British Hainan Heritage Restaurant (Previously Joo Chiat)

Had a lovely lunch on Sunday. Never been to previous place at Joo chiat, so this is an interesting sight to see with all the antiques. Food was delicious and generous. Tiramisu is one of the best I've tasted. Strong coffee and alcohol nicely done. Service was prompt and friendly. Place seems to be very spacious and high ceiling. Though it seems like no air condition,but the place is well ventilated. Would love to come bk and try other dishes.

Really great service, they go out of their way to make customers feel so comfortable. Food was superb as well, we had their ox tail stew and porky combo (obviously looked too good that I dug right in before remembering to snap a photo). Everything was hearty and soulful, could tell a lot of heart went into the cooking! Serving size of the mains are pretty big, so would recommend small eaters to share. Definitely coming back to try the other dishes! 😋

This place is a hidden gem! The food is delicious, the ambiance is great, and the staff are super friendly. We enjoyed generous portions of Hainanese pork chop, curry chicken cutlet, and curry rice, and the herbal mutton was incredibly flavorful. My two teenage kids managed to help finish everything! We're already looking forward to coming back to try their legendary beef stew and oxtail.

Visit this restaurant through accidental google search around the area. Nice setup atmosphere with good food to enjoy. Booked this place for my son Birthday treat. The owner was very kind to sing and play the birthday song with his antique portable piano. A good place to chill and enjoy the food. Highly recommended!

British Hainan: An Unforgettable Feast of Heritage & Heart at Kallang! My weekend dinner at British Hainan was a warm, nostalgic, and deeply personal experience. From the moment we stepped in, the restaurant transported us to a bygone era with its wonderfully vintage decor, creating an atmosphere that was both experiential and incredibly enjoyable. The charm was amplified by the presence of the affable owner, affectionately known as "Uncle Fred." He truly makes the place feel like home, walking around, greeting diners with a genuine smile, and taking the time to ask about their food. His warmth and passion are infectious, and the fact that he'll even play birthday songs upon request speaks volumes about his dedication to creating a joyful experience. Our meal began with a chilled lemongrass drink, which was utterly refreshing and a fantastic start to the evening. For me, however, the absolute highlight was the Herbal Mutton Soup. As someone who doesn't typically eat mutton, I was hesitant, but this dish was a revelation. It was so incredibly tender and flavourful, with the herbs creating a rich, comforting broth that was completely devoid of any gamey taste. It was truly enjoyable and a dish I'd happily order again and again. My dining companions had their own star of the evening: the Beef Stew. Though I didn't try it, they gave it rave reviews, commenting on its rich flavour and tender beef. It's clearly a crowd-pleaser. We also shared the Ngoh Hiang and Curry Rice Sets, both of which were great, delivering those classic Hainanese flavours that are so comforting. The tofu was perfectly prepared and very nice, and the mango pudding was a good, sweet finish. But if there's one thing that left a lasting impression, it was the Hainanese Kopi O. It was, without a doubt, one of the best I have ever tasted. It was incredibly robust, rich, and fragrant, a perfect brew that embodies the essence of a great Hainanese coffee shop. British Hainan is a complete dining experience filled with fantastic flavours and heartfelt hospitality. From the delicious, soul-warming dishes to the unique ambiance and the personal touch of Uncle Fred, it's a place that gets everything right. I cannot recommend it enough. Highly Recommended!

Wonderful dining experience! The oxtail stew was the best I’ve ever tried and the portion was huge! You can really taste the “home-cooked” aspect that is very hard to find nowadays. The deco and ambience elevated the dining experience to another level. Will definitely be back to try their different dishes!

This place is truly a hidden gem. My family enjoyed a wonderful feast at British Hainan yesterday. The ambience was good for bonding and gathering. The authentic Hainanese dishes - esp the curry and stew were delectable. On top of that, the owners and staff went extra mile with their warmth hospitality. It was a lovely night spent at British Hainan.

The restaurant is tucked away on the first floor of a rundown industrial building, with interior décor that’s a striking contrast to its gritty surroundings. The food had a uniquely British-Hainanese twist. We tried the Beef Stew, the Three Porky Combi, and Fish & Chips—with our ranking from best to okay in that order. For the porky combi, the pork chop was the standout. However, the minty salad threw us of as the mint reminded us a little too much of toothpaste. It would’ve been nice to have an option to skip it. Service was good, and the atmosphere had a unique charm.

Located at Carpmael Road near Joo Chiat, you will just be charmed by all the classic collectibles that uncle Fred has collected over the years. The nearest MRT is paya lebar and this is a very unique cafe! You could spend hours looking at all the intricate ornaments surrounding the air conditioned indoor dining area. It's almost like you are in a "little" museum! British Hainan is a family-owned cafe. Dad Mr Frederick Puah does the cooking and is the icon of the cafe! The mission the whole family works towards is to serve home-styled British Hainanese food to the public. As we conversed with the Mr Puah, he was very friendly and spoke to us as if he had known us for years and also to call him "uncle Fred". We were humbled by his attitude and we were excited to get our orders in! If the food is as excellent as the customer service, we will be thrilled! At the entrance of the cafe, uncle Fred happily greeted us and we were ushered to our seat. Uncle Fred welcomes guests by saying "Welcome Home!", and within seconds, you will indeed feel like you're "at home". He is also smiling and very happy to serve the customers. At our table, there was a lamp which we lighted the candle and it gave the table a very warm glow. 1. Soup of the day (Pumpkin soup) $5 (includes a drink too)The pumpkin soup was creamy and flavourful. The crust of the toast was delightfully fresh and was a great compliment. I only wish that they gave us more toast slices, as it was a real treat to dip it in the soup! 2. Bangers and Mash $12.90 I feel that bangers and mash can somewhat underated and here it definitely was the highlight of the meal for me! The English pork sausages were crusty on the exterior and yet juicy inside. I strongly recommend this dish to anyone who loves sausages! The mash potatoes were served with their chef's mushroom brown sauce, which was so tasty and addictive. It's also important to note that British Hainan prides itself in cooking without MSG. Pure natural flavours that still makes you wanting more! I would definitely come back here for more banger and mash goodness! 3. Grilled Chicken $13.90 This humble looking grilled chicken is drizzled with a slightly sweet apricot sauce. It is truly unique and the chicken was tender. It was nice but I woudn't travel across the country just for this. 4. Hainanese Pork Chop $14.90 No MSG!This deep fried hainanese pork chop is a recipe that has been handed down through the generations. It is served with a signature hainanese sauce which is a tomato based sauce. The tomatoes were sweet and juicy, probably because they were fresh! I loved the chunky french fries and I was dipping all the fries into the addictive hainanese sauce. The pork chop itself was crispy but I found it slightly on the dry side. The however, helps to fix that! Nonetheless a great dish to try, when you're visiting British Hainan for the first time! As British Hainan is a NETT priced cafe, do help yourself to whatever you need. Before we left uncle Fred checked on us to see if we enjoyed our meals and also gave us complimentary ice cream or pudding. He said goodbye to us, as if we were going to come back tomorrow! It's never a real "goodbye" here at this family-run cafe. They are always welcoming customers to the cafe like guests visiting their "home". The warm and friendly hospitality from the owners is definitely the reason for my next visit.

First visit ain't gonna be my last!! Most nostalgic place reminded me of my childhood days with (my) mom & dad. Sweet memories. Thanks for setting up this Memory Lane!!!

Free complimentary pudding. All fries don't do mash. Baby back ribs quite nice. Friendly and welcoming service staff. Charge for water.

Good environment and hosts. Family run business that tries to make you feel at home with both their attitude and food. Wonderful stuff and reasonably priced as well! Parking is the only issue here.

Great little place with home styled food, charming atmosphere. The service is attentive and friendly, which can be rare to come by these days. The menu offers old school classics, amidst the nostalgic vibe of the place. The complimentary dessert at the end of the meal is a nice touch!