Housed in a standalone metal and glass structure, sporting floor-to-ceiling windows, wood accents and lush greenery, this gorgeous light-filled space in CHIJMES is ideal for a bit of respite in the city. Pop in for a coffee and something small to eat, be it a cinnamon roll, a slice of banana cake with cream cheese frosting or an open-faced sandwich from their toast bar — try the Avocado & Dukkah ($7) if you fancy something savoury. They use sourdough from The Bakery at Woodlands Sourdough for their toasts, so expect a good, crisp crust. The Burpple community has praised the friendly service and warm ambience, so file this away for some me-time or a quiet tete-a-tete. Coffee-wise, their offerings (from $3.50 for a black coffee) feature a rotation of beans from various roasters, so you're likely to be surprised every time.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Salsera Love
Tokyo's famously hip coffee house has found its way to our shores, and aficionados can now get their fix at Downtown Gallery. So far, the Burpple community has affirmed that the coffee is as good as it tastes in Japan. Omotesando is known for their quality coffee (beans from Melbourne are roasted in Kyoto by Ogawa Coffee Roasters), and the brand's dedication is reflected in their very precise approach to brewing coffee. Taste the magic in the Iced Cappuccino ($7.50), a milky, mellow brew that comes with Omotesando's signature bubble cap, topped generously with cocoa powder. If you prefer a stronger brew, take Burppler Dex Neo's to go for the hot drinks, which'll give you more of a kick. Pro tip: Good things come to those who wait. Be prepared to queue; the average waiting time is about 40 minutes.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Lewis Tan
To quote Burpple Tastemaker Fiona Ting, this hole-in-the-wall Clifford Centre newbie is the place for "seriously saucy" Braised Pork Belly Rice ($3 for small, $5 for big). Portion-wise, we found the best way to go was to add meat ($1) to the small bowl to get a great proportion of meat to rice. Get your appetites ready for a bowl of Japanese pearl rice, topped generously with slow-cooked braised pork belly. Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua describes the rice to be drenched with the savoury braised sauce, and the meat to be melt-in-the-mouth tender. In short, it's a super comforting, belly-warming meal that'll perk you up for lunch. They also serve pretty tasty old-school waffles, smeared with your choice of filling. Fiona loves the Nacho Cheese Waffle ($2), sandwiched with a slice of cheddar and copious amounts of nacho cheese sauce. Pro tip: Ask for a bowl of chili to go with your lu rou fan!
Avg Price: $5 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Fiona Ting