Bao Er Cafe, Famous For Kaya Toast & Hokkien Mee, Opening Outlet In Holland Village

Same menu, extended hours

The Holland Village Bao Er will serve the same crowd-pleasing menu that made the original famous: super thin toast with a thick slab of SCS butter and homemade kaya with freshly squeezed coconut milk, smoky Hokkien mee that draws long queues, plus wok hei bee hoon. However, prices will be closer to those at Treasure Toast – $8.80 for the Hokkien Mee (vs $8 at Balestier) and $6 for the Kaya Toast Set (vs $5 at Balestier).

You can tapow their kaya by the jar

For now, no new dishes have been planned. "Our manpower is too limited to handle new dishes at the moment," Jeremy explains. However, fans of their signature kaya can take some home – the luscious spread is sold in 250ml plastic containers for $7.50.

Steeper rent at unit where previous tenant “ran away”

This HV joint seats about 70 diners, a mix of air-conditioned and al fresco seats, versus the 50-plus seats at Balestier. Expect a vibe more in line with Treasure Toast’s minimalist and casual aesthetic than Balestier’s old-school feel.

"The rent is steep in this area," Jeremy said, noting that he and his wife Bao Er, alongside their biz partner, invested around $200,000 to convert the space, which was formerly occupied by a mala hotpot shop called ​​Spicysichuan SG 辣食你. According to Jeremy, the previous operators “ran away” without notice, leaving the place vacant. Despite the previous tenant breaking the contract, he says they didn’t enjoy a rental discount. “We got the same rate as the previous tenant,” he adds.

Why Holland Village?

Meanwhile, Jeremy shares that biz at Treasure Toast is “sustainable”, even after the initial media hype and buzz died down. But he admits that aside from busier lunch hours its CBD location means it’s "quite quiet at night." Jeremy hopes that his upcoming Holland Village eatery will have better evening footfall to justify its extended operating hours and higher rent.

Unlikely partnership with optical shop boss

This marks the second collaboration between Jeremy and his childhood pal, also named Jeremy (Wong), 39, following their Treasure Toast partnership. The latter is the owner of optical chain W Optics and the two have known each other since they were six years old.

The division of labour remains the same: Jeremy and his missus Bao Er handle the kitchen, while their partner leverages his optical chain biz experience to manage backend operations, accounting, and rental negotiations.

Bao Er Balestier still drawing crowds

Jeremy shares that business at Bao Er in Balestier is still going strong. “Revenue is very consistent”. The outlet continues to draw loyal fans – with average waiting times of 20 to 30 minutes during peak hours. “Parking is easier there and prices are lower,” he reasons. That being said, the upcoming Holland Village outlet is a key piece in Jeremy’s ambitious plans. "Once our Holland Village outlet is in place, we will look for more locations to open shop — not all central. So there will be a Bao Er located in the north, south, east, west, too”. 

Bao Er Cafe Holland Village opens 1 July at 24A Lor Mambong, Holland Village. Open 7am - 10pm daily. Tel: 86869777. More info via Instagram.