammy with a half-cooked egg in the middle, you’ll want to soak up all the runny yolk with the bread quickly and not make the mistake of letting it run off the flat board like us. Each order also comes with a small side of bacon jam, which is sweet, salty and smoky all at once and will leave you craving for more.

6. The Aftertaste Cafe

It’s easy to miss this hole-in-the-wall cafe which serves a small selection of caffeinated drinks, cakes and waffles. But if you do spot it, grab a cuppa and people-watch at their alfresco dining seats, or grab a slice of their baked cakes like what we did. The Lychee Rose ($7) was a pretty shade of pastel pink layered with pale white buttercream. Embedded within are chunks of lychee, with a delicate note of rose ringing through every bite of the light and airy sponge.

7. Sun Ray Cafe

Finally, a cafe where you can dine with your pets. Sun Ray cafe is a pet-friendly dining establishment that’s bustling with hungry diners and pets alike when we visited. We liked how The Brighton ($4.50) was a zesty upgrade from the usual cuppa, with a hint of orange citrus to brighten the robust coffee. The Eggs Benny ($16) that we had came with poached eggs resting on two fluffy Belgian waffles and some grilled bacon – certainly a safe option for brunch. Even your pets get to choose from a menu which include the Happy Paw Bento ($12) filled with rice, scrambled eggs, meat and some greens.

8. Two Tall Trees

With a hearty menu serving some comforting Western grub, Two Tall Trees is great for hosting groups of friends or family. From their extensive offering, we got their Spam Chips ($6) served with a side of zesty lemon aioli dip to help cut through the fried chips. We liked how the chips were cut – thick at some places for a meaty bite while tapering down to be thinner at some edges for a nice crisp texture. We also liked the Maple Glazed Chicken Bites ($6) drizzled with sweet maple sauce and scallions to add a hint of onion.

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