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