Al-Azhar Eating Restaurant

Al-Azhar Eating Restaurant is a casual, long-running eatery on Cheong Chin Nam Road in Upper Bukit Timah, across Upper Bukit Timah Road from Beauty World MRT station. It serves Indian food from both the north and the south, along with Malay and local favourites. Many Singaporeans know it best as a place for a late-night meal.

It has been open since 2003. The restaurant sits in a row of shophouses and keeps long hours, so it draws crowds both day and night. Its tagline, "A taste of home", sums up the appeal: a very long menu of familiar food at low prices.

What to order

Roti prata is the classic choice. The flaky, pan-fried flatbread comes plain, with egg, with cheese and in other versions, with curry on the side for dipping. Murtabak is the bigger meal. It is a stuffed, pan-fried bread filled with meat and egg. The chicken cheese murtabak is a large, crisp-edged portion that is easy to share.

From the tandoor oven, there is tandoori chicken, which you can order as a whole bird for the table. Fish tikka and naan are other good picks. Among the curries, palak paneer is a popular choice. It is a smooth spinach curry with cubes of Indian cheese, and it goes well with naan or rice.

Thosai masala is a South Indian favourite. It is a thin, crisp crêpe made from rice and lentils, filled with spiced potato. It makes a good meat-free meal.

The menu also reaches beyond Indian food. You will find nasi goreng, or fried rice, and Maggi goreng, which is spicy fried instant noodles. Roti john is a toasted baguette topped with egg and minced meat. There are seafood dishes and Chinese-style zi char plates too, so mixed groups should all find something they like.

The setting

Expect a simple, coffee shop-style setting with plain tables and quick service. It is not a place for a quiet, formal dinner. The room gets busy and loud at peak times, especially late in the evening, when supper crowds arrive.

Good to know before you go

• Late meals: it is one of the area's best-known supper spots. Our late-night food guide has more ideas.
• Budget: most dishes cost little, so it is easy to order several plates and share. See our tips on eating cheaply in Singapore.
• Meat-free options: palak paneer and thosai masala are good choices. Ask staff about ingredients if you follow a strict diet.
• Portions: murtabak and whole tandoori chicken are large, so order them to share.

Nearby

Upper Bukit Timah is close to some of Singapore's best nature. Before or after a meal, walk the trails at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve or follow the green Rail Corridor. For more Indian food, Karu's Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant serves rice meals on banana leaves along Upper Bukit Timah Road. Near Beauty World, Pohang Seafood & Butchery offers Korean food.

You can also browse more Indian restaurants or see all restaurants in Upper Bukit Timah.