Maria Katrina Paras

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Kopi Kaki Kopitiam BF Homes

<div><strong>NEED TO KNOW:</strong></div><p><strong>Location:</strong> Presidents Ave., BF Homes, Paranaque (right beside Tahanan Village gate) </p><p><strong>Cuisine:</strong> Singaporean-Malaysian </p><p><strong>Best for:</strong> Laid-back dining, catching up with friends over snacks and coffee, and family lunches or dinners </p><p><strong>Must-try dishes:</strong> Kaya Mochi Toast, Fried Shrimp Toast, Curry Chicken Laksa</p><p><strong>Pro tip: </strong>Come on a weekday for a calmer atmosphere</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782128178012Kopi Kaki 1.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>I&#x27;ve had this love affair with <strong>kaya toast </strong>since 2016. I remember the first time I tried it in<strong> Singapore</strong>, I was brought to Ya Kun Kaya Toast by a friend who lives there, and I thought it was just one of the best things I&#x27;ve ever tasted. I&#x27;ve tried it in Manila in a popular Singaporean chain before that trip, but somehow, as Gen Z says, &quot;it hits different&quot; when you eat it where it came from. </p><p>Fast forward to even more trips to Singapore, and I repeatedly found myself hunting the city for even more authentic hawker-style breakfasts, with the classic sets consisting of Kopi (coffee with condensed milk), kaya toast, and two soft-boiled eggs with light soy sauce and a pinch of white ground pepper.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782128507013Kaya Toast Diaries.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Clockwise: Ya Kun Kaya Toast kaya toast set with kopi and soft-boiled eggs; Maxwell Center hawker kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs and Milo Dinosaur; Killiney kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs and iced lemon teh</span></span></span>For some reason, I don&#x27;t usually eat kaya toast when I&#x27;m in Manila, despite its abundance in the malls. I guess it&#x27;s just the feeling of being in an authentic Kopitiam (coffee shop) in hot and sunny SG that makes eating this meal more exciting to me. But that just changed a couple of days ago. I visited the newly opened <strong>KOPI KAKI Kopitiam</strong> in <strong>BF Homes</strong>, the barely-two-week old (as of publishing) Singaporean-style cafe that caught my attention way before it opened. We often pass by Presidents Avenue, and when I saw this building being put up, my initial thought was—&quot;could this be a new Pilates studio&quot;? It had that aesthetic facade that draws you in. But to my surprise, it ended up being an authentic kopitiam, minus the hustle and bustle of a hawker center. </div><p>I was fortunate to get to try their offerings, and that initial visit convinced me that that was not the last time I would be dining at Kopi Kaki. &quot;Kaki&quot; means friend, says owner Cess, a 30-year-old Filipina who is now a Singaporean citizen, having spent the last 13 years of her life in the Lion City. Her intention for this restaurant is for it to be a place where friends can casually dine, catch up, and bond over simple, good food—kopitiam-style. &quot;Whether I&#x27;m sad or happy, I&#x27;ll have a meal by myself. If I want to celebrate something with friends or when I meet new people, it&#x27;s always centered around having a meal or having a coffee. So, I think that feeling has been with me for as—as long as I could remember&quot;, she shares.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782130663554Kopi Kaki 2.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">My first taste of Kopi Kaki&#x27;s Kopi and Kaya Toast—delightful!</span></span></span>Having had lots of work experience in the F&amp;B industry in Singapore, Cess felt that this dream of putting up a Singaporean-style cafe in her home country was one that should be fulfilled sooner rather than later. The open space along Presidents Avenue presented itself at the right time, and she knew it was the perfect spot to put it up. Despite being a Northerner (she lives in Banawe in QC), Cess felt it was the right decision to put the very first Kopi Kaki on the opposite side of the Metro—in foodie central and tight-knit community BF Homes in Parañaque. </div><p>&quot;I&#x27;ve been a long fan of BF Homes and the community. I know there&#x27;s a food scene, and I&#x27;ve been visiting here now and then. I said, why not? Because when people think about a Singaporean/Malaysian concept, it&#x27;s usually constrained by the mall concepts or a stand-alone&quot;, Cess quips. </p><div>Kopi Kaki is a two-storey building that allows for some breathing room with open dining spaces below, floor-to-ceiling windows, ample parking space, and lots of natural light. It is peppered with authentic Singaporean decor that Cess herself brought back home and hand-carried. The walls are lined with beautiful photos that she took through the years of living in Singapore—detailing the uniqueness of kopitiam culture.<br/><br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782131419271Kopi Kaki 3.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">It is peppered with authentic Singaporean decor that Cess herself brought back home and hand-carried.</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782131752521Kopi Kaki 4.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Some glimpses of the kopitiam lifestyle, photos taken by the owner</span></span></span></div><p>I did say earlier that it did not have the hustle and bustle feel of an authentic hawker center or kopitiam in Singapore, but it does give off a cozy, homey, non-pretentious vibe that simply welcomes guests effortlessly. The hustle and bustle comes from the quick turnover of guests—when I was there, guests simply poured in nonstop, proving that this place was gaining attention from simple, reliable word of mouth. </p><p>With cafe culture booming in Manila, it&#x27;s hard not to ask—what makes this coffee shop different from all the other cafes people are loving right now? Cess outrightly says, &quot;In the Philippines, it&#x27;s really more like an event. It&#x27;s like something you go to. But for me, kopitiam is part of your everyday ritual. So, in Singapore and Malaysia, the people preparing your coffee, they don&#x27;t even measure. You just say one teh C, one kopi O kosong, then they&#x27;ll <em>tantsa-tantsa</em> <em>lahat</em>. The uncles are just wearing sandals; they&#x27;ll be in their shorts and slippers.&quot;</p><p>Is Manila ready to walk into a cafe in humble <em>tsinelas? </em>Maybe not, but in this coffee shop, anyone is welcome to dine, stay a while, linger, savor the flavors, be alone or talk to a friend, even work—they have free WiFi and are open to digital nomads looking for a place to work during the day—in aesthetic-looking clothes or otherwise.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782132259360Kopi Kaki 5.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">You are welcome here!</span></span></span>&quot;So, when I envisioned this space, I really try to recognize our customers. We try to implement if we can get to know them and know them by name. We hope to see people bring their kids. We hope to see them grow up here. There are a lot of intentional spaces here where people can bring their pets outside. We can have workshops upstairs. I&#x27;ve been talking to some illustrators to, you know, create artworks for this space. I think kopitiam culture is like your go-to neighborhood coffee shop. So, that sense of community, whether it&#x27;s translated through food, or activities, or milestones, that&#x27;s something I want to capture and and remain like retain it here in this space&quot;, Cess says heartfeltly. </div><div><em></em></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782133687432Kopi Kaki 8.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Care for a cold glass of Milo Dinosaur? (Php 180)</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Now let&#x27;s talk about the food. That&#x27;s why we&#x27;re here, aren&#x27;t we? Oh boy, the food did not disappoint. First there was the <strong>Kopi (coffee with condensed milk), Php 180, </strong>and<strong> Kaya Butter Toast, Php 180,</strong> the perfect match. The Kopi was not too strong yet had that bittersweet comforting taste Singaporean Kopi is known for. Their kaya spread is made from scratch—meaning they don&#x27;t buy ready-made ones in jars, making theirs extra special. The bread is perfectly thin and toasted, with a cold slice of butter and Kaya spread in between. Every bite is unbelievably good. I&#x27;m already warning you that you will get addicted. </p><p>Next came the <strong>Kaya Mochi Toast, Php 155,</strong> and the <strong>Fried Shrimp Toast, Php 320</strong>, the best offerings among the starters in the menu. The mochi lover in me was absolutely floored by the idea that mochi can be inserted into an already heavenly piece of kaya toast. Each bite gives you a chewy, crunchy, indulgent experience you would not want to end. I highly recommend you try this the first time you go. On the other hand, the Fried Shrimp Toast is the perfect snack or prelude to a lunch or dinner, with its hearty serving of minced shrimp served with a special spicy aioli-type sauce. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782132842946Kopi Kaki 6.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Kaya Mochi Toast and Fried Shrimp Toast</span></span></span>Once you&#x27;re ready to get more of their simple yet satisfying menu, I suggest you start going for the big ones—the <strong>Curry Chicken with Roti Prata, Php 380</strong>, a main dish that skips the usual white rice but excites you with every dip of crispy roti prata into the sauce, and the <strong>Hainanese Chicken Chop, Php 375</strong>, a fried version of the traditional steamed white chicken—this time battered and crispy served with rich gravy, fries, and a side salad. I say kids would immediately go for this as it&#x27;s a no-brainer crowd pleaser. If you&#x27;re looking for something even more flavorful and deeply Singaporean-Malay, I suggest their <strong>Curry Chicken Laksa, Php 360</strong>, a silky noodle soup served with creamy coconut curry, soft noodles, and chicken. Every slurp of the soup gives your mouth a spicy, comforting treat. Last but most definitely not least is the classic <strong>Nasi Lemak Ayam Berempah, Php 395</strong>, fragrant coconut rice with spiced fried chicken, homemade sambal, a perfectly fried egg, cucumber slices, peanuts, and ikan bilis. </div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782133363831Kopi Kaki 7.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Treat yourself to their main delights—and go home with a happy tummy!</span></span></span></div><p>&quot;My biggest surprise with zero marketing, with just removing the barricades, by second day, this is a 60 to 70 seater restaurant, we were able to fill it up. I was speechless. I did not expect it. So, now we&#x27;re busy hiring people. We&#x27;re busy trying to see how we could improve our dishes. We ran out of chairs, we ran out of tables, we ran out of cups. I gave the team an off day, but on my off day, I bought cups; I personally sourced aprons. I think the biggest surprise is the sense of support from the community&quot;, Cess tells me when I asked her how she felt about introducing a not-so-familiar concept into the Filipino food scene. She also envisions Kopi Kaki to fill that need for a third space in the community—a place to just be, to connect outside of the office and the home. </p><p>While Kopi Kaki is the place I would go back to for the food, it&#x27;s definitely now my go-to for the sense of comfort and that warm, homey vibe I resonate with. With satay nights, community fairs, and workshops on its horizon, Kopi Kaki is shaping up to be a very promising space that BF Homes will truly embrace as its very own. </p><div><em>Kopi Kaki Kopitiam is currently in its dry run phase. It is closed on Mondays and is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 8 pm. Walk-ins only. Follow them on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kopikaki.ph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@kopikaki.ph</a> for updates.</em></div>

<p>In this authentic Singaporean kopitiam in the South, you get to enjoy a mouthwatering meal, meet new people, and linger a bit longer than usual. </p>

In this authentic Singaporean kopitiam in the South, you get to enjoy a mouthwatering meal, meet new people, and linger a bit longer than usual.

Kopi Kaki Brings an Authentic Kopitiam Experience to the South

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Kopi Kaki Brings an Authentic Kopitiam Experience to the South

Kate Paras-Santiago

Published June 22, 2026 09:00 PM PHT

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Updated June 22, 2026 09:24 PM PHT

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Food

Kopi Kaki Kopitiam

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Singaporean Restaurant BF Homes

Malaysian Food BF Homes

BF Homes Restaurants

Kaya Toast

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Teh Tarik

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