[New] Bánh Mì in Joo Chiat🥖

The pandemic has seen the emergence of a slew of bánh mì eateries in SG, with Bánh Mì Thịt and Bánh Mì Bé Bi counting among the more famous names. The latest bánh mì eatery to join the foray is Joo Chiat Càphê (pronounced "kah3 fay1"). As its name suggests, Joo Chiat Càphê is located in none other than the Vietnamese enclave of Joo Chiat, sharing the same premises as the famous Nam San Mackerel Otah.

Joo Chiat Càphê — located in the same premises as Nam San Mackeral Otah

A major advantage of this co-location is that customers get to enjoy their bánh mì with mackerel otah — a unique combination not found anywhere else.

Freshly BBQ-ed Mackeral Otah

Joo Chiat Càphê offers a choice of al-fresco and indoor seating. Though the indoor seating is non-airconditioned, there are sufficient fans and ventilation to allow for a comfortable dining experience. In the absence of a VTL with Vietnam, Joo Chiat Càphê's old-school ambience, replete with images of motorcyle-filled roads in Vietnam, provides diners with as close an "escape" to Vietnam as practically conceivable.

Old-school ambience resembling an eatery in Vietnam

Each bánh mì is freshly made to order. The baguette is lightly toasted to give it that crisp, and then filled with all sorts of condiments.

Bánh Mì freshly made to order

To cater to the predominantly-Muslim neighbourhood of Geylang Serai bordering Joo Chiat, Joo Chiat Càphê has strategically opted for Halal certification to draw both Chinese and Malay customers. For bánh mì purists, it would seem almost blasphemous to tuck into a bánh mì devoid of the characteristic pork pâté, but Joo Chiat Càphê compensates for this by offering a myriad of options running the gamut from chicken and beef to fish and otah.

Choice of 6 bánh mì

I was seeking a bánh mì that included both chicken pâté and mackeral otah. While there was no such option per se, the staff suggested that I order Option 1 (chicken pâté) and add-on an otah for $1.50. So I went along with this option, which turned out to be a potent combination. This bánh-dle of joy was served in a shallow basket for easy consumption.

Bánh Mì with Chicken Pâté and Mackerel Otah (S$7.30)

As someone with a low tolerance for spice, the mild spice level of the mackerel otah was acceptable to me, but not the chilli within the bánh mì. It was so spicy that I regretted ordering a hot Viet coffee instead of an iced one. For subsequent bánh mì I learnt my lesson and requested for no chilli.

Wishing all readers an a-bánh-dant new year!

No Vietnamese meal is complete without Vietnamese coffee. To complement my bánh mì, I ordered the quintessential Cà Phê Sữa Nóng (S$4.50) which was served in a rather ornate "golden" filter. It was by far the most aesthetically-pleasing Vietnamese filter that I'd ever come across, which even the late Nguyễn emperors would approve of. While the Vietnamese coffee here was of a competent standard, the high price point was a turn-off considering that most bánh mì eateries offer an add-on of just S$1.50 for Vietnamese coffee when you order their bánh mì.

Cà Phê Sữa Nóng (S$4.50)

Overall, my dining experience at Joo Chiat Càphê was positive as the food and ambience made me feel like I was in Vietnam. Unfortunately the same could not be said of their price point, which would deter regular visits with other bánh mì eateries along Joo Chiat Rd (eg 233 Bánh Mì) providing better bánh for my buck.

This meal set me back by S$11.80 — S$4-S$5 more than its competitors along Joo Chiat Rd

Joo Chiat Càphê

263 Joo Chiat Rd, S(427517)

Tue-Sun 8am-7pm (bánh mì avail from 10am)