Ex-Tiong Bahru Bakery Baker Sells $4.80 Croissants In Tampines—Here’s Our Honest Review

New Deli Bakery has fresh croissants in Tampines 

Finding a good neighbourhood bakery in Singapore is always a win, and New Deli Bakery in Tampines is the kind of spot that makes me proud to be an Eastie. My editor was the one who sent me on this review, and she was already raving about the bakes and the salted caramel latte, so I went in with high expectations—and that was before I found out about their impressive 4.9-star rating on Google Reviews.

Tucked under an HDB block along Tampines Street 44, the homegrown bakery is run by a baker who used to work at Tiong Bahru Bakery, so the credentials are there before you even take a bite. The bakery accepts CDC Vouchers, too, which is a bonus.

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Food at New Deli Bakery

Upon entering the small bakery, you’re met with a counter display showing off the pastries available for the day, alongside a printed menu of drinks such as coffee and matcha lattes. Everything here is made in-house.

I knew from my editor that I had to get the Vanilla Kouign Amann ($5)— one of New Deli’s most raved-about bakes. Made with French butter and vanilla bean pods from Papua New Guinea, the pastry had a beautifully caramelised crust with a glossy, sticky exterior.

The outer edges had a hard, glass-like crunch where the sugar had caramelised against the pan. As I tore it apart, the pastry revealed flaky, moist layers of dough and a soft, buttery interior.

Flavour-wise, I liked how the vanilla came through subtly, adding a fragrant depth that balanced the pastry’s sweetness without making it feel too heavy or artificial. What really sold it for me was the caramelised crust, which was rich and buttery with lingering toffee notes. We were off to a promising start.

We also tried the Rosemary, Garlic & Smoked Cheddar Spiral ($5.20), which was a solid pick for those who prefer savoury pastries. The rosemary brought a herbal fragrance to each bite, while the garlic added a slight savouriness that played well against the tanginess of the cheddar. The cheese was tucked between the pastry’s laminated layers rather than sitting on top, so the flavour built gradually instead of hitting you all at once.

As a cheese lover, I wished the flavour came through a little more, though my colleague, who prefers things on the lighter side, thought it was just right. Either way, the pastry itself was hard to fault: perfectly crisp on the outside, with a firm, satisfying bite that held together without crumbling apart.

Since shio pan is all the rage right now, I also had to try the Shio Pan Croissant ($4.80). Filled with salted butter and finished with sea salt and pepper, the pastry arrived in a deep, even golden-brown shade.

The outer layers crackled on the first bite, the way a good croissant should, leaving clean, delicate crumbs without any greasiness. Tearing it open revealed a proper honeycomb interior, light and airy with web-like pockets that proved the lamination was done right.

Where it fell a little short was on the shio pan front—the salted butter and sea salt finish were there in theory, but the buttery flavour didn’t quite come through the way we’d hoped. It was still a well-made croissant, no doubt, but if you’re a shio pan fan, this may not be what you’re looking for.

Beyond the pastries, New Deli Bakery also does Signature Cookies ($22 for a jar). Each mini cookie is loaded with a thick, glossy dome of Nutella or Biscoff and finished with a pinch of sea salt.

Baked crisp on the outside and soft within, with a melt-in-the-mouth texture, they were surprisingly addictive, with the sea salt cutting through the richness and keeping things from feeling jelak. I’d happily bring a jar to my next family gathering. These make a solid gift option too, especially for a housewarming.

Finally, I tried the Iced Homemade Salted Caramel Latte ($7.80) to wash down the bakes. As someone who doesn’t usually go for flavoured lattes, this one surprisingly won me over. Prepared with a house-made salted caramel syrup, it was sweet and caramel-forward, with velvety milk and two bold shots of medium-to-dark roast espresso providing a good caffeinated kick. The “salted” element could have come through a bit more, but that didn’t stop it from being an enjoyable drink overall.

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Ambience at New Deli Bakery

New Deli Bakery is a small, no-frills bakery tucked under an HDB block in Tampines, so don’t expect a full cafe experience. You’re greeted by a counter lined with the day’s bakes as you step inside, with the kitchen open at the back so you can see the pastries coming out fresh. The space is so compact that it fits at most three people in a line from the counter to the door.

It’s very much a grab-and-go spot, though if you want to eat on-site, there’s a small table with two chairs just outside—we were lucky enough to snag it on our weekday visit. The crowd was mostly residents popping in to dabao, with most people in and out in minutes.

New Deli Bakery is a 13-minute walk from Tampines East MRT Station.

New Deli Bakery – Eatbook review

Having lived in the East most of my life, I’m genuinely surprised it took me this long to discover New Deli Bakery. The bakes here are solid enough to hold their own against the viral offerings from bigger-name bakeries, and at these prices, the value is hard to beat. It’s worth making the trip if you’re in Tampines, and honestly, worth the detour even if you’re not.

For more good bakeries to check out, read our mega list of best bakeries in Singapore, including old-school shops. We’ve also rounded up the best shio pan bakeries for fans of Japanese salt bread.

Address: 462 Tampines Street 44, #01-66, Singapore 520462
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 5pm
Tel: 8022 3696
Website
New Deli Bakery is not halal-certified.

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Photos taken by Nathania Tay.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg