Grain bowls and waffles at KARA Café & Dessert Bar

We scour the island’s café scene to bring you the new and the noteworthy – it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it! Anthia Chng checks out the newly launched KARA Café & Dessert Bar tucked within a row of shophouses along Bukit Timah Road.

First impressions:

Fans of local frozen yogurt chain Sogurt can now get their savoury fix at the newly revamped café in the west! The first flagship store of the brand has developed a fresh concept, offering a brilliant mix of hot meals and healthy eats in addition to its popular self-serve froyo. We absolutely loved the modern yet cosy space; the colour theme revolves around blush pink and muted grey, complemented by light wooden furnishings for a homey vibe. The interiors are chic and contemporary – perfect for weekend brunch meetings with the girlies, or family dinners on a weeknight.

Grub on this:

Kick things off with an appetising snack like crispy Korean wings ($13), which come drenched in a sweet and addictive sauce. Great for sharing, this starter was wolfed down in minutes. Another must-try are the okonomiyaki truffle tots ($12), a fusion number featuring mini hash-brown pieces with Japanese mayonnaise, unagi sauce, truffle dressing and furikake (Japanese rice seasoning). We didn’t get to try this dish, but it sounds divine.

Feeling peckish? The café also serves healthy and hearty grain bowls that will even please those who aren’t health conscious. Flavourful is an understatement in describing the pork belly miso bowl ($16) – my friends went gaga over it! The highlight is undoubtedly the braised pork belly cubes, which were melt-in-your-mouth tender. Another noteworthy offering is the taco Mexx chicken ($14), which features taco-spiced chicken, creamy avo, corn, salsa, jalapeno and crisp corn tortilla chips – loads of fresh flavours. If you’re trying to be good, opt for quinoa (top up for $3) instead of garlic Japanese rice, the default carb for all of the grain bowls.

Sweet ending:

Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying the out-of-this-world charcoal sesame mochi waffles with salty speculoos froyo ($12.50; speculoos are Dutch spice cookies). Taking centre stage is not the froyo, but the homemade charcoal-infused waffle that’s chewy with a crisp crust. Paired with the froyo, sesame brittle, speculoos cookies and speculoos drizzle, it’s absolutely divine. Trust me – you have to get this dessert!

Last but not least:

With its range of affordable yet delicious fusion fare, coupled with Insta-worthy interiors, KARA Café & Dessert Bar is definitely a place we’re bookmarking for our next brunch date. As the café tends to get crowded on weekends, you’ll want to arrive early (they open at 10.30am every day) to snag the best seat.

617 Bukit Timah Road
6468 8940 | karacafeanddessertbar.com

Still hungry? Check out these 10 new dining spots!