When it comes to bagel houses in Singapore, there aren’t too many options to choose from. New kids on the block Onalu is here to add some variety to the local bagel game with their hand-rolled bagels that are overloaded with fillings such as smoked salmon, scrambled egg, homemade jam, and even cereal cream cheese!

Having reopened only recently, Onalu serves up a range of freshly-baked bagels and bakes from their cafe within the SMU Campus. We had the opportunity to try out some of their signature menu items, like the Somethin’ Fishy, the Classic BEC, their new seasonal cereal bagels, and a variety of bakes.

Stepping into the cafe, we were welcomed by a clean and brightly-lit atmosphere. Pastel neon lights, plants, and even a hammock create a relaxed vibe for diners to sit back and enjoy their meal.

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Onalu hand-makes most of their ingredients in-house every morning, from the bagels to condiments such as their triple-berry jam and even almond butter! As each bagel is freshly prepared to order, it is recommended to be consumed within 15 minutes, while the bagel is still hot, for the best taste and texture.

Somethin’ Fishy ($11) is filled with generous portions of Norwegian smoked salmon, scallion cream cheese, red onions, tomato, and topped with capers and dill. We tried the bagel with Onalu’s Charcoal Bagel – a black bagel with hints of garlic, which compliments the bagel perfectly. As each of their bagels is boiled in honey water before being baked, which adds a nice caramelised texture to the crust.

And can we just say that they are soooo generous with their salmon and cream cheese?! We counted at least five whole pieces of salmon slices! For just $11, this is honestly quite a steal.

The Classic BEC ($10) comes with a thick layer of fluffy scrambled egg, maple aioli, bacon streaks, and Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese that is torched to perfection. The smell of the cheese being torched got us all hungry, and the bagel definitely did not disappoint! This was definitely one of our favourites. The scrambled egg was the perfect level of soft and fluffy, and the crunch of the bacon added layers of texture to the bagel as a whole.

Because some of our bagels got cold while we were trying to get the perfect shot, the friendly owners were kind enough to prepare an extra bagel for us so we can taste the crunchiness and the chewiness in their full glory. Here is a plain bagel with scrambled egg, cheese, and Onalu’s triple-berry jam, handmade from scratch with a mix of blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. The sweetness of the jam complimented the cheese and scrambled egg really well, and enjoying the bagel piping hot really added elevated the taste – so remember to consume your bagel within 15 minutes!

We also tried Onalu’s new menu items – their overloaded Cereal Bagels. The new concept is probably the first in Singapore, and will be available in rotating seasonal flavours like Fruity Pebbles and Cookie Monster (both $10). They may even introduce innovative flavours like Hot Flaming Cheetos in the near future!

The Cereal Bagels are baked with dough that have real cereal mixed in, and come loaded with cream cheese and cereal bits as well! You can definitely taste the fruity pebbles in every bite, and the rainbow colours made the bagel super Instagram-worthy as well.

While the Cookie Monster Bagel may look intimidating with bright blue cream cheese, it’s actually chocolate flavoured with bits of oreo in the fillings! Inspired by black-out brownies, the bagel has dark cocoa powder mixed into the dough to give it a distinct black colour.

In addition to bagels, Onalu also serves a variety of baked pastries and desserts by @Grams.sg, which are also freshly baked in store! The desserts were really appetising and tasted delicious, so remember to leave room for dessert!

We tried the Lychee Rose Cake ($7.50/slice) which had tender layers of sponge with just the right amount of buttercream. The Mochi Chocolate Fudge Brownie ($3.50/piece) was also really delicious with hints of sea salt, and the piece of mochi in the center creates a good mix of textures with the fudgy brownie.

Onalu is by the same people behind Kenboru – the torched donburi shop famous among SMU students, and Bricklane Bar. Founded by a team of SMU students and graduates, the F&B concepts each provide innovative takes on different cuisines, so do drop down to SMU and give them a try!