Poonsti’s new NUS outlet is a work-friendly spot with savoury rosti and good coffee

Fans of Old Hen Coffee, the neighbourhood favourite that’s been serving expertly brewed coffee since 2014, may already be familiar with its sister concept — Poonsti.

A family-run venture led by three brothers — Ivan, Terry and Mason — Old Hen Coffee has cultivated a loyal following over the years, and Poonsti is an extension of that same passion.

Poonsti started two years ago, and began as a simple experiment. After adding rostis to Old Hen Kitchen — an extension of Old Hen Coffee to introduce food to its offerings — it didn’t take long before these golden, pan-fried potatoes won over the crowd.

You’ll find Poonsti’s rosti-centric bites at Old Hen Kitchen on Owen Road, where it sits comfortably alongside Old Hen’s specialty coffee and an easygoing food menu. 

Old Hen acts as the brothers’ home base, and the concepts naturally overlap. While Old Hen carries Poonsti’s dishes, Poonsti at NUS serves Old Hen coffee in return.

On weekend evenings at Owen Road, Old Hen Kitchen switches things up with the Poonsti Grill House menu.

The brothers also run the Chooby Pizza concept, a Neapolitan-style pizzeria that opened in 2020 and sits just next door.

All that is to say: The team is playful and experimental, introducing new concepts every so often, paired with their always-eye-catching posters and branding.

Poonsti at NUS

Despite everything they already run, we were here for the newest one — Poonsti at NUS Shaw Foundation Alumni House. Its soft launch took place from mid-September this year, and had only officially opened in November.

My first thought walking in was how work-friendly it is. It makes sense for a cafe on campus, but with genuinely good coffee and a plate of crispy grated potatoes for lunch, I immediately thought that I’d come back here to get some work done.

At this outlet, the Old Hen Coffee kiosk sits right in the middle. It serves drinks to both Poonsti on the left and South & East on the right, which gives the space a shared, easy flow.

PS: Coffee and rosti make such a good combination — I’m glad to have realised this here.

What we tried

Starting with the rosti itself, it had a good crisp on the outside and a soft interior. It’s fried well, light enough that the toppings aren’t weighed down by oil, and it works as a dependable base for everything else. 

Honestly, it’s also something you can enjoy on its own, if you just want a simple, light, crispy plate.

The sausage (S$11) has free-range pork sausage, onion gravy and sour cream.

The sausage was cooked perfectly, with a flavourful bite that did not feel overly salty or heavy. But the best part here was the onion gravy — savoury, slightly sweet, and excellent with both the sausage and the rosti. It makes for a satisfying, savoury lunch.

The meats from Poonsti seem to be made best, and work cohesively with its rosti.

Our favourite had to be the black pepper chicken (S$16) — chicken thigh, black pepper sauce, pickled cabbage, and sour cream.

The black pepper sauce has a stronger peppery kick than what you usually find outside, and the chicken thigh is tender and well-seasoned. It’s a familiar combination that just works, especially paired with the potato base.

We also tried the eggs (S$13) — scrambled or fried, with sour cream.

The scrambled eggs were done perfectly — soft and buttery. This makes for a simple and comforting breakfast dish.

We added S$5 to make it a set meal, which comes with a mini Caesar salad, kimchi corn and a coffee or lemonade. It’s quite worth it if you like having more bites to round out the meal. We personally enjoyed the kimchi corn, which had a nice sweet-savoury lift.

The cheese fondue fries (S$10) is a heavy side, but it was great for sharing with the rest of the table. The fondue cheese sits at the base of the bowl, and so you need to sink your fries in to get warm, milky, cheesy fries. 

It would also work best if you want something to nibble on, while you work.

Old Hen Coffee drinks

Of course, we had to get coffee from Old Hen Coffee.

Iced matcha oat latte (S$8.50) had a good depth. The matcha tastes like it’s made with a better-grade powder — with that smooth, grassy earthiness that doesn’t lean too bitter or sweet.

Orange americano (S$8) was a classic done right — bright, refreshing, and still coffee-forward.

The lemonade that comes with the $5 set was refreshing. It is a good amount of zesty and sweet, the kind of drink that is gone before you know it — another classic drink executed well. 

Poonsti at NUS is the kind of spot I’d happily set up my laptop — with crisp rostis, good coffee, and a work-friendly vibe that actually makes getting things done feel a little more satisfying.

For more ideas on what to eat, read on the find out about Filipino bakery Mary Grace with pre-orders for Christmas festivities and the only South African deli in Singapore selling handmade biltong.