Madeleine’s Portuguese Egg Tarts Cafe Review

Madeleine’s Original Portuguese Egg Tarts reopens at Aperia Mall

After nearly two years away from Singapore’s F&B scene, Madeleine’s Original Portuguese Egg Tarts is finally back, this time at Aperia Mall. The popular egg tart brand will officially reopen on 21 June 2026 with a refreshed concept inspired by Macau’s cha chaan teng culture.

Madeleine’s Original Portuguese Egg Tarts Will Close After 26 Years In Katong

Fans will still find all the classics they love, but now with a modern cafe twist that makes it easy to sit back and enjoy their meal.

For the uninitiated, the brand first earned local acclaim in Tanjong Katong in 1998, becoming synonymous with freshly baked Portuguese egg tarts. Despite their popularity, the original shop eventually closed after the building housing it was sold off by the landlord.

Image credit: Madeleine’s Original Portuguese Egg Tarts

The revival has been led by 22-year-old Zac, a SHATEC graduate, and his sister Vernice, who grew up with the brand. With guidance from Madeleine’s OG founder, the siblings have kept the signature egg tarts at the centre of the menu, while adding a variety of new dishes to suit a sit-down cafe setting.

We were lucky enough to have a peek at their offerings, ahead of their official launch. Read on for our honest review!

Food at Madeline’s Original Portuguese Egg Tarts

As part of the revamp, you can expect to find a variety of hearty mains on the menu, including rice, noodles, and sandwiches.

We first tried the Minchee Rice ($10.90), a Macanese classic reworked with beef and pork ragu, potato confit, and an onsen egg, all served atop a bed of jasmine rice.

The savoury pork and beef ragu paired well with the plain, fluffy rice, which balanced out the richness of the meat. The potato confit was a nice touch, too, with the tender cubes retaining just enough bite to hold up against the soft ground meat.

Unlike a traditional minchee rice dish, Madeline’s version features an onsen egg, instead of a fried one. It’s slow-poached precisely at 63°C for a delicate and silky texture that adds a delicious creaminess to each bite.

Our only gripe was the rice–to–meat ratio—the generous serving of rice overshadowed the relatively smaller portion of ragu. A side of chilli would’ve also been a nice addition, tying the flavours together with a touch of heat.

Up next was the Beef Stew with Capellini ($9.90), a unique take on the classic braised beef noodles, using capellini, AKA a thin, spaghetti-like pasta, in place of the usual egg noodles.

The pasta was cooked to a springy, al dente texture and tossed in a fragrant mix of scallion oil, fried onions, and fresh spring onions.

While a tad bland on its own, the noodles tasted a lot better when paired with the stew. The broth was warm and comforting, with a savoury, gingery, and subtly sweet profile. That said, we wished the flavours had been more robust.

The star of this dish had to be the beef. Our bowl came with a substantial amount of meat, with each piece so tender that it practically fell apart after just a single chew. We also appreciated how they weren’t too fatty, with none of that off-putting sticky, gelatinous texture you sometimes get in beef stews.

Of all the mains we had, the Pan Roasted African Chicken ($9.80) was our favourite, starring marinated roasted chicken, fluffy couscous, and a runny sunny-side-up egg, served alongside a mildly spicy coconut glaze.

The chicken certainly impressed us—it was slathered in a delicious, savoury-tangy marinade, and perfumed with a subtle smokiness. Despite being a relatively thick cut, the lean meat retained its moisture well, staying succulent and juicy till the last bite.

Pro tip: dip the chicken into the house-made coconut glaze to top things off with a creamy, lemak finish.

For something less heavy, there’s also the Pork Chop Bun ($5.90), featuring pork chop, juicy tomato, fresh lettuce, and mustard seed sauerkraut, sandwiched between two toasted buttered buns.

Though not the main focus of the dish, the freshly baked bread deserves a special mention for its addictive, banh mi-esque texture: crunchy and flaky on the outside, yet fluffy, airy, and lightly chewy within.

As for the filling, we enjoyed the delicious savoury-sweet shoyu glaze of the meaty pork chop, zhnged up by the burst of tang from the house-made sauerkraut and popping mustard seeds. That said, we found the overall sandwich a tad dry and wished there were more sauce.

A visit would be incomplete without Madeleine’s signature egg tarts.

Besides their Original Portuguese Egg Tart ($2.50 for two), Madeline’s has introduced a unique Gula Melaka Portuguese Egg Tart ($2.80 for two). During our visit, we had the pleasure of tasting both flavours!

Both tarts boasted a crispy, flaky crust and a delicate, silky-smooth core. The filling in the OG tart was delightfully eggy, with just the right amount of sweetness, complementing the buttery pastry well.

The Gula Melaka Portuguese Egg Tart was equally delicious. If you’re worried about this rendition being too sweet, fret not. While a tad sweeter than the OG tart, the added caramelised palm sugar didn’t make it cloying, and instead lent it a gentle, earthy fragrance.

Ambience at Madeline’s Original Portuguese Egg Tarts

Located on the first floor of Aperia Mall, the cafe sports a sleek and modern aesthetic, with several old-school elements, including a large illustration of the original storefront, as a nod to the brand’s heritage. While relatively small, the 28-seater space feels warm and inviting, with cosy cushioned seating that’s perfect for catching up over a leisurely meal.

The cafe is easily accessible and is just a six-minute walk from Lavender MRT Station and an eight-minute walk from Bendemeer MRT Station.

Madeline’s Original Portuguese Egg Tarts – Eatbook review

Madeline’s Original Portuguese Egg Tarts offers a decent selection of cha chaan teng-inspired fare at relatively affordable prices. While some of the hot dishes weren’t perfect, we’d still consider returning in the future, after some further tweaking. But for now, we’d definitely come back for another bite of their heavenly egg tarts.

If you’re looking for more noteworthy cafes to visit, check out our Rise Bakehouse Chinatown review. Otherwise, if you’re heading to China soon, read our guide to the best bakeries in Shanghai, recommended by Chinese food blogs!

Address: 12 Kallang Avenue, #01-54, Aperia Mall, Singapore 339511
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 8pm (Opening 21 June 2026)
Website
Madeleine’s Original Portuguese Egg Tarts is not halal-certified.

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Photos taken by Heather Ng.
This was a media tasting at Madeline’s Original Portuguese Egg Tarts.

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