Nan Yang Dao 南洋岛 has solved every Singaporean’s weekend dilemma – getting that authentic Nanyang kopitiam fix without the JB jam. We all know the drill: hop across the Causeway, hunt for that perfect kopitiam, queue for ages, then battle traffic back home. Not anymore.
Why Nanyang Kopitiams Are Taking Over
Nanyang kopitiams have always been that special treat you get when crossing over to Johor Bahru. The charm lies in their authentic Nanyang coffee and that incredible spread of Malaysian cuisine you just can’t find everywhere. But recently, these gems have been sprouting up all over Singapore, and Nan Yang Dao leads the pack.
This brand didn’t mess about. They established their first Singapore outlet in 2022 and have since expanded to more than 10 locations across the island. That’s some serious growth, and frankly, it shows they know what Singaporeans want.
Where To Find Nan Yang Dao
Find them everywhere across the island:
- Hillion Mall (Bukit Panjang)
- PLQ Mall (Paya Lebar)
- Anchorvale Village (Sengkang)
- Heartland Mall (Kovan)
- Thomson Plaza
- Bugis+
- Sun Plaza (Sembawang)
- Century Square (Tampines)
- Plantation Plaza (Tengah)
- The Star Vista
- Parkway Parade
- 100AM
- The Seletar Mall
- West Mall (Bukit Batok) – coming soon
What to Expect When You Visit
I visited the Anchorvale Village outlet on a Monday evening, just before 6pm. Perfect timing really – fresh from the gym, stomach growling, and zero queue. The staff ushered us to a table immediately.
The ordering system is straightforward. Staff directed us to scan the QR code on our table to place orders, then we could settle payment at the counter after our meal.
Nan Yang Dao offers free membership with genuine perks. Birthday month discounts, deals on new products, and loyalty points you can actually redeem for food products.
More Than Just Food
What caught my attention is their range of house brand products. We’re talking white coffee, sambal chilli, and pineapple tarts.
Honest Reviews: The Good, Bad, and Meh
Drinks
Iced Chestnut Juice ($3)
Disappointing. Way too sweet, completely overpowering any water chestnut flavour.
Wintermelon ($3)
This one got it right. Refreshing, not overly sweet, exactly what you want to beat Singapore’s heat. Proper balance here.
The Overhyped Egg Tart
Puff Pastry Egg Tart ($2.60)
Arrived hot, which raised expectations. Unfortunately, the egg custard was cloyingly sweet, drowning out any eggy fragrance. The puff pastry felt underdone too, lacking that crucial crispy texture.
Not sure why so many people rave about this. Maybe I caught a bad batch, but it didn’t live up to the hype at all.
Where Nan Yang Dao Delivers
Curry Chee Cheong Fun ($7.80)
First taste hit me with saltiness from the curry sauce, but combined with the silky chee cheong fun and other ingredients, it transformed into something brilliant. The beancurd skin roll absorbed all that curry goodness beautifully – really moreish stuff.
I definitely prefer this version over our local sweet sauce and chilli variation.
Nanyang Nasi Lemak ($7.90)
Now this was a proper plate of nasi lemak. The chicken serving should be one whole leg chopped into three parts, but somehow both plates got their portions mixed up. We ended up with two drumsticks on one plate instead.
The chicken was beautifully fried – turmeric fried chicken with gorgeous fragrance. Crispy exterior giving way to moist, juicy meat inside. The rice carried that essential coconut milk fragrance, the sambal chilli struck a perfect balance, and the sunny-side-up was cooked exactly right.
All elements came together brilliantly. This was a genuinely tasty plate of nasi lemak that reminded me why this dish is such a Malaysian classic.
Nanyang Mee Siam Fried Chicken ($7.90)
Similar concept to the nasi lemak but with dry mee siam instead of rice. Pretty solid dish overall. The vermicelli could’ve packed more mee siam punch, but the noodles were light and springy with good texture.
*prices indicated above are subject to 10% service charge and 9% GST
My Final Verdict on This Kopitiam Chain
If you’re new to Nanyang cuisine, absolutely visit Nan Yang Dao. The food won’t revolutionise your world, but it’ll definitely satisfy those Malaysian food cravings without the Causeway hassle.
The menu is genuinely massive. You could probably eat here every day for a month without repeating a single dish. That’s the beauty of Nanyang cuisine – endless variety rooted in rich culinary tradition.
Prices remain wallet-friendly, portions are generous, and with locations across Singapore, convenience isn’t an issue. Perfect for those moments when you want comfort food without overthinking it.
My Next Visit Plans
I’m planning to bring my folks next time. Dad’s been craving assam laksa, and with Nan Yang Dao’s extensive menu, I’m confident they’ll have something that hits the spot.
For anyone seeking authentic Malaysian flavours in a modern kopitiam setting, Nan Yang Dao delivers. They’re not trying to be fancy or revolutionary – just good, honest food that reminds you why Malaysian cuisine holds such a special place in Singaporean hearts.
Next time that Nanyang craving hits, skip the border queue and head to your nearest Nan Yang Dao outlet instead. 😉