Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Chicken Tikka Masala

Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka 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 Tikka Masala, Murgh Tikka Masala, Bhatti Ka Murgh Masala


Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $5 - $20

List in alphabetical order - click the links to jump to entry

• 1. Anglo Indian Cafe & Bar
• 2. British Indian Curry Hut
• 3. Chutney Mary
• 4. Jaggi’s Northern Indian Cuisine
• 5. The Banana Leaf Apolo
• Al-Ameen Eating House / Ameen Makan House
• Bar Bar Black Sheep
• Prata Wala

.....


Description:
The Chicken Tikka Masala is a Singaporean English Indian non-vegetarian dish, not commonly served but still popular nonetheless. It consists of pre-marinated boneless chicken chunks, roasted and served in a rich curry gravy that has a tomato base. Also known as Murgh Tikka Masala, or Bhatti Ka Murgh Masala, the Chicken Tikka Masala dish is usually priced around SGD $5 to $20 per serving. It's commonly eaten for lunch, tea, dinner, or supper.

The Chicken Tikka Masala is prepared in British English style. The key spices used include garlic paste, ginger paste, salt, powdered turmeric, powdered cumin, powdered coriander, powdered fennel, powdered cinnamon, powdered cloves, powdered cardamom, and powdered chili. Other spices used vary from stall to stall, but may include star anise, powdered mace, powdered fenugreek, powdered tandoori masala, or powdered garam masala. The spice mix is blended with lemon juice, yoghurt, water, and mustard oil, which is then rubbed over boneless chunks of chicken thigh as a marinade. Afterwards, the marinated chicken chunks are skewered and roasted in a tandoor oven. The chicken will have a tender and moist texture, with a lovely smoky meaty savoury salty sweet spice flavour.

The curry gravy for Chicken Tikka Masala is made by combining 2 gravies. The first gravy is a blend of fresh sliced tomatoes, sliced red onions, water, garlic paste, ginger paste, powdered turmeric, salt, sugar, fresh chopped coriander stems, cumin seeds, mustard oil, and sliced chili, similar to a puree paste. The second gravy consists of fresh diced tomato, diced red onions, water, garlic paste, ginger paste, powdered turmeric, salt, ghee / clarified butter, and sliced chili, similar to a tomato and onion stew. Some stalls may also add other ingredients, such as fenugreek leaves, butter, coconut cream, bay leaves, honey, cashew nuts, or dried red chili. When combined, the curry gravy should be thick with a grainy chunky texture, and bold vegetal sweet savoury spice flavour. The dual curry gravy is combined with the roasted chicken and finished with a quick stir.

Usually served as a main dish accompanied by bread or rice, Chicken Tikka Masala is said to have been created by Chef Ali Ahmed Aslam of the Shish Mahal Restaurant in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1970. The major differences between the dish of Butter Chicken as compared to Chicken Tikka Masala is; firstly, the chicken used in the former may not necessarily be roasted, while the latter always uses roasted chicken. And secondly, the single gravy in the former is smooth from the use of more butter or cream with a pronounced sweetness, while the dual gravy in the latter is chunky from the use of more tomato and red onions with a pronounced savouriness.


.....


1. Anglo Indian Cafe & Bar
@ One Shenton, 1 Shenton Way #01-08
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10pm

@ CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street #01-13
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm – 10:30pm

Taken in 2022

Taken in 2022

Taken in 2022

Chicken Tikka Masala (SGD $22) @ Anglo Indian Cafe & Bar.

The house signature dish at this gastropub, befitting its British English and Indian roots.

Characterized by ample use of spices, including garlic paste, ginger paste, powdered turmeric, salt, ghee / clarified butter, coconut cream, and sliced chili, all in a thick rich tomato-based curry.

The boneless chicken chunks are marinated in yoghurt, then grilled, immersed in the curry, and served. Has a tender moist texture, and picks up the lovely meaty vegetal sweet savoury spice flavours of the curry.

With their attention to detail in each dish, it's clear why they've attained a Michelin Bib Gourmand award.




.....


2. British Indian Curry Hut
@ 30 Lorong Mambong
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 1am

Taken in 2022

Taken in 2022

Chicken Tikka Masala (SGD $16.90) @ British Indian Curry Hut.

Known as much for their homely dishes as their range of drinks, this stall serves delectable and authentic dishes.

Their rendition has large chunks of tender boneless chicken, marinated in yoghurt and roasted in the tandoor oven, immersed in a thick rich curry gravy of tomato and spices.

With bold vegetal meaty spicy sweet savoury flavour, this pairs well with beer and other drinks.




.....


3. Chutney Mary
@ 719 East Coast Road
Opening Hours: Daily 10:30am – 10:30pm

Taken in 2022

Taken in 2022

Chicken Tikka Masala (SGD $15) @ Chutney Mary.

Styled as a fast-casual eatery with hearty portions at wallet-friendly prices, although 'fast' is relative here.

Their version has a pronounced tomato base infused with spices, thick with vegetal sweet spice flavour, slightly more spicy compared to elsewhere.

The marinated and roasted boneless chicken chunks are tender with a light chew, carrying mild sweet savoury spice notes.




.....


4. Jaggi’s Northern Indian Cuisine
@ 36 Race Course Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10:30pm

Taken in 2012

Taken in 2022

Taken in 2022

Chicken Tikka Masala (SGD $7.70) @ Jaggi’s Northern Indian Cuisine.

By far the most affordable version, their rendition has a thick spicy savoury salty curry gravy.

The boneless chicken chunks are cubed to bite sized, tender with a mild chew and natural sweet savoury flavour, picking up the notes from the curry gravy.

Best paired with rice or bread.




.....


5. 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

Taken in 2012

Taken in 2022

Taken in 2022

Taken in 2022

Chicken Tikka Masala (SGD $19.90) @ The Banana Leaf Apolo.

Their version has seen the base recipe change and improve over the years. This means the dish I had here recently is different from the version I had 10+ years ago in my original list.

It now has a thicker, more chunky texture to the curry gravy, and the use of a greater range of spices lends well to its savoury sweet salty spice flavour.

The boneless chicken chunks are marinated in yoghurt and tandoor roasted, then immersed and finished in the curry gravy.

This gives the chicken a tender chewy texture, with smoky meaty savoury sweet salty spice flavour, yum.

Pairs well with rice or bread, but it feels more shiok with rice.




.....


- Al-Ameen Eating House / Ameen Makan House – Quality Different From Before
@ 4 Cheong Chin Nam Road

Taken in 2011

.....


- Bar Bar Black Sheep – Still Operating But With Different Kitchen Team & Menu
@ Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Road #01-05C – Branch Closed

@ 362 Tanjong Katong Road – Branch Closed

Taken in 2015

.....


- Prata Wala – Quality Different From Before
@ Jurong Point, 1 Jurong West Central 3 #01-71

@ Northpoint City, 930 Yishun Avenue 2 #B1-57

@ Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Road #B1-44

Taken in 2010

.....







.....