The feature this week is my long anticipated visit to Hello Kitty Orchid Garden! I kinda waited over 2 months to visit this place but the queue still hasn't died down. I went there during Hari Raya Puasa so perhaps it's the public holiday effect. An interesting observation was that there were lots of families in the queue unlike most of the other long queue places I dined at. Waiting time was around 1.5hrs.
Given that we queued so long, Vain Pot and I endeavor to try as much food and drinks as our stomachs can take. We kicked off our visit trying their Cumbernade ($7.90) and Apple Cinnamon Tea ($7.80). The Cumbernade is a mock tail combination of cucumber syrup with lemonade and soda. It tastes refreshing if you like frizzy drinks. I quite like the Apple Cinnamon Tea which was light with distinct apple and cinnamon taste. I find the cookie at the side really weird though with its edges wet.
One of the biggest plus points I give the Hello Kitty cafe was how the Hello Kitty Orchid Garden theme was incorporated into the food. The other theme cafes like DC Superheroes cafe at MBS didn't successfully achieve this to a large extent of their menu. I picked the Big Breakfast ($18.50) for its Instagramable presentation and a soft spot for waffles. It's a rather interesting dish. The maple syrup had a bit of fruity taste attached to it and the two waffles that came with the meal had different texture.
One was crispy, the other fluffy cake like texture. One the whole, the meal was definitely decent but nothing fantastic taste-wise so don't expect too much.
Vain Pot's choice of Enchanted Forest ($17.90) was highly satisfactory. In her own words, "I don't know what I'm eating but this is really good." Haha! Basically it's quesadillas with prawns, avocado slices mashed with Hello Kitty cafe's very own wasabi sesame mayonnaise sauce. I tried it, it's really good. I especially like how the tangy wasabi taste was brought out.
For desserts, we picked the overhyped cat in paradise. It's a combination of mango mousse with almond crumble and a hazelnut sorbet. It doesn't taste horrible but nothing fantastic. The biggest plus point for this dish is how the colors are pleasing to the cameras.
Summing up our visit, I would like to come back again to try the other parts of the menu. I felt the queue didn't felt as long as I waited perhaps because of my wonderful companion. The food exceeded my expectations for a thematic cafe and can definitely hold its own as a tourist attraction and even against other cafes. The aesthetics of the food and venue makes it a wonderful place for families and couples alike.
Hello Kitty Orchid Garden
Singapore Changi Airport, Terminal 3, Arrival Meeting Hall Central, #01-22
(The fastest way to get a seat during peak hours is to visit the place in pairs)