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Blue pea rice might be all the rage, but have you heard of yellow nasi lemak with pork belly? If the mention of the dish left you in disbelief, you can imagine that was my reaction when I stumbled upon Island Cafe at Block 721 at West Coast.
Cosy with a retro-style aesthetic, this little cafe is usually packed on weekends. I had casually mentioned it to my colleague, Aaron after I discovered it, and he told me that it was owned by the restaurant Island Penang Kitchen under the same block.
While Island Cafe serves mostly Malaysian breakfast staples like kaya toast, wanton noodles and Penang white curry mee, Island Penang Kitchen offers a wider range including char kway teow and rojak.
Upon entry, my companion and I noticed a sign on the door that stated “NO GST & SERVICE CHARGE” in bold letters. A splendid choice for those who would rather view straightforward prices than be jumpscared by an added charge on their bill.
What I tried at Island Cafe
I was advised that the Crispy Pork Belly Turmeric Nasi Lemak (S$8.90) would take about 10 minutes of preparation, and I readily agreed to wait; anything to satisfy my curiosity regarding one of Island Cafe’s more unique dishes!
No words could describe the delight I felt upon seeing the nasi lemak. It was beautifully plated, with the various ingredients surrounding a pyramid of turmeric-dyed rice so yellow it was almost glowing.
While a hint of turmeric was initially present in the rice, a stronger coconut flavour persisted. Some grains remained harder and clumped together as I scooped, but most of the dish was sufficiently fluffy.
The Crispy Pork Belly was, well, crispy. Deep-fried in golden-brown batter and topped with crumbs and curry leaves, it was nothing short of indulgent. While the meat wasn’t super special, it wasn’t too fatty and had a delicious crunch from the batter.
To complete the dish and provide some complexity in texture and taste, ikan bilis, peanuts, an egg and fresh cucumber were arranged neatly around the plate. The accompanying chilli was garlicky, had a more liquid-like consistency and lacked the shrimpiness of belacan. Despite this, it was savoury and spicy without being unnecessarily sweet.
A bowl of the Penang Seafood White Curry Noodle costs S$6 without cockles and S$7 with. Hoping to make the most of my trip, I decided on the S$7 option.
Thin bee hoon and thick yellow mee were used— they aren’t my favourite kinds but were most suited for the curry gravy base. They were slippery, and the alkaline yellow noodles gave each mouthful a slightly oily aftertaste.
The white curry itself was light and sweet, with a thin and smooth consistency. On its own, it didn’t have much spice and had a richer prawn fragrance. The chilli provided the already flavoursome soup a kick.
Island Cafe wasn’t stingy with its ingredients, as there were plenty of hum, long beans, bean sprouts, fishcake and also a large prawn. The seafood was delightfully fresh – the briny cockles and the sweet, bouncy prawn went amazingly with the broth.
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For our final dish, I decided to skip the basic chee cheong fun with sauce and try the Pig Skin Curry Rice Noodle Roll (S$5.50).
Unlike the white curry, this one was thick with coconut cream and spicy with hints of ginger. It was visibly more spicy as well; the vivid fiery hue told me everything I needed to know.
Spongy pig skin was an interesting choice to go with the silky cheong fun. Like a sponge, it soaked up the curry, resulting in a mini flavour bomb with each chew. The rice noodle roll in my opinion was a tad too soft; each piece almost melted with every bite.
For drinks, the Yuan Yang (S$1.80/S$2.60, S$3 for Iced) tasted more teh than kopi and wasn’t very strong. The Iced Classic Mocha (S$3.50) had a delightful chocolate flavour and subtle sweetness, but the cocoa overpowered the coffee.
Final Thoughts
Island Cafe might be slightly more crowded during the weekends given the small seating space, but I believe it would be a great hang-out spot on quieter days. I feel certain elements of the dishes could be improved, but they were, other than that, pretty satisfactory and made for a delicious (and beautiful) meal.
The Penang Seafood White Curry Noodle was a delectable enough treat – tasty, warm and filling. It was my first time trying Penang white curry mee and I can confidently say it left a good first impression. While the Crispy Pork Belly Nasi Lemak wasn’t top-notch, it was still a fulfilling dish with potential that I’d be willing to give a second chance to!
Expected Damage : S$5.50 – S$8.60 per pax
Order Delivery: foodpanda
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