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A modern Japanese-esque cafe decked out in the usual hipster affair has taken over Little Oasis‘s old spot at Everton Park‘s artsy neighbourhood. Soft-launched just this month, Wabi Sabi joins an expanding list of cafes sporting menus with heavy influence from Japanese cuisine.
While certainly not a standout in novelty, the cafe offers a premium cast of sandos with homemade shokupan bread as well as donburi complete with miso soup and sides.
I’ve always found it hard to justify splurging on sando in Singapore considering most are attached to a premium price tag. Thankfully, Wabi Sabi’s iconic Pork Katsu Sando comes at a reasonable S$11.90 and the deluxe Beef Steak Sando at S$14.90. Their most affordable sandwich, the Tamagoyaki Sando (S$8.90), is filled with a generous amount of egg mayo with fluffy tamago. There’s also the no-brainer option of adding Fries (S$2.50) to complete the set.
Their donburi, however, seem to teeter on the pricier end. Yakitori Don (S$14.90) is served with an onsen egg, but their Pork Katsu Don (S$14.90), Beef Steak Don (S$20.90) and Salmon Mentai Don (S$22.90) are devoid of it entirely. Adding S$4.80 for Salad and a choice between 2 pieces of Gyoza or 3 Karaage for a full meal might just more than fill that onsen egg-sized hole. Sides like Fried Oyster (S$8.90) and Fresh Sashimi (S$11.90) will make an excellent addition to each bowl of donburi.
Coffee is the expected drink of choice at cafes like these, but opt for their Dirty Matcha (S$8) for a fusion of coffee and matcha, as well as Instagram-worthiness. Bring the meal to a close with a slice of creamy Homemade Burnt Cheesecake (S$6.90).
Wabi Sabi’s rustic, minimalistic interior is not uncommon in the modern cafe space, but they might just be among the more affordable options out there.
New in town: ToMo Cafe — Japanese-style Iced Tiramisu Latte & Miso Butter Crab Pasta in Joo Chiat
