Soft boiled eggs with soy sauce are a classic part of a Singapore coffee shop breakfast. The eggs are cooked gently in hot water, so the whites stay soft and the yolks stay runny. You crack them into a small dish, add dark soy sauce and white pepper, then eat them with a spoon or dip your toast in.
Locals often call them half-boiled eggs. They usually come as a pair with kaya toast and a cup of kopi. Here is how they are made, how to season them and how to eat them like a regular. For the rest of the meal, see our Kaya Toast and Local Breakfast guides.
What makes kopitiam eggs different
These are not the soft-boiled eggs many visitors know from home. You do not eat them from the shell in an egg cup. They are much runnier, closer to a warm, silky sauce than a boiled egg.
The white is soft and only partly set, and may look clear in places. The yolk is warm but still liquid. That texture is the point. Once stirred, it mixes with the soy sauce into a savoury dip.
How the eggs are cooked in hot water
Most coffee shops do not keep these eggs at a rolling boil. Instead, they place the eggs in very hot water and leave them for a set time. The gentle heat cooks them slowly and evenly. Some shops use a covered pot or a special egg cooker with a timer.
The right time depends on the size of the eggs, how cold they are and how hot the water is. That is why each shop's eggs turn out slightly different. Some are almost raw, and others are closer to soft-set.
Making them at home
- Let the eggs come to room temperature.
- Boil a pot of water, then turn off the heat.
- Gently lower the eggs into the water and cover the pot.
- Leave them for a few minutes, then crack one to check.
- If the white is too raw, give the next batch a little longer.
Why dark soy sauce and white pepper
On their own, the eggs taste mild. The seasoning gives them their flavour. Most shops leave bottles of soy sauce and a pepper shaker on the table or at the counter.
- Dark soy sauce is thick and a little sweet. It adds a rich, salty taste and turns the eggs brown.
- Light soy sauce is thinner and saltier. Some people use it instead of dark soy, or mix the two.
- White pepper adds a gentle heat and a warm smell. It is widely used in Chinese-style cooking in Singapore.
The salty eggs balance the sweet kaya toast. That contrast is a big part of why the two are served together. Dark soy also turns up with other local dishes, as our guide to chicken rice sauces shows.
How to eat soft boiled eggs with soy sauce
Some shops crack the eggs into a dish for you. Others serve them in the shell, so you crack them yourself. Then follow these steps:
- If the eggs are in the shell, tap each one on the edge of the dish and scoop out the inside.
- Add a few drops of dark soy sauce. Start small, as you can always add more.
- Shake on a little white pepper.
- Stir gently to break the yolks.
- Dip your toast in, or eat the eggs straight from the spoon.
Locals do both, and there is no wrong way. Have a napkin ready, as the eggs can drip.
Where to try kopitiam-style eggs
Almost every stall that sells kaya toast also sells soft-boiled eggs. Order them as part of a kaya toast set, or ask for eggs on their own.
- Killiney Kopitiam, in the Orchard area, serves kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs.
- Ya Kun Kaya Toast (Far East Square), in the CBD, offers kaya toast sets with eggs and kopi.
- Neighbourhood kopitiams and food centres such as Tiong Bahru Market usually have a drinks or toast stall.
Read our guide on how to order kopi to complete the set. For more places, see our list of kaya toast in Singapore.
FAQs about soft boiled eggs with soy sauce
Why are they called half-boiled eggs?
Locals say half-boiled because the eggs are only partly cooked. Menus may say soft-boiled or half-boiled, and both mean the same thing.
Are kopitiam soft-boiled eggs safe to eat?
Many people eat them every day. Health advice usually says pregnant women and people with weak immunity should avoid runny eggs, so ask for them cooked longer.
Should I use dark or light soy sauce?
Dark soy sauce is the classic choice for colour and a hint of sweetness. Light soy sauce works too if you prefer a saltier taste.
Can I order the eggs without toast?
Yes. Most drinks and toast stalls sell the eggs on their own as well as in sets.
