Cookboys by Han’s - new British-Hainanese concept at i12 Katong

Han’s Cafe has been a staple of Singapore’s dining landscape for decades. Now, the homegrown brand has introduced a new concept: Cookboys. Located in i12 Katong, the new restaurant offers British-Hainanese comfort food in a slightly more elevated setting than its parent brand.

Cookboys in i12 Katong

Situated in the basement atrium of i12 Katong, Cookboys features an open-concept layout – meaning the whole world can see exactly what you are eating if they glance down from the upper floors or when descending on the escalators.

The design leans into a “modern heritage” aesthetic, moving away from the utilitarian cafeteria look of standard Han’s outlets. In its place are warm wood panelling and teal-blue built-in bench seating that adds a welcome splash of colour.

The furniture choices are nostalgic. Classic café chairs with woven rattan backs provide a nod to the coffeehouse culture of decades back. The lighting is bright, highlighting the clean, white marble-topped tables.

Menu Highlights

The menu at Cookboys is essentially a list of British-Hainanese comfort food and a few local favourites. It covers everything from All-Day Breakfast and Sanwiches to Western Mains and Wok Delights. Prices are reasonable, with most main courses between $14 and $25.

The counter also displays freshly baked cakes, pies, and puffs that are available daily.

Below are pictures of sections of the menu board.

Currently, you can create your own set meal by paying a top up of $6. That will allow you to choose a starter and a drink.

There is a also Weekday Special 3-Course Lunch for $16, available from 11am to 3pm. This set includes a choice of soup, a main course and a drink. Options for the mains in this set often include the Silky Hor Fun, Roast Half Chicken, or the classic Fish & Chips.

Pork Chop and Hokkien Mee

We ordered the Herb-marinated Bone-in Pork Chop ($15) and Hokkien Mee with Tiger Prawns ($14.50), as well as Kopi ($3) and Iced Teh with Grass Jelly ($5).

The herb-marinated bone-in pork chop was nicely presented, accompanied by roasted potatoes, apple chutney, and a fresh garden salad. The thick cut of meat was well-seasoned and flavourful, though the generous thickness might have worked against it somewhat as the meat inside was not as moist and tender as we would have liked. The highlight was the apple chutney. Its sweetness contrasted with the savoury notes of the dish effectively. On the whole, a satisfying dish.

From the “Wok Delights” section, the Hokkien mee with tiger prawns was a more premium take on the local favourite. The dish included two large tiger prawns, pieces of squid, slices of pork belly and a good helping of fried pork lard. A dollop of sambal and a squeeze of calamansi lime would provide the necessary acidity and spiciness.

The mix of yellow noodles and thin bee hoon was well braised in the rich prawn stock. There was some wok hei and the dish was palatable enough.

The drinks were of the standard you would expect at Han’s cafes.

Cookboys is Han’s Plus

If you are looking for a new restaurant in Katong that offers a pleasant air-conditioned space with comfort food, Cookboys by Han’s is worth a visit. This new concept by the heritage brand offers table service, which is a step up from the self-service system at standard Han’s cafes.

Ultimately, Cookboys is a safe option for families and office workers, as well as anyone who wants a taste of British-Hainanese dishes or a simple meal any time of the day. The food is affordably priced. Think of Cookboys as Han’s but with slightly more premium ingredients and nicer plating.