When someone says Indian food, it can mean anything from chicken bharta to idli. The diversity is not limited to North and South Indian dishes either.
Indian food changes color, smell, and condiments from city to city.
Singaporeans also have their own spin on Indian dishes. What you crave may differ from that of your Indian friend visiting the country.
So, here is a list of the 7 finest Indian restaurants in Singapore to take your loved ones. The diners offer a mix of authentic regional cuisines and modern variants of it.
| 1. The Curry Culture | |
|---|---|
| Cuisine Type: | North Indian |
| Phone: | +65 6235 6133 |
| Address: | 31 Cuppage Road Cuppage Terrace, Singapore 229457 |
| Website: | https://thecurryculture.com.sg/orchard_road/ |
| Operating Hours: | 12 pm – 2.30 pm 5.30 pm – 1.30 pm |
| Pricing: | $80 to $100 for two adults |
The Curry Culture offers authentic Indian food to Singapore due to the collaboration between Indian managers and chefs. You get traditional dishes, with a modern twist.
The rustic decor inside the building adds to the immersion, transporting you to the India of the 1980s. There is the familiar bustling chatter of other diners and staff, and attentive staff. Though, if you want fresh air, The Curry Culture does come with alfresco seating.
Chef’s Specials:
- Vegetable Tandoori Platter
- Chicken Butter Masala
- Onion Bhaji
- Mushroom Amritsari
Things You Should Know:
- Servers can recommend food based on your dietary issues.
- Lots of options for vegetarians
- The Curry Culture’s catering services for weddings, corporate luncheons, and parties also extend to arranging DJs and other event attractions.
Patron’s Feedback:
“I was looking for a North Indian restaurant in Singapore and I couldn’t find one with an authentic taste until The Curry Culture. They might have better Chicken Tikka than the one we get here. I would like to visit soon.”
Ashish
| 2. Flying Monkey | |
|---|---|
| Cuisine Type: | Pan India |
| Phone: | +65 8741 6158 |
| Address: | 67 Bussorah St, Singapore 199480 |
| Website: | https://flyingmonkey.sg/ |
| Email: | hello@flyingmonkey.sg |
| Operating Hours: | Tue-Sun: 11.30 am – 2.45 pm 5.30 pm – 11 pm |
| Pricing: | $50 to $60 for two |
Flying Monkey is a budget Indian restaurant, with portions big enough to accommodate two people. Head Chef Azad Kalam and his sous chefs present a menu of quirky delicacies such as truffle naan and galouti kebab.
The old-fashioned cocktails taste like nothing else, with their unthinkable combinations of jaggery syrup, mango, and yogurt. There are bar seats if getting lightheaded is your goal for the day and you want a front-row view of Kanan Pillai, the head bartender, working his magic.
You will find little chimp figurines decorating every table and murals on the wall behind Kanan. The colorful artwork of mythological characters and Indians in traditional attire also dots the opposite wall.
Chef’s Specials:
- Flying Monkey
- Aam Panna
- Baigan Bharta
- Lamb Barra
- Impossible Keema
Things You Should Know:
- The dishes are prepared in a charcoal tandoor.
- The sweets from Flying Monkey succeed in replicating the taste of street food in India.
- They have a huge starter menu of chaats.
Patron’s Feedback:
“We didn’t make reservations beforehand and it turns out, Flying Monkey was booked for a birthday event. I went there to have a quiet dinner with my friends before I moved to Canada. We told them so and the staff was kind enough to arrange a separate section for us.”
Akriti
| 3. Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant | |
|---|---|
| Cuisine Type: | North Indian |
| Phone: | +65 6235 8840 |
| Address: | 252 North Bridge Rd, #03–21B, Singapore 179103 |
| Website: | https://shahimaharani.com/ |
| Email: | nquiries@shahimaharani.com |
| Operating Hours: | Mon-Thu: 12 pm – 3 pm 6.30 pm – 10.30 pm Fri-Sun: 12 pm – 3 pm 6.30 pm – 11 pm |
| Pricing: | $80 to $100 for two |
Shahi Maharani is a highly praised Indian buffet restaurant in Singapore. The cuisines boast the richness you would expect from the time of the Moghul Emperors. When you step inside the eatery, expect the treatment of royalty as you walk through the halls sporting vintage aesthetics.
They have, indeed, served many prominent figures. The list includes the President of Singapore, the Chairman of Infosys, and the 2nd Minister of Home Affairs.
Keep an eye on Shahi Maharani’s promotional events, and you can gobble down their weekend specials at a discounted price.
Chef’s Specials:
- Milli Jhuli Thali
- Sarson Ka Machhli Tikka
- Raan Sikandra
- Aloo Tikki Chole Chaat
- Jalebis
Things You Should Know:
- You can book Shahi Maharani for catering and delivery services.
- They have a special Christmas menu where Tandoori meat is usually the centerpiece.
- Live musicians perform Indian classical songs.
Patron’s Feedback:
“They have good proportions. You might actually feel full from the starters alone before you get to the main course. I was pleased to see they had high chairs and cutlery for babies.”
Satish
“The Shahi Maharani is not a new Indian restaurant in Singapore but it operates like one. The service is so exceptional, you would think they are trying to impress new customers. I had their chana masala and spinach cheese, despite my interest in their innovative vegetarian spread. I will try them next time!”
Ivan
| 4. Firangi Superstar | |
|---|---|
| Cuisine Type: | Pan India |
| Phone: | +65 3129 7552 |
| Address: | 20 Craig Rd, #01-03, Singapore 089692 |
| Website: | https://firangisuperstar.com/home |
| Email: | info@superfirangi.com |
| Operating Hours: | Mon-Fri: 12 pm – 2.30 pm Mon-Sat: 5.30 pm – 10.30 pm |
| Pricing: | $180 to $200 for two |
Firangi Superstar is a large restaurant with 4 separate movie-themed rooms. You enter through the Officer’s Club, eat with your significant other in the Railway Room, and drag your family to the Elephant Palace.
The last room is the Final Jungle, where the ambiance is infinitely cosy and warm, a direct contrast to the image the name evokes. Look forward to the portrait wall in every room.
Head Chef Raj Kumar blends his childhood memories into culinary training. The offerings are suitable for someone trying spicy food for the first time.
Chef’s Specials:
- Beirut Bhatura
- This Is Not Aloo Gobi
- Holi Cow
- Prata Waffle
- Coconut PodiIdli
Things You Should Know:
- The dress code is smart casual, however, if you do wear shorts, the staff will provide clothes for you to wrap around you.
- They will prepare halal food upon request.
- The vegetarian portion of the menu is abundant.
Patron’s Feedback:
“I love that they have a vegetarian option for every chicken or lamb item on the menu. The server was kind enough to help us decide how much to order for each person. And there was not a single time when our water glasses were empty. We had the Octopus and it was juicy and tender.”
Sachin
| 5. Lagnaa… Barefoot Dining | |
|---|---|
| Cuisine Type: | Pan India |
| Phone: | +65 6296 1215 |
| Address: | 6 Upper Dickson Rd, Singapore 207466 |
| Website: | https://.lagnaa.com/ |
| Email: | readymix@lagnaa.com. |
| Operating Hours: | Tue-Thu: 11.30 am – 10.30 pm |
| Pricing: | $80 to $100 for two |
Lagnaa is a two-level bistro in Little India. It’s a place where you have permission to take off your shoes, sit cross-legged on the floor, and bite into delicious nutrition. If you are Indian, it is a lovely callback to your homeland. For first-timers, it is a novel experience you will want to recreate at home.
Give Master Chef Kaesavan’s Arusuvai a try. A thali that comprises all the primary flavours vital to your health. As for the food quality, the Michelin Bib Gourmand award is an easy testament.
Patrons also get the chance to taste new dishes every month, which are then added to the roster.
Chef’s Specials:
- Curry shots
- Kathri Pachadi
- Fish Curry
- Chicken 65
- Garlich Fish Tikka
- Vegetable Koorma
Things You Should Know:
- The chef has had a Chilli challenge ongoing since the inception of the restaurant. If you can eat a level 10 curry without gurgling down a spice diffuser, you will get a handsome cash reward.
- Lagnaa holds cooking classes on Indian cuisine.
- They have monthly food-tasting events for regular customers.
Patron’s Feedback:
“You have to get the fish curry if you go to Lagnaa. We paired it with the curd rice and it turned out to be the greatest match of flavors. The chef also spend as much time conversing with us as he did in the kitchen. It made the entire experience so personable.”
Jeffery
“Lagnaa is no 5-star Indian restaurant, but it is on the way to collect some stars. I think I love Lagnaa most because of the communal feeling. It is a great place to meet other people from your culture. It’s also good for North Indian food.”
Rani
| 6. Greenleaf Cafe | |
|---|---|
| Cuisine Type: | South Indian |
| Phone: | +65 9783 7476 |
| Address: | 43 Cuff Rd, Singapore 209753 |
| Website: | https://www.greenleafcafe.com.sg/ |
| Email: | sales@greenlead.com.sg |
| Operating Hours: | Wed-Mon: 11 am – 4.30 pm 5 pm – 10.30 pm |
| Pricing: | $50 to $80 for two |
The Greenleaf Cafe is for the South Indians who still have the taste of authentic dosa lingering on their tongue. It is for the ones who order vegetarian biryani in an Indian restaurant in Singapore because they do not have poha.
While it is a vegetarian place, they also offer vegan food on request. This means no ghee, butter, eggs, or dairy products.
The decor is simplistic, with white and green walls and plenty of plants all around. You can opt for dining on the patio, if you would rather enjoy your food in nature.
Chef’s Specials:
- Chilli Tofu
- Gobi Manchurian
- Mixed Millets Dosa
- Sweet Flattened Rice
- Beetroot Halwa
Things You Should Know:
- The Greenleaf Cafe has a food truck close to the cafe if you would rather have the street food experience.
- They offer home and office delivery.
- The food is served on traditional thalis and garnished with banana leaves, a quick nod to South India.
Patron’s Feedback:
“There is a scarcity of pure Indian vegetarian restaurants in Singapore, so Greenleaf Cafe has become a special spot for me. We had their Chili Paneer and Banana Flower Vadai. It felt like I was back home.”
Megha
“Buffet meal and Greenleaf cafe are the perfect combinations. You can tell the ingredients are fresh with every bite. They do not use white sugar, or food coloring and they throw out the cooking oil from the pan after using it. If you are health conscious, this is one restaurant which cares.”
Hari krishna
| 7. Thevar | |
|---|---|
| Cuisine Type: | Modern Indian |
| Phone: | +65 9750 8275 |
| Address: | 9 KeongSaik Rd., Singapore 089117 |
| Website: | https://thevar.sg/ |
| Email: | reservations@thevar.sg |
| Operating Hours: | Tue-Sat: 5.30 pm – 11 pm |
| Pricing: | $280 to $300 for two |
Chef Mano Thevar, who has two Michelin stars, prepares contemporary Indian cuisine using European techniques. His inspiration is the food he grew up with, only redefined to provide utter comfort with a dash of nostalgia to the guests.
No matter where you are in the world, you will recognize the French turbot Rogan Josh Veloute or the Boston lobster Venn Ponggal. It is a mash up for your favorite European and Indian cuisine.
The interior of Thevar is classic modern. You are greeted with a center-stage bar and pendant lights, which prevent the glossy black walls from surrounding the room in darkness.
A perfect place for a quiet, intimate romantic dinner in Singapore. Thevar is the kind of place you might propose.
Chef’s Specials:
- Mysore Spiced Rack Of Lamb
- Guava Spiced Gujiya
- Crispy Pork Sambal – Betel Leave
- Chettinad Chicken Roti
- ChutoroIdli
Things You Should Know:
- Try to make a reservation either through email or from the website.
- There is a vegetarian version of the dishes, available upon request.
- It is the recipient of accolades such as Asia’s Best Restaurant and Singapore’s Best.
Patron’s Feedback:
“This would be my third visit to the Thevar. The second time I came here, the restaurant had got its second Micheline star. I am pleased to report they are as consistent as ever. I had oysters, prawn kachori, and beetroot chat for starters. The pork sambal and crab curry rice was the perfect main course after.”
Phoebe
What should I order for my first time in an Indian restaurant in Singapore?
Since Indian dishes have extreme varieties and strong flavors, it can be hard to decide what to get.
Before you settle on what to order, you should consider:
- How good are you with spice?
- Are you vegan?
- Do you like sweets?
When it comes to Indian food, you are going to want to try a bit of everything. If your spice level is medium or low, butter chicken is a safe bet for you.
If you are vegan, idli and dosas contain no dairy or animal products. Still, confirm it with the restaurant before you dig in.
If you like sweets, Indian dishes have too many of them. You can go for something like dal barfi or carrot halwa. They have vegan versions of them.
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