Marmaris Restaurant

Marmaris Restaurant is a casual Arabic eatery at 111 Dunlop Street in Little India. It is known for shawarma wraps and big plates of mandi, kabsa and biryani rice, served fast and at modest prices.

The set-up is simple. Two vertical rotisseries turn the shawarma meat, and staff build wraps and plates at a counter, a bit like a sandwich bar. The menu mixes Arabic grills and rice dishes with a few South Asian touches, such as biryani and payasam.

What to order

Most people come for the shawarma. You can pick chicken, mutton or a mix of both, wrapped in Arabic bread or a long bun. The wraps come with tahini, garlic mayonnaise and hot sauce. There are also shawarma platters and a shawarma mandi rice.

• Mandi and kabsa: spiced rice dishes topped with chicken, mutton, lamb shank, fish or hamour (grouper).
• Biryani: chicken, mutton, lamb, fish and prawn versions. The chicken biryani comes with fried onions, raisins and a boiled egg, plus curry and raita on the side.
• Al faham: chicken grilled slowly with herbs, sold as a half or whole bird, with bread, salad and garlic sauce.
• Something heavier: lamb shank stew or an Arabian-style fried fish.

Vegetarians can make a meal of the falafel sandwich, falafel platters, hummus and muthabbal, a smoky aubergine dip. For dessert there is kunafe, a crisp pastry filled with cheese, as well as layali lubnan, umm ali and payasam. Drinks include karak tea, fresh carrot juice, tender coconut, green tea and coffee.

The setting

Marmaris has two floors. The ground floor is small and sits close to the open grill, so it can feel warm. Upstairs is an air-conditioned dining room with wooden tables, Moroccan-style lanterns, fairy lights and green patterned wallpaper. Arabic music plays in the background. It is a relaxed, no-frills place that suits families, groups and solo diners alike.

Good to know before you go

• You can ask for a table through the booking form on the Marmaris website, and the team will contact you to confirm.
• Delivery and takeaway orders can be placed online through Oddle.
• Shawarma and falafel sandwiches are quick to make, so they work well as a light lunch between sights.
• The whole menu is on the website, so you can plan your order before you arrive.

Nearby

Dunlop Street is in the heart of Little India. After your meal, you can visit the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple on Serangoon Road or go shopping at Mustafa Centre. For Indian food in the same area, try Lagnaa Barefoot Dining or Gayatri Restaurant. Our list of dishes to try in Little India has more ideas. You can also browse all restaurants in Little India and Jalan Besar or more burgers, Mexican and other international food.