When I first visited Tapu Tart, it was located at 57A Jalan Tan Hiok Nee. Now, they’ve shifted to 15 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, just next to Hiap Joo Bakery and Dona Bakehouse. Hard to miss it as the trio sits together.
The Sweet Deal at Tapu Tart
Tapu Tart runs this ongoing Buy 6 Get 1 Free deal that makes bulk buying worthwhile. The free one is always their Original Tart. Your six chosen tarts get packed neatly in a box, whilst the free one comes separately in a paper bag.
The Surprising Hock Kee Connection
Whilst taking photos inside the shop, I noticed they were selling products from Hock Kee – the same brand kopitiam that serves up Nanyang and Malaysian cuisine. A little chat with the lady behind the counter revealed something interesting.
The folks behind Tapu Tart are actually relatives with the folks from Hock Kee Kopitiam. Even more interesting – Tapu Tart is the one providing the egg tarts to Hock Kee Kopitiam.
So if you’re a big fan of Hock Kee’s egg tarts, you can easily buy them fresh from the source at Tapu Tart before heading back to Singapore.
Taste Test Review
Time for the main event – how do these creative egg tarts actually taste? Here’s my honest breakdown:
Original Tart (RM4.90)
The original egg tart features jiggly egg custard that’s a bit on the sweet side. The crust isn’t bad at all – slightly thicker than some Portuguese egg tarts, but it’s nicely layered and tastes light and airy.
Curry Potato Tart (RM5.50)
This one’s like a sweet curry puff. It would be perfect if they used unsweetened egg custard for the filling so it could be a truly savoury option. When you cut into the tart, the side view resembles a quiche more than a traditional tart.
The concept works, though it sits somewhere between sweet and savoury that might confuse your palate initially.
Cheesy Tart (RM6.20)
You can definitely taste the cheese, which complements the egg custard beautifully. This combination isn’t bad at all – the saltiness from the cheese balances the custard’s sweetness perfectly.
Pandan Kaya Tart (RM5.50)
Topped with two raisins, this version delivers nice kaya flavour that’s quite pleasant. The pandan element brings familiar Southeast Asian comfort to the Portuguese egg tart format.
Yam Tart (RM6.90)
Two yam cubes sit on top, whilst yam paste layers both below and above the egg custard. It’s not too sweet, which lets the nice yam fragrance shine through. Eating this feels like having orh nee in tart form.
If you love yam, you’ve got to try this one.
Brown Sugar Mochi Tart (RM5.50)
Don’t expect regular mochi – they use brown sugar nian gao instead. Ground peanuts on top give a nice crunch that adds textural interest. Overall, it’s not as sweet as you’d expect, making it surprisingly balanced.
Musang King Tart (RM6.90)
Not sure if it’s really Musang King. But you can definitely taste durian in there. It’s not exactly pure durian pulp – probably more like durian kaya style.
What Makes Tapu Tart Special
Overall, these are above average egg tarts. The good variety of flavours successfully dresses up otherwise boring plain egg tarts. I like the concept of Tapu Tart too – very modern, cheerful and bright.
This approach gives a lively twist to a traditional snack. Instead of sticking rigidly to traditions, they’ve created something that appeals to local Malaysian and Singaporean tastes.
Image source: Tapu Tart FB page
Value for Money
With the Buy 6 Get 1 Free promotion, Tapu Tart offers quite good value for money. You’re paying between RM4.90 to RM6.90 per tart, which works out to roughly S$1.50 to S$2.10 each, and you also get one tart free.
The Verdict
Worth a try, definitely. The creative flavour range means there’s something for everyone.
The quality remains consistent across their range, and the Buy 6 Get 1 Free deal makes it sensible to try multiple flavours in one visit.
Bottom line: these aren’t just gimmicky egg tarts. Each flavour brings something distinct to the table whilst respecting the fundamentals of good Portuguese tart-making.