Some meals announce themselves before you sit down.
At Cilantro, it's the smell. Before the menu, before the water, before anyone says hello, there's a warmth in the air. Cardamom, maybe. Saffron. The sweetness of onions that have been given time.
I came for biryani. I stayed because the room seemed to ask me to.
What Cilantro: The Biryani Club Is About
The restaurant builds everything around one dish. Its biryani follows the dum tradition. Marinated ingredients are layered with fragrant basmati rice, then gently steamed so the flavours settle into each other.
It isn't a new method. It's a patient one. And patience, I think, is what this place is really serving.
Finding Cilantro on Joo Chiat Road
Joo Chiat has its own rhythm. Old shophouses, slow traffic, people who seem to know where they're going.
Cilantro fits into that quietly. It's open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 10pm, and closed on Mondays. That's worth remembering if Monday is your only free evening.
First Impressions of the Biryani Club
It isn't trying to impress you with design. It's warm and settled. The kind of room where a family can spread out, pass dishes across, and forget to check the time.
I noticed how the space seems built for sharing rather than solo plates. That tells you a lot about how the kitchen hopes you'll eat, especially as a place known for serving quality halal food.
The Cilantro the Biryani Club Menu
The menu is longer than I expected. Biryani comes first, of course, but there are also sharing platters, spiced sides, gravy-based heritage dishes, naan, apom, desserts and drinks.
Biryani choices cover chicken, lamb, beef, prawn, fish, duck and several vegetarian options. Each biryani set comes with a serving of Greek yogurt raita, which is a small, thoughtful touch.
One thing to know before you order: prices are in Singapore dollars and subject to a 10% service charge. If you have allergies or dietary needs, check with the team first.
What I'd Order at Cilantro the Biryani
Hyderabad Dum Chicken Biryani (S$15)
If you only order one thing, I'd start with the Hyderabad Dum Chicken Biryani. Tender chicken, aromatic spices, and saffron-scented basmati rice, slow cooked in the dum style.
It's the house signature, and it reads like one. It doesn't shout. The rice carries the spice, and the chicken gives in easily. It's the plate I'd use to judge everything else.
Hyderabad Dum Lamb Biryani (S$21)
The lamb version uses chilled Australian lamb, marinated in spices and slow cooked with the rice. It's deeper and heavier than the chicken.
For me, it's a plate for a cooler evening, or for someone who wants their biryani to feel like a proper meal and not just a quick lunch.
Wagyu Brisket Biryani (S$29)
This is where the menu leans indulgent. Slow-cooked wagyu brisket sits with aromatic basmati rice.
It's the priciest of the signature plates. Whether it's worth it depends on how you feel about beef. I'd say it's a dish for a small celebration, not an everyday order.
Beef and Fish Options
If brisket feels like too much, there's the Beef Kheema Biryani (S$23), with spiced minced beef and caramelised onions. The Fish Biryani (S$21) is spice-marinated fish layered with rice and cooked gently. It's a lighter choice that's easy to overlook.
Quarter-Leg Irish Duck Biryani (S$23)
The duck biryani is the one I'd point a curious friend toward. Chargrilled Irish quarter-leg duck is paired with biryani rice.
Duck isn't the first thing most of us picture with biryani. That's exactly why it's worth a look. It feels like the kitchen quietly stretching, without forgetting where it came from.
Royal Prawn Biryani (S$21)
Prawns and spiced basmati rice, cooked in the traditional dum style. It's simple on paper.
I'd order it to share alongside a meat biryani. It gives the table some contrast, something brighter between heavier spoonfuls.
Jackfruit Biryani (S$15)
This might be the most underrated plate on the menu. Unripe green jackfruit is slow cooked in a spiced masala with dum biryani rice.
Vegetarian biryani can sometimes feel like an afterthought. This one doesn't. It's the same price as the chicken, and it holds its own.
The Sides That Make a Table
Butter Chicken (S$19)
Chicken in a creamy tomato gravy with cashews and aromatic spices. It's familiar, and sometimes familiar is what a table needs.
I'd tear off naan and use it to chase the last of the gravy. Nobody at the table needs to be told twice.
Lamb Haleem (S$23)
Slow-cooked lamb blended with lentils and spices in the Lamb Haleem dish. It's thick, comforting, and the kind of dish you eat slowly.
If you want one side that feels rooted in tradition, this is the one I'd choose.
Something to Drink, Something Sweet
Karak Tea (Hot S$5 / Iced S$6)
Strong black tea brewed with cardamom, sugar and fresh milk. I'd order it hot after the meal, when the table has gone quiet and nobody wants to leave yet.
It's a small thing. But it's the kind of small thing that makes a meal feel finished.
Cilantro's Special Gulab Jamun (S$15)
House-made gulab jamun soaked in syrup and served with vanilla ice cream. It's sweet, as it should be.
At S$15, it's on the higher side for dessert. I'd share it between two or three people.
Service and the Feeling of the Place
The restaurant describes itself as a table worth coming together for. I think it means that.
Booking is simple, and so is asking questions about allergies or dietary needs. The whole place feels set up to make a shared meal easy, not rushed.
Practical Notes for Your Visit to 102 Joo Chiat Road
Hours
Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 10pm. Closed Mondays.
Reservations and Delivery
You can book through the restaurant's online reservation link or by WhatsApp at 8317 3261. Delivery is available through its online ordering page.
The Tandoor Table
On weekday evenings, there's a dinner special called The Tandoor Table. It offers continuous servings of naan and selected sides, Tuesday to Friday, 5pm to 10pm. It's S$38 per guest for a 90-minute dining slot.
It suits a group that likes to eat slowly but not endlessly. Ninety minutes goes faster than you'd think, so arrive hungry.
A Note on Cost
A single biryani is fair for what it is. Once you add sides, naan, drinks and the 10% service charge, the bill adds up. It's worth planning to share.
Final Thoughts on Cilantro: The Biryani Club
I won't call it perfection. A few plates sit at prices that make you pause, and the Monday closure will catch someone out.
But perfection isn't what I go looking for. I look for food that seems cared for. Rice that's been given time. A room that lets people stay.
Cilantro, often regarded as one of the best Halal Indian restaurants in the area, gives you that. Bring family, bring friends, order more than one biryani, and share everything..
