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Thanks to typically lower rent in the heartlands, we can now easily find diverse non-Singaporean cuisines right at our doorstep, eliminating the need to travel downtown to enjoy them. Crunch & Cups is an elusive little nook at 260 Ang Mo Kio Street 21 and when our fellow intern, Norman shared with us that a new Vietnamese eatery had just opened in his neighbourhood, we flew down to check it out.
Before I get into the details: just be aware this is primarily a takeaway spot, as there are only one or two small tables with plastic chairs available for dining.
Opened just two weeks ago, Crunch & Cups is the venture of two ladies, Amy and Helena, who hail from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. As this is their very first venture together, she politely apologised in advance, noting that the food might take a little extra time to prepare.
While the menu includes the familiar bánh mì favourites, we couldn’t help but notice a few distinctive dishes worth trying.
If I were to be honest, coconut tubers sounded bizarre yet intriguing at the same time. It’s actually coconut heart, which is sweet, crunchy and tender, and obtained from the base of a coconut palm tree. The Coconut Tubers Salad with Shrimp (S$6.90 for small) arrived with 3 pieces of keropok. The salad itself consisted of sliced coconut tubers and shrimp topped with Vietnamese coriander (laksa leaf), peanuts, chilli, and served with nước chấm (classic Vietnamese dipping sauce).
The coconut tubers were refreshing and tangy, and the overall flavour profile reminded me of Penang assam laksa — truly unique and we approve!
Next up was the Rice Cracker with Chicken Floss (S$4.90). Light, crispy, and airy, the rice crackers came topped with chicken floss. The flavour was muted at first, but one dip into the Vietnamese chilli sauce — reminiscent of McDonald’s garlic chilli — changed everything.
And since we were at a Vietnamese spot, we had to get the Saigon Bánh Mì (S$6.90). There are other options like Egg Bánh Mì with Pâté (S$6.90), Five Spices Grill Chicken Bánh Mì (S$6.90), and Special Braised Beef Stew Bánh Mì (S$8.90) where the stew is served separately, perfect for dunking your baguette into.
Packed to the brim with two types of cold cuts, pâté, chicken floss, mayo, carrots, cucumber, and coriander, the Saigon Bánh Mì hit all the right notes. The bread’s light, crunchy bite made it the perfect vessel for the multitude of flavours inside.
One of my obsessions is Vietnamese salted coffee and my eyes lit up when I spotted Ice Salted Coffee (S$4.90). We also tried the Ice Coconut Coffee (S$4.90) which was just as satisfying.
Pro tip: Stir the drinks well before sipping. Both coffees were quite balanced in flavour and not that sweet.
To get here, head to Mayflower MRT Station Exit 6 and walk towards Mayflower Secondary School — it’s right across the street. Let me know if you enjoyed your experience!
