Chin Mee Chin Confectionery 真美珍茶室

Stepping into the historic kopi tiam, you see people from all ages and all sorts of attire, drinking kopi, playing iPhone while waiting for the kaya toast to be served.

This place needs no further explanation. Simply google and you'll know its one of the oldest coffee house in the area that has survived gentrification. I must have forgotten about the crowd as I came here on one of the busiest day-National Day.

Don't be alarm if the auntie ignores you. Just be on an eagle-eye to catch the next empty table. We managed to squeeze into a corner table, stuffy but at least that saves up the extra charges for air-con. 

"自己拿啊、自己拿啊＂,chirped the Hainanese old auntie, who left after clearing the bowls from earlier visitors. "Wah! So good ar! " What if anyone take extra and not pay?" Well, this boils down to trust and honesty, I guessed. Grab a plate and pick your own pastries. No need to wait for the aunties to come......just start feeding yourself because the drinks, eggs and toasts take time to cook.

Each pastry on display sits on a paper lining, which the auntie did not even bother to count after everything. We had 6 pieces at first; 4 egg tarts, 1 plain and 1 almond cupcake.  

And ooh...these egg tarts are SUPER delicious. I have been deceived Nth times by numerous tasty-looking egg tarts which ended up with pliable tarts. But not this time. The dark brown shell is thicker-than-usual, but crumbly and fragrant. 

Call them cupcakes but do not compare them with those popular cupcakes on the street nowadays. Not moist, greasy nor very sweet. You might find it dry but these are how they should be. 

Being just fresh out of the oven, I popped one carelessly into my mouth, forgetting that they are meant to be shared. 

Every now and then, a fresh tray of baked items out from the kitchen draws me to see what's out there. Though they were not the golden cream horns and custard puff, I took another 2 cupcakes with chocolate icing. 

The much awaited open faced toast buns ($1 each) were spread with green kaya. I did mention previously that my family usually prefer brown to green, but this is an exception. The kaya spread was aromatic and sweet, but just nice. Nonetheless, I would prefer thin-sliced kaya toasts. 
There was no need for the butter knife to spread the butter evenly. Just slam the other side down and chow through the lukewarm bun like a burger. 

Kopi? Milo? Or Teh? We had all of them. Though their beans are roasted traditionally in their kitchen, the coffee was diluted. The milo was not spared too. 

You won't have time to laze around and chill out with your friends compared to many hipster cafes (be prepared to receive glares by people who are queuing.... some people were hogging tables while playing iphones after their meal)  

I enjoy it this no frills kopitiam. 

Chop chop. Eat. Drink and Go.

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery 真美珍茶室

204 East Coast Road 

Tue–Sun 8am to 4.30pm

Closed on Mondays 

  ***Join me on facebook for latest updates***