Khoon Coffeehouse Express: $2.20 fluffy yaowarat buns stuffed with lotus, honey butter & truffle egg mayo at SMU

I recently came across Khoon Coffeehouse Express in SMU near Bugis MRT Station, which sells huge yaowarat buns with sweet and savoury flavours, and that got me excited!

I have tried multiple bun variations which range from soft Japanese-style milk breads to hard rolls. There is one type of bun which I have yet to taste that many people enjoy — yaowarat buns. 

Functioning as a takeaway kiosk, Khoon Coffeehouse Express offers a myriad of hot dishes for both students and the general public. Snackers may drop by for a bun or two while heavier eaters may enjoy more hearty cooked rice and noodle items. 

What I tried at  Khoon Coffeehouse Express 

The main reason for my visit was to get my hands on their Yaowarat Thai Sweet Buns. Yaowarat buns are essentially grilled bread stuffed with generous fillings, usually chocolate or custard. They are served piping hot, enabling the stuffing to melt within the toasted bun and flow out like lava.

Competitively priced from S$2.20 to S$2.50, 9 sweet flavours were listed on the menu. During my visit, only 6 flavours were available.

I chose the Lotus Biscoff (S$2.50) without thinking twice. The yellow-hued bun was toasted over a grill on all 4 sides before it was bagged and stuffed with the Lotus Biscoff spread.

Although the bun bore a striking yellow colour, I am still unsure why it was as such.  Initially, I was afraid that it was heavily soaked in margarine but there was not much flavour from the buns.

Now, don’t hate on me but I don’t quite enjoy the usual Lotus Biscoff cookies. They are simply too sweet for my liking. Its version of a velvety spread though, I truly adore. The super smooth and lick-able consistency pairs perfectly with frozen yoghurt or in this case, as a generous bun stuffing. 

The Chocolate (S$2.20) choice was a no brainer since I am an absolute chocolate addict. Once again, I enjoyed the toasted crunch from the bun itself which was the perfect morsel to contain the chocolate flow.

The bittersweet chocolate spread surpassed the flavours of those typically found on waffles in local bakeries. Presentation wise, it seemed like the bun was stuffed until the chocolate spread oozed out of the bun. However, that impression poofed into thin air after I halved the bun.

The last yaowarat bun I got was their Honey Butter (S$2.40). If you have been reading the articles written by yours truly, it would become evident right away which flavour holds the position of my personal favourite.

The same vessel was filled with sticky honey and stuffed with a spoonful of butter within its centre. The honey-laden bun was the messiest to eat out of the 3. Honey dripped down the sides of the bun which meant that the paper bag was stained with sugared syrup. 

Nonetheless, there was nothing to fault in the sticky, fluffy and insanely-buttery construction. 

Out of curiosity, I decided to try their Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice (S$6) as well. I was expecting to see long pork strips used, but the meat was chopped into half-inch thickness and mixed into a thick and dark brown coloured gravy. Interesting.

I generally lean towards thick and substantial cuts of meat, whether it’s pork or beef. So seeing the measly pork pieces strewn over the rice did disappoint me slightly. I piled as many pork pieces I could onto my spoon with rice and took my first bite. 

I dare say this was my first time feeling humiliated for judging a dish so quickly. The savoury pork gravy was intense and adequately seasoned the meat and rice. Although the rice was slightly dry, I was satisfied with soaking it in the gravy. I wolfed down the entire dish within minutes!

I also liked the slight chewiness from the pork skin that made the dish addictive. A fried egg was thrown into the dish as well. I couldn’t help but think that the meal would have been more satisfying if the egg had a runny yolk or a braised egg was used instead.

As there was an ongoing promotion for 1-for-1 drinks, I had to try out their signature beverages too. The Coconut Foam Coffee (S$4.80) was served with a visibly thick layer of frothed coconut milk atop coffee. The coffee alone tasted similar to local style renditions but was significantly less sweet. 

With a gentle tilt of the cup, I successfully incorporated a mouthful of coconut foam with the coffee. To my surprise, it was comparable to the coconut latte from Luckin Coffee. The coconut foam was mostly airy although I expected one resembling a luscious milk froth.

With excitement, I tried the Ovaltine Crunchy Pop Milk Tea (S$5.20) next. The milk tea was exactly teh peng. I enjoyed the hint of tea flavour before it was mellowed by the milk. 

I assumed that ovaltine would be mixed into the beverage itself but only ovaltine crumbs were dusted on top.

A subtle chocolate flavour could be detected in those crushed biscuits. The crumbs introduced a satisfying crunch factor and I only wished that more of it was used.

Given the price, I found the quality of the drink to be mismatched. However, I appreciate the packaging used for both beverages as its contents did not leak despite my careless handling. 

Final thoughts

With this being my first experience with yaowarat buns, I don’t feel qualified to comment on whether they fared better than others available around town.

Considering its price point, I wouldn’t mind dropping by to grab 1 or 2 buns as a snack. However, with better food options around the vicinity, I would give the other hot meals and beverages a miss. 

Expected damage: S$2.20 – S$6 per pax

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