Mediterranean Restaurant Bugis: What to Try at Tarboush

For a first visit to Tarboush Bugis, start with mezze, choose a charcoal grill or a rice main, and leave room for a traditional dessert. The most useful way to approach the menu is to decide what you want from each course: something to share, a particular meat, or contrasting textures.

Here are the dishes worth considering, with practical advice on choosing between them and putting together an order that suits your table.

Start with Dips, Bread and Crisp Falafel

Mezzeh Appetiser Platter: For Sampling Several Starters

If everyone wants to try a little of everything, choose the Mezzeh Appetiser Platter. Its listed selection includes baba ghanoush, moutabal, fattoush and mast dips, accompanied by Arabic bread.

The appeal is variety within one order. At the listed online price of S$39.90, it is worth considering when your group would otherwise order several separate appetisers. Because fattoush already appears in the selection, consider whether you need an additional salad before ordering one. This is a sensible starting point for diners who enjoy passing plates around.

Palestinian Hummus: For a Focused Dip-and-Bread Starter

Choose Palestinian Hummus when you know you want a chickpea dip. Tarboush combines puréed chickpeas with tahini and lemon, serving it alongside freshly baked Palestinian bread.

That combination offers a creamy base with sesame richness and a citrus lift. Tear off some bread and try the hummus on its own before combining it with other dishes. It is a straightforward choice for a table planning several substantial mains, where one shared starter may be enough. Bread is included in the listed dish, so check before adding extra.

Falafel: For Herbs and a Fried Texture

Tarboush’s Falafel uses chickpeas, parsley, coriander, spring onion and dried spices, with tahini served alongside the fried patties. Choose it when you want a starter with more bite than a dip.

The herb mixture is a useful distinction: chickpeas provide the base, while the greens and seasoning add another layer of flavour. Try a piece with a little sauce first, then adjust to your preference. For a table ordering hummus, falafel offers a different preparation of chickpeas and introduces a crisp element to the opening course.

Add Fattoush for Freshness Alongside the Main

The Fattoush Salad brings together cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce and capsicum in three colours. Its dressing combines lemon with Palestinian extra virgin olive oil.

Pair this with a meat main: the raw vegetables and citrus dressing offer a refreshing contrast between bites of lamb or chicken. Order it alongside the grill so you can enjoy the two together. It is particularly useful when you have chosen individual starters instead of the mezze platter and want a separate vegetable dish for the table.

Choose Your Main Around Variety, Rice or Chicken

Mixed Charcoal Grilled Platter: For Comparing Different Kebabs

The Mixed Charcoal Grilled Platter for Two lists lamb, chicken and beef kebabs, plus Shahi Saffron Chicken. It is the clearest choice when two diners want to explore several meats through one shared main.

The website lists this two-person platter at S$83.90. Sharing lets both diners try the different preparations before deciding on a favourite. Since saffron chicken is already included, you can reserve a separate chicken order for another visit. Check the accompanying sides with the team before adding rice or bread.

Mandi Lamb Shank: For a Complete Rice-Based Plate

The Mandi Lamb Shank centres on braised, spiced lamb, accompanied by mandi rice, an egg flavoured with saffron, Arabic salsa and Penang achar salad.

This is the main to consider when you want your meat, rice and accompaniments together. Braising also makes it a different choice from the charcoal-grilled kebabs. Try the lamb and rice first, then introduce the salsa and achar in small amounts to vary each mouthful. With rice already included, there is little reason to automatically add another rice side before assessing your appetite.

Shahi Saffron Chicken Kebab: For Diners Who Prefer Poultry

If you would rather order chicken on its own, consider the Shahi Saffron Chicken Kebab. The dish uses breast meat marinated with saffron, herbs and olive oil, then char-grilled.

The saffron marinade gives you a specific reason to choose this preparation beyond simply wanting chicken. Listed online at S$29.90, it is an option for someone who wants an individual poultry dish. Pair it with fattoush and choose any additional bread or rice after checking what accompanies the kebab. That keeps the meal tailored to how hungry you are.

Save Room for Kunafeh or Baklava

Kunafeh: For a Cheese-Based Dessert

Tarboush’s Kunafeh combines fine strands of pastry with soft goat’s cheese and syrup. Choose it if you enjoy desserts that bring together pastry, dairy richness and sweetness.

The cheese filling is the key point of difference when deciding between the desserts here. For diners who enjoy the combination of sweet syrup and cheese, this would be my first dessert recommendation. The listed online price is S$14.90. Consider sharing after a substantial main so you can try the pastry and filling without committing to a whole dessert each.

Baklava: For Nuts and Honey

The Baklava is described as a sweet pastry containing chopped nuts and pistachios, flavoured with honey. Choose it when a nut-filled pastry sounds more appealing than a cheese-based dessert.

Its distinction is the combination of nut texture and honey sweetness. At S$8.90 on the website, it also has a lower listed price than kunafeh. When dining with someone who has different dessert preferences, ordering both to share gives you two clearly different endings to the meal.

FAQs

Where is Tarboush Bugis located?

Tarboush Bugis is at 390 Victoria Street, #03-12A, Singapore 188061. The restaurant is on the third floor.

Is Tarboush halal?

Yes. Tarboush’s website states that its food is 100% halal and that the business is Muslim-owned.

Is there a vegetarian main beyond the starters?

The menu lists a Moroccan Vegetarian Tagine. Ask the Bugis team about its ingredients and accompaniments when ordering.

Does Tarboush offer delivery in Singapore?

Yes. The Bugis page advertises islandwide delivery. Check the available dishes and delivery arrangements when placing your order.