No breakfast is quite as ubiquitous to Singapore as kaya toast and eggs. While it may be as simple as breakfast gets — it is, after all, bread, butter, and spread — it is the epitome of comfort food. It is well-loved by Singaporeans from all walks of life. Charcoal-grilled toast, crispy and toasty, paired with the green (sometimes brown) jam we all know and love. To top it off? A thick piece of butter in the middle. How can anyone not love kaya toast? We've yet to meet that person. For all you kaya toast lovers out there (basically, everyone), here is where to get Singapore’s best kaya toast.
Heap Seng Leong
A coffee shop steeped in old-school charm, Heap Seng Leong has been serving up this quintessential Singaporean breakfast since the 70s. Kaya is slathered generously over charcoal-grilled slices of bread. Have a taste of kopi gu you (literally, coffee butter) while you’re here, a once-popular style of coffee in Singapore. The sight of butter melting into an oily swirl atop the black coffee may certainly not be the most pleasant sight, don’t let that deter you! When mixed in, it makes the coffee almost toffee-like and quite delightful to drink.
Address: 10 North Bridge Rd, #01-5109, Singapore 190010
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 5am–6pm
Phone: 6292 2368
Killiney Kopitiam
One of the oldest Hainanese coffee shops in Singapore, Killiney Kopitiam is located at Killiney Road, where it has stood since 1919. Originally known as Kheng Hoe Heng Coffee Shop, it was famous for its toast and warm beverages. Though it was just an ordinary Hainanese Kopitiam, it had one of the best traditional charcoal-grilled kaya toasts around. The kaya here is nostalgic, not too sweet and boasting a strong, coconutty aroma. The decor of their original outlet along Killiney Road remains mostly unchanged, with cracked tiles and wooden stools. The quality can differ depending on the outlet (it’s now a franchise, after all), so we’d recommend sticking with the original outlet.
Address: 67 Killiney Rd, Singapore 239525
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 6am–8pm
Phone: 6734 3910
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YY Kafei Dian
Located along the corner of Purvis Street and Beach Road, YY Kafei Dian is an old school eatery serving Hainanese cuisine. A departure from the thin, crispy slices of bread, what you’ll find at YY Kafei Dian instead is their kaya buns. The buns are baked in-house, and yes, it does make a world of difference! Thick, fluffy, and slightly toasty, the buns make a perfect vessel for the generous slathering of kaya and butter. We have no words for how good this is, and you’ll have to try it yourself to understand.
Address: 37 Beach Rd, #01-01, Singapore 189678
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30am–7pm, Saturday–Sunday, 8am–7pm
Phone: 6336 8813
Ya Kun Kaya Toast
A household name in Singapore, Ya Kun Kaya Toast needs no introduction. For one, it has consistently been serving up good quality kaya toast and eggs — their eggs are always so beautifully cooked! While most will stick to the usual toast set, we’d recommend getting the steamed bread set for a change. The bread is luxuriously soft, and pairs beautifully with their signature smooth and not-too-sweet kaya, and of course, a decadent slab of butter. The butter melts and coats the bread, lending to a lip-smackingly good bite. The only downside is that they tend to be on the more expensive end, but eh.
Address: 18, #01-01 China St, Far East Square, Singapore 049560
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30am–4:30pm, Saturday–Sunday, 7:30am–3pm
Phone: 6438 3638
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Good Morning Nanyang Cafe
Though Good Morning Nanyang Cafe is one of the newer players on the block, they have earned a place in the hearts of purists and the younger crowd alike. For one, they use ciabatta, an Italian-style bread, for their toast. Try their orange ciabatta kaya toast, a kaya toast but better invention that somehow just seems to work. The zesty orange brings out the rich flavours of kaya and butter, and the bread just brings it all together. Their kaya may be on the slightly grainy side, but not in a bad way, adding another layer of dimension to their toast. It’s also not too sweet, which we appreciate.
Address: 14 Scotts Rd, #02-23, Far East Square, Singapore 228213
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 8:30am–8:30pm
Phone: 9650 3256
Tong Ah Eating House
If you love super crispy kaya toast, you’ll fall in love with the kaya toast at Tong Ah Eating House. Operating since 1939, this popular establishment is no stranger to residents in the area. Their super crispy version features bread that is charred 3 times over charcoal, leading to a smokey and extremely crisp wafer. The bread, paired with the eggy kaya and butter, is wonderfully crackly, and then melts in your mouth. Yes, that unbelievably good. Order this with a dark, full-bodied cup of kopi and you’re all good to go.
Address: 35 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089142
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 7am–10pm
Phone: 6223 5083
