Chin Mee Chin Confectionery turns 100: New menu specials and exclusive collectibles
This year, Katong’s beloved Chin Mee Chin Confectionery is toasting to 100 sweet years!
Just like any big birthday bash, it’s celebrating it with a bang — a three-month-long celebration with brand-new menu items and exclusive mementos, kicking off this June.
Established in 1925, this breakfast institution has won hearts for its long-running tenure in the heart of East Coast, with icons such as its kaya toast – that comes in round buns — and old-school bakes including its popular sugee cake.
As one of Singapore’s OG coffeeshops, the century-old Chin Mee Chin Confectionery remains a well-loved household name to this day.
But even legends hit a bump or two: The shop almost shut its doors for good in 2018 due to manpower woes.
Thankfully, Ebb & Flow Group brought the kopitiam back to life in 2021 — and hell yeah, the kaya toast and kopi drinks still slap.
Chin Mee Chin Confectionery continues to stay true to its charcoal-grilled toasted buns — and business is as brisk as ever!
The heritage shophouse may have gotten a fresh coat of cheerful cyan paint and deep red lettering, but it’s still a glorious time capsule of marbled tables, wooden chairs, tiled floors, and vintage fittings — reminding me a little of my grandparents’ living room.
Nostalgic and down-to-earth, Chin Mee Chin Confectionery is a solid lepak spot for both the older crowd and new-gen foodies craving for good ol’ breakfast staples.
Chin Mee Chin’s new menu items
Long-time Chin Mee Chin fans are in for a treat — besides time-honoured classics, the brand will be serving up limited-time-only specials that feature hearty flavours with a modern twist!
First on the line-up is a trio of French toast creations — this isn’t part of Chin Mee Chin’s usual slate of items, and it’s been spruced up further with shokupan (Japanese-style milk bread), rather than your usual bread.
If you only have space for one, the peanut butter French toast (S$7) is seriously good. It features a rich peanut butter filling and a glorious slab of cold butter tucked within two shokupan slices.
Golden-seared to perfection, it’s fluffy inside and satisfyingly gooey. The creamy nutty spread reminds us of the kind you’d get in old-school pandan waffles, while the butter adds a gentle savoury touch.
Not into peanut butter? There’s a kaya (S$6) version for the traditionalists and Nutella (S$8) for those with a sweet-tooth, too.
For something savoury, you can’t go wrong with the curry pork chop (S$8.80) that brings together a crispy, breaded pork cutlet and a generous pour of homemade curry to go with the fluffy rice.
Rich with a fragrant, coconutty aroma, the curry zhup (gravy) is enough to tempt any spice lover. Even with its bold orange-red look, the fiery kick is surprisingly mellow, such that non-spice eaters (like me!) would find it manageable.
There’s also the braised pork belly with preserved greens (S$10.80) — or kou rou with mei cai. Slow-stewed in a fragrant medley of soy sauce, cinnamon, ginger, and sesame oil, the pork belly is wonderfully tender with just the right fat-to-lean ratio.
That said, Chin Mee Chin’s take didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The mei cai (preserved mustard greens) leans a tad too sweet — missing that punchy, umami richness I’m used to — but nonetheless works well enough.
Last but not least, Chin Mee Chin has a unique Peranakan treat up its sleeve: Pang susi (S$2.80) — a sweet potato bun filled with minced pork, candied winter melon, and mixed vegetables.
Nestled in a pillowy soft bread, the savoury filling is mildly peppery, comforting, and unlike anything we’ve seen at other old-school bakeries.
Chin Mee Chin-exclusive collectibles? Yes, please!
And you won’t be leaving empty-handed, too.
From June 23 to 29, between 12pm to 4pm, the first 100 diners who spend a minimum of S$25 will get to participate in a lucky draw and receive a limited-edition CMCoin — of these, there will be one gold and 99 silver coins. Each receipt qualifies you for one draw per day.
Drawing a silver CMCoin allows you to claim an exclusive 100-year Chin Mee Chin T-shirt (U.P. S$38), which is available for purchase in-store, too. Meanwhile, the winner of the single gold coin will be awarded a 2D1N stay at Artyzen Singapore (U.P. S$565).
But hold onto the coins first — it’s only redeemable from July 1 to 31, so you’ll need to come back to claim your merch!
If you’re swinging by from August 1 to 15, a minimum spend of S$25 will net you a random keychain, with a chance to get one out of five heritage-inspired designs. These keychains come in a quaint, vintage calendar-style packaging.
If you’ve been a long-time fan, there’s no better time to make a trip down to Chin Mee Chin Confectionery, and snag these commemorative tokens, while there’s still stock!
This was a hosted tasting.
For the latest eats, read more about Summer Hill’s viral trolley buffet’s newly revamped menu and Mr Bucket Chocolaterie’s new cacao-infused dishes.
- Marine Parade
Shannon has the taste buds of a grandmother and perpetually struggles with a food coma.
Read more stories from this writer.
