When you get crispy Kaya Toast, tasty Chilli Pan Mee and Nasi Lemak all together, this already sounds like a winning combo.
While the Wanglee Cafe at Toa Payoh Lor 4 has been open for some time, it still enjoys relative popularity.
It was founded by three brothers: one a former head chef at Canton Paradise, the others seasoned zi char cooks from Wanglee Seafood nearby.
You may need to queue briefly under Singapore’s unforgiving sun before entering this no-frills, air-conditioned space.
Once inside, you find it packed with nostalgic touches like rooster bowls and Peranakan tiles.
Hungry?
Main items include Mee Hoon Kueh, Ban Mian or You Mian in dry or soup versions ($5.80), Chilli Pan Mee ($6.80), Braised Pork Rice ($6.80), Century Egg Minced Meat Porridge ($3.80), and Economic Bee Hoon Set ($3.80).
Their signature dry Chilli Pan Mee ($6.80) featured satisfyingly chewy, house-made noodles in a sumptuous package.
It glistened with a balanced blend of soy sauce and velvety poached egg. I found this better than many of the others I tried in Singapore.
The star was the dry, crunchy chilli crisp – made with five chilli varieties, XO sauce, hae bee, sesame and garlic.
It gave a toasty, spicy hit but not face-melting kick.
Ah, and those little tau kee rolls filled with fish paste soak up that flavour.
I also tred the Ah Ma Nasi Lemak ($6.80) plate (actually because the bee hoon was sold out).
The rice could use a richer coconut and fragrant touch.
But the fried chicken wing redeemed itself with its juicy, well-marinated old-school flavour.
With kaya toast sold everywhere, they had a slight edge with the way they present.
The kaya was fragrant, subtly sweet with the right pandan aroma. Crisp toast edges made me smile, though personally I would not mind a toastier slice.
Several customers were seen ordering their Volcano Kopi Peng too. But I was watching my sugar and calorie intake, and gave it a miss.
But it looked really good.
Let me be practical. The cafe gets cramped, especially at peak times. Tables sit quite close together and the air con fights hard against the crowd.
But the menu stays wallet friendly, mains come under $7 and certainly taste above average.
And you can always use your CDC vouchers here.
Wanglee Cafe
92 Lor 4 Toa Payoh, #01-274, Singapore 310092
Opening Hours: 7am – 5pm (Mon – Wed, Fri – Sun), Closed Thurs
Wanglee Cafe – Bencoolen
Sunshine Plaza #01-50, 91 Bencoolen St, Singapore 189652
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Thurs), 8am – 7pm (Fri – Sun)
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nooodon (Potong Pasir)
Jie Bakery (Outram Road)
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