This is truly a long overdue post of my trip to Chye Seng Huat Hardware (Thanks to a friend who brought me here). By now, if you still do not know about this hideout in Singapore, read on. If you know, good for you. Read on as well.
The cafe, set up by Papa Palheta as their flagship store, looks like anything but a hipster coffee joint from the outside. Don’t be fooled by uninviting hardware stores beside it, or the huge gate bordering its front. Once you step in it’s a different story.
I am hardly a coffee junkie. Neither have I tried many renditions from other cafes. But so far, the coffee here remains the best on my list. After a journey on foot to this ulu area from Boon Keng I felt I really needed their Cold Brew ($7). Check out the cool syrup bottle it’s served in. Their Homemade Lemonade ($5) also makes a good thirst-quencher.
On a side of the menu are what they call the tummy-fillers: expect about 10 dishes ranging from mains like Chicken Patties, Seared Dory and Sausage Platters to brunch items like Pancake Stack, French Toast, Sandwiches and Omelettes. Since coffee takes the main, center stage here, I wasn’t expecting too much from the food.
But alas, when I tried my Scrambled Eggs ($11) with bacon, toast, cherry tomatoes and greens I felt that it put food-centered cafes to shame. The scrambled eggs were substantially creamy to my liking and just smooth on my tastebuds. It’s a pity that poached eggs are not served here. I can imagine a kick-ass version. Meanwhile, the Seared Dory Fillet ($15) with lemon butter sauce, baby potatoes and greens make a pretty light and tasty meal.
Desserts come in the form of pastries, small cakes and muffins. Between the Chocolate Muffin and Almond Croissant I had, it seems impossible to pick out the better one. Both were equally sweet, and sweet in their own ways.
It has been a while since the hype but I believe this place has the potential for consistency. CSHH’s location may not be an easy feat for people out there. Nevertheless, the cafe hardly spares an empty table or seat on weekends – it is easily considered to be one of the noisiest cafes in Singapore. From the cool vibes the place emits to the quality coffee and food served up to you, I guess there’s nothing (other than the crowd and location) to not like it here. If not for the never-stop-growing number of cafes, I’d definitely envision myself here always.
150 Tyrwhitt Road
Tuesdays to Fridays 9am – 7pm
Saturdays & Sundays 9am – 10pm
Foodography: A Singapore Food Blog 
[…] I headed back to CSHH on a rainy day for coffee and pastry. That Lime Coconut Cake was sweetness overload without much presence of lime and well, the quality of the espresso + milk would be needless to say already. Still one of my favorite coffee joints in Singapore. Read the full review of Chye Seng Huat Hardware Coffee Bar on my first visit here. […]
I was nearly fooled by their huge construction metal gate, and was like brought to a different light upon entering. Haha. But I find the food quite likeable 🙂 http://foodesteem.blogspot.sg/2013/02/chye-seng-huat-hardware.html
Yeah! Really like how both their food and coffee are super good in quality.