Love & LayoversMissing ghar ka khana on a Singapore trip? Don't worry. Singapore has one of the largest Indian communities outside India, Tamil is one of its four official languages, and you're never far from a dosa, a thali or a plate of biryani.
This guide covers the Indian restaurants and food spots worth knowing, grouped by what you're craving, plus vegetarian and Jain tips and what a meal really costs.
Quick picks
| Craving | Where to go | Area | Approx. per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Indian thali on a banana leaf | Komala Vilas, Banana Leaf Apolo | Little India | S$10–20 |
| Dosa, idli and filter coffee | Ananda Bhavan, Saravanaa Bhavan, MTR | Little India + other outlets | S$8–15 |
| Mumbai street food and Sindhi classics | Kailash Parbat | Check current outlets | S$15–25 |
| Chaat, sweets and namkeen | Bikanerwala | Check current outlets | S$8–15 |
| Dum biryani | Biryani by Kilo | Delivery + outlets | S$15–25 |
| Fish head curry | Muthu's Curry, Banana Leaf Apolo | Little India | S$20–35 (sharing) |
| Cheap and quick: biryani, prata | Tekka Centre hawker stalls | Little India | S$5–8 |
| Murtabak and prata, late night | Zam Zam | Kampong Glam | S$8–15 |
| Special occasion, modern Indian | Thevar | Keong Saik (Chinatown) | S$200+ |
Prices are rough guides for one person. We use ₹65 per S$1 for easy maths, so a S$10 thali is about ₹650. Check the live rate.
Little India: where to start
Take the MRT to Little India (North East or Downtown line) and you'll step out onto streets lined with flower garlands, gold shops, spice stores and restaurants. Serangoon Road and Race Course Road are where most of the classics are, and Tekka Centre, right by the station, is a hawker centre with dozens of Indian stalls under one roof.
South Indian vegetarian: thalis, dosas and filter coffee
Komala Vilas Serangoon Road · pure veg
One of Little India's oldest vegetarian restaurants, famous for its South Indian meals served on a banana leaf with unlimited rice, sambar, rasam, poriyal and curd. Eat with your hands for the full experience.
Ananda Bhavan Little India + several outlets · pure veg
A heritage vegetarian chain going back about a century. Reliable for dosas, idli-vada, thalis and Indian sweets, and handy because there are outlets around the island.
Saravanaa Bhavan and MTR Serangoon Road · pure veg
Two names Indian travellers already know from home. Saravanaa Bhavan for crisp dosas and mini tiffins; MTR for Bengaluru-style rava idli, bisi bele bath and that famous filter coffee.
North Indian, Mumbai street food and sweets
Kailash Parbat Brand we've worked with
The Mumbai institution known for Sindhi food and street-food favourites: pani puri, pav bhaji, chole bhature and sweets. A great pick when you want Mumbai flavours rather than restaurant-style curries.
Bikanerwala Brand we've worked with
For chaat, samosas, kachori, North Indian thalis and boxes of mithai and namkeen to take home. Ideal for an evening snack stop or for buying sweets during Diwali.
Biryani and non-veg favourites
Biryani by Kilo Brand we've worked with
Dum biryani cooked and served in individual clay handis, in both veg and non-veg versions, with kebabs and sides. Popular for delivery too, which makes it an easy dinner after a long sightseeing day.
Muthu's Curry and Banana Leaf Apolo Race Course Road
Both are famous for Singapore's signature fish head curry, a tangy, spicy dish that's a local invention by Indian cooks, best shared by two to four people. Banana Leaf Apolo also does banana-leaf meals with chicken and mutton sides.
Zam Zam North Bridge Road, Kampong Glam
Opposite the Sultan Mosque and running for over a century, Zam Zam is the place for murtabak, a stuffed, pan-fried bread filled with mutton, chicken or sardine. Pair it with a stroll down Haji Lane.
Hawker food: Indian dishes for S$5
Singapore's hawker centres have Indian and Indian-Muslim stalls everywhere. Look out for:
- Roti prata is Singapore's version of parotta, served with fish or chicken curry. Try "egg prata" or "plaster prata" with an egg on top.
- Nasi biryani comes as huge, fragrant portions at Tekka Centre for around S$6–8.
- Mee goreng is spicy Indian-style fried noodles, a uniquely Singaporean Indian dish.
- Teh tarik is the "pulled" milk tea and the closest thing to a cutting chai.
Vegetarian and Jain tips
- Most South Indian places in Little India are pure vegetarian: Komala Vilas, Ananda Bhavan, Saravanaa Bhavan and MTR.
- For Jain food, ask for "no onion, no garlic, no potato" when ordering. Many vegetarian restaurants understand the request, but always confirm.
- Outside Indian restaurants, look for the "vegetarian" sign at hawker centres and ask for no egg and no fish sauce.
- Carry a few packets of khakhra or theplas for long attraction days. Universal Studios and Sentosa have limited Indian vegetarian options.
What an Indian meal costs
| Type of meal | S$ per person | Approx. ₹ |
|---|---|---|
| Hawker plate (prata, biryani) | S$5–8 | ₹325–520 |
| South Indian thali / dosa meal | S$8–15 | ₹520–975 |
| Casual North Indian restaurant | S$20–35 | ₹1,300–2,275 |
| Fine dining tasting menu | S$200+ | ₹13,000+ |
Practical tips
- Payment: most restaurants take cards; hawker stalls increasingly take cards and QR payments, but carry some cash.
- Tipping isn't expected. Restaurants usually add a service charge plus GST to the bill.
- Water isn't always free at hawker centres, so buy a bottle or bring your own.
- Combine your visit with the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and Mustafa Centre for shopping. See our places to visit in Singapore.
FAQs
Is it easy to find Indian vegetarian food in Singapore?
Yes. Little India alone has dozens of pure-vegetarian restaurants such as Komala Vilas, Ananda Bhavan, Saravanaa Bhavan and MTR, and most hawker centres have a vegetarian stall.
Where can I get Jain food in Singapore?
Many vegetarian restaurants in Little India can prepare food without onion, garlic or potato on request. Ask when you order and confirm before the food is cooked.
How much does an Indian meal cost in Singapore?
Roughly S$5–8 at a hawker centre, S$8–15 for a South Indian thali or dosa meal, and S$20–35 at a casual North Indian restaurant (about ₹325 to ₹2,300).
Which MRT station is closest to Little India?
Little India MRT station, on the North East and Downtown lines, opens right next to Tekka Centre and Serangoon Road.
What Indian dishes are unique to Singapore?
Fish head curry, mee goreng and roti prata in its Singaporean form are local creations by the Indian community, and worth trying even if you eat Indian food every day at home.
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Prices and opening details change often. Figures here are approximate as of October 2026, so please check official websites before you book.
