Singapore is home to large numbers of Indians, who’ve contributed to the city’s culinary scene with fragrant and spicy Indian cuisines. So if you’re into Indian food, you’ll feel right at home in Singapore, which has a vast selection of top-tier Indian restaurants, of which we’ve created a little list for your palate review. Some of them offer North Indian or South Indian food, while others focus on India’s coastal cuisines which are a treat to one’s tastebuds.
Singapore Zam Zam – North Bridge Road
If you love murtabak, which is naan bread stuffed with minced meat, onion and egg, get yourself to Zam Zam. That’s Zam Zam’s signature dish and it’s so good, that murtabak devotees find ways to get here every day of the week. It doesn’t matter what kind of meat is used in the stuffing – chicken, mutton or even venison – murtabak still tastes fabulous. There are several other fantastic dishes that have made this restaurant a house hold name, but we’ll let you discover those.
Chaat Masala – Upper East Coast Road
Chaat Masala has been serving south and north Indian dishes along with fusion dishes for over a decade. Try the steaming Mysore mutton and the butter chicken that’s best eaten with fluffy garlic naans. Dessert items offer a different take on crowd-pleasers like kulfi – we hope you have a sweet tooth!
Komala Vilas – Little India
If you want cheap but excellent vegetarian south Indian fare of homelike quality, head to Komala Vilas. This casual diner has been dishing out top masala dosas and mini lunches since 1947!
Rang Mahal – Raffles Boulevard
If you want great food combined with great ambience, head to the Rang Mahal. Impeccable service meets swanky interiors and classic Indian cuisine served with élan. Enjoy top tandoori dishes such as the portobello starter, tandoori rotis, curries and various nans and other breads.
Tiffin Room – Raffles Hotel
In this century-old eating establishment, food was originally served in traditional stacked metal lunchboxes, or tiffins, which is how Tiffin Room got its name. Now you can enjoy various north and south Indian lunch and dinner buffets with paneer butter masala, spicy chutneys, chicken tikka masala, naans and more.
Muthu’s Curry Restaurant – Little India
For lovers of fish head curry, Muthu’s Restaurant is simply the last word. If you enjoy your fish head cooked with tomatoes, okra, and eggplant and steeped in a spicy curry that’ll burn your tastebuds, then this modern 350-seater restaurant is the place for you.
Flying Monkey – Bussorah Street
Flying Monkey is a bar cum restaurant that offers seriously good Indian food. The cocktails are flavored with Indian flavors. Try the Nalli Gosht and the Galouti kebab along with naan breads. Give the spicy Indian cocktail featuring coconut water and Plantation 3 Stars White Rum, fresh lemon juice, ground cardamom and yellow chartreuse a try.
The Song Of India – Scotts Road
Orchard Road is a bustling shopping paradise, but the Song of India is calm, as it is located within a Bungalow away from the noise. This restaurant serves homelike Indian food with a panache that’ll suit a royal palate. Lamb kebab made in the Awadhi style, lemon chilli lobster served in Kerala moily sauce and many other treats are available in this one-Michelin star restaurant.
Maziga – Clarke Quay
Maziga offers quick and excellent street food along with quick cocktails, perfect for someone on the go. Executive Chef Javed Ahmed has created a menu that’s all quick to eat such as smoked tandoor apple salad with crispy soft shell crab, naan pizza, Amritsar fish and chips and crispy masala pasta.
Mustard – Race Course Road
This place offers two cuisines that aren’t usually seen in one place – Punjabi and Bengali cuisine. Head out here for some authentic fare; try the home-made mustard sauce, crumbed fish cutlets, special Kolkata chicken biryani with spiced potato and a series of vegetarian grill options. Titillate your tastebuds with unique sweets – famous ones being the pati shapta (rice flour crepes soaked in sweetened shredded coconut and thickened milk) and the Rossogolla (cottage cheese balls in sugar syrup).
Tandoor – Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre
Head out to Tandoor for a great Indian cultural immersion as well as luxury ambience combined with excellent food. Try the dishes offered in the Dinner Gourmet Trails; you can sample everything on the menu, without going all out. Try the jalapeno corn kebab, the samosa chaat, mango curry, chicken lemongrass kebab and pistachio kulfi flavored with saffron for dessert. Don’t forget to try the fabulous cocktails such as the Bollywood Bellini and Chai Mojito.
Madras New Woodlands – Upper Dickson Road
Madras New Woodlands is a south Indian vegetarian haunt, just as famous in Singapore as Komala Vilas is. Try the VIP thali, which is a huge platter laid out with rice and chapattis along with various curries, dhals, salads and plenty of hot, fragrant ghee. Don’t forget to order the restaurant’s famous masala chai to recover from all that food!
Banana Leaf Apolo – Little India
One of Singapore’s top curry destinations, Banana Leaf Apolo on Race Course Road is lively, bright and has been serving up fabulous curries since 1974.
Samy’s Curry Restaurant, Orchard Road
Samy’s been dishing out cheap but excellent Indian food for more than 67 years now. The surroundings are informal and homely, and the mess-like atmosphere makes this a friendly place to hang with pals.
Conclusion
A great portion of India’s population is vegetarian; Indians feel comfortable traveling to and working in Singapore, given the large numbers of vegetarian Indian restaurants in the city. Both vegans and vegetarians can live here happily without feeling deprived. For those that eat meat, the city’s fabulous North Indian, Kerala and Mughlai restaurants offer excellent food, even better than home food!