Last night’s dinner was the happily-ever-after to yesterday’s Geylang Bahru walk. I achieved a good number of steps, enjoyed the old-school neighborhood vibe, and by the time I reached the hawker centre, I was starving already, LOL. The walk made me properly hungry, so I went straight for comfort: Mutton Rendang from De’ Tandoor, tagline proudly shining on the signboard, “Homemade Masala Cuisine with Heart.” With a promise like that, how could I not?
The plate arrived looking like a small festival. A generous serving of long-grain rice, loose, fragrant, and lightly glistening, sat beside a cup of mutton rendang. On the side, cool cucumber spears and a few pastel fish crackers added crunch and color. There was even a golden boiled egg, glossy with masala, waiting like a little bonus prize. It’s the kind of hawker plate that makes you pause for a photo, then drop the phone because the aroma is too persuasive.
First bite: that rice. Each grain stayed perfectly separate, infused with warm spices and a touch of ghee. It wasn’t oily or heavy, just comforting and perfumed, the kind of briyani rice you can happily eat on its own. But I wasn’t about to, because the star was the mutton rendang. It had that slow-cooked, tender quality, thick, slightly nutty in texture, and layered with aromatics. The spice level was tuned to a friendly medium; it warmed the palate without trying to singe it. Exactly my speed. I mixed it over the rice and watched the grains soak it up, turning every forkful into a very tasty treat filled with the flavor of cardamom, cinnamon, and savory depth.
Let’s talk mutton. The chunks were tender with a pleasant bite, no dryness, no gamey-ness, just properly seasoned meat that had clearly spent quality time with its masala. I loved how the gravy clung to each piece, delivering a really nice flavor but didn’t overpower. The egg, dipped in that same masala, was small but very nice, spiced edges, delicious when mashed into the rice. Meanwhile, the cucumbers did their job as a cool, crunchy reset between spoonfuls, and those fish crackers gave occasional airy, salty snaps. Simple sides, but they rounded out the plate nicely.
Portion-wise, this was generous hawker satisfaction. I went from starving to full in record time, and still found myself chasing the last streaks of gravy. If you like your briyani to be more spicy than this, then you might ask for extra chilli, but honestly, the balanced, mildly spicy profile worked for me, it let the aromatics do the talking while keeping dinner totally comfortable.
The stall’s tagline, “with heart,” felt real. There’s a homestyle sincerity to the flavors, the kind that makes you think someone back there is tasting, adjusting, and caring about the result. And the broader hawker scene around me added to the pleasure: clatter of cutlery, chatter from nearby tables, flags fluttering overhead, classic Singapore food-centre energy that turns a simple meal into a whole mood.
Overall, this Mutton Briyani hit every note I wanted after that long walk: aromatic rice, tender meat, a gravy that’s tasty and mildly spicy, and sides that actually contribute. Satisfying, filling, and very much worth the stop. I’m keeping De’ Tandoor on my Geylang Bahru list. Next time I’ll come hungry (again) and see what other masala magic they’re cooking with heart.
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