[ Food Review – When better to have Indian cuisine than during CNY? ] Since yours truly isn’t celebrating the festive season this year, we got to be a little more flexible with our food choices. As much as I adore Chinese food, having a whopping 6 reservations at Asia Grand before the holidays was taking a bit of a toll.
Since we wanted something fairly casual but didn’t want to contend with the heat, we ended up at Karu’s Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant. (If they sound familiar, they used to be one of my fam’s staple to-go places, and I’ve covered them multiple times prior!)
Managing to get into the queue before peak dinner hour, our wait time was only around ten mins. Which was a relief because as soon as we were seated, the queue grew to a half-hour wait, meaning that already sparse parking was just non-existent, yikes.
Dining at Karu’s means that regardless of your order, you will be served with free flow rice, papadam (dangerous, I know), curry sauce (chicken/fish), and two veg (this round’s was cabbage and pumpkin). So even if you’re fine with a small protein, you can still easily eat your fill with their “complimentary” options!
The one dish my fam always needs to get here is their Curry Fish Head ($28/$38/$41). A long-time signature, their fish head curry takes inspiration from the dish’s origins – here’s a fun fact: it’s a dish invented in SG, brought over by a Keralan! – and thus retains a thinner, tangier sauce. The fish is always fresh, and they actually serve you both sides of the head! (I never knew some places only serve half?!)
Typically, a small would be fine for two, but if you’ve ravenous dining companions, skip the medium and go for the large. You’re welcome!
To supplement our main, we ordered a serving of Chicken 65 ($7/$12/$14), and finally decided to try their Prawn Masala ($8.50/pc)!
Not a fan of C65 in general, but I appreciated how theirs wasn’t lathered in thick batter, and had a nice mix of spices to alleviate and elevate the fry. The tiger prawns were pretty good too – for their size alone, I’d give them the green light despite the prawns not being the freshest; but add on the hearty, rich masala, the dish really shines!
I ordered :
💕Fish Head Curry (small).
But it's actually really huge fish head 😆. The fish head gravy rich, flavourful, quite lemak,and the fish is fresh.
💰$26.
💕Chicken sheehk Kebab.
My first time tried this, and I like it. It's full with flavour fr spices and not dry.
💰$14.
💕Chicken 65.
The chicken a bit dry, with a hint of Spicy. Can skip this one.
💰$7.
For biryani rice, three of us only eat one pax, coz they really give a lot of rice. And can add on the appalam. One huge big plastic full with it,and only $3.5.
I ordered it from oddle, the link is this
https://karus.oddle.me/en_SG.
They have promotion $8 off delivery fee is order above $45.
📍Karu's Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant.
808 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Always been satisfied with Karu’s fish head curry when I’ve had the pleasure of trying it and today was the first time I actually dined in. I think they used a red snapper head and the meat was soft, tender and perfectly cooked. I could do with a bit more of a punch from the curry, but it’s good enough for the price you pay!
Every Tuesday, this shop is having 50% off fish head curry must go eat okay!!! $13.80 just for this big whole head fish. So much juicy meat and curry is on point. Papadam with curry sauce is like cookie and milk. Garlic nan was nice too. Prawn, abit overcook plus abit expensive 2 prawn for $14. More ex than fish head. 😅 I still love this place. Always eat paper tosai here with mango lasi or milk tea. #shiok #dontsaybojio #foodkinggood #fishheadcurry #sgfood #burpple #igsg
A firm favourite among Bukit Panjang and Bukit Timah families, Karu's has been that dependable spot for banana leaf cravings for years. Having moved recently from its spot in Upper Bukit Timah to its new digs in Sime Darby Centre (above ToTT, across from King Albert Park), fans will be glad to know that the food has not changed one bit. When you sit down, you will have a banana leaf laid out in front of you, and an option of white or biryani rice. We much prefer their light and fragrant biryani rice over their white. They will also ask if you'd like fish or chicken curry gravy — we recommend getting both. To order your dishes, go to the window to point and pick. Don't miss the popular Chicken Masala that every table orders, and their Mutton Mysore for those who love a good spicy hit. The Curry Sotong is also a crowd favourite, and consider their satisfying Fish Head Curry (get a small for 3-4 pax) to share, it's affordable and one of the better ones around. Pro tip: If you're coming by for takeaway, remember that their rice portions are epic, so order two packs for five people — it's more than enough.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Kenny Kung
because the weather calls for it. fish head curry is without saying here at karu's but their side dish of masala chicken and curry sotong are also a must-order. briyani rice, accompanying free flow two soft veg and the shiokest of all, free flow papadum!
