Festive Vibes at JFD 家啡店

Festive Vibes at JFD 家啡店

As you step into JFD 家啡店, the excitement is palpable with the sound of drums and a vibrant lion dance, a sign of good fortune for this newly opened café located at 78C Toa Payoh Central. Close to the Toa Payoh Community Center, this café officially opened its doors on April Fool's Day and features an impressive lineup of 10 stalls, including two that were previously at the old café.

Delicious Dishes to Try

First up is the Michelin Bib Gourmand stall — San Xiang Bak Chor Mee, which has gained a loyal following from the ABC Brickworks market. Here, you can indulge in dishes like fish ball noodles (S$4/S$5/S$6), special fried meatball noodles (S$4.50/S$5.50), and the Tiger Prawn Roll Mee Sua (S$8). I ordered the special Bak Chor Mee (S$6) with pok noodles, served with liver, thinly sliced pork, bak chor, and meticulously prepared meatballs.

The noodles were perfectly cooked, tangy with vinegar, and the chili was so spicy it felt like I was about to burst into flames! If you're craving rice or ramen, make sure to drop by Ramen Taisho to satisfy your Japanese food cravings. You can choose from Unagi Don (S$7.30), Karaage Fried Chicken Rice (S$6), or Shoyu Ramen (S$6.80). I tried the Tonkotsu King Chasu Ramen (S$8.80) and was pleasantly surprised to find five slices of chashu, a soft ajitama egg, and marinated bamboo shoots. The noodles were wonderfully soft and just the right texture, and the chashu was incredibly tender.

Lok Lok Buffet and More

The broth here is light and easy to enjoy — flavorful yet not too rich. I was thrilled to discover Fei Zhu at JFD 家啡店. Years ago, I visited their Tai Seng branch and loved the lok lok there. At JFD 家啡店, they offer an unlimited buffet (S$25.90 for adults, S$9.90 for children), and on Fridays, weekends, or holidays, there’s an additional S$4 surcharge.

You can choose from a variety of broths like Lala Soup (S$14.90), Collagen Chicken Broth (S$16.90), or a Duo Pot (S$15.90). Since I couldn't eat enough for the buffet anymore, I opted for lok lok starting at just S$1 per item. There’s a wide selection including enoki mushroom-wrapped bacon, Vietnamese pork sausage, quail eggs, broccoli, and pandan bao, just to name a few.

And don't forget to try their house-made sauces for dipping! I absolutely loved their Thai green chili sauce and spicy mayo — both are unique and delicious! You can also grab curry puffs from Home Curry Puff with three flavors, each just S$2.20 — Rendang Chicken, Sardine, and Chicken Potato. They also offer a variety of Nyonya pastries from Borobudur Nonya Pastries, including ang ku kueh and ondeh ondeh.

Noteworthy Stalls

You might recognize Golden Rooster and Al MAAS, two stalls that have been at the previous café for about 6 years and 1 year, respectively. Golden Rooster serves Western dishes like Fried Chicken Thigh with Fries (S$8.90) and Grilled Lamb Ribs (S$16.90). If you're in the mood for Indian cuisine, Al MAAS has you covered with Poori, Sarang Burung Prata, Kothu Prata, and many other delights.

A New Culinary Destination in Toa Payoh

It seems Toa Payoh is on the rise with a slew of new cafés popping up. If you're planning a visit to Toa Payoh, make sure to stop by 78C Toa Payoh Central to explore these exciting new flavors!