Keep this humble eatery on Chander Road in mind for simple authentic South Indian cuisine. Expect a mountain of free-flow rice, curried vegetables, chutney and papadum. Dishes to order include their Dal with Green Pepper and Brinjal, Mutton Rendang and Tumeric Fried Fish (~$7 per pax with meats!). While most diners here eat with their right hand, utensils are available upon request if you prefer. Pro tip: To avoid queuing, come for late lunches (around 2pm) or early dinners (6pm).
Photo by Burppler Christine Tanod
This nondescript Chander Road joint (a short walk from Little India MRT station) is a tad more off the beaten tourist track than nearby Banana Leaf Apolo, which basically means lower prices and more authentic vibes! When we visited just past noon on a Friday, the place was throbbing with Indian families and the working class, many of whom stayed only long enough to greedily scarf down their meal. If you fancy staying for a leisure meal without feeling compelled to give up your spot, head here for a late lunch (around 2pm) or an early dinner (6pm), before the queues begin. There's no price menu here — after they lay out your banana leaf with a scoop of curried vegetables, sambar and chilli chutney, servers come around with free-flow rice and trays piled high with bowls of dishes. Pick what you fancy without fear that it'll cost a bomb at the end. Our meal for three, including a fried fish fillet, a curry fish fillet, curry chicken and spicy prawns worked out to only $29.30 in total. We weren't crazy about the curry fish (even though the gravy was delicious) but the rest were delicious, especially the turmeric fried fish. Pro tip: Most eat sans utensils (right hand only!) but cutlery is provided upon request.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Leigh Khoo
