University students in modern Singapore are rather fortunate. They have access to high-quality education with reasonably affordable fees and excellent facilities. Students at Singapore Management University (SMU) may be even luckier because they have many food options on campus – getting to pick from varied cuisines including local, Japanese and Korean. But what might make others really envious is the cool and trendy Onalu Bagel Haus on SMU’s School of Accountancy campus.
Onalu @ SMU
Located in SMU School of Accountancy, Onalu occupies a ground level space which looks out to the greenery between SMU and the National Museum. The SMU bus top on Stamford Road is just in front of the cafe.
The cafe has a naturally ventilated dining space with a relaxing atmosphere. The compact indoor air-conditioned area has the look and feel of the typical contemporary cafe. Various seating arrangements are available to accommodate both solo diners and small groups.
Menu of Onalu
The main items on the menu of Onalu are bagels. The hand-rolled bagels are freshly made every day and come in a variety of flavours – from plain bagels to sesame, cheese, and charcoal-infused bagels. There are also seasonal delights like the cinnamon raisin bagels.
The menu offers a variety of bagel-wich, which are customisable. Onalu periodically introduces new items, such as the Japanese-inspired Tsukune Bagel which features an umami-rich tsukune patty, enhanced by a sweet and tangy tare glaze, accompanied by caramelized onion jam and scallion cream cheese.
For those looking for something besides bagel, Onalu’s acai desserts are a refreshing and guilt-free indulgence. A selection of bakes and cakes provides the perfect accompaniment to a cup of barista brewed coffee or a fragrant cup of tea.
Deviled Spam Sesame Bagel
We tried Onalu’s Deviled Spam Sesame Bagel ($9). It was essentially a bagel-wich with thick spam (or luncheon meat), eggs and cheese.
The bagel had a firm bite with a good balance between density and chewiness. The filling of spam and deviled eggs offered a nice creamy texture with a savoury profile. The melted cheese added a layer of richness. It was comfort food that was enjoyable.
Cakes & Coffee
We also tried their Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie ($2.50) and Almond Chia Seed Bread ($4), as well a black coffee ($4.50) and white coffee ($5).
The dark chocolate and sea salt brownie was a fudgy treat with a nice balance of sweet and salty. The chia seed bread was nice but not as enjoyable as the brownie.
The coffee at Onalu was good – rich and smooth. It was definitely not just the type of coffee drunk to keep you awake during boring lectures.
Coffee Meets Bagel
Onalu Bagel Haus has a cozy ambiance and the prices are reasonable. There is a fair variety of options for a simple meal, an indulgent teatime treat or a casual Coffee Meets Bagel date. You don’t need a university degree to know that Onalu is a quite a good place to relax and enjoy life and a very inviting spot for good coffee and great bagels.
Onalu
60 Stamford Rd, #01-11
Singapore 178900
Tel: +65 8268 5900
Opening Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
Nearby MRT Stations; Bras Basah, Dhoby Ghout
The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog
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