Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Chapati
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| Chapati |
Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2022 (across 22 years!), as such, the quality of photos varies drastically due to advances in camera technology. Mobile smartphones were in their infancy and had yet to become widespread.
Also Known As:
Chapati, Chapathi, Chapatti, Chappathi, Phulka
Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $1 - $4
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List in alphabetical order - click the links to jump to entry
- 1. Al-Ameen Eating House / Ameen Makan House
- 2. Al-Azhar Restaurant
- 3. Azmi Restaurant
- 4. Gayatri Restaurant
- 5. Jamal Chappathi Stall
- 6. Kamala Restaurant
- 7. Sakunthala's Restaurant
- 8. The Banana Leaf Apolo
Allauddin's BiryaniAnnalakshmi Janatha RestaurantMr Prata
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Description:
The Chapati is a Singaporean Indian dish, a type of unleavened flatbread. It derives its name from the Hindi word for 'slap', which describes how the dough for the bread is formed. Also known as Chapathi, Chapatti, Chappathi, or Phulka, the Chapati dish is usually priced around SGD $1 to $4 per serving, with each serving consisting of 2 pieces. Supposedly a staple eaten throughout the day, it's rather uncommon in Singapore.
The standard Chapati is always made using atta / whole wheat flour, salt, and water, kneaded into a dough then left to rest for up to 1 hour. It's then rolled out into thin flat circular disc shapes, and cooked on a flat dry skillet / griddle, without any oil. However, some stalls may also optionally brush the Chapati with ghee / clarified butter.
On its own, a piece of Chapati will have a stretchy soft dry feel with a chewy texture, and mild grainy savoury sweet flavour that carries a hint of smoky aroma. Rarely eaten on its own, it's usually served alongside a curry and other dishes, or stuffed with various ingredients. The most common stuffing is a mix of spiced potatoes and red onions, with the dish being called Aloo Paratha.
The key differences between Chapati and other types of Indian flatbread are (i) it's unleavened, (ii) it's made with atta / whole wheat flour, (iii) it's cooked and not baked, and (iv) it's also thinner than all other flatbreads. It doesn't absorb curries, rather, it's used similar to how you'd use a spoon to scoop up ingredients. Chapati is best eaten quickly when hot and fresh!
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1. Al-Ameen Eating House / Ameen Makan House
@ 4 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 4am
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| Taken in 2011 |
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| Taken in 2021 |
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| Taken in 2021 |
Chapati (SGD $1.80) @ Al-Ameen Eating House / Ameen Makan House.
Rolled with whole wheat flour, then baked on a skillet.
While texture of the chapati is slightly firmer than elsewhere, flavour is delicately grainy savoury sweet.
Being thin, it's meant to be used for scooping up ingredients (instead of absorbing curries).
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2. Al-Azhar Restaurant
@ 11 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Opening Hours: Daily 8am – 2am
@ 970 Geylang Road #01-02
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm – 12am
@ 201D Tampines Street 21 #01-1155
Opening Hours: Daily 8am – 11:30pm
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| Taken in 2021 |
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| Taken in 2021 |
Chapati (SGD $1.50) @ Al-Azhar Restaurant.
Pretty straightforward rendition, slightly fluffy with a chewy texture that tears nicely with some effort.
Has a grainy bready savoury sweet flavour, slight hint of wheat on the aroma. Nicely warm.
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3. Azmi Restaurant
@ 168 Serangoon Road
Opening Hours: Daily 8:05am – 9pm
@ 2 Dalhousie Lane
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10pm
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| Taken in 2015 |
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| Taken in 2020 |
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| Taken in 2021 |
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| Taken in 2021 |
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| Taken in 2021 |
Chapati (SGD $1) @ Azmi Restaurant.
Their freshly made unleavened flatbread chapati has a soft chewy texture that tears easily, and hot off the grill, has a lovely smoky bready grainy savoury sweet aroma.
Largely unchanged since patriarch Iftekhar Ahmad set up the stall in the 1960s, his grandsons today carry on the traditional recipe, making chapati using only wheat flour, water, and secret kneading techniques know only to their family.
The most popular pairing is with mutton keema (SGD $3.50), a rich curry of minced mutton, diced potatoes, and garden peas, bold with meaty savoury salty spicy notes. Stewed for up to 3 hours, so succulent.
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4. Gayatri Restaurant
@ 122 Race Course Road #01-01
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10:30pm
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| Taken in 2021 |
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| Taken in 2021 |
Chapati (SGD $6) @ Gayatri Restaurant.
Homely meals are the draw in this casual eatery, which has been serving since March 1996.
They're renowned for their curries and breads, the perfect complementing pair. Here, their chapati is served in a set, with 2 fluffy soft discs of unleavened flatbread, alongside a creamy dhal.
Has mild fragrant bready grainy sweet savoury flavour, with slightly more of a chew than elsewhere. Naturally, goes well with curry.
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5. Jamal Chappathi Stall
@ Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road #01-237
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 7:30am – 9pm, Closed Sun
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| Taken in 2021 |
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| Taken in 2021 |
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| Taken in 2021 |
Chapati (SGD $1) @ Jamal Chappathi Stall.
There is an enjoyable appeal for freshly made bread, hot off the oven. This near universal appeal is the reason why this stall draws a queue at meal times.
Hot off the grill after some quick tossing, their fresh unleavened flatbread chapati has a fine grainy surface from a dusting of wheat flour, and a tender chewy feel.
Has a slight smoky aroma with grainy savoury sweet bready flavour. A side of juicy cucumbers lend a refreshing vegetal sweet flavour contrast, while a minced coriander pesto lends a bright vegetal herbal bitter sweet flavour.
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6. Kamala Restaurant / Sri Kamala Vilas Restaurant
@ Tekka Centre, 662 Buffalo Road #01-16
Opening Hours: Daily 7am – 10pm
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| Taken in 2011 |
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| Taken in 2021 |
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| Taken in 2021 |
Chapati (SGD $4) @ Kamala Restaurant.
This aging stall is small, but still attracts a queue for its tasty South Indian dishes, serving quietly since 1986.
Amongst them is this chapati set, 2 pieces of soft chewy unleavened flatbread with grainy savoury sweet smoky flavour, nicely warm.
Served with a delicious potato masala that is soft with bright earthy starchy sweet spice in flavour; and a tender chickpea / chana masala with savoury salty spicy earthy notes.
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7. Sakunthala's Restaurant
@ 66 Race Course Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10:30pm
@ UE BizHub East, 8 Changi Business Park Avenue 1 #01-53
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 11am – 9pm, Closed Sun
Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore
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| Taken in 2011 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Chapati (SGD $4) @ Sakunthala's Restaurant.
This culinary institution has been serving homely South Indian fare since August 1999.
Of note is this staple unleavened flatbread, smoky and grainy savoury bready sweet in taste, with a slightly fluffy soft texture, and a light dusting of wheat flour.
Served with the vegetable-of-the-day, in this case a soft stewed yellow pigeon pea and spinach curry, bright with vegetal earthy sweet savoury salty spice flavours.
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8. The Banana Leaf Apolo
@ 56 Race Course Road
Opening Hours: Daily 10:30am – 10:30pm
@ Downtown East, 1 Pasir Ris Close #01-309
Opening Hours: Daily 10:30am – 10pm
@ 20 Sixth Avenue
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10pm
@ Rivervale Mall, 11 Rivervale Crescent #02-10
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10pm
@ 48 Serangoon Road
Opening Hours: Daily 10:30am – 10:30pm
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| Taken in 2012 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Chapati (SGD $1.50 / $3) @ The Banana Leaf Apolo.
Their rendition carries lovely char marks from the grill, the enticing smoky aroma complementing its grainy bready savoury sweet flavour.
With a soft fluffy chewy texture, their chapati is great at picking up morsels of meat, vegetables, or curry. Yum.
Typically sold in sets of 2 pieces, it can be quite filling.
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| Taken in 2009 |
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| Taken in 2012 |
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| Taken in 2011 |
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