Café Natsu (Joo Chiat)

Cafe Natsu's finer attention to detail is most evident in their wagyu hamburg don.

Their wagyu hamburg patty was thick, tender and juicy, well-seasoned and grilled to perfection. It is topped with an onsen egg yolk and sits on top of a bed of oroshi or grated daikon radish which lends a fresh subtly sweet contrast to the beefy and rich wagyu patty and creamy luxurious onsen egg yolk.

My favourite part of this dish is the aromatic and perfectly balanced chestnut mushroom rice and crunchy white kimchi which comes paired with the wagyu patty. The rice and kimchi are flavourful on their own but serves to elevate the wagyu patty to the next level. I loved how Cafe Natsu melded all these flavours to create a harmonious and balanced dish.

As mentioned previously, Cafe Natsu is indeed pricey but when viewed in the lens of 'finer' dining, it may well be justified!

At $26+++, Cafe Natsu's pork katsu Sando is indeed pricier than most sandos which cost below $20+++. The burning question is therefore whether the higher price tag is justified.

I liked how the sando is nicely and neatly layered to maximise the contrast both texture and flavours-wise. The thick, crispy and tender pork katsu is sandwiched between two slices of fluffy bread, crunchy lettuce, diced onions and stripes of green apple. The pork did not taste gamey and I loved how the tartness of the green apple and diced onion brought out the subtle sweetness of the pork.

For those who prefer a 'messy' sandwich, the cafe provides a doubanjiang aioli on the side with gives a strong bold umami filled flavour boost to the sandwich if you like a stronger flavour. I though preferred to use it as a dip for the crispy fries (which we really loved) which came with the sando! To be honest, how do you dip a sandwich into the sauce?!?

I have read several reviews about Cafe Natsu and their prices and I do think it's a matter of perspective. Yes, it's pricey compared to other cafes. However, if you pay attention to how they have tried to elevate dishes like the pork katsu sando with their attention to detail (the immaculate layering of the sandwich to ensure a constant mouth feel and flavour profile and the gorgeous plating) and treat it as a form of 'finer' dining, the price becomes much easier to justify.

That said, if I am asked as to whether I would pay 30% to 50% more for Cafe Natsu's food, my answer is probably no though I would for a special occasion or as a nice treat to myself.

Cafe Natsu is a Japanese-inspired brunch cafe in the Joo Chiat area. The cafe's interior is an interior designer's dream with beautiful elegant lines and spaces.

Each of the dishes served were beautifully and artistically plated. Their kani croquette was shattering crisp on the outside and rich and creamy on the inside. In particular, we loved the black vinegar butter sauce which served as a dip on the side. It was rich, acidic, luscious and tangy, and paired beautifully with the croquette (and their fries too)!

The prices here though are a little steep... The food is good and the ambience lovely but $16 for a starter is really hard to justify if there isn't an occasion!

Mochi Donuts😋 Please refer to my previous Cafe Natsu post for my full review!😄

Went to Cafe Natsu three weeks ago and ordered their Wagyu Hamburg Bowl Set ($36), an Iced Matcha Latte ($8.50), and Mochi Donuts ($12)!😇

Overall ratings 9/10! Food and drinks were not too bad but was a bit pricey to me😅 Would head back again though👍🏻

Star item was the hearty bowl of Fish Soup Pao Fan