Joo Chiat Caphe – Muslim-Friendly Eatery Selling Banh Mi & Vietnamese Drip Coffee Along Joo Chiat Road

Scattered along Joo Chiat Road are a number of eateries specialising in cuisine from the land of the ascending dragon. One such place is Joo Chiat Caphe, which is not only Muslim-friendly but also offers a fusion banh mi with a local twist! 

Francis Sim, the co-owner of Joo Chiat Caphe, has been here for nine years. He originally started out selling otah but his dream has always been to start an eatery that focuses on banh mi — he had even mapped out a full-fledged business plan complete with uniform designs. 

While there was a delay in his plans, which even saw him heading to Vietnam to further brush up on his culinary skills including baking banh mi bread from scratch, he eventually merged the otah business with his dream business alongside his co-owner Lynn Tay and tadah, Joo Chiat Caphe was born. 

Six different variations of banh mi are available such as Honey-Glazed Grilled Chicken Thigh with Homemade Chicken Pate ($6.50), Battered Crispy Fish Fillet with Honey Mustard Sauce ($7) and even a whopping Earthquake ($8.50) that combines some of the best they had to offer in one baguette: chicken cold cut, grilled chicken thigh and lemongrass beef patty. 

If you’re looking for more than banh mi, there’s also a breakfast menu of Kuning Fish Nasi Lemak ($2.20), Otah Toast ($2.20) and Soft-Boiled Eggs ($1.50). 

When it comes to Vietnamese food, you should definitely pair it with some Drip Vietnamese Coffee ($4.50 for hot, $4.80 for iced). Over here, you can also get regular Vietnamese coffee ($3.50 for hot, $3.80 for iced), three types of Twinings tea ($1.80 for hot, $2 for iced) and chocolate ($2.50 for hot, $2.80 for iced). 

One of their signature items is the Grilled Lemongrass Beef Patty with Hoisin Sauce ($7). Wedged into the freshly toasted baguette are crisp lettuce, cucumber, pickled salad, coriander, chilli, chunky balls of grilled lemongrass beef with hoisin sauce, Vietnamese mayonnaise, and a homemade chicken pate. 

While I initially thought the beef balls would be as tender as meatballs, these ones had a firmer consistency that gave them a nice bite. I would have liked the lemongrass taste to be a tad stronger, though. Although I’m usually not much of a fan of coriander, the generous amount of coriander given did not overpower in taste and, instead, paired well with the fresh crunchy vegetables and smooth chicken pate. 

For something that’s more on the traditional side, the simple no-frills Classic Chicken Cold Cut with Homemade Chicken Pate ($5.80) is a great choice. Even though the portion of meats wasn’t as generous as what was served in the Grilled Lemongrass Beef Patty, the cold cuts were well complemented by the tangy sweetness of the vegetables and elevated by the sprinkling of chicken floss. 

The Mackerel Otah with Homemade Vietnamese Mayonnaise ($6.50), which gets sold out if you don’t visit early enough, is perfect for those who can take a little heat. Don’t be fooled by how the otah slices seem to be on the thinner side — each one was soft and packed with a mix of spices that promise a tingling spiciness. The heat was also balanced out by the vegetables and the ratio of ingredients worked well. 

Be sure to try their Drip Vietnamese Coffee! The beverage was medium-bodied with a nutty finish and a touch of sweetness, along with an ideal thickness (not too gao). 

Despite there being quite a few competitors in the same area, Joo Chiat Caphe stands out with a relaxing ambience, decent banh mi, and good Drip Vietnamese Coffee which I will come back for!

MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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