Cafe On:do is the newest Korean cafe serving affordable Korean bakes in the Alexandra

Normally, you’d expect to find Korean cafes in places such as Tanjong Pagar, but this latest one is in a rather unexpected location — Alexandra. 

Having opened in late May, Cafe On:do currently occupies a corner lot on the second level of Alexandra Central, one of the more under-the-radar malls.

The story behind Cafe On:do

After baking for over ten years across private and corporate kitchens in Singapore and Korea, owner YoungEun Seo decided that it was time to open a cafe of her own selling Korean-style bakes. She chose to open in Alexandra, in particular, thanks to its growing Korean community. 

If you’re like me and curious about what On:do stands for — prepare for a heartwarming answer. 

On:do stems from the Korean phrase “온도” (Ondo), which means temperature. This phrase acts as a motto — representing not only the literal temperature of the ovens used for baking, but also the warm mood Cafe On:do hopes to welcome its guests with. 

This conviviality envelops the compact but welcoming space — the L-shaped cafe leans into the classic, minimalist Korean aesthetic with wooden furniture and low-hanging warm lights.

And if you’re looking for a new spot to spend your WFH days, the cafe has power plugs that you can park yourself next to.  

At the counter area, you’ll also find an array of picture-perfect bakes out on display. 

While Cafe On:do opens at 9am, we’d recommend dropping by from 12pm, if you’re looking to browse from the full selection of bakes, since the team turns them out fresh from the oven each day! 

Aesthetic, yet affordable bakes 

Just like the cafes you’ll find in Korea, all the bakes look almost too good to eat — but we selected a mix of small and large dessert plates to try. 

We first tried Cafe On:do’s take on the viral butter tteok (S$2.50) — a Korean dessert that’s made from glutinous rice flour and baked till golden brown. 

While we would have preferred it warm, the tteok still maintained a crispy, caramelised exterior and satisfyingly chewy interior. The sweet and buttery flavour profile is reminiscent of a glazed doughnut, but instead concentrated into a dense, bite-sized portion.

If you’re heading here with friends, make sure to order more than one portion to avoid any squabbles!

If you’re looking for a more classic bake, give the lemon cake (S$4.20) — a moist vanilla cake with a pleasantly tart lemon frosting — a try. We’d recommend pairing it with your tea of choice for a light afternoon snack.

Another of Cafe On:do’s signature are its scones, available with spring onion cream cheese (S$5), red bean butter (S$5), and strawberry jam butter (S$4.50). 

We had the red bean butter — a generous spread of nutty red bean and a thick slab of butter filled the space between two halves of a soft, crumbly scone. The red bean and butter combination worked surprisingly well — balancing the intense sweetness of the red bean paste with the lightly salted butter. 

The last of our bakes was the original burnt Basque cheesecake (S$7.50). While we expected a sweet, creamy bake, Cafe On:do’s rendition had a texture more akin to that of cottage cheese, with the flavours leaning more salty.

YoungEun says she personally prefers cheesecakes to be more cheese-forward and wanted to create a flourless version, which explains the softer, airier texture. 

If you love salted desserts, this might be the one for you.

Korean-inspired sips

From the drinks menu, we tried two of the signature drinks — the Korean retro latte (S$6) leans sweet, similar to the iced coffees you’ll find at mega coffee chains all across Korea. The On:do cream latte (S$6.50) combines a robust espresso with a slightly sweet mascarpone cream, making for a creamier and punchier cuppa. 

Cafe On:do also offers a unique selection of Jeju teas, of which we tried the Jeju Sunset (S$6.50). This combines hibiscus tea and yuzu marmalade, creating a tangy, floral tea, sweetened by the bright and lightly citrusy marmalade. 

If you’re ever craving the bakes you fell in love with in Korea, Cafe On:do has just what you need — drinks and bakes, all at your own pace. 

Still got room for more? Check this cafe reviving community spirit with fresh bakes or this CBD cafe serving up brunch fanfare!