Japanese-style Bagels?
In a pastel pink shophouse along North Bridge Road near Bugis, Keen’s Bagelry sits in the Curbside Crafters lifestyle market.
It serves Japanese-inspired bagel-sandwiches to those seeking respite from the busy urban life, and finds itself pretty popular among youths who are willing to queue and wait for them.
The bagelry occupies a pop-up space to sell the lovely doughs, and it remains to be seen how long they will stay at this spot (before they decide to move to somewhere more permanent).
In the meantime, revel in the fact that Keen’s Bagelry was a one-man show.
The owner, Keen, bakes the bagels fresh daily after proofing the dough for a whole 24 hours.
The finished bagels sit in wire baskets on the counter, showing you the limited quantity available although the shop opens into the night.
There is a lean menu with just a couple of options – six to be exact. Sometimes, you may find a seasonal special.
You can also choose from plain, sesame, cheddar, and garlic bagels.
When you make an order, the Bagelwich is assembled on the spot, all with a great amount of care and just a little flair. So do be prepared to wait.
While this is mainly a takeaway concept, there are some seats on the second level of Curbside Crafters which allow you to have a quick bite.
I was recommended the Bekki Johnsu Bagelwich ($11, $12), which had cold-smoked turkey bacon or chicken smoked sausage as the main protein, sitting together with a layer of mozzarella scrambled eggs and half-melted cheddar.
The cheese brings needed moisture to the bagelwich and injects much more flavour to the bagel.
I really liked this bagelwich because the creamy and thick scrambled eggs, along with melted mozzarella cheese created such a a rich and comforting flavour – indulgence and very filling indeed.
The sesame bagels which were lightly-crisp, soft and chewy on the outside was also well-made.
Much care is also put into assembling the Truffle Garlic Chickin Bagelwich ($13).
The marinated chicken leg was oven-baked to tenderness and paired with a blend of truffle mayo, which almost stole the spotlight.
The Loxu Bagelsandwich ($14) is also recommended.
The timeless combination of Norwegian smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers succeeds once more, brought to the next level by the carefully toasted golden-brown bagel.
The Hammydinger Bagelwich ($9.50), HashStack Bagelwich ($9.50) and Truffle Garlic Salmon Bagelwich ($15) are the rest of the marvellous creations out there.
Opening late on weekdays, hop down to Keen’s Bagelry if you fancy simple Japanese-style Bagelwiches for yourself.
Keen’s Bagelry
730 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198698
Opening Hours: 12pm – 8pm (Tues – Fri), 12pm – 3pm (Sat – Sun)
Other Related Entries
Bag Me Up Bagel House (Everton Park)
Two Men Bagel House (Joo Chiat)
B for Bagel (Tanglin Mall)
Wooly’s Bagels (Farrer Park)
Monument Lifestyle (Tiong Bahru)
* Written by Daniel Ang and Dean Ang. Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
