Where to Eat Kaya Toast in Singapore

One of the foods you really need to try when you visit Singapore is kaya toast.

I tasted kaya toast a few trips ago, and now I make it a point of having it for breakfast on the first morning of every visit. I then try to have it on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th mornings too!

My favourite order is always the traditional “Set A”, which pairs two kaya toast “sandwiches” with two half-boiled eggs and a cup of kopi or teh all for just a few dollars.

I then sit happily dipping my toast into the egg and declaring for the five-hundredth time how well these unlikely items go together.

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You may have seen it listed in those must try in Singapore lists, but what exactly is kaya toast?

It’s a local favourite made from thin, crispy slices of white bread, slathered with cold butter and kaya – a sweet, coconut and pandan jam that tastes way better than it sounds.

It’s sweet, creamy, a little bit salty from the butter, and completely addictive.

Locals have been eating it for generations, and once you try it, you’ll understand why. It’s comfort food with a twist – and the perfect way to start a Singapore day.

Do make sure you include it in your Singapore itinerary.

You can find kaya toast all over Singapore, but here are my three favourites and a few other popular locations.

Ya Kun Kaya Toast

This was where my kaya toast addiction began! And in fact it’s where the fad began for all of Singapore, and still regularly makes those “best kaya toast in Singapore” lists.

It started in 1944 as a stall at Telok Ayer by Loi Ah Koon, a Chinese immigrant from Hainan. He was selling traditional Hainanese-style coffee and toast, which soon gained a loyal following.

While Ya Kun popularised kaya toast across Singapore and helped turn it into a national breakfast staple, they didn’t invent kaya itself.

Kaya has deeper roots in Southeast Asia, with variations found in Malaysia and Indonesia as well.

Today, Ya Kun remains one of the most iconic places to enjoy this uniquely Singaporean treat.

You can find Ya Kun Kaya Toast outlets all across Singapore and this is what they do, over and over, every day, so they are pretty good at it.

There are a few different types of toast available and a small range of extra items, including cakes and sweets using kaya and pandan, perfect for an afternoon snack (although I would argue you can still eat kaya toast then too).

My favourite “Set A” here sets my back SGD$6.30 (July 2025) but you can save a little by picking up a $5 voucher on Klook for $4.80.

Address: Various locations across Singapore
Opening hours: Vary slightly by store, but most open at 7:30am, 7 days

Tong Ah Eating House

I originally found this place recommended in Conde Naste, and they say it’s “worth going out of your way for”, so I’m not the only one loving it.

Located on the outskirts of Chinatown, this traditional breakfast restaurant opened in 1939, starting out in an iconic red-and-white shophouse on Keong Saik Road.

It’s still run by the same family, four generations on, and although it’s moved just a few doors down and across the road, it hasn’t lost that old-school charm.

You can go for thick traditional slices of kaya toast or the super crispy version (their specialty), paired perfectly with soft-boiled eggs and a strong cup of kopi.

We tried one set of the crispy toast and one traditional so that we could try them both.

The kaya jam is made in-house and has a beautiful pandan flavour that’s not too sweet. It was a little less rich than at Ya Kun too, with only half a block of butter instead of a full one

Prices for the kaya toast were pretty much the same as the chains, but again, you can save a little by picking up a voucher on Klook.

I found the staff were familiar with the vouchers and it was a simple process to redeem them.

Address: 35 Keong Saik Road, Chinatown
Opening Hours: Thurs – Tues 7am – 10pm, Wed 7am – 2pm

Coffee Queen

This is one of the stalls in the Maxwell Food Centre, and was recommended to me by a local tour guide, sadly right towards the end of my most recent trip – and I think this is now my new favourite.

The kaya toast here was beautifully toasted and a little less rich than most places. I find that the amount of butter used, while delicious, can sometimes be a little much, it wasn’t here.

We enjoyed the coffee here a lot too – but if you don’t like the standard local kopi, there are lots of other choices here too. I’m going to try their versions of Vietnamese coffee next time I visit.

Address: Maxwell Food Centre at 1 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore
Opening Hours: 6am – 9pm

More Places to Get Kaya Toast

Ya Kun Kaya Toast isn’t the only chain in town, there are some others you can try to – Toast Box, Killiney Kopitiam and Heavenly Wang Cafe can be found all over the place.

For some more unique options, take a look at the table below to find variations from traditional neighbourhood cafes to modern takes.

Tip: if you’re just looking for the most convenient, type “kaya toast near me” into Google and see what pops up.

Kaya Toast Spot	Style & Bread	Kaya & Butter	Typical Set (≈ Price)	Highlights
Ya Kun Kaya Toast	Thin charcoal‑grilled brown toast	Creamy, balanced kaya; cold butter	Toast + eggs + kopi (~S$6.30)	Iconic since 1944; retro brand, consistent quality
Toast Box	Lightly grilled white toast	Rich pandan kaya; margarine‑heavy butter	Toast + eggs + kopi (~S$6.20–6.70)	Widely available; modern franchise feel
Killiney Kopitiam	Thicker charcoal‑grilled white toast	Eggy pandan‑flavoured kaya; chunky butter	Toast + eggs + kopi (~S$6.80)	Oldest chain (since 1919); hearty, nostalgic flavour
Tong Ah Eating House	Charcoal‑toasted slices (also French‑toast style)	Traditional kaya; slab of butter	Toast + eggs + kopi (~S$4–6)	Heritage kopitiam; crispy texture lovers’ pick
Coffee Queen (Maxwell FC)	Hawker‑centre grilled toast & simple setup	Classic kaya + butter	Toast set with eggs and coffee (~S$3–4)	Great value hawker stall for traditional breakfast
Chin Mee Chin Confectionery	Charcoal‑grilled fluffy buns	Jade‑green kaya, balanced sweetness	Bun + eggs + kopi (~S$4.90)	Retro Katong café reopened recently; famous buns
Ah Seng (Hai Nam) Coffee	Chewy French‑toast style / charcoal‑grilled	Intensely sweet kaya, chunky texture	Set + kopi (~S$4–5)	Offbeat kaya French toast with generous kaya
Heap Seng Leong	Thick charcoal‑grilled toast slices	Vibrant pandan kaya double‑layer + butter	Traditional set (~S$3.60)	Retro kopitiam from the ’70s; kaya French toast too
Heavenly Wang Café	Brown sliced bread toasted over hot grills	Signature kaya and cold butter slab	Toast + 2 eggs + kopi (~S$6.60)	Modern halal‑certified revival of Wang Café; crisp toast and “best eggs” voted by The Sunday Times
Keng Wah Sung	Thin triangular toast with crusts on	Rich homemade kaya; huge butter slabs	Two triangles (~S$0.70 total)	Ultra‑cheap neighbourhood favourite

Quick Tips for Choosing

• Most accessible & consistent: Go with Toast Box, Ya Kun, Killiney or Wang Cafe – you’ll find them in malls and malls beyond.
• Authentic kopitiam vibes: Heap Seng Leong, Tong Ah, Chin Mee Chin, and Keng Wah Sung deliver a nostalgic kick – old-school, charcoal‑grilled charcoal-toasted ambience.
• Best for flavour adventure: Heap Seng Leong (double kaya layering), Ah Seng (Hai Nam) for rich French toast style, or Chin Mee Chin for bun lovers.
• Budget picks: Heap Seng Leong (~S$3.60) and Keng Wah Sung (~S$0.70) are unbeatable for taste on a tight spend. Coffee Queen is great value inside Maxwell Centre too.

How to Order Kaya Toast Like a Local

Feeling a little unsure? Don’t worry 0ordering kaya toast is easy once you know the basics:

Order a set

Ask for “Set A” – it usually includes kaya toast, two soft-boiled eggs, and your choice of coffee (kopi) or tea (teh).

If you want something different, there’s often a “Set B” or “Set C” too – check the board.

Know your kopi from your teh

• Kopi = strong local coffee with condensed milk
• Teh = tea with condensed milk
  You can also tweak it:
• Kopi-O = black coffee with sugar
• Kopi-C = coffee with evaporated milk
• Siew dai = less sugar

Eggs: soy + pepper magic

The soft-boiled eggs are runny on purpose! Crack them into the dish, add a splash of soy sauce and a sprinkle of pepper, and stir it up. Then dip your toast or slurp it like a local.

I do sometimes skip the soy – I quite like it without, so it depends on my mood. It’s more savoury with the soy, or sweet without it.

Self-service style

Most places are casual – order at the counter, pick up a tray, and find a seat. You will probably need to clear your own tray too.

How to Eat Kaya Toast Like a Local

There’s no right or wrong way – but here’s how many locals do it (and how I do it too).

Step 1: Set the scene

Sit down with your full set – kaya toast, runny eggs, and a hot kopi or teh. You’ll usually get everything on a tray. Don’t expect it to be fancy.

Step 2: Crack the eggs

Sometimes the eggs come already cracked, other times you will have to do it yourself. If you need to, gently tap the eggs on the table to crack them open and pour them into the little dish.

Add a dash of soy sauce and a sprinkle of pepper, then give it a quick stir. It’s not supposed to look fancy – it’s meant to taste amazing.

Step 3: Dip, scoop, or slurp

Now the fun part – dip your kaya toast into the eggy mix for that sweet-salty combo. Or use your spoon to scoop egg onto your toast like a topping.

Some locals skip the toast entirely and just slurp the eggs with their spoon – and they really do slurp (much to my western-learnt horror!).

All totally acceptable.

Step 4: Sip and smile

Wash it all down with a strong kopi or teh, take a moment, and remind yourself – this is the perfect Singaporean breakfast!

Bringing Kaya Toast Home With You

If you just can’t get enough kaya, there are plenty of options to bring some home with you.

I picked up some from Ya Kun Kaya Toast on my last day, but you can find lots of different options in the supermarkets too.

Once you’ve used that all up, you might be able to get your fix in your home country – I know I can here in Australia.

It can be found in the international section of most Woolworths stores across the country, and also in most Asian grocers.

If all else fails, you can also get it online from Amazon.

If you are buying it yourself, note that there are some different types of kaya. The one you want to replicate the Singapore kaya toast experience is the Hainanese variety.

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