Killiney Kopitiam

KILLINEY KOPITIAM SINGAPORE’S ICONIC COFFEE SHOP ARRIVES IN PALO ALTO

LINED WITH BRIGHTLY painted Kopitiam has expanded to nine countries walls and vibrant murals of Singa- with over 80 locations worldwide. pore’s Marina Bay, Killiney Kopi- Motivated by the lack of authentic tiam is downtown Palo Alto’s latest Singaporean cuisine in the Bay Area and trending cafe. The pungent aromas of fresh coffee, dried shrimp and savory sauces waft from the kitchen, enticing hungry customers. “From early in my childhood, Killiney was my favorite place nostalgic memories of Killiney from her childhood, franchise owner and Singapore native Amanda Toh Steckler made One of Singa- to go for comfort the decision to expore’s most well known restaurant chains, Kill- food.” pand the popular chain by opening iney Kopitiam opened — AMANDA TOH STECKLER, owner the Waverley Street its first United States location. location in Palo Alto in “From early in

September. The business is over 100 years my childhood, Killiney was my favorite old, having established its first location on place to go for comfort food,” Steckler said.

Killiney Road in Singapore in 1919, ac- While the restaurant was expectcording to its website. Since then, Killiney ed to open its doors in the spring, the

A TASTE OF SINGAPORE — Killiney Kopitiam, located on Waverley Street in downtown Palo Alto serves authentic Singaporean food and drinks.

COVID-19 pandemic forced Steckler to delay its launch. However, despite the challenges of opening during this unprecedented time, the restaurant has boasted long lines since its opening in part due to online networking.

“The power of social media is fantastic and the word quickly spread via Facebook and Instagram,” Steckler said.

Waiting in line for a chance to try the restaurant’s renowned offerings, we had high expectations. We were pleasantly met by their bold, spicy and comforting Singaporean flavors and comfortable outdoor seating, and would gladly return. v

Roti Prata ($5.99)

This layered pan-fried flatbread was served with a fragrant yellow curry sauce. The mild and buttery taste of the prata paired well with the bold flavors of chili and coconut in the dipping sauce, and the lightly crispy and extremely flaky texture of the bread left our mouths watering.

Kaya Toast ($5.49)

Featuring house-made kaya coconut jam with salted butter on white pullman toast, this snack was definitely one of our favorite items. The bread was toasted to perfection and the sweetness from the jam and saltiness from the generous spread of butter complemented each other exquisitely.

Mee Rebus ($12.99)

Comprised of thick egg noodles in a lightly fishy sweet potato broth, this dish sung with subtle flavor. The broth had a light saltiness to it, while the noodles had an irresistible chewy texture. Tofu, sprouts, scallions, hot peppers and a boiled egg topped off the dish. The hot broth was served separately to prevent sogginess and we poured the delicious soup over the toppings ourselves.

Mee Siam ($10.99)

One of Killiney’s house specials, this noodle dish contained a sweet and tangy tamarind gravy with thin rice vermicelli topped with lime, bean sprouts, fried tofu and sambal chili, creating an explosion of textures and flavors in our mouths. While a bit spicy, the dish was perfectly balanced with the acidity from the lime.

Kopi O ($3.99)

If you like strong coffee, this is the drink for you. Lightly sweetened and without milk, Killiney’s Kopi O is saturated with a very strong and bitter flavor. The distinctive nuttiness of the coffee blend was unique, and while sharp, the drink was extremely refreshing.

Kopi C ($3.99)

Paired with sweetened condensed milk, this iced coffee struck a lovely balance between bitter and sweet. The condensed milk muted the bitterness of the coffee just the right amount, and the sweet and cramy drink paired well with the salt and spice of

NIGHT MARKET NOODLES (TOP) — Killiney’s Mee Siam features vermicelli noodles in a spicy broth topped with egg, scallion, tofu and a fresh lime wedge.

A FLAKY FAVORITE (BOTTOM LEFT) — A layered pan-fried multi-layered bread, the Roti Prata was one of our favorite dishes that we sampled at Killiney Kopitiam. The prata was served with a bright and savory curry sauce.

BITTER BREW (BOTTOM RIGHT) — Kopi C, strong Singaporean coffee accented with sweetened condensed milk was a, rich and flavorful accompaniment to the salty and spicy food.