Bugis Eatery Offering Rare Hainanese Menu Needs Support During The Pandemic
Kampong Glam is a well-loved destination by locals and tourist alike. However, with current travel restrictions and most working from home (WFH), businesses in the area have been hit hard.
On Tuesday (8 Jun), a concerned citizen named Nicollete shared the plight of a struggling 45-year-old Bugis eatery to the wheretodapao Instagram account.
The outlet – Prince Coffee House – is known for its classic Hainanese menu which offers a glimpse of Singapore’s culinary past.
Foodies craving Hainanese Western food from the ’70s, here’s the coffeehouse you ought to visit.
45-Year-Old Bugis eatery declining again
In Jun 2020, MS News reported that the old-school Prince Coffee House was significantly affected by the Covid-19 downturn.
Old-School Coffee House On Beach Road Affected By Covid-19 Downturn, S’poreans Urged To Support Them
Ex-head waiter uncle Jimmy Lin has kept the business alive for 45 years, after taking the reins from its original owners.
While the business survived the ‘Circuit Breaker’ in the past year, it seems business is declining again due to Phase 2 Heightened Alert.
Customer shares plight of elderly uncle
The 45-year-old Bugis eatery has a rich history, but Nicolette is equally amazed by Uncle Jimmy Lim who goes above and beyond for his patrons.
According to her, he regularly checks whether customers need anything and also exudes a warm personality.
Sadly, Nicollete noticed that the restaurant lost its regular crowd.
When asked how the business was doing, the uncle replied, “生意辛苦” which translates to “Business is hard”.
Although current circumstances may seem unfortunate, Nicolette observed the uncle remained cheerful and optimistic.
As proof of his passion for customer service, Uncle Jimmy even reminded her to take a photo of the menu and business card.
This way, she can call to get her order prepared ahead of time.
For fans of traditional Hainanese-style food
Hainanese coffeehouses were popular in the past, though they’ve become increasingly rare over the years.
As such, Prince Coffee House is a treasured gem because of its nostalgic and comforting menu, which can trace its roots back from the ’70s.
Even if you’re unfamiliar with Hainanese western food, the concerned patron vouched for its extremely tasty flavour.
She highly recommends their homemade chicken pie stuffed with copious amounts of chicken and potato chunks.
Notable bestsellers also include the Beef Horfun and Hainanese Pork Chop which come with fresh and crisp fries.
The fries seem to be cooked to order, which is a rare practice compared to modern restaurants.
Patrons praise restaurant for service & food
Patrons of the outlet chimed in with praise in the comments section.
A netizen shared that their dad and Uncle Jimmy hit it off immediately because they both speak Hainanese.
The hardworking uncle also works relentlessly 7 days a week, they noted.
One recent customer also praised his beef hor fun, Hainanese pork chop, and chicken pie.
Another foodie recommends chatting up the uncle because he has a lot of stories to share about the golden era.
How you can support the uncle
The 45-year old Prince Coffee House is a 6-minute walk from Bugis MRT station.
Here’s are the details of its precise location:
Prince Coffee House
Address: 249 Beach Rd, #01-249, Singapore 189757
Opening Hours: 11am to 9.30pm daily
Contact Number: +65 6468 2088
Nearest MRT station: Bugis
Prince Coffee House is highly recommended for fans of traditional Hainanese-style food.
Consider stopping by his outlet, as well as supporting struggling hawkers and restaurants, so we can all get through these tough times together.
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Featured image adapted from Instagram and Burpple.
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