Food Picks: Japanese doughnuts, choux puffs and cakes at Koko Cafe & Patisserie

5 days ago 54

SINGAPORE – A month after writing about Tras Street restaurants – Latido for Colombian cuisine and Tonshou for charcoal-grilled tonkatsu – I find myself returning to dine at another new concept on the same street. 

It is Koko Cafe & Patisserie, opened in December 2024 by the team behind beef tongue speciality restaurant Gyutan-Tan. 

The cosy 16-seat cafe is adjacent to Gyutan-Tan, which recently adopted an izakaya-style concept. 

I suggest you start with the curry doughnut ($5) – the only savoury item at Koko Cafe & Patisserie – with a Japanese curry chicken filling encased in breaded and fried pumpkin-infused dough. 

This same dough – non-greasy with a lovely chewy texture – is used for the sweet doughnuts (from $4), with fillings such as chocolate raspberry, coffee and matcha. A box of four (with any flavour) is $18.

If you prefer choux puffs (from $4), the selection comes loaded with original custard cream, dark chocolate whip or matcha custard. 

My favourite cake is the classic strawberry shortcake ($10), layered with a moist vanilla sponge cake and fluffy whipped cream. A whole eight-inch version of the cake is available at $72 (order three days in advance).

Other cake highlights include the Okinawan Rum Chocolate Sand ($8), dark chocolate ganache infused with Japanese rum and hazelnut praline, sandwiched between a salted and buttery biscuit crust; and a Yam Mont Blanc ($7), a spin on the typical chestnut cake with yam instead, a berry puree centre and crisp meringue base. 

Pair the desserts with drinks such as blue pea caramel latte ($7), yuzu cold brew ($8.50) or matcha ice cream milk float ($9). 

Where: 43 Tras Street MRT: Tanjong Pagar/Maxwell Open: Noon to 10pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays), 10.30am to 7pm (Sundays), closed on Mondays Tel: 8321-3359 Info: gyutantan.com/koko

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