Bites by Ann Chin: Michelin popiah, loaded waffles & local bites in hole-in-wall eatery

Sim Lim Square has become synonymous with the salted egg chicken powerhouse duo of 3 Meals a Day and Taste Good. But what happens when the snaking queues get insurmountable? You head next door to Bites by Ann Chin; at least, that’s what I did.

If the name rings a bell, that’s because its parent brand is none other than the famous Ann Chin Popiah. Chances are, you’ve tried their fare or at least heard of them; their popiah is an islandwide sensation with a Michelin Plate recommendation to boot.

Bites by Ann Chin is a concept store with a menu that extends beyond the brand’s famed popiah and kueh pie tee. It stars a variety of local bites and, interestingly, a range of sweet and savoury waffles.

The no-frills eatery is brightly lit and minimally decorated, with a neon orange sign and a red Michelin sticker flaunting its name — for good reason, of course. The buttery aroma of waffle batter and the colourful menu on the wall were enough to whet my appetite.

What I tried at Bites by Ann Chin

Faced with so many tempting options, I had to hold back on the urge to order the whole menu. Still, the items I settled on (with much difficulty) formed quite a list. It didn’t take long for the food to be ready, though; the two ladies stationed at the counter whipped everything up at top speed.

It’s only customary to start with the titular dish so that’s exactly what I did. The Handmade Popiah (S$2.50) was made to order, staying true to its name. You can watch as the lady speedily layers ingredients on 2 pieces of skin slathered with a sweet spicy sauce before skilfully rolling and slicing them up.

For the record, these skins are known to be made fresh in house, too; it was just my bad luck that I didn’t get to see that in the works.

I had come across several online reviews that lamented the stingy filling. Lifting a piece, I was relieved to see that this wasn’t the case for my order; my roll was chock full of ingredients. 

One bite in and Ann Chin earned themselves a new fan. For one, they nailed the filling-to-skin ratio; each piece was perfectly bite-sized. 

I would describe the Handmade Popiah as a myriad of well-balanced flavours and textures. The juicy turnip filling was savoury, complemented by the crushed peanuts, earthy egg bits, refreshing lettuce and sweet chilli sauce. I thoroughly enjoyed the contrast between the soft filling, crispy flour bits and crunchy taugeh, tied together by the lightly chewy popiah skin.

Moving on, I had the Kueh Pie Tee (S$3.70 for 4 pieces), the other of Ann Chin’s signature offerings. Like the Popiah, these were made to order.

Each piece of kueh pie tee featured a sizeable shell filled to the brim with the same stewed turnip filling and crispy flour bits, garnished with egg and a dollop of sweet chilli sauce. Once again, they pulled through with the filling.

Despite having sat out for a while as my camera snapped away, the kueh pie tee shells maintained a great crunch without being overly greasy. Although it had a similar filling to the Popiah, the sweet-savoury flavour profile was more pronounced here especially with the absence of vegetables.

Additionally, the chilli packed a greater punch, with a mild spice and notes of garlic that enhanced its overall flavour.

Seeing that the Katong Laksa (S$5) was labelled a must-try, I ordered a bowl. Besides, I had a great experience with the dish on my visit to Janggut Laksa, also known as the “Original Katong Laksa”.

The presentation of this Katong Laksa struck me as exceptionally neat. From lined-up tau pok strips to taugeh, hard-boiled egg and chilli, every component was carefully arranged atop the enticing orange gravy that blanketed the thick bee hoon noodles. If you ask me, it appeared almost too pristine for  Katong Laksa.

Still, like the original dish, this was served with just a spoon for you to eat with.

Despite its vibrancy, the gravy leaned towards a creamier profile. Flavour-wise, this was unfortunately heavier on the coconut milk than I’d have liked. It also lacked the spicy fragrance characteristic of laksa; I only got hints of it after mixing in the sambal and that bit of laksa leaves.

One thing I’d definitely commend about this bowl of laksa would be its portion size. Every spoonful of springy noodles and crunchy taugeh would come with enough gravy to slurp it all down. There was also the occasional addition of prawn pieces that lent a subtle sweetness. I also enjoyed the chewy pieces of tau pok and the way they sopped up the gravy.

While I did feel that the gravy could’ve done with more spice and aroma, I’d still regard this bowl of laksa as a rather hearty one. It wasn’t terrible by any means, but perhaps incongruent with its ‘Katong Laksa’ title.

Now, onto the most interesting dish yet: the Chicken Cutlet Waffles (S$5.20). It’s not everyday that you see this combination; not in a local cuisine-centric eatery at least. These waffles were made to order and thus came hot and fresh.

Don’t be deterred by its price tag, though. Each half of the waffle boasts a hefty chicken cutlet that’s deep-fried to a golden brown, sandwiched by lettuce, sliced cheese, a squeeze of nacho cheese sauce and mayonnaise. Holding it all together proved to be quite a challenge, to say the least.

The Chicken Cutlet Waffle won me over. The combination of sweet buttery waffle with the savoury fried chicken cutlet, coated in tangy mayonnaise and melted cheese, was simply to die for. Furthermore, while I’d usually complain about the cakey waffle texture, I could definitely get behind the textural contrast it lent the crispy chicken.

Finally, I indulged in an Oreo Cream Cheese Waffle (S$3.50) to conclude my meal on a sweet note.

Oreo Cream Cheese has got to be one of my favourite waffle flavours, so you have my word as far as reviewing this is concerned. While I’ve had my fair share, the sheer amount of filling in these was, frankly, unparalleled. The waffles were generously slathered in tangy cream cheese and topped with plenty of Oreo bits.

Final Thoughts

To anyone who only goes to Sim Lim Square for salted egg chicken rice, it’s time to switch it up and add Bites by Ann Chin to your list of haunts. This cosy eatery is the perfect place to grab—quite literally—a bite any time of day, with its variety of local eats and loaded waffles.

If you could only choose a few items, don’t miss out on the Handmade Popiah and Kueh Pie Tee; they’re Michelin-recommended for a reason! If you’re feeling up for something with a modern twist, opt for the Chicken Cutlet Waffle, or any waffle for that matter. I’d definitely be returning for these new-found favourites and more. 

Expected damage: S$1.50 – S$5.20 per pax

Order Delivery: Deliveroo 

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