Bao Er: The Kaya Toast and Hokkien Mee Gem in Balestier

Bao Er

400 Balestier Rd,

#02-01 Balestier Plaza,

Singapore 329802

If you are the kind of traveller who seeks out local gems, places where the food is the main event and the setting is part of the adventure, then Bao Er in Balestier Plaza should be on your list to visit. This unassuming spot located on Level 2 of Balestier Plaza, a place that is not often frequented.

The 2 items that almost every table ordered were Kaya Toast as well as Hokkien Mee. These are the 2 gems at Bao Er. My parents commented as we sat down on Sunday evening, its not the right time to have Kaya Toast, why is everyone having Kaya Toast! Yes Kaya Toast is our breakfast food, but here at Bao Er, Kaya Toast has no boundaries. These thin slices of bread, grilled twice until crisp and then slathered with Kaya and a slab of cold butter is worthy, even for dinner. The owners, Jeremy and Bao Er (Jeremy's wife and yes, her real name) make their Kaya fresh daily, using only freshly squeezed coconut milk. The result, an ultra smooth, rich and fragrant oozy kaya.

Kaya Toast for dinner, anyone?

The other must have and gem at this place is their Hokkien mee. There is a gorgeous wok hei in a thick seafood base and a generous serve of pork, scallops, squid, prawn and pork lard. The charred smokiness was present but never felt overpowering. Once the sauce was stirred into the seafood and pork, the dish really blended together. This plate was for 2 and cost us 15 dollars, which we were very happy with. I wouldn't say there is alot of noodles, but it was definitely sufficient as a hearty meal.

What are your other options there? There is a huge menu at Bao Er, including the usual Yang Zhou friend rice and some pasta options. But, when you look around, everyone is only having the Hokkien Mee and the Kaya Toast - I think that tells you alot about what Bao Er is good at. I think our next visit would also have to be Hokkien Mee and Kaya Toast, so unfortunately for the World Traversal family, we won't be able to update you on the other options on the menu. And for good reason.

Booking

It was busy during our visit on a Sunday evening at around 5.30 pm. The shop was almost full by the time we got there. However, as with a local place, the turn around is really quick and unlike lunch time, there is no line here. Bao Er does not take bookings, so turn up early! It helps!

Accessibility

Bao Er currently only has one branch at Balestier. It is not terribly accessible except by bus, car or grab. Fortunately, there are other options. Bao Er has a cafe at Purvis Street called Treasure Toast and they are also going to open a new branch at Holland Village, which will make it more accessible for others visiting by public transport. For now, lovers will have to find their own way to Balestier, a place I feel is the gem of local dining.

The Damage

The Kaya Toast was $2.30, the kopi was $1.60 and the Hokkien Mee for 2 was $15. Ultra good value and we were completely full and satisfied at the end of the meal.

Would We Recommend?

Definitely Yes! I am sure as a visitor to Singapore, you would look at the current google rating of 3.5 and go.. hmm. Do I really want to be travelling for this? The answer is a definitely yes if you want to experience a true local flavour. There is no hype, there is no instagrammable setting, but Bao Er does what it does best - feeding the locals with high quality kaya toast and Hokkien Mee. The food here is deeply satisfying and worth travelling for.