Bao Er Cafe @ Balestier Plaza is a hidden culinary gem that’s worth seeking out for its authentic local flavours. I first got to know about Bao Er Cafe when we came by Balestier Plaza to pick out granite from a vendor for our kitchen countertop. Otherwise, there’s no reason to come by Balestier Plaza for us unless we needed house stuffs like lighting or renovation services, so Bao Er Cafe is really considered a hidden gem in a less mainstream mall building.

The Queue Factor

Whenever we visit Bao Er Cafe @ Balestier Plaza, there’s always a queue. Office crowd on weekdays and regular patrons on weekends. But don’t be put off by the long queue that will stretch outside the eatery because it moves relatively fast. Just make sure you have someone else to chope a table if you plan to dine-in before you place your order.

What’s on Offer?

Bao Er Cafe @ Balestier Plaza is like a kopitiam that serves not just your local kopi and teh drinks, but also breakfast favourites like kaya toast and soft boiled eggs as well as dishes like:

• Fried rice varieties
• Hokkien mee
• Prawn noodle soup
• Pasta (aglio olio)
• Prawn paste chicken and more

I believe Bao Er Cafe is famous for its kaya toast and Hokkien mee because these two items are basically what everyone is having on their table.

Breakfast Delights

Kaya Butter Toast Set

We ordered a Kaya Butter Toast Set with Iced Kopi C Kosong (S$5), which was pretty value for money because the toast portion was generous.

Just look at that overflowing kaya and butter in between the thinly sliced, crispy and crunchy toasted bread. This is the ultimate Singapore breakfast. What’s not to like?

Soft boiled eggs were perfectly done as well. Dip the kaya toast into the egg. Awesome!

I ordered an extra Iced Teh C Kosong (S$2.80). Both the kopi and teh were ordinary, nothing spectacular. Just like what you would get at other kopitiam or hawker centre. They do the job but aren’t the stars of the show.

Main Dishes Worth Trying

Prawn Paste Chicken Cutlet Fried Rice

The Prawn Paste Chicken Cutlet Fried Rice (S$8) at Bao Er Cafe is brilliant. I really love this dish. The fried rice had a nice wok hei and was nicely seasoned too. That huge piece of chicken cutlet was crispy on the outside and moist, juicy on the inside. They used boneless chicken leg meat so it’s not dry at all. The chilli sauce is a must-get because it gives a lovely kick if you like spice.

Signature Hokkien Mee

We waited a while for the Signature Hokkien Mee (S$7) to come. Literally everyone ordered it, and the chef must have fried a whole wok of it so all the plates of Hokkien mee were dished out at once.

I like my Hokkien mee to be wet, so this version is how I like to enjoy my Hokkien mee. This Hokkien mee has a very strong wok hei – probably the strongest I’ve ever experienced as it was almost on the verge of being burnt. Not sure if it’s always like this. We didn’t hate it but would have appreciated if it was slightly less overwhelming because it has a slight ‘chao ta’ flavour.

Enjoyed the crispy pork lard pieces on top. This is a pretty good plate of Hokkien mee. Not amazing enough for me to purposely travel there to eat, but I’ll definitely eat again if I’m in Balestier area.

Final Thoughts on Bao Er Cafe @ Balestier Plaza

All in all, Bao Er Cafe @ Balestier Plaza is a very good place for kaya toast breakfast. The kaya toast and soft boiled eggs are must-gets. And that prawn paste chicken cutlet fried rice is something I will come back for too. I love fried rice, so I will definitely return to try their other versions of fried rice.

The cafe offers honest, unpretentious local food at reasonable prices. It’s exactly the kind of place that makes Singapore’s food scene special – humble eateries serving quality fare that keeps customers coming back day after day.

If you find yourself near Balestier Plaza, pop into Bao Er Cafe @ Balestier Plaza for a taste of authentic local fare that won’t disappoint. The queue might be long, but these flavours are worth the wait.