Indian restaurants we loved reviewing!

Craving Indian food? There’s some divine Indian cuisine in Singapore, and the EL team recently sampled everything from butter chicken and gajar ka halwa to pani puri and paneer tikka. Read our reviews of three of the best Indian restaurants in Singapore, including one near Orchard Road. Trust us, these spots will spice up your life!

Indian cuisine in Singapore

SanSara Authentic North Indian Restaurant at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore

SanSara is an elegant spot that knows how to deliver a memorable night out. The atmosphere is calm, stylish and well suited to an evening with friends or a date night, and the riverfront setting adds to the sense of occasion.

The meal began with a lovely scallop amuse bouche, lightly seared and spiced with turmeric and ginger. Appetisers followed and completely won me over: a green pea cake scented with cardamom, and juicy chicken bites marinated in yoghurt and chilli. I could happily have had another round of both – they were that good.

For mains, a lobster dish with coconut cream and fenugreek was rich and indulgent, while the lamb shank curry carried deep, fiery flavours true to its Rajasthani roots. Lighter notes came through in a vegetable dish with asparagus and water chestnuts, and saffron rice with cashews rounded everything off beautifully. Even the bread was memorable: naan with olive and goat cheese, an excellent twist on something so familiar.

Dessert kept things traditional with gajar ka halwa, served warm with ice cream – sweet, spiced and very satisfying. What really elevated the evening was the presentation of the Indian food. Every plate looked considered, with bright colours, precise plating and finishing touches of edible flowers that made you pause before tucking in. I haven’t seen North Indian cuisine presented quite this way, and it left a real impression.

Karin Galley

392 Havelock Road
8168 1563 | 6233 1338 | millenniumhotels.com/id/singapore/grand-copthorne-waterfront/sansara

Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant near Orchard Road

Shahi Maharani has been a favourite of the EL team for many years, so my hand went up pretty quickly when it came to review time. It has just reopened after a renovation. While the traditional theme remains, there’s a new sparkle and a few new starters.

We took a while to choose and ordered a couple of virgin cocktails – a Shirley Temple and a Mojito – to help us decide. They do have alcohol too, of course, and a great selection of wines.

From the starters, we narrowed it down to three and were very happy with the choice: Stuffed Tandoori Mushrooms, filled with spiced vegetables and grilled to a smoky finish; Paneer Tikka, grilled and laced with a marinade; and, probably my favourite, the Avocado Galouti Kebab – crispy, pan-seared avo mash with a touch of cheese and spices. Divine!

For mains, we had to have butter chicken with garlic and butter naan. We also tried a fish kebab and a cauliflower and vegetable curry with saffron rice. All were great.

These choices came from the à la carte menu, but there are also buffet lunches and set lunches. There’s usually a one-for-one offer, too, so keep an eye on the website (shahimaharani.com/promotions). Being at Raffles City means it’s great for business lunches and after-work sessions; it also caters for events and dinner parties.

This Indian restaurant near Orchard Road also does takeaways. In fact, Jacqui from our team ordered from Shahi Maharani most Sunday nights for over 24 years; she’s now living in Dubai and is very sad she hasn’t found anything like it!

Rebecca Bisset

#03-21B Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road
6235 8840 | shahimaharani.com

Amrith by The Song of India for Indian food on Racecourse Road

The Song of India was a Michelin-starred mainstay in the Scotts Road colonial houses for 15 years, and it has now set up a brand-new concept on Racecourse Road.

The restaurant is located over three floors: the ground level is Indian Saaga, a colourful, halal-certified and family friendly eatery; Amrith on the second floor is casual yet sophisticated with a black-and-white colonial feel; and the third floor is Varq, a private dining space for 14.

The kitchen is helmed by Chef Mural serving up North Indian-inspired menus, and there’s a full floor-to-ceiling bar on the middle level turning out excellent cocktails that pair really well with the Indian food.

We started with pani puri – light, crunchy and cooling. A mixed sizzling platter of fish, chicken and lamb from the tandoor was full of flavour with just the right amount of char. A slow-cooked black lentil dhal was unbelievably creamy, and the chicken and prawn masala curries were perfect with the saffron rice. The highlight, however, was the Kashmiri lamb rack, infused with cardamom and pepper, melt-in-the-mouth tender.

A beautiful disc of frozen malai kulfi made a perfect ending – presented with a swirl of saffron and pistachio. Not too big, it was almost an iced palate cleanser.

Nothing was too rich; the spices were distinct and balanced. You can see how Chef Mural earned that Michelin star, and his vision for this new venue is very exciting.

Danielle Rossetti

38A Race Course Road
9730 9725 | FB @amrithbythesongofindia

This article on Indian restaurants in Singapore first appeared in the November 2025 edition of Expat Living. Purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!

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