Little India is hands down one of my favourite places to go in Singapore. And why’s that you say? The FOOD, duh. Oh god THE FOOD. The first meal I ate in Little India aged nineteen is seared on my memory — it was a very bare bones banana leaf place where endless scoops of different curries, sauces and curd were heaped in little mounds across my vast green leaf. I loved every minute.
On Saturday myself and some of the media from Asia-Pacific were very kindly taken to Cocotte, a French restaurant in Little India, for lunch. I looked sadly down at my menu of croque-monsieurs, tartes and the like, and made an executive decision.
And was out the door and off hunting South Indian vegetarian food like a pig after truffles. Singaporean Tracy Philips, owner of A Curious Teepee (more of this to come later), who has been adding some chic pizazz to our meeeja activities came with me and we ended up at Gokul. Restaurants in Little India are a lot more gussied up than they were last time I hit Singapore. This one had Bouroullec-inspired plastic chairs, Conran-esque lampshades and waiters in snazzy uniforms.
More importantly it also had a menu of delicious-ness. After much deliberation I went classic rather than dangerously off-piste. Paneer Masala Dosa, (a pancake made from fermented rice batter and black lentils & filled with spicy potatoes & Paneer which is yummy Indian cheese), chased with a fresh lime juice in a jam jar, along with tastes of Tracy’s cheese prata and really good dahl.
I really don’t think I could have forgiven myself if I had stayed eating a cheese tart in a French place in Little India. (Lovely, of course for the Chinese/Malay/Indonesian press, but rather wasted on someone who lives 3 hours from Paris.)
We worked off the carbs with a quick circular trot around the area, past the local temple, and calling in at Mustafa, the local 24hr magical emporium of madness, to which I shall be returning.
Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant
19 Upper Dickson Road Singapore 207478
Tel: 6396 7769
Open Daily 10:30am-10pm
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Fab post Sasha!
Being of Indian heritage, I’m extremely fussy about Indian food and I’m often disappointed by restaurants claiming to serve Indian food. The best place for Indian vegetarian food, I’ve found, is Leicester. So when you’re back in the UK and ever in the east Midlands, you should definitely venture there for food!
P.S. How awesome is the juice in a jam jar idea! Love it.
You have no idea how I am salivating here.
Dear LLG,
I love reading your blog. Well-balanced, informative but most of all fun! As a Singaporean, I’m really proud of your non-western tourist like coverage of my city. Living in the Netherlands for the past years has made me appreciate the local food back home. I cannot understand why everyone always insists on taking me to pseudo-french/italian/strange mix of “western food” establishment just so that we can be in a nice (air-con) environment. I always have the same reaction, why do I want to eat that here? I live hours away from Paris/Rome/any major EU destination. My golden rule now is that profusely sweating is tolerable, visible hygiene is optional but please bring on the local (preferably street/hawker) flavors. Thanks for your validation. Don’t forget to head down to Katong area and try out the amazing food there. As a born and bred Katong girl, I can vouch that we have the best food on the whole island.
Looking forward to more amazing posts
Wendy
Vegetarian South Indian food rules. I would have done exactly the same as you. Have you tried Vijay’s in Willesden Lane, NW6 and Ganapati in Holly Grove, SE15?
what a coincidence! i was just at gokul for dinner earlier
I agree! the BEST food in Singapore is found in Little India. As a vegetarian, I just about starved, trying to find food around our hotel, the Hilton. We finally finished the business we came to Singapore to do and hopped in a cab and said “Take me to the BEST Indian food in Singapore, please.” OMG! Can’t remember the name of the restaurant, but I will never forget the meal. Afterwards, we walked around Little India, admiring the preparations for Divali, a major Hindu festival. Yes! Little India holds the best memories of Singapore for me. Thanks for the reminder!
I’m a 3rd generation Indian living here in London. I’ve been to Singapore many times, and hands done the best Indian food ever served is here in the UK. Sasha if you want to eat Dosa you just need to get on the Jubilee line and come to Kingsbury or Kenton. Authentic South Indian Dosa restaurants and Gujarati vegetarian restaurants everywhere. Absolutely no need to fly thousands off miles!
I agree with the comments by Marie — I went to Singapore at around 19 years old and Little India was amazing. I took photos of all the places in LLGs pictuess too, but they were incredibly bad shots to look at and recall now, so it was a great pleasure to see these wonderful streets again and it’s like only yesterday we were there.
omg, I absolutely LOVE masala dosas! xx
Gokul is one of my absolute favourite Singapore restaurants ! The fact that it’s a stone’s throw away from Mustafa is also such a big plus
In London, Woodlands comes so close to that authentic south Indian taste..have you been? Their mysore masala dosa is to die for .
Trisha
xx
Hi there,
Got to your blog by chance and have to say if you want the best Gujarati food (which is incidentally the best makers of vegetarian indian food ) then head to Wembley — the food there is divine. There is an all you can eat place called Sarkoni’s — and its friggin awesome. I eat meat but the best indian food is vegetarian — ahh moving out of the UK and settling in Singapore is amazing but my god do i miss proper indian Gujarati cooking. OMG!