From delicious tikka and tandoori to veggie curries and authentic Bengali food, the Expat Living team had a feast reviewing these Indian restaurants (including one in the heart of Little India). It was tough but we survived to tell our tales! If you have a penchant for Indian cuisine, don’t miss these spots.
Two of the best Indian restaurants in Singapore
Shahi Maharani
A beloved name on Singapore’s food scene since 1997, Shahi Maharani is where you’ll find authentic North Indian delights. Tucked away in Raffles City Shopping Centre, it’s a snug retreat adorned with charming décor reminiscent of the royal palaces of India. What’s more, the menu features a treasure trove of unforgettable Indian food.
Our culinary adventure at Shahi Maharani started with something new to me – panipuri ($16). This popular street snack consists of crispy, hollow puris filled with potatoes and chickpeas. You’re given the fun task of pouring mint or tamarind water over them right at your table. The result is a melt-in-themouth sensation that’s dangerously moreish.
Next up was the tandoori milawat ($45), a sizzling mixed grill platter loaded with tandoori goodness. The smoky flavours from the clay oven made every bite a delight. And let’s not forget the Bengali fish curry ($34) – it was simply divine. Bhindi masala ($25), a mix of okra and spices, and the fragrant Kashmiri pilau ($18) with fruits and nuts were amazing companions to the meal.
To wrap up this delightful feast at this magnificent Indian restaurant in Singapore, we had not one, but two heavenly sweet treats: the rasmalai ($12) consisted of soft cottage cheese dumplings swimming in subtly flavoured milk, and the “Nutty Delight” ($12) was a mix of pistachios, almonds and cashews folded into creamy vanilla ice cream. A perfect ending to an incredible meal.
With its inviting ambience and mouth-watering dishes, it’s no wonder this place has a special spot in the hearts of food lovers in Singapore. This is easily among the best North Indian cuisine I have ever tasted!
Karin Galley
#03-21B Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road (Level 3, Fairmont Singapore)
shahimaharani.com | 6235 8840
GupShup
We’d been looking forward to dining with Chef Jolly at GupShup since the last exceptional meal we’d enjoyed at one of his other eateries. And we weren’t disappointed!
This Indian restaurant is in the basement of Serangoon House, a luxury hotel by Marriott Bonvoy, located in Little India in Singapore. Arriving felt like stepping into a secret, intimate hideaway. Our host Theva gave us a warm welcome and provided impeccable service throughout, striking that perfect balance between being attentive without being intrusive.
Settling into plush seats at tables in alcoves, we were faced with an incredible array of food choices. We decided on the “Top of the Chaats” sampler ($49) – a selection of three chaats – and the signature kebab board ($79). The latter includes malai chicken tikka, tandoori chicken and seekh lamb kebab.
We shared the dahi lotus papdi chaat ($17), a lotus crisp and crushed sweet potato topped with yoghurt and pomegranate-mint sauce, and the green apple bhel chaat ($15), tossed puffed rice and roasted lentils with tangy chutney and green apple bits. Another highlight was the dahi poori. Chef specially prepared this for us when we mentioned we had eaten it elsewhere. The blend of textures and flavours – tangy-sweet, crispy-crunchy, creamy-refreshing – opened our palates.
Despite different cooking styles, both chicken dishes on the kebab board were tender and moist, having been marinated in yoghurt. The lamb skewer surprised us with its delicate flavour – my partner doesn’t usually eat lamb but conceded a piece of malai tikka to me for another portion of lamb skewer.
The classic Delhi butter chicken ($45) at this Indian restaurant was recommended as a main dish and we can understand why. It’s rich and flavourful without being overpowering – we paired it with some fluffy and soft naans.
The portions are generous, so sadly we didn’t have space for dessert. However, we were more than satisfied with our creamy sweet lassi ($14), which is blended in-house with a generous serving of yoghurt and cardamom.
If you want to have more mains, we suggest having only one chaat and one small plate for starters. Or come back to this stunning Indian restaurant another time, which we plan to do with friends!
Patricea Chow
Basement, Serangoon House Hotel, 301 Serangoon Road
6797 2850 | reservations@gupshup.com
gupshup.sg
This article on Indian cuisine and Indian restaurants in Singapore first appeared in the November 2023 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
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