Today Restaurant 日日茶室 is a quaint little heritage coffee shop nestled in the heart of Tiong Bahru, serving up signature local heritage dishes like kampung chicken rice, Lixin fishball noodles, satay and kaya toast. It is one of the latest concept by BreadTalk Group.
It offers a kopitiam-style ambience with a retro twist, featuring traditional signboards, wooden tables and chairs, and classic black-and-white tiled floors. The decor brings a sense of nostalgia, evoking the charm of the past with its old-school touches, creating a cozy and familiar atmosphere.
Today Restaurant’s Kampung Chicken Rice
Today Restaurant’s signature dish is their Kampung Chicken Rice. They use large female kampung chickens which are known for their superior taste and ideal fat-to-meat ratio. This is why some may find their chicken meat to be more plump and tender.
Premium DuoStyle Chicken Rice ($9.50)
The Duostyle Chicken Rice includes both white and roasted chicken, served with a few slices of cucumber on the side. While the dish offers a combination of chicken options, the sauce for the chicken is a bit lacking, and overall, it feels slightly expensive for a standard plate of chicken rice.
The Kampung Chicken Rice offers a decent option for a simple meal. We chose the chicken breast, which was tender and not overly fatty, though it was fairly standard for a chicken rice dish.
Their rice is infused with old ginger, lemongrass, pandan leaf and their special chicken broth. The rice, while not overly oily, had a subtle fragrance but can become a bit bland after a while, lacking the depth of flavor that one might expect from a more flavorful chicken rice.
Chicken Rice (Single Value Set, $9)
The Chicken Rice (Single Value Set) comes with a plate of rice, chicken and a side of veggies, where you can choose between kailan or beansprouts. We opted for the kailan, which had a crunchy stem with a slight natural bitterness. The sauce was on the saltier side, but without it, the kailan was alright.
To round off the meal, we added the braised beancurd and egg. The beancurd was a highlight, perfectly balancing a soft yet slightly chewy texture that made for a satisfying bite. Overall, the set felt slightly expensive, having to top up extra for the braised beancurd, which was the standout addition.
Satay ($1 per stick)
The Satay requires a minimum order of 10 pieces, with the option to choose between pork, chicken, or a mix of both. The portions are standard for satay, with each stick offering a decent bite. This was arguably the best dish of the meal and the meat itself didn’t have too much char. The pork stood out with its sweetness, complemented by a bit of fat that paired perfectly with the flavors, while the chicken was mildly sweet. However, the peanut sauce was a bit too solid and did not cling well to the satay, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite that, the satay itself remains a solid choice.
Li Xin Teochew Fishball Noodle ($5.50)
The Fishball Noodles, though listed on the Michelin Guide, turned out to be pretty standard for a classic dish. The dish consisted of noodles and fishballs. You have the option to choose your type of noodle, whether you want it spicy, and whether you prefer your noodles dry or in soup. We went for mee pok dry with chili, and while the spice and sauce were quite flavorful, the noodles did tend to harden if left out for too long. The fishballs themselves were bouncy and soft, with a milder, less salty taste compared to other versions you might find elsewhere. While it is a decent bowl, it does not quite live up to the Michelin nod.
Kaya Toast ($1.50)
The Kaya Toast brings together the familiar pairing of butter and kaya, with a thick layer of the sweet, fragrant spread perfectly complementing the slight saltiness of the butter. The contrast of flavors is delightful, making each bite a comforting combination of sweet and savory. However, the toast itself fell short — it lacked the crispiness expected and there was no satisfying crunch with each bite.
Our Verdict
Overall, the experience at Today Restaurant offers a typical kopitiam ambience, though it feels a bit pricey given the standard of food served. The space offers both indoor and outdoor seating, though indoor seating is limited.
On a weekday night, there is a steady flow of traffic, with a mix of families and older patrons enjoying their meals. While the atmosphere is casual and familiar, the food, while decent, does not quite match up to the cost, making it a reasonable but not exceptional choice for a meal out.
This might appeal to tourists as they can try all the heritage dishes under one roof.
Do note that the Li Xin Teochew Fishball Noodle stall is a separate store from the main Today Kampung Chicken Rice stall, which sells drinks, toasts and satay, so you would have to order separately. You can also order online through the QR codes on each table.
Today Restaurant 日日茶室
Address: 71 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 160071
Opening hours: Open daily from 7.30am to 10pm
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