When you’ve got names like Japanese teahouse Hvala and Michelin-starred Whitegrass backing newly-opened joint Boyutei, it’s practically a given that it’ll be a hit. This new café is housed along Ann Siang Hill, where famed nasi lemak haunt The Coconut Club once doled out their famed ayam goreng coconut ric.
Boyutei is equally bright and airy a space. Much like the other Japanese-inspired cafés of today, a purposefully stark interior steals the show: wooden counters, a zen garden, and ambient lighting included. The menu reads mostly Japanese but with just the slightest hint of French techniques – makes sense, since Whitegrass Head Chef Yamshita has a culinary background in Japanese-French cuisine.
You’ll need to make repeat trips to run through the list of savouries. Frontrunners are the ebi katsu sando ($22), seafood mentaiko okonomiyaki ($22), and an unagi cha soba ($24). Pop by if peckish during the afternoons, since Hvala is meant to be at the top of their game for dessert and tea. It’s the matcha crepe ($14) with a black sesame crumble that’s likely to be a crowd fave – it’s not overpoweringly sweet and pairs well enough with a scoop of matcha ice cream. Plus, they specially import matcha from Kyoto.
Read our full review here.
