If you’re at Tanglin Mall and craving something unique, Tanglin Cookhouse is hard to miss. I was on a weekend staycation at The St. Regis Singapore when I stumbled upon this modern colonial-style cafe-restaurant. The moment I saw their East-meets-West menu, I knew this was it for lunch. And let me tell you — it didn’t disappoint.
Here’s my honest review of what we ate, what worked, what didn’t, and why I’ll probably be back.
What is Tanglin Cookhouse?
Tanglin Cookhouse specialises in British-Singaporean cuisine that’s both familiar and surprising. They’re open all day — breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Expect to find familiar British favourites like Full English Fry-Up Breakfast, Bubble & Squeak, Beef Wellington, alongside local-inspired creations such as Singapore Chilli Crab Fries, White Rojak Quinoa Salad and Hainanese Kurobuta Pork Cutlet.
It’s not just full meals either. You can pop in for coffee and a Pandan Kaya Croissant or a slice of Kopi C Coffee Cake, perfect for a tea-time treat.
Check out their full menu here.
Besides their Tanglin Mall location, they’ve got another outlet at Paya Lebar Quarter.
What We Ordered at Tanglin Cookhouse
Tanglin Scotch Egg ($18)
This British classic arrived with coleslaw, pickled mustard seeds, pickled onions, and ranch dressing. The concept’s simple – egg wrapped in sausage meat, breadcrumbed, then deep-fried. The accompaniments cut through the richness nicely, though we wished for a more oozy yolk. It’s decent but not the best Scotch Egg we’ve had around town.
Spiced Curry Lamb Papadum Nachos ($16)
Now this dish deserves applause. The spiced curry lamb packed serious flavour without any gamey aftertaste. They serve it over both papadum and regular tortilla chips, though the papadum goes soggy quickly. Pro tip: attack the papadum first, then move to the tortilla chips.
The yogurt dressing, sweet and sour tomato chutney, garden peas, and pickled onions create a flavour party. It’s rich and salty though – perfect for sharing. We couldn’t finish it between two people, but it’s so shiok we’d order it again without hesitation.
The Ultimate Steak Sandwich ($28)
This one disappointed us. The sandwich features roasted grass-fed Angus beef, caramelised onions, arugula, pickles, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and tangy chipotle mayo between sourdough bread. Should come with fries or salad, but they’d run out of fries by 1pm – pretty poor planning for a weekend service.
The individual components tasted fine. The beef hit the right texture between tender and chewy. But the whole thing felt underseasoned and dry. The thick sourdough bread didn’t help matters. We ended up eating the filling and leaving the bread behind.
Grandmother’s Roasted Chicken ($28)
This half spatchcock chicken redeemed the meal completely. It came with onion gravy, Yorkshire pudding, garden peas, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots, and charred broccoli. The chicken skin achieved that perfect caramelised golden colour whilst keeping the meat tender and moist inside.
The onion gravy tied everything together beautifully. All the vegetables were cooked just right – not overdone, not underdone. This plate delivered comfort food vibes and left us completely satisfied.
The Tanglin Cookhouse Experience
The atmosphere strikes a nice balance between casual and refined. You can pop in for a quick coffee break or settle in for a proper meal.
Service runs smoothly with their QR code ordering system, though running out of fries during peak lunch hours shows room for improvement. The staff remain friendly and accommodating despite such hiccups.
Pricing and Value
Prices are on the pricey side, but in line with what you’d expect at similar restaurants in Singapore these days. Most mains sit around the $25–30 range, which is pretty much the going rate for the portions and quality. Don’t forget to add the 10% service charge and 9% GST on top of the listed prices.
Final Thoughts
Despite some misses, we genuinely enjoyed our meal at Tanglin Cookhouse. The curry lamb papadum nachos and roasted chicken alone justify a return visit. The concept works well, and when they nail the execution, the food really shines.
The menu offers enough variety to satisfy different tastes and dietary preferences. Whether you’re craving traditional British comfort food or curious about their fusion creations, you’ll find something interesting to try.