Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Fish Kadai

Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Fish Kadai

Fish Kadai

Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2023 (across 23 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:
Fish Kadai, Fish Karahi, Fish Masala, Fish Korai


Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $7 - $20

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

• 1. Al-Ameen Eating House / Ameen Makan House
• 2. Al-Azhar Restaurant
• 3. Indian Tandoor North Indian Restaurant
• 4. Peacock Restaurant
• 5. Zaffron Kitchen
• Bar Bar Black Sheep
• The Banana Leaf Apolo
• The Masala Hut

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Description:
The Fish Kadai is a Singaporean Indian non-vegetarian dish, a tasty but uncommon curry. It consists of pre-marinated boneless fish chunks, in a thick curry gravy of tomatoes, red onions, and bell peppers / capsicum; and derives its name from the thick, circular, deep cooking pot with looped handles called a kadai / karahi / korai. Also known as Fish Karahi, Fish Masala, or Fish Korai, the Fish Kadai dish is usually priced around SGD $7 to $20 per serving. It's eaten for lunch, tea, dinner, or supper.

The Fish Kadai is prepared North Indian style, which features a chunky thick curry gravy made with blended tomatoes. The key spices used include garlic paste, ginger paste, powdered turmeric, powdered coriander, powdered cinnamon, powdered cardamom, powdered cumin, salt, cloves, dried red chili, and black pepper. Other spices used vary from stall to stall, but may include bay leaves, powdered nutmeg, white vinegar, lemon juice, dried green chili, curry leaves, or powdered garam masala.

The fish used in Fish Kadai is typically a firm white flesh fish, either tilapia fish, king mackerel fish / king fish, angoli / goldband snapper fish, basa catfish, cream dory fish, or surmai / seer fish. The fish is first shallow fried in vegetable oil, clarified butter / ghee, or mustard oil, till slightly cooked, then removed. The same oil is then used to fry chopped red onions, fresh tomato puree, sliced tomatoes, sliced bell peppers / capsicum, and the mix of spices, then brought to a boil, after which the fish is returned to the pan to finish frying.

Served garnished with fresh coriander, the Fish Kadai curry gravy will be thick and chunky, with the fish being tender and flaky in texture, carrying robust savoury sweet spicy flavours, with a hint of vegetal salty sour bitter earthy herbal notes. Usually served as a main dish accompanied by bread or rice, Fish Kadai can also be made non-spicy in taste with the omission of the chilis and pepper. In some stalls, the fish is tandoor oven roasted or grilled, instead of being pan-fried.


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1. Al-Ameen Eating House / Ameen Makan House
@ 4 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 4am

Taken in 2011

Taken in 2023

Taken in 2023

Taken in 2023

Fish Kadai (SGD $9) @ Al-Ameen Eating House / Ameen Makan House.

The gravy is thick and chunky, with pleasant mild vegetal sweet spice savoury flavours from the blend of pureed tomatoes, tender sliced red onions, and whole dried red chili.

The boneless cream dory fish fillets are flaky soft and moist, picking up the tasty notes from the gravy.

Chunks of crisp juicy bell peppers / capsicum lend a nice vegetal bitter herbal sweet contrast.




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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

Taken in 2023

Taken in 2023

Taken in 2023

Fish Kadai (SGD $9) @ Al-Azhar Restaurant.

Their rendition has the most pronounced use of fresh and pureed tomato, including large sliced tomato and tender sliced red onions, resulting in a thick creamy chunky gravy with vegetal sweet savoury spice flavour.

The boneless cream dory fish fillets are moist and flaky, absorbing the tasty flavours of the gravy. Feels like there's more vegetables though.

You can request more or less spicy, as the default packs a mild heat.




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3. Indian Tandoor North Indian Restaurant
@ East Village, 430 Upper Changi Road #01-65
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm

Taken in 2023

Taken in 2023

Fish Kadai (SGD $17.90) @ Indian Tandoor North Indian Restaurant.

Established in May 2019, this under-the-radar casual eatery serves large, hearty, communal portions.

Their rendition has lovely tender flaky boneless king fish fillets, naturally sweet savoury in flavour.

The gravy is rich and chunky, the notes of soft red onion and juicy tomato coming through against the blend of spices, balanced with vegetal sweet spice savoury salty flavour.

Chunks of crisp bell peppers / capsicum lend vegetal bitter herbal sweet flavour, while a decorative dried red chili draws the eye.




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4. Peacock Restaurant
@ NEWest, 1 West Coast Drive #01-95
Opening Hours: Daily 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 10:30pm

Taken in 2023

Taken in 2023

Fish Kadai (SGD $19.90) @ Peacock Restaurant.

Delightfully thick chunky gravy, with tender red onions and crunchy bell peppers / capsicum, nice vegetal sweet spice salty savoury flavour.

The taste of tomato is muted, but the blend of spices is pleasant with little fiery heat.

The battered boneless fillets of king fish are soft and moist, with mild sweet savoury salty flavour. Their rendition pairs well with rice, but not bread.




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5. Zaffron Kitchen
@ 137 East Coast Road
Opening Hours: Tue - Thu 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 9:30pm, Fri - Sun 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10:30pm, Closed Mon

@ The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green #02-04
Opening Hours: Daily 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 9pm

Taken in 2023

Taken in 2023

Fish Kadai (SGD $19) @ Zaffron Kitchen.

Established since March 2015, this brand is a multi-award winning eatery, serving authentic and tasty North Indian cuisine.

Their rendition has battered fillets of boneless king fish, soft and flaky tender with mild natural sweet savoury flavour.

The rich and thick gravy carries pleasant notes of tomato and spices, nicely savoury salty sweet spice in taste.

I love the crunchy red onions, sliced large, with a nice caramelised smoky vegetal sweet note.




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- 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

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- The Banana Leaf Apolo – Stall No Longer Sells This
@ 56 Race Course Road

@ Downtown East, 1 Pasir Ris Close #01-309

@ 20 Sixth Avenue

@ Rivervale Mall, 11 Rivervale Crescent #02-10

@ 48 Serangoon Road

Taken in 2012

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- The Masala Hut – Permanently Closed
@ 37 Chander Road

Taken in 2012

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