Fun fact: Hoo-Gah is actually how you’d pronounce the word ‘hygge’, a quality of cosiness and conviviality that invokes a sense of contentment, a defining characteristic of Danish culture. Opened by university students from Kaplan Singapore, this chic, minimalist café serves up its own unique fusion banh mi, along with refreshing drinks such as coconut shakes and coffees to help you beat Singapore’s brutal heat.
Take your pick from a variety of unorthodox banh mi flavours, each of them more mouthwatering than the last. I was immediately intrigued by the Char Siu Banh Mi (S$6.90), especially since we’re all used to pairing the barbecued pork with rice. Hoo-Gah has elevated their combination with spices that draw from both local Cantonese-style char siew along with traditional Vietnamese flavours.
This next one might remind you of a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Or at least, that was what my mind immediately jumped to at the sight of Hoo-Gah’s Beef Cheese Banh Mi (S$7.90). Stuffed with stir-fried beef and mozzarella before it’s topped with pickled radish, cucumber, and coriander. They’ve successfully piqued my curiosity, especially because the purist in me loves her banh mi as authentic as possible.
And while you’re at Hoo-Gah, why not treat yourself? Forgo the long queues under the sun, and opt for their Coconut Shake (S$4.50), their rendition of the milky-white drink that took TikTok by the storm overnight one day, and is still riding that wave.
Hoo-Gah also offers a Coffee Milk Frappuccino (S$3.50), which is ice blended with coffee beans imported from Vietnam. It’ll be the perfect boost of energy you need to get through a long day, and I think I’ll actually need an extra one to-go, you know, because there are just too many new cafés to write about.
Note: just kidding. Please don’t edit that out.
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Price: $
Hoo-Gah
76 Shenton Way, #01-07, Singapore 079119
Hoo-Gah
76 Shenton Way, #01-07, Singapore 079119
