Chin Mee Chin, the Katong bakery known for kaya toast, has opened its first outlet beyond its original neighbourhood. The new outlet opened at NEX shopping mall on 8 August 2026. It marks a milestone for a brand that has stayed rooted to East Coast Road since 1925.
Hainanese immigrant Tan Hui Dong started Chin Mee Chin as a bread delivery business. By the 1940s, it had grown into a confectionery known for kaya toast, coffee and fresh bakes. The original shop at 204 East Coast Road still serves customers today, with hours from 8am to 4pm daily.
Ebb & Flow Group, a Singapore-based food and beverage group, took over the brand in 2021. The group also runs Michelin-starred restaurant Willow and Italian eatery Casa Vostra, among other concepts.
Why NEX, and why now
Lim Kian Chun, chief executive of Ebb & Flow Group, said he grew up as neighbours with the Tan family. As a result, the brand holds personal significance for him. He explained that NEX made sense because it draws heavy foot traffic and would introduce Chin Mee Chin to a wider audience.
Sharon Tan, granddaughter of the founder, said seeing the brand expand feels meaningful for her family. The original Katong shop, she noted, will continue serving its longtime neighbourhood as before.
What’s on Chin Mee Chin Nex menu
The toast sets anchor the menu, much as they have for decades. A set costs $6.50 and comes with two slices of toasted bun, soft-boiled eggs and a hot drink. Diners can choose kaya, peanut butter or butter sugar as their spread. Those who prefer to order items separately can get toast alone from $2.80, or two soft-boiled eggs for $2.20.
Chin Mee Chin’s savoury buns remain in the lineup too. The luncheon meat bun, otah bun and hae bee hiam bun each cost $2.80.
Alongside these familiar items, the NEX outlet introduces several new dishes. The curry potato pie ($3.80) joins existing pie flavours such as chicken, rendang and black pepper beef. For heartier appetites, the menu now includes nasi lemak with a choice of fried or grilled chicken cutlet, both priced at $10.80. There’s also a grilled kaffir lime chicken sandwich at $8.80, alongside other sandwich options like egg mayo with caramelised onion and sambal tuna.
On the dessert side, the kaya cream puff has taken a new form. It’s now called the Kaya Custard Choux au Craquelin, which pairs a crisp craquelin shell with the bakery’s house-made kaya custard. A dark chocolate version sits alongside it. Both cost $3 each, or $10 for a box of four.
Coffee remains central to the Chin Mee Chin experience. Beyond the usual kopi and teh, the NEX outlet serves two specialty drinks: Kaya Cloud Kopi and Salted Gula Melaka Cloud Kopi, both at $5.50 and served iced.
A design that nods to the original shophouse
The NEX outlet’s interior draws from the Katong shophouse that has housed Chin Mee Chin for over a hundred years. Soft pastel colours and rounded shapes echo the original store, while an open bakery display and visible coffee counter put food preparation on view.
Chin Mee Chin Nex seats 26 people across four booth seats and 22 dining area seats.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chin Mee Chin at NEX the same as the Katong original? Yes, the NEX outlet is run by the same company, Ebb & Flow Group, and serves many of the same recipes. However, its menu includes new dishes not found in Katong, such as nasi lemak and the kaffir lime chicken sandwich.
How old is Chin Mee Chin? The bakery was founded in 1925 in Katong, making it one of Singapore’s oldest confectioneries.
How much does a meal at Chin Mee Chin cost? A basic toast set with eggs and a hot drink costs $6.50. Mains such as nasi lemak or curry chicken rice range from $9.80 to $10.80. Specialty coffee drinks cost $5.50.
Where is Chin Mee Chin NEX located, and how do I get there? It’s at 23 Serangoon Central, B2-60/61 NEX, within Serangoon MRT station’s shopping mall.
Chin Mee Chin NEX is located at 23 Serangoon Central, B2-60/61, Singapore 556083. It is open daily from 8am to 9.30pm, with last order at 9pm.
The original Katong outlet remains at 204 East Coast Road, Singapore 428903, open daily from 8am to 4pm, with last order at 3.30pm.
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