Chin Mee Chin Confectionery opens cafe at NEX with exclusive menu
Chin Mee Chin Confectionery, the legendary old-school bakery and cafe known for its kaya toast and luncheon meat buns, is officially opening at NEX Serangoon on 8 August 2026! This marks the homegrown brand’s first outlet outside of its iconic East Coast Road location.
In true Eatbook fashion, we got a sneak peek of the new cafe before it opens its doors. Read on to find out what to expect at the upcoming launch.
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For those who don’t know, Chin Mee Chin has been around since 1925. They announced the closure of their Katong flagship store in 2018, before reopening three years later with a refurbished space. The brand recently celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, introducing limited-edition dishes and merchandise for fans.
Fans can expect the same nostalgic menu that has kept the brand going for over a century, including the classic Kaya Toast ($2.80). A set with two eggs and a hot kopi or teh is priced at $6.50. While the a la carte prices remain the same as the OG outlet, the set price is up by $0.30.
The kaya toast stars the brand’s signature house-made kaya, which is creamy and full of pandan fragrance. It leans on the sweeter side, though the cold slab of butter helped cut through the richness of the kaya. We just wished the buns were toastier and had a deeper char.
You can also look forward to a new lineup of snacks and mains exclusive to the NEX outlet.
For something hearty, the Nasi Lemak with Grilled Chicken Cutlet ($10.80) is a must-order. You get all the fixings here: coconut rice, otah, a sunny-side up egg, anchovies, peanuts, two types of sambal, and a slab of grilled chicken cutlet.
Here’s a pro tip: Top up $1 to enjoy a hot kopi or teh! The traditional drinks are hand-pulled (six times, to be exact), creating a frothy, thick concoction that’s easily one of the best renditions we’ve tried.
The lemak rice paired excellently with the two house-made sambals—one sweet, while the other had a deeper umami flavour. The chicken was also deliciously savoury and tender, with prominent kaffir lime notes.
I preferred the Smashed Fried Chicken with Sambal Sandwich ($8.80), featuring the same buns used in the kaya toast, grilled until toasty perfection, then packed with crispy fried chicken and sambal.
The whole shebang was a party in the mouth—deeply savoury and satisfying, but appropriately sized so it doesn’t get jelak.
If you want something lighter, more suited for teatime, consider the selection of pastries and bakes here. The Curry Potato Pie ($3.80) was filled with a spicy and flavourful filling, though the pie crust was a little softer than we would have liked. There’s also a small range of old-school buns available, including the iconic Luncheon Meat Bun ($2.80) and Otah Bun ($2.80).
Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying the Dark Chocolate Choux Au Craquelin ($3), where a light and airy puff is filled with decadent dark chocolate custard and topped with a crunchy sugar coating.
There’s also a Kaya Custard ($3) version, but the chocolate one was the winner for us.
Besides Nanyang kopi and teh, Chin Mee Chin NEX offers a small lineup of trendy “cloud-style” drinks. The Kaya Cloud Kopi ($5.50) is a standout; you get bold kopi layered with a thick, cloud-like foam infused with house-made kaya. The first sip is sweet and creamy, before giving way to the strong, bittersweet coffee underneath.
Chin Mee Chin NEX is slated to open at Basement 2 of the mall, directly connected to Serangoon MRT Station. The space is small and compact, seating around 25 diners or so.
For more dining options in the area, read our NEX food guide. In other food news, Isetan Scotts’ Japanese fair is back till 13 August 2026, and there’s a booth that lets you DIY your own mochi bowl!
Address: 23 Serangoon Central, #B2-60/61, NEX, Singapore 556083
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 9:30pm
Website
Chin Mee Chin Confectionery is not halal-certified.
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Photos taken by Nathania Tay.
This was a media tasting at Chin Mee Chin NEX.
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