Curries, prata and fragrant spices are the landmarks of Indian food to most Singaporeans, but that’s not all this varied and delectable cuisine has to offer. In fact, there are plenty of distinct differences between Northern and Southern Indian food, and there are plenty of nuances in between. Let us expand your culinary horizons by introducing you to some of the best Indian restaurants in Singapore. You know where to head to if the cravings ever kick in.
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Image credit: @gastronomich_
For those unfamiliar with Northern Indian cuisine, it is characterised by their heavy use of dairy products in cooking. Yoghurt, milk, and tomatoes are prevalent in the cuisine, and roti is a staple in place of rice.
One place that serves delicious North Indian food is Jaggi’s Northern Indian Cuisine. Formerly a hawker stall near the ports of Singapore back in the old days, this eatery has achieved such a huge following that it now has its own restaurant. Try the chicken and mutton Seekh Kebabs ($7.20+), or the smoky and spicy Tandoori Chicken (Quarter) ($5.60+). Alternatively, don’t miss out on the all-time favourite Jaggi’s Butter Chicken ($8.60+) too!
Address: 37 Chander Road, Singapore 219541
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 11am to 10:30pm
Tel: 6296 6141
Jaggi’s Northern Indian Cuisine is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @coolheart
Next on the list is Samy’s Curry, a longstanding and famous Indian restaurant in Singapore. They’ve been around for more than 60 years, and were one of the first few restaurants in Dempsey Hill. They specialise in South Indian cuisine, which is characterised by the use of tamarind, coconut milk, and rice.
Their Signature Fish Head Curry ($25), Butter Chicken ($15), and Mysore Mutton ($16) comes highly recommended for their robust, spicy, and rich flavours.
Address: 25 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249670
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 11am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm
Tel: 6472 2080
Website
Samy’s Curry is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @thatglutton
On the subject of fish head curry, check out Karu’s Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant too! This quaint restaurant draws long queues each day and has a reputation for being one of the best places to get fish head curry. Their Fish Head Deluxe ($27+) is their best-selling dish, followed by the Crab Masala, a sweet and spicy dish guaranteed to please anyone. Do note that the price of the latter varies, so diners are required to enquire with the staff if they’d like to order it.
Alternatively, their set meals are great if you’d like something more filling. Go for their Fish Biryani Meal ($10.30+) or their Veg Biryani Meal ($6.80+) for a vegetarian-friendly option.
Address: Block 808/810 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 678144
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6762 7284
Website
Karu’s Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @luna.al.sol
Annalakshimi is a vegetarian restaurant that operates on a pay-as-you-want policy. This is because the restaurant believes in serving their guests with generosity, with all of their earnings being distributed towards social causes in India.
Run by a team of volunteers and full-time professionals, Annalakshimi dishes out amazing vegetarian fare each day. The menu varies depending on the day and time you visit, but some popular options include the Masala Dosa, Chapatti Set and Mixed Rice Set—an all-in-one dish comprising spiced rice, vegetable side dishes, pickles, and papadam. Do note that its sister outlet, Annalakshimi Cafe, does not operate on a pay-as-you-want policy and instead has fixed prices for their menu.
Address: 6 Shenton Way, #03-26, OUE Downtown 2, Downtown Gallery, Singapore 068809
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 5pm, Sun 11am to 5pm
Tel: 6339 9993
Website
Annalakshimi is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @miss_foodbaby
A few doors down from the famed Muthu’s Curry is Gayatri Restaurant. The food here comes in generous portions and is said to be incredibly flavourful and delicious. Start your meal with the Tandoori Platter ($32.50++), a great sharing dish that consists of charcoal-grilled chicken, prawns, fish, seekh kebab and tangri kebab. The Khadai Prawns ($14++) are also a dish to order, featuring prawns cooked in a creamy masala sauce redolent of Indian herbs. Pair those dishes with some Butter and Garlic Naan ($6++) and Mixed Veg Kurma ($6++) for a complete and satisfying meal.
Address: 122 Race Course Road, #01-01, Singapore 218583
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10:30pm
Tel: 6291 1011
Website
Gayatri Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @kcl9118
If you’re around town, here’s an Indian restaurant to check out: Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant in Raffles City. Decked in royal Indian decor, this restaurant offers a spread of traditional Indian dishes that were said to be enjoyed by the maharajas back in ancient times. Feast like a king and come for dishes such as Mutton Vindaloo ($38++) and the Rogan Josh ($38++), a dish starring tender mutton cubes in a spicy and aromatic gravy.
Address: 252 North Bridge Road, #03-21B, Raffles City Singapore, Singapore 179103
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 2:30pm, 6:30pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6235 8840
Website
Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @vegan.victoria1
Komala Vilas is no secret to those who love Indian food. They’re one of Singapore’s oldest Indian restaurants, having been around since 1947. To honour the restaurant’s long-standing legacy, India’s prime minister, Mr Narendra Modi, and Singapore’s prime minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong even shared a meal together here on 23 November 2015.
Most diners come here for brunch, with the Bhattura ($6.20) and Dosai Meal ($10) being perennial favourites. To cleanse the palette, indulge in their sweet and creamy drinks including Mango Lassi ($4.60), Badham Milk ($3) AKA almond milk, Rose Milk ($3) and more.
Address: 76-78 Serangoon Road, Singapore 217981
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 10:30pm
Tel: 6293 6980
Website
Komala Vilas is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @sglife_875
There are plenty of Indian-Muslim restaurants in Singapore, but one restaurant that serves exceptionally delicious food, in my opinion, is Zam Zam Restaurant. They’re no stranger to fans of murtabak, but they’re also famous for their briyani. They’ve been around for more than 100 years, and are said to be one of the oldest Indian Muslim restaurants in Singapore. Come for the Mutton Murtabak (from $8) or Chicken Murtabak (from $7) and pair it with some dalcha for added kick.
Their Beef Briyani ($9) on the other hand, comes with a generous amount of tender beef mixed with aromatic briyani rice. Other briyani varieties include Deer ($22), Fish ($9), and Lamb Shank ($22) for an indulgent briyani experience. If briyani isn’t your thing, you can also come for their Goreng Varieties, namely the Mee Goreng ($7), Nasi Goreng ($7) and more.
Address: 697-699 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198675
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 11pm
Tel: 6298 6320
Website
Zam Zam Restaurant is a halal-certified eatery.
Another long-standing Indian restaurant is MTR Singapore, which is rated as one of the best places to get legit South Indian grub in the city. With over three thousand Google reviews, it’s no surprise as to why they’re so popular—their food is affordable with a distinct, homely taste. Regulars swear by their Pudhi Masala Dosa ($7+), which is essentially a fluffy rice and lentil pancake smeared with spicy chutney powder and ghee. It is then finished with a dollop of mashed potatoes.
For an equally delicious yet milder option, the Masala Dosa ($7+) is worth a shot. For dessert, the Bisibele Bhath ($6+) comes highly recommended—it’s made up of a sweet and thick saffron-infused porridge topped with cashew nuts and raisins.
Read our MTR Singapore review.
Address: 440 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218314
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 8:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 6296 5800
Website
MTR Singapore is not a halal-certified eatery.
Last on the list is Masalaa Bar, an Indian restaurant-cum-bar that stands out for its unconventional fusion concept of merging Indian food with cocktails. This restaurant is helmed by the acclaimed celebrity chef Milli Sovani, who worked for several years at Asia’s first Michelin-starred Indian restaurant: The Song Of India.
Notable creations at the Masalaa Bar include the Pani Puri Shots (from $9++) and Martini Pao Bhaji ($12++). The former comprises crispy and hollow puffs stuffed with spiced potatoes on top of a minty alcohol shot. Diners also get to choose a non-alcoholic version if they’d like. The latter, meanwhile, features a creamy and spicy vegetable curry served in a martini glass with some toasted garlic crostini.
Address: 723 East Coast Road, Singapore 459071
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 10:30pm
Website
Masalaa Bar is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @superfirangi
Firangi Superstar is crafted to resemble a movie set, boasting four themed dining areas that pay homage to iconic Indian locales. Expect inventive small plates such as the reinvented aloo gobi or the fusion of Mexican elote with punchy Indian spices. Larger mains, designed for sharing, include highlights such as the Mirchi Mole ($96++), featuring grilled Iberico and green chilli tadka, or The Bengal Bake Off ($108++), a salt-baked seabass dressed with kasundi (mustard) cream.
Address: 20 Craig Road, #01-03, Singapore 089692
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 12am
Tel: 3129 7552
Website
Firangi Superstar is not a halal-certified eatery.
Run by a team of two brothers, Muthu’s Curry is most known for their Michelin-approved fish head curry, made with a secret family recipe. The original outlet in Farrer Park offers an outstanding Fish Head Curry ($32++), renowned for its spicier flavour compared to other renditions in Singapore. Diners can select from sea bream, sea bass, or red snapper for this dish. Notable items on the menu also include Masala Chicken ($16++), Masala Prawns ($17++), and Muthu’s Curry Chukka Varuval ($17++).
Read our Muthu’s Curry coverage.
Address: 138 Race Course Road, #01-01, Singapore 218591
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: 6392 1722
Website
Muthu’s Curry is not a halal-certified eatery.
Tucked away in a CBD shophouse is Kamal’s Restaurant, the self-proclaimed “specialist in fried chicken briyani”. It seems that many patrons agree with the claim, as the restaurant is often very crowded during peak hours. As you’d expect, their must-try dish is the Fried Chicken Briyani ($8), which features crispy spiced chicken atop a pile of fragrant, and flavourful basmati rice. If you’re here for breakfast, though, you can opt for the popular Plain Prata ($1.50) and Egg Prata ($2.20) instead.
Read our Kamal’s Restaurant review.
Address: 7 Stanley Street, Singapore 068726
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 6pm, Sat 7am to 5pm
Tel: 96221 7677
Website
Kamal’s Restaurant is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Anglo Indian Cafe & Bar’s Shenton Way outlet has been a recipient of the prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand for several years in a row—with the praise focusing on its quality Indian fare that is also value-for-money. For many patrons, the star dish here has to be the Chicken Tikka Masala ($22++), cooked in tomato gravy and of course, plenty of spices. Pair it with some Naan (from $4.50) to soak up the goodness of the gravy. Other popular options include the Butter Chicken ($22++) and Mutton Dum Briyani ($22++).
Read our Anglo Indian Cafe & Bar coverage.
Address: 1 Shenton Way, #01-08, Singapore 068803
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Tel: 6636 9411
Website
Anglo Indian Cafe & Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.
Thevar, a renowned two-Michelin-starred modern Indian restaurant, offers reinvented classic Indian dishes with European culinary techniques. Seasonal course menus start at $328++ and include amuse-bouches, small plates, mains, and dessert. One dish Thevar is best known for is the Chettinad Chicken Roti, reinvented as tacos packed with tender, marinated pulled chicken, and garnished with finely chopped spring onions. Other unique dishes to try include the Crispy Pork Wrapped in Betel Leave and Strawberry Chaat.
Address: 9 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089117
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 5:30pm to 11pm
Tel: 9750 8275
Website
Thevar is not a halal-certified eatery.
With plenty of delicious food in store, be sure to check out these Indian restaurants the next time you can’t decide on what or where to eat. For more dining options, our guide to the best Korean restaurants in Singapore will introduce you to tteokbokki buffets, K-BBQ spots and more!
Feature image adapted from @mkasman69 @vegan.victoria1 @kyo_twsg @miss_foodbaby @gastronomich_ @thatglutton
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