I was just looking for a place to settle in for a while, away from the usual mall crowds, and somehow found myself at this cafe located along Jurong East Street 31. I had read that Waffl started at Tekka Place before moving here, and I was curious why they made that change. Sometimes, a move says a lot about where a cafe feels it belongs.
I visited on a Friday afternoon and decided to explore the Waffl menu before choosing my meal. The cafe features plenty of food options, from savoury waffle creations to sweet treats like their cookie additions, and I thought I would keep my order simple. That plan lasted about five minutes because everything looked like a perfect addition to the table.
Spicy Chicken Waffl Burger And Cheesy Chips
I started with the Spicy Chicken Waffl.burger ($12.90), mostly because I could not picture how a waffle would hold up as a burger bun. I expected it to fall apart or turn soggy under the weight of everything.
It did not. The waffle bun was crispy at the edges and sturdier than it looked, with just enough give to hold the chicken patty without crumbling. The patty itself had a real spice to it, a slow heat that built rather than slapped, and the mayonnaise underneath softened the burn without erasing it.
What surprised me most was the balance. The sweet hint from the waffle sat against the spicy chicken in a way that should not have worked but did. My first bite was messy and a little ridiculous, and I did not care.
On the side came the cheesy chips, drowned generously in cheese sauce. They were the indulgent, unnecessary, entirely welcome kind of chips, and I told myself I would only eat half. I finished them.
Kimchi Chicken Waffl And Smoked Salmon Waffl
This is where I over-ordered. I saw the table beside me get the kimchi version, watched the woman there go quiet after her first bite, and changed my plan on the spot.
The Kimchi Chicken Waffl.burger ($12.90) leans Korean and does not apologise for it. The kimchi brought a sharp, acidic bite that cut clean through the richness, and the cheese sauce caught it before it tipped too far. On my palate it read as brighter than the spicy chicken, less about heat and more about that fermented tang waking everything up.
It could have felt heavy. It did not, mostly because the acidity kept resetting things between mouthfuls.
Then the Smoked Salmon Waffl.Burger ($12.90), which I ordered knowing I probably should not have. The smoked salmon was cool and salty against the warm waffle, and the sour cream tied the two together with a gentle creaminess. That contrast of savoury and sweet, cold and warm, was the most thoughtful of the three dishes.
Buttermilk Waffl
After all that savoury, I needed something plain. The Buttermilk Waffl (from $6.90) was exactly the right correction.
Crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, it tasted the way a waffle is supposed to taste before anyone decides to complicate it. It was sweet without being cloying, honest in a way the burgers were not trying to be.
I added a scoop of ice cream, watched it slump into the warm ridges, and remembered why simple waffles still earn their place. You can order the brownie topping too, but I did not need it. Sometimes the plain version says everything.
Iced Lychee Ginger
To drink, I had the Iced Lychee Ginger ($4.60), and I want to be careful not to just call it refreshing and move on.
The lychee came through floral and soft, that familiar tinned-lychee sweetness most of us grew up with. Underneath it, the ginger did quiet work, a small warmth at the back of the throat that stopped the drink from going flat and sugary.
That ginger edge is why it paired so well with the spicy chicken and the cheesy chips. It scrubbed my palate clean between bites, sharp enough to reset without fighting the food. There is matcha on the menu too if that is more your thing, but on a warm day, this was the right choice.
Waffl Jurong East: Finding A Cafe Along Jurong East Street
Waffl is located along Jurong East Street 31, in a neighbourhood stretch that feels different from the busy mall areas nearby. I almost thought I had the wrong location during my first visit because the cafe sits quietly within the residential area, but that ended up being part of its charm.
The space is simple, with a few tables and a relaxed setup that matches the surroundings. Since it opened here, Waffl has become a spot where customers can drop by for a quick bite or stay longer for a proper meal.
I wanted to visit on Thursday but noticed different groups coming in throughout my time there. Some were picking up takeaway, while others were settling down to enjoy the food served fresh from the kitchen. Hence, I visited on a Friday instead!
What I love about Waffl is that it doesn’t feel like it is trying too hard to stand out. The location works because it feels like a cafe built around the neighbourhood, not one that is only waiting for people to discover it.
The Little Surprise I Found At Waffl Jurong East
What I didn’t expect from Waffl was how much the savoury side would stand out. I came in thinking I would focus on the sweet waffles, but the waffle burgers ended up being the dishes that made me look twice.
While Waffl puts its own spin on waffles with savoury and sweet creations, I’m always curious about how different neighbourhoods shape the way we start our mornings. For more ideas beyond Jurong East, check out breakfast spots around Singapore worth exploring.
For me, that was the charm of this Jurong East cafe. It wasn’t trying to be another trendy spot. It simply found its place, served food that felt approachable, and gave me another reason to explore beyond the usual dining areas.
