Quick answer: The best restaurants in Little India, Singapore span old-school chapati shops and lively North Indian grills. Banana Leaf Apolo owns the fish head curry conversation, Azmi Restaurant has been flipping chapatis since 1947, and Zam Zam serves murtabak that draws a queue down North Bridge Road. Vegetarians walk straight to Komala Vilas for dosas on a banana leaf, while Mr Biryani keeps it simple with one thing done properly: Hyderabadi dum biryani.
Little India is a few things at once: a working neighbourhood, a Sunday afternoon gathering spot, and the place you end up when a random craving for something deep-fried and spiced hits at 10 pm. The seven spots below have fed generations of Singaporeans, and they still show up day after day. Some have air-con. Some do not. All of them understand their job.
The Banana Leaf Apolo
Since 1974, The Banana Leaf Apolo has been the name people drop when someone asks where to get fish head curry in Singapore. The flagship outlet sits at 48 Serangoon Road, inside Little India Arcade, though you will also spot them at 54 Race Course Road. They serve South Indian food the way it was meant to be eaten: on a fresh banana leaf, with your hands, no pretence.
That fish head curry is the reason tables fill up. The sauce is deep, tangy, and just oily enough to carry the spices. They also do a chicken biryani, mutton masala, and a palak paneer that vegetarians return for. The banana leaf does something to the meal—keeps it warm, adds a faint green scent, makes you eat a little slower.
If you are bringing someone who has never eaten Indian food outside a food court, start here. The portions are generous, the staff will help you order if you look lost, and the whole thing feels like a proper sit-down meal without being stiff.
Address: 48 Serangoon Road, #01-32 Little India Arcade, Singapore 217959
Phone: +65 6333 6111
Hours: Daily, 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
The Banana Leaf Apolo
Azmi Restaurant
Older folks still call it “Norris Road Chapati,” and that tells you most of what you need to know. Azmi Restaurant has been on Serangoon Road since 1947, doing one thing reliably: chapati and keema, hot and cheap. The shop is no-frills—you come, you eat, you leave happy.
The chapatis are rolled and cooked to order, soft and slightly blistered from the tawa. Order them with mutton keema, chicken masala, or a fish curry that tastes like it has been simmering since morning. They also do a solid chana masala and aloo gobi if you are keeping it meat-free. A full meal here runs lighter on the wallet than almost anywhere else in the area, which is why students and taxi drivers fill the tables alongside families.
Go on a weekday morning, around 9 am, when the first batch of chapatis hits the counter and the restaurant smells like ghee and fresh dough. That is the Azmi experience, no filter needed. Nobody paid to appear here. If you think there is a gap in this list, we would rather hear about it than not.
Address: 168 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 218051
Phone: +65 9428 0203
Hours: Daily, 8 AM – 10:30 PM
Azmi Restaurant
For a wider look at the neighbourhood food scene, our guide to Indian Restaurants in Little India, Singapore has more options to explore.
Khansama Tandoori Restaurant
Khansama opened in 1999 on a busy stretch of Serangoon Road and has been packing the alfresco tables ever since. This is North Indian cooking with a Punjabi tilt—big flavours, tandoor smoke, and a menu that runs past 300 items. If you cannot decide what to eat, the Hyderabad Chicken Dum Biryani is where most people land.
The dum biryani arrives sealed, the rice stained yellow and orange from saffron and spice. Underneath, chicken pieces have been marinated and slow-cooked until they fall apart. The Tandoori Chicken gets charred edges that taste of the clay oven, and the Butter Chicken is the kind of creamy, mildly sweet curry that converts picky eaters. Vegetarians have proper options too: Paneer Tikka with a good smoky char, and a stuffed eggplant dish called Bharwan Masala Baingani that is worth ordering even if you normally avoid brinjal.
They stay open until 1 am, which makes them a proper late-night option when the hunger hits after a movie or a late shift. Grab an outdoor table, let the soft Indian music play in the background, and order one more naan than you think you need.
Address: 166 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 218050
Phone: +65 6299 0300
Hours: Daily, 10 AM – 1 AM
Khansama Tandoori Restaurant
If you are up for exploring beyond Little India, check out the Indian Restaurants in Singapore that made our wider city list.
Komala Vilas
Komala Vilas has been vegetarian since before vegetarian was trendy. Founded in 1947 by Mr. Murugiah Rajoo, the restaurant sits at 76–78 Serangoon Road and is one of the few places in Singapore to hold the Heritage Brand recognition. The dining room moves fast—waiters in white, banana leaves on steel trays, a rhythm that has not changed in decades.
Come for the Masala Dosa, a long, crisp crepe folded around spiced potatoes, with sambar and coconut chutney on the side. The Idli Sambar is pillowy and comforting. Uttapam arrives thick and golden, studded with onion and green chilli. Everything lands on a banana leaf, and the meal ends with a stop at the sweet shop next door for Mysore Pak or a sticky, syrup-soaked Jalebi.
This is the spot for a solo breakfast when you want something warm and substantial before the city wakes up, or a Sunday family lunch where no one has to negotiate over meat dishes. The prices are fair, the turnover is high, and the dosa batter never sits around long enough to go sour. Nobody paid to appear here. If you think there is a gap in this list, we would rather hear about it than not.
Address: 76–78 Serangoon Road, Singapore 217981
Phone: +65 6293 6980
Hours: Daily, 7 AM – 10:30 PM
Komala Vilas
For more meat-free options around the district, our Vegetarian Restaurants in Little India, Singapore guide has you covered.
Zam Zam Restaurant
Since 1908, Zam Zam Restaurant has been standing across from Sultan Mosque on North Bridge Road, frying murtabak the same way. The shop front looks unchanged—tiled walls, fluorescent lights, a flat-top grill you can see from the pavement. It is Indian-Muslim cooking at its most straightforward and satisfying.
The Murtabak is the reason to queue. They stretch the dough thin, fill it with spiced minced mutton or chicken, fold it into a square parcel, and pan-fry it until the outside crackles. A squeeze of lime, a spoonful of curry on the side, and it is a meal that costs less than a café sandwich. They also do Nasi Biryani, Roti Prata, and a breakfast spread that includes Sardine Prata and Egg Prata for the early crowd.
Foodies regularly call it one of the best murtabak spots in Singapore, and the line at lunchtime backs that claim. Bring a friend, split one murtabak between you, and you will still walk away full. The atmosphere is pure old-school Kampong Glam—a short walk from Little India proper but spiritually part of the same eating circuit.
Address: 697-699 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198677
Phone: +65 6298 6320
Hours: Daily, 7 AM – 11 PM
Zam Zam Restaurant
Mr Biryani
Mr Biryani is the youngest name on this list. Chef Govinda Rajan opened the doors in 2017 on Chander Road, and within a couple of years, the shop had built a quiet reputation among people who take their biryani seriously. The focus is narrow: Hyderabadi Dum Biryani, done in the traditional slow-cooking style, with a tight menu around it.
The Hyderabad Chicken Dum Biryani is the anchor. Basmati rice and spice-marinated chicken are sealed in a pot and cooked over low heat so the grains stay separate and the meat steams tender. They also offer mutton, prawn, and vegetarian versions, each served with raita and a tangy salan on the side. The spiced battered cauliflower is a sleeper hit, and the chana masala holds its own next to the rice dishes.
This is the place for a focused dinner when you want one dish done well and a quiet table to enjoy it. The shop is simple and clean, the service is attentive without hovering, and the dum biryani tastes like someone who cares about technique. Thursday to Saturday they stay open until 10:30 PM, which is handy for a later supper.
Address: 11 Chander Road, Singapore 208807
Phone: +65 6295 0508
Hours: Sun–Wed 11 AM – 9:30 PM, Thu–Sat 11 AM – 10:30 PM
Mr Biryani
Kailash Parbat
Kailash Parbat traces its roots back to 1940s Karachi, and its Singapore outlet on Race Course Road brings that history into a bright, modern dining room. The menu sprawls across North Indian chaat, curries, biryanis, and sweets—you can pop in for a quick snack or settle in for a full meal.
The chaat section is where they show off. Pani Puri arrives with crisp shells you crack open and fill with tangy, spiced water. Bhel Puri mixes puffed rice, chutneys, and sev into something sweet, sour, and crunchy all at once. For mains, the Butter Chicken is rich without being cloying, the Palak Paneer is properly green and earthy, and the biryanis come layered and fragrant. Finish with a warm gulab jamun if you have room.
The chaat items, the broad menu, and the relaxed pace make it an easy choice for a group dinner.
Address: 76 Race Course Road, Singapore 218575
Phone: +65 6636 5545
Hours: Daily, 11 AM – 10:30 PM
Kailash Parbat
After your meal, if a sweet craving still lingers, browse our list of Must-Try Dessert Places in Singapore for something to round off the night.
How to choose
The seven restaurants here serve different moods. Think about what kind of meal you are chasing before you pick one.
North Indian or South Indian? North Indian kitchens like Khansama and Kailash Parbat lean into tandoori grills, rich curries, and wheat-based breads. South Indian spots like Banana Leaf Apolo and Komala Vilas are built around rice dishes, fermented batters, and seafood. If you want buttery naan and chicken tikka, head north. If you want crisp dosas and fish curry on a banana leaf, head south.
Meat eater or vegetarian? Komala Vilas is fully vegetarian and has been since 1947—it is the default choice for anyone avoiding meat. Kailash Parbat and Khansama both have extensive vegetarian sections alongside their meat dishes, so mixed groups can settle in easily.
Time of day matters. Azmi and Komala Vilas both open by 8 AM or earlier, perfect for breakfast. Khansama is the late-night play, with the kitchen running until 1 AM. Zam Zam does both ends of the day well, opening at 7 AM for prata breakfasts and closing at 11 PM.
Budget signals. Azmi is the wallet-friendly champ—a chapati meal with curry runs well under $10. Mr Biryani and Banana Leaf Apolo sit in the mid-range, while Kailash Parbat and Khansama can climb higher once you add breads, sides, and sweets. None of them are fine-dining prices; you are paying for food, not tablecloths.
Group or solo? Zam Zam and Azmi are ideal for a quick solo meal or a casual two-person catch-up. Khansama’s alfresco setup and Kailash Parbat’s shareable chaat menu suit larger groups better. Mr Biryani is intimate enough for a quiet dinner but can handle small families.
For an early breakfast, Azmi and Komala Vilas open at 8 AM and 7 AM respectively, so you can grab a quick chapati or dosa before the neighbourhood wakes up. If your group includes vegetarians and meat-eaters, Kailash Parbat and Khansama both handle mixed diets with separate menu sections that don’t feel like an afterthought. Several of these restaurants carry a deep sense of history—Komala Vilas is a Singapore Heritage Brand, and Zam Zam has been frying murtabak since 1908, making it one of the oldest continuously operating eateries in the area.
| Restaurant | Best Known For | Meal Type | Price Signal | Vibe | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Banana Leaf Apolo | Fish head curry | Lunch, dinner | Mid-range | Lively, sit-down | First-timers, sharing platters |
| Azmi Restaurant | Chapati & keema | Breakfast to dinner | Wallet-friendly | No-frills, old-school | Solo meals, quick bites |
| Khansama Tandoori | Hyderabad dum biryani | Lunch, late dinner | Mid to high | Lively, alfresco | Late-night groups |
| Komala Vilas | Masala dosa | Breakfast to dinner | Wallet-friendly | Heritage, fast-paced | Vegetarians, family breakfast |
| Zam Zam Restaurant | Murtabak | Breakfast to dinner | Wallet-friendly | Iconic, nostalgic | Comfort food, casual meals |
| Mr Biryani | Hyderabadi dum biryani | Lunch, dinner | Mid-range | Quiet, focused | Biryani purists, quiet dinners |
| Kailash Parbat | Chaat (pani puri, bhel puri) | Snacks, dinner | Mid-range | Bright, modern | Mixed groups, chaat lovers |
Summary
Little India packs more honest, unchanged cooking into a few streets than most neighbourhoods manage across their entire postal code. Whether you queue for a murtabak at Zam Zam, settle into a banana leaf meal at Apolo, or tear warm chapatis at Azmi, you are eating food that has meant something to this city for decades. Pick a spot, bring your appetite, and let the neighbourhood do the rest.
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Frequently asked questions
Which restaurant in Little India is best for fish head curry?
The Banana Leaf Apolo is the go-to for fish head curry. They have been serving it since 1974 on fresh banana leaves at their Serangoon Road outlets.
Where can I find affordable Indian breakfast in Little India?
Azmi Restaurant and Komala Vilas both open early—Azmi at 8 AM for chapatis and keema, Komala Vilas at 7 AM for dosas and idlis. Both are gentle on the wallet.
Are there good vegetarian options on this list?
Yes. Komala Vilas is entirely vegetarian and has been since 1947. Kailash Parbat and Khansama also have strong vegetarian sections covering chaat, paneer dishes, and biryanis.
Which restaurant stays open the latest?
Khansama Tandoori Restaurant closes at 1 AM daily, making it the latest option for a proper North Indian meal after hours.
What is the most famous dish at Zam Zam Restaurant?
The Murtabak is what Zam Zam is known for. It is a stuffed, pan-fried flatbread filled with spiced minced mutton or chicken, served with curry on the side.
Is Mr Biryani suitable for a quiet dinner?
Yes. Mr Biryani on Chander Road has a focused, intimate setup that works well for a quiet meal centred around their Hyderabadi Dum Biryani.