MAISON IKKOKU SPECIALTY COFFEE

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Maison Ikkoku Specialty Coffee is a hidden gem located behind the Kampong Glam area, some place behind the Masjid Sultan (Sultan Mosque). This bustling cafe, best known for their coffee, is conveniently located along a stretch of shop houses, right below a boutique and bar. We are proud to say that the baristas here take special pride in their coffee; you can see them using the most unique methods (like syphoning, aeropress and cold drips) to extract the optimum taste of their freshly roasted coffee beans.



We visited the cafe around noon on a weekend to avoid the brunch crowd while hoping to get a table before the dreaded lunch hour. The moment we stepped through the door, we were greeted by the cheery baristas and delicious coffee aroma. What we really loved about their ambiance was that although it was clean and small, it still felt cosy.

C: Based on my previous experience, most of the cakes only arrived slightly after noon. So our timing was perfect.   

Most of the cakes arrived after we started on our meal (just in time for dessert too). Their coffee was probably the star "dish" of the day. The prices here were a little on the higher-end though.

Iced Vanilla Latte (top) and Signature MI Latte (bottom)

The Signature MI Latte ($6) was made using their House Blend, Nineteen42. The latte was so, so good. This gourmet coffee made from their House Blend certainly deserved the 'Signature' in its name. It was served at the perfect temperature for sipping, and it went down smoothly with a strong but pleasant nutty aftertaste. Each sip left us craving for more although it would have been nice to have it be served slightly warmer since it did cool rather quickly, but then again maybe that would have killed the distinct aroma it had. The Iced Vanilla Latte ($7) was no disappointment either. You'd think that the vanilla would have overpowered the coffee, but it didn't. It was actually a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness.

We also got their Signature Eggs Benedict ($20) and The Blackout Burger ($20) to go with our drinks. 

The Blackout Burger

The Blackout Burger was pretty unique. Their patty was a mixture of angus beef, jalapeños, cheese and spices, kinda different from what you would expect. It was served in a roasted charcoal bun topped with and provolone cheese, arugula, balsamic reduction, sausage chips, and a side of fries.

The fries weren't too thick and perfectly seasoned, and served in a perfect portion, but it was a little under-crispy, making it feel a little soggier than we would've liked. The charcoal bun suffered the same fate and was under roasted and was barely crunchy. The patty-salsa combination made up for it though. It was moist and aromatic, and the jalapeños gave it a nice kick.

C: It was slightly dry at some parts, kinda like paper, or like it was left out for quite a while after being cut. And the patty was a little tough.
S: I thought the whole burger was perfect though. Or maybe I got the good half. 
The one thing we didn't understand was the sausage chips. There were only two pieces in the burger and they were kind of like normal herb seasoned sausages.

S: I expected it to be a little crispy but I don't really know what a sausage chip is.


The Signature Eggs Benedict

Over our time at the cafe, we noticed the thing that kept going out of the kitchen was the eggs benedict, and we weren't surprised as to why. The brioche toast, buttered and toasted to crispy perfection, served as a delicious base for the prosciutto di parma, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. We were impressed by the hollandaise sauce which was creamy yet refreshing due to the lemon and peppercorn tastes. The elements in this dish complemented each other so well, but what killed the 10/10 score (probably took it down to a 9/10) it would have received were the eggs. The eggs were just simply overcooked; one was on its way to being a hard boiled egg and the other was slightly better but still noticeably overcooked.


To finish everything off, we got the Varlhona Chocoate Cake ($8) and the Rainbow Nutella ($10). 


Rainbow Nutella Cake 

Varlhona Chocolate Cake 

According to their website/Instagram, Maison Ikkoku seems to get their baked goods from an external company, Whiskink Bakery. But the bakery has managed to meet the standards of the cafe with its Varlhona Chocolate Cake.

S: I'm the kind of person who loves cakes but can't get through more than half of them without feeling sick of the taste. 
We're not sure if it was the ingredients, the baker, or the combination of both, but this cake hit the spot; it was rich yet subtle. It didn't taste like most chocolate cakes and it consisted of stiff cream and brownie-textured layers. Honestly, it felt like eating a truffle ball, but it was so good. The downside to it was its texture. Although delicious, we would have preferred more crunch in it. There were a few crunchy chocolate balls scattered around the cake, but it was too little to make a difference to the texture. Sigh, if only there were more. 

The Rainbow Nutella Cake on the other hand looks worth every dollar, but its taste didn't match up. The layers were beautifully coloured and vibrant, capturing your attention, and the cake was coated in a layer of the white cream and the sides were decorated with a drizzle of rainbow. Sadly, the cream wasn't light and fluffy like most cakes, but instead a thick (literally did you see the cream to cake ratio?), stiff and cream-cheese like type of cream. Kind of like the type you'd find on a good-ass red velvet cake. The layers of nutella weren't all that impressive; they didn't differ much from the normal nutella you could get from a supermarket. Maybe if they had done a nutella cream it would have been different, or maybe thinner layers of cream. Just like the phrase "too many cooks spoil the broth", likewise too many yummy components "spoil the broth" too.


Food: 8/10
A few minor mistakes and a little pricey but worth every penny! Except for the Rainbow Nutella Cake.

Ambience: 10/10
Super cosy, good lightning (for good pictures) that makes you wanna stay longer, and a sociable environment.

Service: 10/10
After reading the Facebook page we realised that the service suffered the most faults, but the staff were wonderful when we went there. They greeted us the moment we stepped in and the moment we stepped out without hesitation.


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Located at:
20 Kandahar Street 
Singapore 198885 

How to get here:
Nearest MRT - Bugis 
You have to walk through Kampong Glam/Arab Street 

Contact: 
+65 62940078 

Opening hours (as of 28/4):
Monday - Thursday - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. 
Friday - Saturday - 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.  



Although there is no halal sign, we noticed the menu did not mention any pork or lard and according to their website, their cakes are from halal or muslim owned bakeries. 

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