MTR Singapore Review: Famous South Indian Vegetarian Restaurant With Long Queues

MTR Singapore has legit South-Indian vegetarian fare at Farrer Park

As a non-vegetarian, there has only been one instance where I’ve had vegetarian food so good it made me consider switching allegiances. I’m talking, of course, about my recent visit to MTR Singapore, a South Indian restaurant in Farrer Park.

MTR Singapore belongs to the highly acclaimed restaurant chain Mavalli Tiffin Room, which began life in Bangalore, India back in 1924. Its branch here in Singapore is also similarly lauded, having racked up many awards over the years, including TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence.

Food at MTR Singapore

We wanted to start with something relatively light on the palate, and so we went with one of the restaurant’s specialities: the Rava Idly ($4+). This steamed semolina cake was crafted with yoghurt, coriander, cashew nuts, curry leaves, and mustard seeds. It also came with a side of potato saagu,chutney, and clarified butter to pour over.

As you can probably tell from the picture above, this savoury cake had a superb mouthfeel. It was at once fluffy, airy, and slightly grainy, with bits of cashew adding some crunch to each bite. On its own, the cake had a mild nutty and tangy flavour that significantly improved when dipped into the aromatic potato saagu.

While the rava idly was good, the Uddina Vada ($3+) took things up a notch.

Made out of lentils, this savoury doughnut had a wonderful crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside texture.

The best thing about the vada was that it went incredibly well with the sambar and chutney dips. Perhaps it was the airy nature of the vada’s insides that made it a great conduit to soak up sambar’s sweet, savoury, and spicy flavours.

And then we tried the Pudhi Masala Dosa ($7+), which yet again impressed me in both the flavour and texture departments.

This rice-and-lentil dosa had a slightly crispy exterior and a chewy interior, and when eaten with the mushy potato, the textural interplay was quite something. But it is the piquant chutney powder covering the dish that really made this such an addictive treat. The masala potato was richly flavoured with spices—including masala, of course—which made the dish all the more complex.

We had room for one more dish, and that was the Bisibele Bhath ($6+).

Packed with wholesome ingredients such as rice, lentils, vegetables, and a blend of aromatic spices, we found all the tangy and savoury notes in each spoonful to be an absolute delight. The presence of nutmeg here also gave the dish a somewhat earthy quality.

If you’re getting a drink, there’s no better option to have than the Masala Tea ($3+). While I’ve had better cups of masala chai at other restaurants, the one here nonetheless had a nice aroma and a decent depth of flavour.

Ambience at MTR Singapore

We arrived at the restaurant after the peak lunch hour, so we found the environment comfortable to be in. The interiors were stripped-back and plain, but there wasn’t much to complain about. However, MTR Singapore is known for drawing large crowds, so if you arrive during prime lunch or dinner hours, you may have to queue for a good while.

MTR Singapore is a four-minute walk from Farrer Park MRT Station.

The verdict

Even if you’re not vegetarian, I would highly recommend giving MTR Singapore a shot. Its fare is very delicious and varied, and if you’re into food that features spices prominently, there will be much to enjoy here.

For more excellent vegetarian food to check out, read our best Vegetarian food places guide. For $2 putu mayam with freshly grated coconut at Bukit Merah, read our ThatPutuMayamStall coverage.

Address: 440 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218134
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 8:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 6296 5800
Website
MTR Singapore is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Daryl Lim.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg.