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Address: 12 Jiak Chuan Rd, Singapore 089265
Opening Hours: Daily 9am–5pm, 6–10:30pm, Closed on Mondays
Official Website: kafeutu.com
Kafe Utu, Singapore
I think I’ve officially found my new favorite brunch place in Singapore. Kafe Utu can probably take the crown of the most innovative and trendiest restaurant in Singapore with its African cuisine and interiors taking centerstage. I absolutely loved my experience at Kafe Utu and I can’t wait to go back again to try out more of their lunch fares.
It is my first time eating African and Swahili cuisine, and I’m so happy to be writing this on Candid Cuisine because I try to cover as much as possible. There is a lot of vibrancy, texture and richness in African cuisine (and even my knowledge is limited) that is rarely visible outside Africa. Kafe Utu brings a different flavor to Singapore and carves a need we didn’t even know existed.
Step inside and you’d be immediately transported to the African continent. If you’re looking for an escape from Singapore, this brunch place should definitely be on your list.
Take for example, the Pulled Pork breakfast. Anthony Bourdain would be proud. Fresh Pork Shoulder, House Smoked BBQ Sauce, Spice Mix, Curried Avocado, Corn Salsa, Poached Barn Egg, along with potato tater tots — because I like to call them that. It’s an orchestra of textures that starts strong with the pulled pork’s tenderness and blended with the coolness of the avocado. Mix it with the crunch of the potatoes and topple with corn salsa. The result is a mastery of flavors I haven’t seen in any restaurants in Singapore, except at Kafe Utu. I like to mix and match the textures to get the most of the plate, and I am extremely impressed.
The Pulled Pork breakfast is on the cold side, I think (save for the pork), and the crowd-favorite Bidibado “Abracadabra” elevates the experience a bit. With its double shot Ubuntu espresso, blended with North Melbourne’s Mörk 70% dark chocolate, this intensifies your meal with bitter cocoa notes and a hint of coffee. I wish the cocoa wasn’t that overpowering, as the Hokkaido milk are toned down. On the other hand, I had fun with the pink peppercorns and almond bits on the peanut butter. It’s like magic, hence Abracadabra.
I had so much fun with my dining experience at Kafe Utu that I won’t hesitate to eat there again soon. Needless to say, I’m a new convert to African cuisine.