Singapore’s Authentic Indian Roti: Chewy Goodness Paired with Curry Is a Match Made in Heaven

Text & Photos /Xiao Sheng

Singapore, due to its unique historical background, is a multicultural melting pot, a characteristic that is also reflected in its food culture. In addition to Chinese, Western, and Malay cuisines, Indian food is also ubiquitous in Singapore. The Singaporean dish introduced this time is authentic Indian roti from Little India. On the second day of my arrival in Singapore, I met up with a friend I had known previously, and she took me to Little India to explore its food scene.

Tekka Centre is a food court located in Little India, very close to the Little India MRT station. In Singapore, many food courts bring together numerous street food stalls, concentrating a wide variety of dishes and snacks all in one place.

It’s easy to sample authentic local cuisine at these food courts. Tekka Centre is divided into several sections, with Chinese and Indian food occupying different areas, while another section sells clothing.


Each stall in the food court has its own number. On this day, we tried stall 01-248, Ar-Rahman Royal Prata, which serves Indian roti. Roti actually originated in India and can also be found in Thailand, but over the years, Thai roti has mostly evolved into sweet banana fritters and become a traditional Thai snack. This Indian roti made by an Indian vendor was my first time trying it.

This stall offers a wide variety of roti flavors. Unlike Thai pancakes, Indian roti differs greatly—aside from sweet options, there are also savory ones (such as mutton, chicken, and sardine), and even more uniquely, Rotee Tissue (ultra-thin roti). There are over 10 types in total, and these rotis are often paired with Indian curry.


Cheese Egg Roti (SGD 2.2): I visited this Indian roti stall twice during my trip to Singapore. The first time, I found the roti’s texture quite good, so when I came back to Little India later, I returned to try it again. The roti doesn’t look particularly impressive, and the skin isn’t very thick, but it’s surprisingly chewy.

Paired with egg and cheese, the rich melted cheese blends beautifully with the eggy aroma, creating a delicious and satisfying taste. The texture is excellent, and compared to Thai roti, this one isn’t greasy at all—it’s quite refreshing. So, I really enjoyed this Indian roti.


Indian roti paired with curry is truly an amazing combination. I had never tried it like this before, and it really opened my eyes. Later, when I had Indian roti in Malaysia, it was also served with curry. However, this curry is different from typical Indian curries—it’s not too heavy and pairs perfectly with the roti, enhancing the roti without overpowering it, while also delivering a wonderful flavor synergy.



At Tekka Centre, my friend also bought two drinks. One was coconut milk paired with pandan jelly—a sweet dessert made from pandan leaves. Though a bit sweet, it was still quite enjoyable. The other drink, which I recall, was some kind of floral beverage that smelled fragrant, though it felt like it might have been made with artificial flavoring.


After eating the roti, we strolled around Tekka Centre. My friend took me to a shop selling Indian clothing, where the mannequins were incredibly amusing—why do the mannequins in Indian clothing stores always have their arms raised so high? XD.

Tekka Centre in Little India offers a diverse range of cuisines. Since we were mainly having Indian food for dinner, we only had Indian roti at Tekka Centre. But the roti really was delicious, and the curry pairing was something I’d never tried before—it had a truly unique flavor. At Tekka Centre, you can also try this special Indian roti.
 

[Tekka Centre (Tekka Centre)]

Address:01#248, 665, Buffalo Rd., Singapore 210665
Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journeyhttp://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog

Every journey, every adventure, is about seeking something—even if I’m not entirely sure what. But in the end, what I gain is often more than I imagined. And so, my wandering journey will continue unabated.