Find Champi Express in a pavilion in Furzer Street, Phillip. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
Champi Express has unveiled a swathe of new dishes on its cafe menu and announced that it is now serving dinner on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
Naturally, we have to stop by and taste what’s new!
Our previous visits to Champi have been absolutely scrumptious, with breakfast and lunch dishes inspired by recipes from chef and co-owner Aiden Xindavong’s grandmother’s kitchen near the Thailand-Cambodia border.
Co-owner Bianca Fong explains, “We’ve extended our menu with a playful twist, blending the essence of our restaurant’s signature flavours into quick, express-style dishes at the cafe. These additions are designed for those who crave bold flavours without compromising convenience.”
To complement the food, Champi has unveiled its summer mocktail menu, featuring three refreshing layered drinks that pair beautifully with the cafe’s exotic flavours.
The Rosie Romance mocktail tastes like an elevated fruit punch, blending elderflower tonic with a splash of strawberry syrup and garnished with dried rose petals. Its flavour profile is rich and layered; the watermelon agave adds grassy undertones for full-bodied sips.
I love the warm layers in there, despite it being an iced drink. I think it would be splendid served hot.
The Lychee Kiss mocktail. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
The Lychee Kiss mocktail is equally impressive, crafted with 0% gin, fresh lychee, lime, lychee syrup, and mint. This elegant and stylish drink allows each ingredient to shine through.
We order the brand-new Iced Matcha Cloud, a reimagining of their classic iced matcha. This one incorporates lychee and coconut water. The first sip brings folds of creamy matcha foam, followed by the island flavours of lychee and coconut. The lingering taste on the palate is tuxurious matcha – slightly earthy but no bitterness – think matcha ice cream float. Iced matcha cloud is just the best way to drink matcha.
A standout dish is the crispy caramelised lychee prawns. Photo: Kazuri Photography
Turning to the food, we share a selection of new dishes.
The prawn cake entrée delivers a satisfying crunch with tender prawn filling. A special pesto and whisper-soft sprinkling of parmesan tops the prawn cakes, and I like the fusion flavours here.
The crispy duck noodle features a whole duck leg, including the breast, marinated, slow-cooked and deep-fried to perfection. The skin is crisp, the meat rich and tender, and the dish is served with fresh egg noodles and Champi’s signature oyster-based sauce for a harmonious blend of textures and flavours.
Of course, we couldn’t skip the beloved Green Curry. Mildly spiced and fragrant with fresh herbs, it features tender Laotian eggplants, crisp beans, and bamboo strips enveloped in creamy coconut goodness.
We enjoy the mini vessels of housemade chicken soup, a comforting broth simmered for hours and offered in shareable portions.
A standout is the crispy caramelised lychee prawns, where plump, sugar-seared prawns meet caramelised lychees in a sweet, tangy sauce, served with rice, a creative twist that brings lychee into the savoury realm.
The dish that steals my heart is the Tom Yum Linguine. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
The dish that absolutely steals my taste buds is the Tom Yum Linguine. Glossy, al dente squid-ink linguine, combined with fresh crab meat, tossed in a creamy, spicy sauce inspired by Tom Yum flavours. Infused with lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime, and finished with grilled cherry tomatoes and shaved parmesan, it’s a seamless blend of Thai and Italian influences-a must-try!
Finally, dessert brings pure joy with sweet Chinese doughnuts: fluffy, golden-fried treats served with a pandan custard dipping sauce made from fresh pandan leaves. It’s the perfect ending to a wonderful dinner.
Champi Express is located at 10G/35 Furzer Street, Phillip. It is open Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm, and on weekends from 9 am to 2:30 pm. Dinners are from 5:30 pm to 8 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Follow Champi on Instagram.
