The Best Popiah in Singapore? A First Timer's Review of Old School Eatery My Cosy Corner

Have you ever gone down a random rabbit hole… and somehow uncovered an old spot you’ve never even heard of before? 👀

That’s how I found myself stumbling upon My Cosy Corner. After a little digging, I found out that it has been open since the '80s and "allegedly" has the best popiah in Singapore, a bold claim that deserves some investigation. 

Upon arrival, the tiny eatery was buzzing even at 11am on a school holiday. We were lucky enough to snag a table just as the group before us left, wedging ourselves at a tight little corner ready to order. We decided on getting a spread of their renowned classics. 

As we waited for the food I had the chance to look around the shop. Its walls are plastered with newspaper articles over the years, a fridge filled with travel memories and a popiah station where you can see the staff wrapping their famous popiah. 

A spread of local classics!

After we got our spread, we started off with the Nonya Popiah ($3.50).

Stuffed full of filling

Four words: It did not disappoint.

The popiah skin was perfectly thin, lightly brushed with a sweet oyster sauce. The filling boasted a flavourful carrot radish mixture, soft boiled egg and fried flour bits (think tempura bits) that gave the perfect crunchy bite. The ingredients worked in harmony without the popiah being too soggy or mushy, which are my usual gripes with the dish. 

My parents were equally impressed with their popiah, so impressed that we got two more servings to-go for my grandparents.

My mother also conveniently pointed out from a newspaper clipping on the wall that the owner learnt this popiah recipe from the late Lee Kuan Yew’s aunt (talk about name dropping). 

Moving onto their mains, we next tried their Nonya Laksa with Prawn ($9) and Mee Siam ($7). 

Their Nonya Laksa was a breath of fresh air from the usual laksas I’ve come across. The standout being the extremely rich and creamy coconut soup. The sweet flavour profile of the soup with a twang of spice at the end paired perfectly with the sturdy noodles and especially the tau pok which had soaked up all the lemak broth.

We also had a go at a Nonya style Mee Siam which was an eye opener to the regular Malay or Chinese Mee Siams I’ve tried before. The thick mee siam gravy was again coconut based with a blend of Malay spices for that kick and hint of nuttiness in the aftertaste. The noodles were nice and firm and paired well with a squeeze of lime to cut through the rich broth. 

For both dishes you can select the spice level according to your preference and opt if you would like prawns which would set you back a little more. 

Having been around since 1988, My Cosy Corner has been a staple for the many students from the nearby schools and residents in the area. To further cement their testament to quality, there was a steady stream of takeaway orders for their renowned popiah.

I may be a little jealous after seeing a Facebook user reminisce how a bowl of Laksa was only $0.90 back when he was in school, but the food is worth the preservation and inflation! 

📍 My Cosy Corner, 587 Bukit Timah Road #02-02, Coronation Plaza, Singapore 269707