Kampong Glam Cafe

location

17 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199438
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Scoring with His Food

Name of business:Kampong Glam Cafe
Business location:17 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199438
Business type:Food & Beverage
Established:2004

Kampong Glam Cafe is a family-owned establishment that serves affordable, authentic Malay cuisine. After retiring from professional football, Mr. Bashir Khan dedicated himself to his business and to developing the Kampong Gelam community. The cafe, founded in 2004 by Mr. Bashir and his late uncle, Mr. Abdul Rahim bin Musa, occupies what used to be Kampong Glam Radio, an electrical shop. The cafe's menu includes local favorites such as mee siam, mee rebus, and nasi lemak, as well as makan dulang, a large spread of dishes perfect for a family dinner or communal meal. Mr. Bashir is often seen behind the cashier, greeting customers, taking orders, and clearing tables. The cafe is a whole family affair, with Mr. Bashir's children helping out in the past, and all the dishes are original recipes of his aunt, who has been the chef since the cafe's opening.

The cafe's location at the junction of Bussorah Street and Baghdad Street is marked by a block of red and white shophouses, with the wide red awning inviting passers-by into the relaxed atmosphere of Kampong Glam Cafe. Mr. Bashir's connections to the Singapore football scene bring familiar faces, both old and new, to the cafe, including visiting foreign players. The cafe's nasi padang display boasts bright yellow sayur lodeh, juicy beef rendang, and stacks of golden-brown soto ayam, in addition to an extensive ala carte menu. The cafe also introduced its own in-house delivery service over the past two years, and accepts contactless payment.

Mr. Bashir's commitment to uniting the community and making positive changes is grounded in his belief that teamwork is key. He extends his help to neighboring business owners, especially those in the F&B industry, despite the risk of added competition. Mr. Bashir is a member of One Kampong Glam (OKG) and actively supports events at Sultan Mosque, occasionally sponsoring food for them. He has also been working with the council to solve problems such as traffic and parking, with the hope of benefiting all the businesses in the area. The cafe is patronized by office workers on most weekdays, but weekends are the busiest, with crowds from Haji Lane and Sultan Mosque flocking towards the nearest food options. Mr. Bashir treasures the fact that he is able to work with his family every day, something that is becoming less and less common.