Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
When you pass by The Pasta & Tortizza at 631 Hougang Ave 8, the kopitiam Western stall’s cat-shaped logo may catch your eye. It features a piece of farfalle pasta as its bowtie, with a pizza forming the rest of its body. Yes, the stall owners, Li Xuan and Steven are cat lovers who have been dishing out shiny silver plates of Western fare since Apr 2025.
The couple first met when they were colleagues cheffing at a restaurant’s kitchen. Steven then went on to work at other establishments while Li Xuan remained at the same place. “His culinary skills and knowledge are definitely one level above mine!” Li Xuan exclaimed.
At the front of the stall front, Polaroid photos of their furry felines, Miko and Fa Cai, are proudly displayed. Next to it, mini snack stashes filled with biscuits and sweets are laid out for customers to help themselves. The whole vibe felt incredibly homey, almost as if you’re stepped into Li Xuan and Steven’s personal kitchen for a comforting home-cooked meal.
What to order at The Pasta & Tortizza
The menu is easy to read and properly organised into 4 main categories: The Tortizza, The Classic, The Pasta, and The Snacks. We started things off with the Satay Chicken Tortizza (S$10) and in case you’re wondering what that is, it’s a pizza using a tortilla skin as its base. Li Xuan shared that she got the idea from her previous work place.
Steven first propped the tortilla skin on a raised, circular netted metal tray, before spreading the sauce and piling the ingredients on top. He then slid it into the oven to let it bake. Halfway through, once the base was sufficiently crisped, he slid it off the tray and allowed it to bake further. Before serving, the pizza was passed to Li Xuan, who sprinkled grounded peanuts before slicing it into 8 equal slices.
Like a thin crust pizza, each slice was paper thin and the base was solid enough to prevent everything from crumbling into a sloppy mess. The tortilla was crispy, with crunchy onions and capsicum slices that gave it a kick of freshness from the rich spiced chicken pieces. The peanuts added a unique finish and the overall combination was satisfying.
If there was one thing I wished could be improved, it would be the absence of satay sauce — it was missing that extra oomph to really bring the dish together. Li Xuan shared that they had tried adding that, but it made the tortilla skin soggy.
We were awestruck at how large the portion of the Classic Fish & Chips with Tartar Sauce (S$8.20) was. The massive golden-brown slab of breaded fish was complemented by a bed of shoestring fries, homemade coleslaw, in-house crafted tartar sauce, and 2 pieces of fried mantou.
After squeezing the lemon, we sliced the fish and realised that the breading was thin but wonderfully crispy, and there wasn’t much oil. The flesh was also incredibly fluffy, crumbing in my mouth effortlessly.
The homemade tartar sauce was tangy and vibrant, tasting lighter than most store-bought renditions which are usually heavy and jelak.
The coleslaw, made with shredded carrots, sliced purple cabbage, and white cabbage, was refreshing and creamy.
I was excited when I spotted Chicken & Mushroom Rose (S$9.50) pasta on the menu. Nope, there isn’t any actual rose petals added, it’s actually a combination of tomato and cream sauce, which results in a light pink-hued gravy. I’m currently obsessed with this sauce and I’m glad I could find it here.
The strands of spaghetti were perfectly al dente, while the creamy, slightly acidic rose sauce made for an excellent pairing. Generous pieces of chicken and sliced mushrooms ensured that every full forkful of spaghetti came with a bit of everything. Every mouthful left a smile on my face — I was satisfied.
Who The Pasta & Tortizza is best for
Since the portions here are generous, it’s perfect for Western food fans who have a large appetite. The wide variety of pasta and tortizza choices will also appeal to a younger demographic and children.
How to get there?
There are a few bus services that will take you to the following bus stops: Opp Xinmin Pr Sch and Xinmin Pr Sch. If you don’t mind taking a short 6-min walk, you can also get to The Pasta & Tortizza from Blk 627 bus stop.
Do we recommend The Pasta & Tortizza?
Yes we would! The special tortizzas served at The Pasta & Tortizza are light, topped with a variety of crowd-favourite pizza toppings. The Western mains and pasta selections here are also loaded and taste above average. I’ve become a fan myself and since I stay pretty close by, I’ll be a regular moving forward.
People also read:
