Wunderfolks opens Rawr Cafe in Jalan Besar with Singapore-inspired cafe fare

The folks behind Wunderfolks have opened a new cafe: Rawr Cafe, tucked along Jalan Besar, beneath Wink Hostel. It officially opened its doors on October 17.

The homegrown pastry brand is best known for its handmade tarts and also runs Cafe Barco in Kaki Bukit and Oh Wunder Cafe at Bras Basah Complex.

Rawr Cafe is its latest venture, with a focus on Singapore-fusion food. Look out for the bright red tiger mascot across the glass front — it makes the entrance easy to spot. 

Inside, the tiger theme continues, with motifs throughout the cafe. The mascot also nods to local history — the team believes Sang Nila Utama saw a tiger, not a lion as conventionally retold, when he arrived at Temasek, thus inspiring Rawr Cafe’s mascot.

The cafe also pairs red-and-white accents, a nod to Singapore’s flag, with plenty of greenery. Its playful decor makes it a cute spot for photos.

Singaporean classics, reimagined

The menu centres on local flavours, with fusion mains, sides, desserts, and drinks. Given its Jalan Besar location, we think it will be a hit with tourists looking to try Singapore-inspired dishes. Drop by for breakfast or lunch, or pop in for a treat.

We tried most of the dishes on Rawr Cafe’s must-try list and would recommend them, too.

When we asked for recommendations, the cafe pointed us to the laksa cream halibut (S$24). Instead of the usual noodles, the dish features a piece of halibut served in a rich, coconut-based laksa sauce, egg, long beans and fried wonton strips. The sauce brings the creamy richness and fragrant spice of laksa. We loved how comforting the dish was, and the spice gave it a gentle yet noticeable kick.

The cafe also serves burgers, including the nasi lemak chicken burger (S$18) and salted egg chicken burger (S$18). We tried the nasi lemak version, which came with fries and salad. Inside, fried chicken, a fried egg, and ikan bilis brought familiar nasi lemak flavours. The nasi lemak chilli spread tied it all together with a savoury, spicy kick that we loved. We didn’t expect a burger to taste so much like its namesake dish!

Breakfast is available all day, too. If you can’t decide what to order, we’d recommend the Rawr big breakfast (S$17). It comes with sourdough, tater tots, bacon, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, scrambled eggs, and salad. Our favourite part was the mushrooms, which were tender and savoury, with a pleasant earthy flavour.

Kaya toast with your coffee?

The drinks are total eye-pleasers, worth ordering for the ‘gram as much as for the sips. The Singapore Breakfast latte (S$8) caught our eye right away. 

The hot version comes with cute fried-egg latte art and a piece of toast topped with kaya for dipping. While its presentation might suggest a sweet, flavoured drink, the coffee is essentially a classic latte, just with a fun twist.

The Tiger Bomb (S$12) was another standout. This iced latte comes topped with a thick layer of foam and a sprinkling of orange zest. As the foam melts into the coffee, it leaves a subtle citrusy note.

If you’re stopping by for a quick snack or dessert, you can also order bakes from Wunderfolks, waffles, and ice cream. The ice cream comes in local-inspired flavours, including Teh-C, bandung, chendol and Milo Dinosaur. 

If you prefer your ice cream less cloying, the Teh-C might be more your cup of tea, but we found ourselves gravitating towards the chendol for its sweeter flavour.

Ice cream costs S$5 per scoop or S$9.50 for two, and can be paired with the classic waffle (S$7.50).

Looking to add a new cafe with local flair to your list? Rawr Cafe pairs Singapore-inspired dishes with a cosy setting, making it a nice spot to settle in for a meal or a sweet treat.

This was a hosted tasting.

For more on what to eat, check out Yogeek, a new high-protein self-serve froyo spot in Haji Lane, and Dough Coffee at Capitol Singapore.