Katong’s old-school bakery Chin Mee Chin Confectionery broke many hearts when it announced its permanent closure in 2018, due to a lack of succession and manpower issues. It was famous for its charcoal-toasted kaya buns and pastries like Swiss rolls and cream puffs, which were best enjoyed with a cup of kopi.

But the famed Hainanese coffee shop is coming back in mid-June 2021. The family behind Chin Mee Chin has partnered homegrown F&B group Ebb & Flow to continue running the business. According to The Straits Times, the family remain shareholders in the business.

Ebb & Flow is a young, fast-rising company with concepts that include mod Chinese restaurant The Dragon Chamber, fine-diner Sommer and the online-based Tigerlily Patisserie, which will soon open its own dine-in space at 350 Joo Chiat Road.

A rep for Chin Mee Chin tells 8days.sg that the coffee shop’s opening has been pushed back due to construction delays.

The refreshed bakery will still keep its charming original look, like the pale blue facade and retro horse painting. According to the rep, “it will retain most of its original green floor tiles and furniture, with the bulk of renovation works done mainly in the kitchen, and with improvements to operations.”

The seating capacity will also increase to fit 60 diners, with an additional new alfresco area.

The founding family of Chin Mee Chin, who started it in the ’40s, will be passing their heritage recipes to Tigerlily Patisserie and Chin Mee Chin’s chef partner Maxine Ngooi.

You can expect the bakery’s “signature white bread buns and kaya, along with familiar favourites like hot cross buns, custard tarts, cream puffs, cream horns and luncheon meat buns.” There will also be “new menu items, which will be added in due time.”

This includes mod offerings like milo tarts, peanut butter chocolate tarts and coffee gula melaka chiffon cake. As for the pricing, the rep shares: “Prices will increase from before, but remain affordable.”

Over the recent Easter, the bakery had also sold a limited quantity of its traditional hot cross buns, which had to be preordered and self-collected at the bakery. We can’t wait for Chin Mee Chin’s return.

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery will reopen circa mid-June 2021 at 204 East Coast Rd, Singapore 428903.

Photos: Chin Mee Chin Confectionery/ Yip Jieying/ Douglas Tseng