The Kins’ Specialty Cafe – The Special Basque Cheesecake is a Must Try!

Listen up, brunch fans and friends in the West, for there’s a new kid on the block! Located next to the Pasir Panjang MRT, The Kins boasts an open and minimalistic space which comprises an indoor and outdoor seating area. Expect sleek white counters and concrete-style walls inside, and a more natural and casual vibe outdoors.

The special burnt cheesecake here is an absolute must-try. This delicious dessert originates from a humble bar in San Sebastian, Spain, called La Viña. The city is located in Basque Country in Northern Spain, hence the name of the cheesecake. La Viña guards their recipe heavily. And there have been many who have attempted to recreate it. The Kins have worked with a baker  for a few months before finally perfecting their own recipe. While this cake may not look like much at first, it’s definitely far from that.

Beneath the browned, almost blackened, top lies one of the most delightful cheesecakes. The cheesecake is smooth and custardy in the middle, and the parts closer to the edge have a pillowy texture. I would say it has the fluffiness and flavour of Japanese cheesecakes! Just a bite of the fluffy cheesecake with the caramelised top sent me to dessert heaven. While some cheesecakes tend to get a little cloying, this slice of goodness did not.

If you’re there and you’re a fan of Houjicha, you HAVE to try their hot Houjicha Latte ($6). I was blown away by how fragrant it was, and it’s probably the best Houjicha Latte I’ve had. Another must-try beverage would have to be the White Cold Brew ($7), a special cold-brew concoction created by them. It was super smooth, and paired perfectly with the cheesecake.

We also got their Tom Yum Pasta ($16) with mixed seafood and shimeji mushrooms, as well as a Smoked Duck with Miso Dressing ($13). The pasta was pretty decent, but I would’ve preferred it to be slightly saucier so that the Tom Yum flavour is more pronounced. Thankfully, the prawns were really fresh and sweet!

Their smoked duck is sourced directly from their own farm in Malaysia. The very tender smoked duck breast is seared before it’s served, and tasted a little like bacon.

I would say that the food isn’t particularly mindblowing, but they do have some pretty interesting Asian-fusion offerings. Even so, the burnt cheesecake and amazing drinks are already worth making a trip for! Do note that there’s no hot food served from 4 to 6pm if you’re planning on visiting.