Singaporean Breakfast at the Heart of Ortigas

Breakfast, as they say, is the most important part of the day. This is because breakfast gives you that boost of energy that will make you ready for school or for work. A Pinoy breakfast would usually consist of eggs, hot dogs, hot pandesal, and a cup of coffee. Sometimes there would be tocino, tuyo, tapa, or sardines. Most Filipinos who have the colonial mentality would go for foreign-inspired breakfasts such as waffles, pancakes, bagels, and the like. There are a lot of good food places that offer those kinds of food. But, when you're looking for a place that’s open as early as 7am but not as full as Starbucks or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, then head over to Escriva Drive and grab a fix of your light Singaporean breakfast fare.

Ya Kun Kaya Toast is a franchise from Singapore and has numerous branches in Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. It offers a variety of toasts and drinks, most famous of which are the Kaya Toast and the Milo Dinosaur. And because they are the most-loved items in the menu, we decided to try those, along with others we’d like to try. Maybe this Singaporean treat is something new to you. If you haven't heard of it, Kaya Toast is a  notable snack amongst people at Singapore and Malaysia. It's bread (or toast, or 'tasty', as our locals would call it) with a spread of coconut milk, eggs, butter, and other flavorings. Because it's so good, it's not surprising that it made all this way to the Philippines for Pinoys to try out.

The place is enough to accommodate around 25 to 30 customers. They have sofas for customers who want to have their toast the comfy way. Just beside the sofas is the newspapers and magazines rack which is perfect for people who want something to read while enjoying their Kaya Toast. Don't be surprised, though, to see businessmen and office people as their usual customers. It is Ortigas, after all. Service is not so bad, with food being served in around 10 minutes. Practically nothing bad can be said about Ya Kun Kaya.

Here are Ya Kun Kaya's must-tries:

Kaya Toast with Butter, 50 php (1 slice); 80 php (2 slices)

Glutton Guy: Eating at Ya Kun Kaya without trying their famous Kaya Toast is like going to New York without seeing the Statue of Liberty. No wonder this bread is a hit among Singaporeans. There isn't any reason for you not to like it. The toast is crunchy, and the filling inside is just delicious. It's similar to the taste of coco jam, but better. It has this sweet taste that wasn't overwhelming. For 80 pesos, though, I find it a bit pricey. For some reason, Kaya here is a bit expensive. But, the flavor is really good, so I guess that's what compensates it all. When I go to Singapore, I'll make sure to buy a lot of these Kaya spreads. : )

Glutton Girl: I love kaya to death, and I’m not exaggerating. My addiction for this unique and tasty coconut spread led me to learning how to make my own kaya toast, complete from the thinly sliced bread to the butter-kaya ratio. That is why I was a bit disappointed with Ya Kun Kaya’s kaya toast. The butter slices were so thick it overpowered the kaya (which was so good by the way) and even the bread. It became too oily and greasy to bite into, and that is one of my big no-no’s in food. Luckily there was a blob of kaya sitting on our French toast’s plate (see next item). I removed the excess butter and replaced it with more kaya instead. Mmm.. better.

Cheezy French Toast with Kaya, 80 php

Glutton Guy: This is a mediocre version of the Kaya Toast. It's like the Kaya Toast, plus cheese. I actually didn't like the taste. Because of the cheese, the toast became soggy, and that wasn't good for me. The cheese flavor really didn't went well with the flavors of the Kaya. In fact, the cheese overpowered the flavor of the Kaya. It had a sweet and salty taste with a wet texture that really wasn't appealing to the palate. It was like eating soggy toast. We weren't supposed to order this, but the lady at the cashier told us to try it, so we did. Next time, remind us not to fall for cashier PR's. : )

Glutton Girl: This was the “experimental dish”. Cheese is salty and kaya is sweet, so it was nail-biting to taste if they matched. To my (pleasant) surprise, it didn’t taste bad. The cheese they used was too salty though, making the dish saltier than it should be. I’ve always assumed all French toasts are sweet. This wasn’t. The kaya spread on top makes the contrast more proportioned though. I wish they would’ve given us more kaya. It was okay all in all for me, but I still like the kaya toast better.

Milo Dinosaur, 95 php

Glutton Guy: This really was a dinosaur of a drink. This Milo Dinosaur made me remember my childhood days when I used to eat Milo powder for a snack. The top is full of the powder and the drink itself is very chocolatey. It had that right amount of sweetness, perfect for a slice of Kaya. I liked the fact that the drink wasn't over-complicated. It's just plain old Milo with Milo powder on top. That makes it much much better for a drink. : )

Glutton Girl: This was Glutton Guy’s drink but I took a sip of it and it was good. Milo overload, which is how it should be. I especially love the unmixed Milo powder on top. Yum yum.

Iced Tea 'C', 80 php

Glutton Guy: Ya Kun Kaya's milk tea wasn't so bad. It's not as delicious as milk teas from other food places, but it's something worth trying as well. It had that hint of creaminess from the milk. Like my Milo Dinosaur, it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet and outrageously bitter. I liked the balance that Ya Kun Kaya made with regards to the taste. It's nice that Glutton Girl ordered this drink. I get to taste the Singaporean version of milk tea. : )

Glutton Girl: I’m addicted to milk tea (any type) so it was no surprise that I ordered this drink. Plus I wanted something light to accompany our kaya and French toasts. Although it isn’t the best (not even one of the best) milk teas I’ve tried in Manila, it was good enough to accompany the dishes.

This unassuming place offers simple and light fares. If you’re avoiding crowded places and noisy college students having a group meeting, then Ya Kun Kaya Toast is a good place to go to. Just remember to tell the waitress to lessen the butter in your kaya toast and you’re good. Truly, Ya Kun Kaya gives you a delicious slice of Kaya Toast, with an unforgettable slice of Singapore.

Here's how we rated Ya Kun Kaya:

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(Ya Kun Kaya Toast has 4 branches: 1. Ground Floor FERN Building, Escriva Drive corner General Araneta street, Ortigas Center, Pasig. From Shaw Boulevard, just look for the Red Ribbon and take a turn there. Ya Kun Kaya is to your right; 2. Terminal 2, Domestic Terminal, Pasay City; 3. Level 1, Unit 16 (Adriatico Wing) Robinsons Place Manila; and 4. North Parking Building, SM Mall of Asia.)