Any Singaporean who has not visited Mustafa—a glorious 24-hour megamall in Little India— is certainly losing out big time. With six different entrances, it takes a certain level of skill to navigate the madness within.

After a whole day of shopping at Mustafa Centre, head over to one of the many excellent Indian F&B joints around the area to fill your tummy up with rich Indian curry, crispy prata and hearty murtabak.

If you have no idea which Indian joint to pick, refer to our list of 12 Superb Indian Joints In Little India To Refuel After Your Mustafa Shopping Spree.

Photo Credit: A B Mohamed Restaurant

#1 A B MOHAMED RESTAURANT

This casual air-conditioned eatery is just a stone’s throw away from Mustafa Centre. With an exhaustive menu spanning both south and north Indian cuisine, this restaurant is a cut above the rest.

The speciality here is the ABM Malabar Murtabak which is filled with onions, eggs, chicken and mutton all sandwiched in crisp layers of pan-fried wheat dough. Pair this with a warm cup of teh tarik for the ultimate combo.

278 Serangoon Rd
Singapore 218106
Tel: +65 6298 1010
Daily: 9am – 12.30am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: HungryAngMo

#2 ANANDA BHAVAN VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

For a no-frills vegetarian fix, head to Ananda Bhavan. This restaurant has been in operation since 1924 and holds bragging rights as Singapore’s oldest Indian vegetarian restaurant.

A popular eating haunt, Ananda Bhavan is known for its low-calorie options that scrap the use of additives, preservatives and MSG. Indulge in a tempting array of Rava Thosai, Chappati, Aloo Prata and Onion Uthappam.

95 Syed Alwi Road
Singapore 207671
Tel: +65 6398 0837
Daily: 24 hours
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Cookloveeat

#3 BALAJI BHAWAN

Adding another vegetarian restaurant to the list, Balaji Bhawan is located directly opposite Gate 2 of Mustafa Centre.

Renowned for their varieties of Chat (fried dough with fillings), North Indian Thali (an assortment of dishes on a platter) as well as the Gulab Jamun (spongy, milky balls), you can enjoy quite a feast here.

103 Syed Alwi Road
Singapore 207679
Tel: +65 9126 7797
Daily: 10am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Dan F.

#4 C.M.K. 2001 RESTAURANT

Even if you go shopping at Mustafa at ungodly hours and want some food after this halal-certified restaurant has got you covered for your late-night hunger pangs. From Mee Goreng Mamak, Masala Thosai, Chicken Biryani and prata of all varieties, you can recharge and chow down on decent Indian food before heading home.

2 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207668
Tel: +65 6294 9013
Daily: 24 hours
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Copper Chimney

#5 COPPER CHIMNEY

The unique selling point of this restaurant opposite Mustafa Centre is the presence of Chinese-Indian fusion cuisine that features Hakka noodles and fried rice incorporating Szechuan peppers.

If you are having a tough time deciding from the elaborate menu line up, go for the all-time favourite Butter Chicken and Tandoori Naan. Alternatively, challenge your palate to the Kung Pao Chicken or perhaps the American Chopsuey.

100 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207676
Tel: +65 6294 8891
Daily: 11am – 12.30am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Nekyouto-Food

#6 KEBABS N CURRIES

If you have explored Mustafa Centre thoroughly, you would have chanced upon this fine Indian dining place on the top floor. Boasting a rooftop alfresco style dining with glass-panelled domed roofs, the place is pretty magical and romantic.

Even though the prices here are not as pocket-friendly as the ones along the streets, you are guaranteed top-notch Indian food here. There are Pakistani dishes too if you would like to switch things up a little.

171 Syed Alwi Rd, #07-00 Mustafa Centre
Singapore 207704
Tel: +65 6419 0749
Daily: 11am – 12.45am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Komala Vilas

#7 KOMALA VILAS

Sticking to time-honoured traditions, this vegetarian restaurant is no stranger to Singaporeans with its massive loyal following. Since its opening back in 1947, Komala Vilas is famous for Thosai, delectable Thali sets and aromatic chai.

Served with lashings of sambar and chutney, dig into your meal and allow the exotic flavours of Indian cuisine to pamper your taste buds.

76 – 78 Serangoon Road
Singapore 217981
Tel: +65 6293 6980
Daily: 7am – 10.30am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Madura’s Restaurant

#8 MADURA’S RESTAURANT

This halal-certified food joint’s menu is incredibly vast with choices ranging from Chinese Sizzlers, Tandoori & Kebab, Aromatic Biryani & Pilao and Seafood Specialties.

Chef recommendations include Mutton Rogan Josh, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Dum Biryani as well as the scrumptious Kebab Platter. Satisfied diners have sung praises for these dishes that are on point with their robust flavours.

115 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207683
Tel: +65 6294 1268
Daily: 12pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

#9 MURUGAN IDLI SHOP

In a bid to broaden the reach of exquisite South Indian tiffin cuisine, Murugan Idli Shop opened its first stall beyond India, right here in Singapore. As its moniker suggests, the signature here is none other than the mouth-watering Idli (steamed rice cakes) that is served with generous side dishes and a plethora of chutneys.

This vegetarian joint also promises authentic Thosai, Sambar rice and a slew of other full-flavoured savouries.

81 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207660
Tel: +65 6298 0858
Daily: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Sakunthala’s Restaurant

#10 SAKUNTHALA’S RESTAURANT

From its inception in 1997, halal-certified Sakunthala’s Restaurant is a popular eatery that is more often than not teeming with people who casually devour lip-smacking biryani meals here.

The mind-boggling array of classic Naan, Thosai and Prata will also leave you in a tough spot to decide. To stave off the food coma thereafter, be sure to order the Masala Tea or the Ginger Tea.

88 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207667
Tel: +65 6293 6649
Daily: 11am – 3am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Sankranti Restaurant

#11 SANKRANTI RESTAURANT

The expertly cooked Dum Biryani here hits all the right spots and the spiciness of the accompanying curries adds a lovely zing! Aside from their signature biryani, the restaurant’s forte revolves primarily around the spicy Andhra cuisine.

Savour delicious appetisers, juicy tandoor kebabs, soft Indian bread and perfectly seasoned curries amongst others.

79 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207658
Tel: +65 6292 7655
Daily: 11am – 4pm, 6pm – 12.30am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Cindy K

#12 USMAN’S RESTAURANT

Despite being situated slightly further from Mustafa Centre, this special place rounds up the list for its highly affordable Pakistani and North Indian fare. The fluffy Naan here boasts incredible texture and is traditionally made using a claypot oven known as a “tandoor”.

Their menu features everything from tandoori specialities to paneer and even briyani.

238 Serangoon Rd
Singapore 218085
Tel: +65 6296 8949
Daily: 12pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

What does “Pint & Curries” sound like? You might be thinking about a hundred fancy stories, but it really is beer and Northern Indian food – favourites that are ever comforting.

When we were in London last year, we chanced upon several dining establishments that please their crowds with good beer and curries, and it is recognised as a lifestyle to watch your matches while indulging in two of life’s best pleasures. What may sound like a lethal combination is really not that potent, because as with wine pairing, beers can be paired to complement our favourite food, too!

This year, the folks behind the highly popular Bar Bar Black Sheep have launched this very concept right here in Singapore. Nestled in the heart of Clarke Quay, Pint & Curries offers an affordable supper menu of North-Indian curries and well-loved crafted beers.

Party-ing at Clarke Quay will never be the same again. Be gone, hungry nights and empty stomachs. Pint & Curries is a great late night dining option in Singapore, and your best bet and pit stop when you need a hearty supper in between drinking, and its superb location calls for no driving (and being stopped for the breathalyser tests!)

Here are some of our picks:

Pint & Curries’ menu has the classic Indian dishes that everyone loves – like Tandoori Chicken (S$9 for a quarter), Chicken Tikka Masala (S$12), Fish Masala (S$16), and, behold… Butter Chicken (S$12), one of the signature dishes at Bar Bar Black Sheep’s – but the chefs have also whipped out several interesting creations that are so delicious, you will remember your suppers for these.

One of them is the Chicken Malai Kebab (S$14) – tender chicken that is well-marinated with yogurt, nuts, and cream. Simple and satisfying, we’d say.

The Rogan Josh (S$12), with its generous cubes of mutton in a thick gravy made of special herbs and spices, is also an ideal choice to kick start a great meal ahead.

We have no idea why Chicken 65 (S$9) is named as such, but what we know is that the spicy deep fried chicken chunks are extremely addictive. We would love to steal the popular tagline and peg it as ‘finger-licking good’, but let’s just say this redefined spicy deep fried chicken and it is the perfect bar snack to go along with a pint of Brewdog Punk IPA (S$12.90).

The highlight of our meal, and our favourite dish, is the Chicken Vindaloo (S$12). The curry house’s speciality sat in a puddle of spicy gravy. The boneless chicken was exceptionally sweet and succulent, and we mopped the bowl clean of any gravy with the Cheese & Garlic Naan (S$4.50) that is fresh and fluffy from the oven. The Peroni (S$12.90) – a light and pleasant Italian beer with a subtle hint of sweet malt – is the perfect marriage with the Chicken Vindaloo, and leaves you salivating for more. By the way, back to the Chicken 65, we dunked the chunks in to the Vindaloo and boy, were they greater than good!

The Palak Paneer (S$9), cottage cheese cubes in a Spinach puree, is not the most visually appealing dish, and probably not something that will catch your attention immediately, but it is one dish that will grow on you with every spoonful. The sheer creaminess is the brilliant blend of the sweetness of the spinach and richness of the cheese, and as much as we loved it with our naan, it is really quite a pleasure to savour it on its own. Probably a dish that would stay on our list of favourites and one that we would order with every patronage.

Beyond Indian curries, Pint & Curries also has a variety of other curries such as Thai curry and Malaysian Chicken Curry (S$12) in its repertoire. Expect the best of Bar Bar Black Sheep’s North Indian and Thai kitchens at Pint & Curries.

The Thai dishes such as Green Thai Curry Chicken (S$12), Tom Yum Goong (S$12), and Green Thai Curry Prawn (S$12) are worthy mentions, too. Tom Yum Goong is a dish that represents absolute comfort, and if you are nursing a hangover, there is nothing quite like this spicy Thai soup to jolt you up.

If you are having dinner here, or simply feeling peckish after clubbing, or if a Tom Yum Goong is not enough to treat that hangover, go for the Chicken Biryani (S$12) or Kway Teow Goreng (S$8). Other staples include Nasi Goreng and Mee Goreng. Yes, you can have them all here without having to drive out to the nearest prata shop in your drunken stupor.

Pint & Curries offers a collection of craft beers and ciders, including Brewdog Punk IPA, Little Creatures Pale Ale, Peroni, or Rekorderlig Cider, which are priced at S$10.90 each during happy hours (from opening till 10pm), and S$12.90 after happy hours.

For the ladies, Wednesday is a good time to drop by Pint & Curries. It has a special ladies’ night promotion of S$6 for a Somersby Pear Cocktail.

Another excellent deal is the P&C Hump Day Combo where you get a choice of naan or rice, any curry (except seafood), and a pint of Kronenbourg 1664 Banc or Carlsberg for only S$19.90.

For the latest updates, like Pint & Curries on facebook and follow them on Instagram.

Pint & Curries
#01-14, Clarke Quay
3D River Valley Road
Tel: +65 6337 4616
Daily: 7pm – 4am
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

This post is brought to you by Pint & Curries.

Curry fish head, like chilli crab or chicken rice, is one of the iconic dishes in Singapore. When it comes to curry fish, one would immediately think of the famous places like The Banana Leaf Apolo, Muthu’s Curry, and of course, Samy’s Curry Restaurant.

I do not know what took me so long to try Samy’s Curry, but I finally did one night when my dining companion and I could not decide what to have for dinner. And oh boy, I wondered why I never had it earlier.

I like the fact that Samy’s Curry Restaurant is located in Dempsey – one of the most popular dining enclaves in Singapore – but unlike most of the places there that are overpriced yet often under-delivers, it serves good Indian food at affordable prices.

If you are dining in a big group, you can share a curry fish head ($18 for small, $26 for medium) and get several ala carte items – butter chicken ($8 for small, $12 for big), black squid ($7 for small, $10 for big), chicken tikka ($8 for small, $12 for big) – from the menu.

If you just want something light, you can have rice and order individual portions of the dishes. Rice is being served on a banana leaf with two complimentary vegetarian side dishes and papadum. Alternatively, you can also have nasi briyani or naan topped with garlic, butter, or cheese ($2.80).

Given that many mediocre restaurants and eateries serve their fish head curry for prices ranging from $20 upwards, I feel that Samy Curry’s Restaurant is undeniably one of the more value for money options. We shared a small fish head, and it was more than enough for the two of us. The sauce is tangy, not too spicy and packs a punch. And I like that it leaves a pleasant after taste in your mouth.

Samy Curry’s is definitely the place if you do not have an adventurous palate but would like to have a go at Indian cuisine. It is also a place where I would bring my overseas friends to enjoy an authentic Indian feast.

Samy’s Curry Restaurant
25A Dempsey Road
Tanglin Village (Dempsy Hill Green)
Tel: +65 6472 2080
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
(Closed on Tue)

* * * Now closed * * *

My fourth, her third, another’s second, and many others first. Our common love for food. That’s how it all began. At the heart of East-Meet-West. Persimmon.

Kopitiam, the symbolic of our local heartlands. The place where everybody grew up sipping their milo & coffee, where everybody settled their three meals when their mother was on strike, and the gateway to many delicious heritage hawker food.

Persimmon is quintessentially a swanky and upmarket kopitiam, retaining the traditional feel by using the classic kopitiam furnitures and floor tiles. The furnishings were a combination between comtemporary and rustic. And not to mention her location is right in the middle of Tiong Bahru, with the shophouses and kopitiam lining side by side.

Choices of desserts pick from a la carte buffet. Bread pudding, carrot cake, mango pudding, panna cotta, chocolate mousse. For the discerning us, perhaps only the carrot cake made the cut.

The kong ba bao (stewed pork belly) was way off my radar. The bun was hard and dry, the meat was not fatty enough, and lacked the delicious gravy. And oh ya, it wasn’t part of our menu, but was under the a la carte buffet offered.

Inspired by NoSignBoard white pepper crab, Persimmon white pepper Crabcake is all about that. Enjoyed the white pepper “crab”, no doubt in the form of crabcake, without any hassle. Under the sunny weather, the crab was toned prefectly brown, with a crisp-cross shell, and savoury meat within. Adiós

The crown of Persimmon. Hainanese Chicken Salad. Featured in almost all the media publications, there isn’t any excuse for you to miss this dish. The concept is simple, Singaporeans loved their chicken rice, but dreaded the calories. So what do you do? Remove the rice, throw in some greens, and voila! Singapore’s very own Hainanese chicken salad. Poach chicken, fresh local herbs & mesclun greens, rise crisps, and special dressing.

Tomato base pasta? Boring! How about our rich cream base instead? I hate cream! Right, why not try our Linguine laksa leaf Pesto? Specially created for your exquisite taste buds, the laksa infused linguine will definitely blow you away with its unique taste. Think laksa, but swop the thick rice noodles with pasta. Some felt that the laksa leaf was too heavy and overwhelm the whole dish. On the other hand, i thought the pasta was perfectly fine. Innovative with a big I.

Mixed blonds (fusion) are interesting in some ways, and the 8 treasures certainly roused my curiosity. Three mushrooms, two nuts, chinese sausage, parmesan cheese and risotto. What happens when Italian Risotto combine with the 8 treasures? You get the 8 treasure Risotto! The intial impression was Glutinous rice, but it was way better. I need to be honest, i couldn’t taste all of you. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter, you are all mine!

Staying true with the principle of fusion food, we have the European-style steak meeting heads on with our Asian carrot cake. The grilled ribeye with “chye tao kueh” carrot cake is bound to make your eyes popped out. The carrot cake was fried with XO and balsamic, with the latter providing a sour taste. A vast contrast with the steak. Not everyone could accepted sour carrot cake with steak though. Aspiring combination, but somehow failed to sizzle with the seemingly weird taste.

Eaten alone, the Slow poached salmon with zuchinni ribbons didn’t come as tender as we thought it will. But dipped in the green curry sauce, the fish went through a make-over in the taste department. There was cucumbers used in the green curry, which caught my attention. Like what one of our fellow friend say, when you don’t understand, just say “fusion!”

Our humble Otak is given a upmarket transformation by going créme brulée. With richly flavoured spicy kaffir lime & coconut used as the main ingredients, there was fish mousse hidden beneath the otak. The otak creme brulee is a very creative fusion dish indeed, but the experiement could perhaps be better. Some of us found the otak to be too watery, and maybe it’s meant to be this way. But is créme brulée ever so soggy?

There was a slight tweak to the menu compared to the one i previously shown. And the cost per person was 20 dollar nett, which everybody agreed was a reasonable price given we managed to try a variety of food. I hope everybody enjoyed their meal, and see you all at the next LIC food outing! We had 27 people for this outing, which was quite a healthy figure.

Well, like what some of you mentioned, it was a case of hits and misses, fusion food is pretty much an experiment between the Asian and Western cuisines, and it was certainly interesting to try some food which we’ll never get to try elsewhere.

And not to forget, LIC outing is all about the fun, joy and laughter during the event, and getting to know more friends. I’ll also like to take the opportunity to thank Helena and Sharon, the co-owners of Persimmon for having us there.

Do add me on facebook, if you missed the links earlier.

Read Jaime-la-nourriture chinese post on the outing here

For those who missed this Persimmon outing, you can get the best discounts when you mentioned ladyironchef while you are at Persimmon. So do go down and give the fusion food a try.