Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Chicken Masala
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| Chicken Masala |
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:
Chicken Masala, Murg Masala, Chicken Chettinad Masala
Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $5 - $15
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List in alphabetical order - click the links to jump to entry
- 1. Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant
- 2. Gayatri Restaurant
- 3. Karu's Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant
- 4. Kamala Restaurant
- 5. Sakunthala's Restaurant
Bar Bar Black SheepThe Masala Hut
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Description:
The Chicken Masala is a Singaporean Indian non-vegetarian dish, reowned for its spicy heat. It consists of bone-in chicken chunks coated in a rich curry paste laced with spices. Also known as Murg Masala, or Chicken Chettinad Masala, the Chicken Masala dish is usually priced around SGD $5 to $15 per serving. It's commonly eaten for lunch or dinner.
The Chicken Masala is prepared South Indian style, with the most common being the Chettinad style from Tamil Nadu, India, which features a sticky thick curry paste. The key spices used include garlic, ginger, cardamom seeds, fennel seeds, cloves, star anise, salt, sugar, cinnamon sticks, coriander seeds, black peppercorns, white peppercorns, and dried red chili. Other spices used vary from stall to stall, but may include bay leaves, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, white vinegar, nutmeg, cashew nuts, or powdered garam masala.
The spices for Chicken Masala are dry roasted with grated coconut, then blended with water to form a curry paste. This paste is used to marinate bone-in pieces of chicken, along with yoghurt and lemon juice. Separately, a mix of tomato puree, diced shallots, powdered turmeric, and powdered chili is cooked in mustard oil, after which the marinated chicken is added, stirred and reduced along with curry leaves and coriander leaves. This results in a strong, sticky, chunky grainy curry paste, with robust savoury spicy salty earthy herbal flavour, while the chicken meat becomes tender, moist, and succulent.
Usually served as a main dish accompanied by rice, Chicken Masala tends to have a sharp spicy kick that builds throughout the meal, making it rather addictive. As it almost always uses bone-in chicken, care should be taken while eating. Considered a relatively simple dish to prepare, there are many variations of Chicken Masala from stall to stall, with some placing more emphasis on pepper, others on chili.
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1. Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant
@ 76 Race Course Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 11pm
@ Changi Airport Terminal 1, 80 Airport Boulevard #03-20
Opening Hours: Daily 1pm – 4am
Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Chicken Masala (SGD $12) @ Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant.
Since arriving in Singapore in June 2005, this casual dining eatery has been well-received, recognised for their dishes that are bold and strong in taste, layered with a punchy blend of spices.
Their rendition features a rich, thick gravy, full of peppercorns, turmeric, spices, and curry leaves, with bold meaty peppery spice savoury salty herbal earthy flavours.
The bone-in chunks of chicken are tender with a light chew, picking up the gravy well. Best paired with rice or bread, as the peppery gravy is deliciously addictive.
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2. Gayatri Restaurant
@ 122 Race Course Road #01-01
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10:30pm
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| Taken in 2012 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Chicken Masala (SGD $6.90) @ Gayatri Restaurant.
The hospitality and attentiveness of staff keep patrons of this 2-decade old casual eatery returning for more, as does their well-prepared South Indian dishes.
Their rendition is a side dish to accompany a meal, the thick curry paste coating the tender bone-in chicken, infusing it with robust meaty savoury earthy sweet spice flavour.
Not overly fiery, just tingling the palate to make you reach for more. Usually paired with a rice meal here.
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3. Karu's Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant
@ 808 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 10:30am – 10pm, Closed Mon
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| Taken in 2011 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Chicken Masala (SGD $7) @ Karu's Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant.
Since 1993, this stalwart casual eatery has been delighting diners with their homely South Indian dishes, potent curries with fiery kick, and wallet-friendly prices. Little wonder they still attract lomg queues during daily meal times.
Their rendition features a large bone-in chicken cut (breast in this case), over which is ladled a rich thick curry paste that clings to the tender chicken meat.
Potent, bright and sharp spicy savoury salty meaty flavours, with a slight lingering heat.
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4. 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 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Chicken Masala (SGD $8.50) @ Kamala Restaurant / Sri Kamala Vilas Restaurant.
Despite its fiery looks, their rendition is tamer than it seems, with just a low medium spicy heat that only builds the more you eat.
The large bone-in chicken thigh and drumstick is meaty and tender and moist, the thick curry paste lending a bright savoury sweet sour earthy herbal spice flavour.
Gets more decadent towards the end, with the chili oil beneath, easily avoided if you choose.
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5. 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 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Chicken Masala (SGD $7) @ Sakunthala's Restaurant.
Delighting diners with their homely, authentic South Indian dishes since August 1999.
Their bone-in chicken drumstick and shredded breast meat is generously coated with their rich curry paste, the notes of curry leaves, cinnamon, turmeric, fennel, and other spices, bursting with meaty savoury sweet spice earthy flavours.
Can taste an undercurrent of pepper here, lying in wait and gradually building in intensity. Has a nice kick.
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| Taken in 2015 |
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| Taken in 2012 |
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