The classic dishes to try in Little India range from crisp South Indian thosai and vadai to rich biryani and fish head curry. Most are good value, and many are vegetarian. This list gives you a line on each, so you know what to order.
Start at Tekka Centre, the area's hawker centre, or at one of the South Indian restaurants nearby. Many places have picture menus, and staff are used to first-time visitors.
South Indian breakfast and snack dishes
These are light, cheap and often eaten in the morning. Most come with sambar, a lentil and vegetable stew, and coconut chutney. South Indian restaurants such as Komala Vilas and Saravanaa Bhavan are easy places to start.
Thosai
Thosai, also spelled dosa, is a thin, crisp pancake made from fermented rice and lentil batter. Order a masala thosai for a filling of spiced potato. A paper thosai is extra thin and very long.
Idli
Idli are soft, steamed rice cakes made from a similar batter. They taste mild, so dip them in sambar and chutney.
Vadai
Vadai are fried lentil snacks. The doughnut-shaped kind is soft inside. The flatter kind is crunchier, with bits of lentil, onion and curry leaves.
Putu mayam
Putu mayam are small nests of thin rice noodles. You eat them with grated coconut and brown sugar.
Breads to tear and dip
Roti prata
Roti prata is a flaky, pan-fried flatbread served with curry for dipping. Try a plain one first, then an egg prata. Locals also order it with cheese, onion or banana. Find more places on our prata page.
Murtabak
Murtabak is a large prata stuffed with minced meat, onion and egg. It is cut into squares and served with curry. One is enough to share.
Chapati and naan
Chapati is a soft, thin wholemeal bread cooked on a hot plate. Naan is a thicker bread baked in a clay oven called a tandoor. Look for naan, tandoori chicken and rich gravies at North Indian places such as Khansama Tandoori.
Rice and curry dishes in Little India
Biryani
Biryani is long-grain rice cooked with spices and served with chicken or mutton. It often comes with curry and raita, a cool yoghurt side. Bismillah Biryani focuses on this dish, and our biryani page lists more.
Fish head curry
Fish head curry is a Singapore favourite. A large fish head is cooked in a tangy, spicy curry with okra and aubergine, then shared at the table. Muthu's Curry on Race Course Road serves it. See our fish head curry page for more options.
Banana leaf rice
Rice, vegetables, pickles and crackers are served on a banana leaf, with curry poured on top. Staff often come round with refills. Our guide to banana leaf rice in Little India explains how the meal works.
Indian rojak and other street snacks
Indian rojak is a plate of fritters, such as battered potato, egg, prawn fritters, tofu and fish cake. You point at the pieces you want. The stall heats them up, cuts them into pieces and adds a thick, sweet and spicy dipping sauce. It is different from Chinese rojak, which is a fruit and vegetable salad.
Indian mee goreng is another hawker classic. It is yellow noodles fried with egg, potato, tomato and chilli, for a sweet and spicy taste.
Sweets and drinks to finish
- Teh tarik: sweet milk tea, poured between two cups to make it frothy.
- Masala tea: milk tea brewed with spices such as ginger and cardamom.
- Mango lassi: a cold yoghurt drink blended with mango.
- Gulab jamun: soft fried dough balls soaked in sweet syrup.
- Jalebi: bright orange spirals of fried batter in syrup.
Indian sweet shops sell sweets by weight or by the piece, so you can try a few small ones.
For a wider list of local food, read our Singapore food guide. More ideas for the area are in our Little India neighbourhood guides.
FAQs about dishes to try in Little India
Is the food in Little India very spicy?
Some dishes are, but many are mild. Thosai, idli and plain prata are gentle. A mango lassi or yoghurt helps if a curry is too hot.
Is there vegetarian food in Little India?
Yes, plenty. Thosai, idli, vadai and vegetable curries are meat-free, and many restaurants in the area are fully vegetarian.
Where can I eat cheaply in Little India?
Tekka Centre has many hawker stalls with low prices. A prata or thosai set is one of the cheapest filling meals in the area.
Should I eat with my hands?
You can, as many locals do, using your right hand only. Cutlery is usually available if you ask.
