Heap Seng Leong Coffeeshop — Restaurant in Singapore

Heap Seng Leong: A Timeless Taste of Tradition

Heap Seng Leong is more than just a coffee shop; it's a portal to a simpler time. Stepping into this unassuming space is like stepping back into the Singapore of the 1970s, with its marble-topped tables, red plastic chairs, and walls adorned with decades of coffee-making memories. The air is thick with the intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the rhythmic clinking of spoons against porcelain cups.

But the true stars of the show are, without a doubt, the Kopi Butter and the Charcoal Kaya Butter Toast. (+bonus dish at the end!)

Kopi Butter: A Silky Symphony of Coffee and Butter

The Kopi Butter, also known as "butter coffee," is a testament to Heap Seng Leong's dedication to preserving tradition. Each cup is meticulously brewed using the iconic "kopi sock" method, resulting in a robust and flavorful brew. But the magic truly happens with the addition of a generous pat of butter. As it melts into the hot coffee, it creates a velvety mouthfeel, tempering the bitterness and adding a touch of luxurious creaminess. Each sip is a smooth symphony of coffee, butter, and pure nostalgia.

Charcoal Kaya Butter Toast: A Toasty Revelation

No visit to Heap Seng Leong is complete without indulging in their legendary Charcoal Kaya Butter Toast. Thick slices of Hainanese white bread are toasted to golden perfection over glowing charcoal embers. This time-honored method infuses the bread with a subtle smoky aroma and a delightful hint of char. Each slice is then slathered with a homemade kaya spread, crafted from a delicate blend of eggs, coconut milk, pandan leaves, and sugar. The kaya's sweetness dances with the smoky char, creating a flavor profile that is both familiar and surprisingly complex. Finally, two cold slabs of butter adorn the toast, adding a delightful richness that melts in your mouth with every bite.

A Timeless Treasure

The Kopi Butter and Charcoal Kaya Butter Toast from Heap Seng Leong are more than just breakfast; they are an experience. Each bite is a testament to the kopitiam's dedication to authenticity and quality. The combination of robust coffee, smoky toast, and creamy kaya is pure magic, transporting you back to a time of simpler pleasures and genuine warmth.

So, if you're looking for a taste of Singapore's heritage, look no further than Heap Seng Leong. Just be prepared to fall in love with every sip and every bite.

Bonus Tip : Do not forget to try the potato curry puff from the mini stall just to the left of within Heap Seng Leong! It is priced at $1 each and trust me when I say it will be the most amazing potato curry puff you will ever lay your taste buds on. The skin is super crispy and stays in 1 piece, without crumbling like the usual flaky curry puff you get outside. The potato filling hits you with it's crazy flavour profile that screams "CURRY!!!!!!". Spiciness level was very balanced for a non extreme spicy eater like me.

Additional Information:

Heap Seng Leong is located at 10 North Bridge Rd, #01-5109, Singapore 190010.

Opening hours are 5:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily.

The Kopi Butter, Soft Boiled Eggs and Charcoal Kaya Butter Toast are...

I came across this coffeeshop behind ICA building while I was looking for lunch. It is a blast from the past and I am glad it still exists. There is only 1 stall selling curry puffs and the drinks and toast stall. So I ordered a Kaya toast set and had 1 potato curry puffs. In today's age - extreme value for money, the toast set is 4sgd and the curry puffs 1sgd (Sept 2024). The eggs really brought me back to my childhood. They were underdone, with some transparency and more watery, which it is how it was done in the 80s. U won't find this imperfection in ya kun or toast box or funtoast or whatever. It's not a defect, I ate plenty of these as a child and still survived.

I had a fresh cooked curry puff, super crispy and hot. How to complain abt a 1sgd curry puff freshly fried? I ve had worse for 3sgd. The food is not tip top quality but come here for the ambiance and atmosphere - Which harkens back to the 70s and 80s or perhaps even earlier. Where to find this atmosphere anymore? Choose this over all the crap hipster cafes and coffeeshops popping up. This is a slice of Singapore history, which this country and its government doesn't care about as it relentlessly drives forwards in modernization Andrew upgrading, making Singapore a soulless machine going forwards. This is a living image from the past and we should treasure it while it still exists.

And all of the stupid people complaining abt how hot or stuffy the coffeeshop is, thats how it was in the old days. At this point, this is a piece of history, not just a coffeeshop. U want aircon go to shopping centre and to the commercial chains. I wouldn't a/c this place for it to lose its historical charm, not...

Heap Seng Leong was our first breakfast in Singapore after arriving, and it was the best choice we made!

This coffee shop shares the same space as a small curry puff store near the bustling Arab Street area of Singapore. Going for breakfast around 9am, we already encountered a long line consisting of both tourists and locals. The specialty at Heap Seng Leong is their selection of traditional Singaporean breakfast options—Kopi (coffee), kaya butter toast, and soft boiled eggs.

Kopi is a classic coffee drink consisting of a strong coffee blend with condensed milk and sugar—there is also an option to have it with butter in the drink for extra creaminess. If you’re a fan of stronger and/or sweeter coffees like Vietnamese coffee, Kopi will satisfy that craving!

Kaya butter toast did not disappoint either and paired well with the coffee. Consisting of butter and kaya (a sweet coconut-based jam) between warm toasted pieces of bread, it provided a sweet pairing to our coffee. It was also our first time trying kaya and it was a nice introduction to an essential sweet flavor of Singapore.

Finally, the soft boiled eggs rounded out the meal by providing a bit of savory flavors while also not being too overbearing. We enjoyed them with a bit of soy sauce and white pepper powder and would recommend doing so since otherwise it would be a bit bland.

Overall, Heap Seng Leong provided an authentic introduction to Singaporean breakfast! Although there are chain restaurants providing the same breakfast set, I would still recommend going even more local and supporting the owners of this small business and everything was also extremely cheap compared...