HEJIO Kitchen & Bar in Tai Seng

HEJIO in Tai Seng is like a cool comfortable alternative to the traditional Singaporean coffeeshop. People may gather there for a variety of reasons – whether for a quick breakfast before work, an affordable lunch during the day, or a cold craft beer late in the evening.

HEJIO in Tai Seng

The new eatery Hejio is located in The Commerze @ Irving, a stone throw away (if you have a strong arm) from Tai Seng MRT Station. It took over the premises previously occupied by Grasso Coffee.

It has a semi-industrial interior design and looks like a fairly typical neighborhood bar. As may be expected, Hejio offers a selection of craft beers from both international and local breweries as well as bar bites. However, it is more than just a bar. It is like a more upscale version of the traditional neighbourhood kopitiam.

Singapore’s old school coffeeshops are an integral part of our unique culture. In the morning, early risers go to these coffeeshops for a traditional breakfast. During the day, the coffeeshops become a hub for cheap eats. In the evening, they are a place to unwind and catch up with friends over a few drinks. Like the kopitiams, HEJIO in Tai Seng offers local breakfast, affordable rice bowls and baos for meals throughout the day, and a good selection of beer and other beverages till late into the night.

Menu of Hejio

The food menu of Hejio is limited but it is rather interesting. Hejio offers local kopi as well as artisanal coffee and kaya toast as well as BLT sandwich. Besides bar bites, braised pork bao, spicy karaage bao and beef bulgogi rice bowl are among the items on the menu.

Below are pictures of the menu of Hejio.

Lunch at HEJIO in Tai Seng

We visited HEJIO Kitchen & Bar in Tai Seng for lunch and ordered Spicy Karaage Bao ($11) and Braised Pork Bowl ($11)

The Spicy Karaage Bao came with a large helping of fries. We asked for the spicy mayo sauce to be served separately as we were warned that it could be quite hot.

The karaage chicken was well marinated and deep-fried to a golden brown colour. It had a crispy crust with tender meat inside. The bao was soft and fluffy. The crunchy and savorry fried chicken, the soft and slightly sweet bao and the spicy sauce would combine for a burst of complexity, creating an interesting and satisfying taste sensation.

Hejio’s Braised Pork Bowl was a variation of the popular Taiwanese lu rou fan. The slow-cooked pork was tender. There was a good balance of slightly sweet and savoury flavours heightened by aromatics. It was a simple but satisfying rice bowl.

On the day we were at Hejio, there was a lunch promotion where we would get a cup of Mingo ice cream and a beverage with the main dish ordered. That made the lunch a very good deal.

We tried Hejio’s barista made flat white, local kopi C and iced coffee O kosong. They were all good.

New Generation Coffeeshop

Whether you are a millennial urban professional looking for a cool spot for craft beers, a retiree looking for a comfortable place for a leisurely breakfast or just someone looking for a nice affordable meal in a pleasant space, HEJIO Kitchen & Bar in Tai Seng will fit the bill. It is the new generation coffeeshop – with long opening hours and offering a comfortable environment to enjoy a good range of affordable food and beverages.

Ratings:
Food: 3
Service: 4
Value: 4
Atmosphere: 3
Overall Rating: 3 TOPs

Hejio
1 Irving Place
#01-27/28 The Commerze @ Irving
Singapore 369546

Tel: +65 8858 8901

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 8 am – 10.30 pm
Fri: 8 am – 1 am
Sat: 12 noon – 1 am
Closed on Sunday

Nearby MRT Station: Tai Seng

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The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog