Located in the heart of Singapore, Little India is a vibrant cultural enclave that holds a rich history and cultural significance. Home to a range of temples, mosques, street art and brightly painted shophouses, the area is also known for its unfussy canteens and hip eateries.
Not surprisingly, Little India is the place to go for some of the best Indian food the little red dot has to offer, but there’s more to the neighbourhood than curries and naan. From North and South Indian fare to specialty pasta and halal-certified ice cream, these are the best restaurants to visit in Singapore's Little India.
The Banana Leaf Apolo
54 Race Course Road and 48 Serangoon Road, #01-32 Little India Arcade
Image credit: The Banana Leaf Apolo | Facebook
The Banana Leaf Apolo has two locations in Little India, one at 54 Race Course Road and the other at Little India Arcade. Offering a mix of North and South Indian fare, The Banana Leaf Apolo has been a hotspot for Indian cuisine lovers for over 40 years and is known for upholding the South Indian tradition of serving food on banana leaves.
Highlights on the menu include their signature fish head curry (a fresh fish head submerged in a robust curry stew), chicken tikka (marinated boneless chicken cubes gently grilled in a tandoor pot and served with mint chutney), palak paneer (cottage cheese gently simmered in a spinach gravy) and delicious garlic naan. Do yourself a favour and order a mango lassi to wash everything down.
Mr Biryani
11 Chander Road, #01-01
Founded in late 2017 by Chef Govinda Rajan, Mr Biryani is known for its signature Hyderabadi (the native cooking style of the Hyderabad, Telangana, India) biryani alongside an array of familiar Indian classics that are proudly created with imported spices to bring forth flavour and aroma.
The boneless mutton biryani and kampong chicken biryani are both good options, but if biryani isn’t you’re thing, the half tandoori chicken and dal tadka are also delicious.
Locanda
109 Rowell Road
Image credit: Locanda | Supplied
Locanda, a lively casual concept by Michelin-starred Buona Terra, recently opened its doors at 109 Rowell Road, in the colourful heritage district of Little India.
Locanda’s curated range of Italian appetisers, designed for sharing, are a great way to start a meal like the Bruscaccia, their signature onion focaccia laden with a range of toppings. Just like their sister restaurant, you can indulge in a selection of house specialty pasta creations, including the Malloreddus with Red Wine Octopus Ragu and Capers and Pappardelle Ragu Genovese with Mixed Mushrooms.
Some highlights from the mains include the Secreto Iberico Pork served with braised endives and apple sauce. The Turbot Fillet is accompanied by a Mediterranean sauce of fresh tomatoes, capers, olives, oregano, and a touch of lemon. The large serving dishes are perfect for bigger groups of up to four, such as the Beef OP Ribs, Rucola and Parmesan, Baked Potato and the Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare, where a generous portion of pasta is tossed in a vibrant seafood tomato sauce, then adorned with sautéed shellfish.
Tekka Centre
665 Buffalo Road
If you have a hankering for the flavours of the Indian subcontinent with a Singaporean twist, head to Tekka, which houses both a wet (fresh food) market mostly serving the Indian community, as well as an excellent hawker section.
Gorge on biryani at Allauddin or Yakader, feast on dosas at Anna Dosai Stall, savour curries and grills at SJ Tandoori. If spice isn’t right for you, fret not, as Tekka is also home to 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles one of the best-loved hae mee (prawn noodle) stalls on the island.
Three’s A Crowd
50 Racecourse Road
Image credit: Three's A Crowd | Facebook
Three’s A Crowd is a halal-certified ice cream cafe serving ice-cold, sweet desserts. Our favourite gelato flavours include Roasted Pistachio, Speculoos and Oreo Mint. For something less conventional, definitely try the Masala which has strong notes of black pepper, cinnamon and star anise infused in black tea.
As well as gelato, Three’s A Crowd offers a selection of waffles and bakes like banana bread, brownies and chocolate lava cookies. You can't go wrong with the maple waffles with a serving (or two) of your favourite gelato.
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Khansama Tandoori Restaurant
166 Serangoon Road
The flavours of India come alive at Khansama Tandoori Restaurant. The casual and wallet-friendly joint serves up no-nonsense Indian cuisine that is so authentic you’ll feel as though you’ve been whisked back to the Punjab region.
Like any good Indian restaurant, there are numerous options for vegetarians such as the delicious tandoori gobhi, where cauliflower pieces are marinated in yogurt and spices and baked in a charcoal oven, and the panner tikka, where Indian cottage cheese cubes are marinated in a paste of home-made yogurt and spices before being barbequed in a clay oven.
For meat eaters, their butter chicken is one of the best we have tried. The sauce is thick, rich and creamy and should be soaked up with naan or rice. We also love their paani poori, which are hollow balls of whole meal wheat flour, served with a spicy mixture of water, mint, spices, lime juice, tamarind, potatoes, boiled gram, and rock salt. For maximum enjoyment, eat the whole piece in one go.
GupShup
Basement 1, The Serangoon House, 301 Serangoon Road
Image credit: GupShup | Supplied
Located in Little India's Serangoon House, GupShup has a strong focus on India street food. The menu, which was specially curated by celebrated Indian chef Surjan Singh, is extensive and includes cultural delicacies from all over India including Delhi, Bombay, Punjab, central India and the coasts.
You can expect to find all time favourites such as tandoori chicken tikka and potato packed samosas, as well as more unusual offerings like the gosht seekh kebab (spiced lamb mince skewers) and meat tariwala (slow cooked goat curry)—all of which pack a flavourful punch.
Allo
72 Desker Road
Image credit: Allo | Facebook
Allo is a cosy French restaurant that serves up top quality French dishes in a very relaxed and intimate setting. The focus here is on fresh ingredients and traditional techniques.
Highlights include the Beef Bourguignon, crafted to perfection with tender beef and a delicious red wine sauce, and the Lobster Risotto, which has become the star of their menu. Made with Arborio rice its creamy, luxurious, and full of buttery lobster.
Mavalli Tiffin Rooms
438 Serangoon Road
Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, more popularly known as MTR, was started in 1924 in Bangalore, India and is one of the city’s oldest and most well-known restaurants. The current Singapore outpost was launched in 2012 and serves up authentic South Indian vegetarian cuisine.
Highlights include the Uddina Vada, a warm savoury doughnut made out of lentils and served with sambar and chutney, and the Pudi Masala Dosa, a large, fluffy pancake smeared with ghee and topped with a spicy chutney powder and a dallop of potato onion filling.
Soul Brew
10 Farrer Park Station Road
Image credit: Soul Brew | Supplied
Located within the lobby of Holiday Inn Singapore Little India, Soul Brew offers a wide range of healthy options, from cold-pressed juices packed with superfood ingredients to single-bowl salads and sandwiches.
If you’re planning on eating in, we are big fans of the falafel pocket and classic club sandwich. For those of you in a rush, the grab-and-go chicken tikka wrap, caesar salad with chicken and grilled salmon salad are excellent choices.
Looking for more? Check out:
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Main image credit: GupShup | Supplied
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