Naga House – Dual Concept Japanese-Inspired Cafe & Bar in Boat Quay

Sitting along Lorong Telok in Boat Quay is a dual concept establishment that operates as a Japanese inspired cafe by day, and a bar by night. Initially started out as a cold brew coffee business, Naga House is now serving up fusion dishes in their brick-and-mortar store.

Fret not because you still can indulge in a cup of coffee from 10am to 5pm. We opted for a regular Flat White ($5) that was brewed with a special blend of beans from local coffee roaster Brawns and Brains. Here, our coffee was well balanced with a tinge of fruity notes.

They also offer non-coffee drinks including a Matcha Latte ($5.50 for hot, $6 for iced) which is prepared with a bamboo whisk upon order.

For mains, we decided to get an item from each of the three categories available – Sandos, Rice bowls and Pasta.

I was most excited about their Triple Tamago Sando ($12) that came loaded with a mix of Roasted Garlic Egg Mayo, a Ramen Egg and a Sunny Side-up. All that sandwiched between two thick Brioche slices — think super indulgent and tamago overload! However, I would have liked my Ramen Egg and Sunny Side-up to have more of a runny yolk, rather than it being fully cooked.

Nonetheless, the creaminess of the filling paired beautifully with the fluffy yet slightly chewy bread. The sprinkle of furikake also added some umami and crunch to every bite! Their sandos come with a side of Tapioca chips to munch on.

That said, having this sando all to yourself might be a little jelak. So, if you’re dining with friends, order this to share! Other sando options include the Flank Steak Sando ($16) and Grilled Triple Cheese.

Next on our agenda was the Naga Pasta ($16) which is actually the only pasta they serve up here. I’m a sucker for good pasta, and the Asian twist slapped on this did not disappoint. The al dente spaghetti had just the adequate amount of sauce clinging to it. The mushrooms gave a nice earthy contrast to the spiciness of the chilli oil.

The Haebi and Kombu on the other hand provided some savouriness that went well with the mix of flavours in the dish. To round it all off, we mixed in the onsen egg with the pasta. Yum!

Moving on to their Rice Bowls, we settled for the Triple-S Ricebowl ($12). The Triple-S stands for Spam, Seaweed and a Sunny Side-Up egg which was exactly what was served with a huge portion of Tamago Kake Gohan.

The saltiness from the pan-fried spam was just enough to go hand in hand with the mixed rice that was a little too mushy for my liking. But that could have been due to the time it’s been sitting out, as were snapping snap some shots for the gram, so remember to dig into yours once its served! I really appreciated how the yolk of the Sunny Side-Up was still runny, as it added that extra bit of moisture and creaminess to every mouthful.

To avoid being met with disappointment, please note that their mains are only served between 11.30am to 2pm for lunch and 5.30pm to 9pm for dinner! On top of the mains, they also have sides available until 11pm. Nibble on some Shichimi Truffle Fries ($13) or Parm-Dusted Tater Tots ($13) as you down your drinks after the sun sets.

With both indoor and outdoor seating, and chill vibes, Naga House is quite the place to be. Whether it’s for brunch or drinks with the girlies!