A cafe next to a Chinese temple? That’s a first. A cafe serving Peranakan cuisine in CBD is even more attractive. Chong Wen Ge cafe opened not long ago in the bustling CBD area without much fanfare. Honestly, if you don’t spot the sign outside, you probably won’t realise there is a cafe inside
The inner seating space is rather small, so you can consider the pavilion outside as an alternative too
But the interior inside is much more welcoming, complete with Peranakan tiles that are too pretty to resist
Homemade nonya kueh that are so good (and popular) they sometimes get sold out by 1pm
Cakes of the day and desserts selection
Teh C Special $5.50
A twist on the local teh c-peng. It was damn good, with the special ingredient (which we suspected to be gula melaka) that gave the added fragrance and sweetness
Nonya Meesiam $6.80
Sweet tangy broth with huge prawns. A very decent bowl of mee siam but I wished they had this warmer. It was not like hot hot, but rather lukewarm
Nonya Curry Chicken $9.80
The first taste of this curry chicken reminds me of my grandma’s. A beautifully cooked curry chicken with the broth thick and creamy and so delicious to drink. Dip with the jiam tao loti, perfect combination
Nonya Kueh 4 for $5
My favourite was the kueh lapis sagu, or known as rainbow kueh lapis. The fragrance of the pandan and coconut was evident in their kuehs, that makes it specially delicious. The ondeh ondeh was pretty good too
Even though the cafe is new, it has attracted a steady stream of the CBD crowd with many making reservations in advance (though somehow the reservation system kinda fail). Food is pretty decent and I simply adore their homemade nonya kueh. I hope they are able to keep up with the demand in time to come cos I noticed the lunch crowd seems a little just too overwhelming for them at the moment. Still, it is a place to give a try if you are working nearby!
Chong Wen Ge Cafe 崇文阁
168 Telok Ayer St, S(068619)
