Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Fish Tikka
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| Fish Tikka |
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 Tikka, Macchi Tikka, Machhali Tikka
Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $7 - $28
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List in alphabetical order - click the links to jump to entry
- 1. ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant
- 2. Al-Ameen Eating House / Ameen Makan House
- 3. Al-Azhar Restaurant
- 4. Awadh
- 5. Daawat Tandoori
- 6. Jaggi's Northern Indian Cuisine
- 7. Madura's Restaurant
- 8. The Banana Leaf Apolo
Bar Bar Black Sheep
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Description:
The Fish Tikka is a Singaporean Indian non-vegetarian dish, popular as an appetizer or to accompany a meal. It consists of deboned fish fillets, marinated in yoghurt and a mix of spices, then roasted in a tandoor oven. Also known as Macchi Tikka, or Machhali Tikka, the Fish Tikka dish is usually priced around SGD $7 to $28 per serving. It's commonly eaten for lunch, dinner, or supper.
Prepared in North Indian style, the key spices used to make the marinade for Fish Tikka include garlic paste, ginger paste, salt, powdered turmeric, powdered cumin, powdered coriander, powdered fennel, powdered cinnamon, powdered cardamom, powdered cloves, and powdered chili. Other spices used vary from stall to stall, but may include star anise, powdered fenugreek, powdered mace, powdered tandoori masala, or powdered garam masala. The spices are mixed with lemon juice, yoghurt, water, and mustard oil, which is then rubbed over deboned fillets of fish, and left to marinade.
The marinated fish fillets are then skewered, with 4 pieces to 1 skewer, and roasted in a tandoor oven. When ready, it's usually removed from the skewers, and served with a side salad, a wedge of lemon or lime, and a mint chutney. The Fish Tikka will have a moist and flaky soft texture to the fish meat, with a lovely smoky sweet savoury spice flavour. Adding a sprinkle of lemon or lime juice lends a touch of tangy zesty sour flavour, making it more tasty.
The type of fish used in Fish Tikka is typically a firm white flesh fish, such as tilapia fish, king mackerel fish / king fish, angoli / goldband snapper fish, basa catfish, cream dory fish, or surmai / seer fish. Some luxurious versions use premium fish such as cod fish, ling cod fish, or mahi-mahi / common dolphinfish. Fish Tikka can also be used as a base ingredient to create other dishes, such as Fish Tikka Masala. It can be served on its own, or accompanied by Indian breads or rice.
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1. ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant
@ 67 Desker Road
Opening Hours: Daily 24 Hours
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Fish Tikka (SGD $8) @ ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant.
Among the more affordable renditions around.
Chunks of moist and tender king fish fillets, boneless with deep smoky meaty sweet savoury spice flavour.
Served with crisp red onions and lemon juice, for a nice contrast from the acidity.
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2. 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 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Fish Tikka (SGD $10) @ Al-Ameen Eating House / Ameen Makan House.
Dinner before class, back when I studied nearby.
The fillets of boneless king fish are larger than most, tender moist flaky in texture, satisfying with smoky meaty sweet savoury spice flavour.
Luscious mint chutney on the side, bright with vegetal herbal sweet flavour, to pair.
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3. 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 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Fish Tikka (SGD $8) @ Al-Azhar Restaurant.
Their rendition is functionally the baseline standard.
With medium sized, chunky boneless king fish, flaky and lean with mild smoky meaty spice savoury salty flavour.
Served with a crunchy juicy cucumber and red onion salad, with vegetal sweet spice notes.
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4. Awadh
@ The Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Road #01-33H
Opening Hours: Sun - Thu 11:30am – 9:30pm, Fri - Sat 11:30am – 11:30pm
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Fish Tikka (SGD $22) @ Awadh.
This fine rendition features chargrilled boneless chunks of monkfish, marinated in yoghurt and a special tandoori spice mix, then slow-cooked in the tandoor oven.
The fish has a tender flaky smooth texture, with a clean-tasting smoky savoury spice sweet flavour.
Served with chewy bite-sized Mughlai paratha with smoky bready sweet buttery flavour.
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5. Daawat Tandoori
@ 207 Upper Thomson Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 3pm, 4:30pm – 11pm
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| Taken in 2011 |
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| Taken in 2023 |
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| Taken in 2023 |
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| Taken in 2023 |
Fish Tikka (SGD $12.50) @ Daawat Tandoori.
The fist-sized chunks of boneless king fish are among the largest renditions around.
Yet, the fish remains tender juicy flaky in texture, coming clean off with lovely smoky meaty sweet salty spice savoury flavour.
Served with a drizzle of lemon juice. Succulent and tasty, so enjoyable.
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6. Jaggi's Northern Indian Cuisine
@ 36 Race Course Road
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 |
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| Taken in 2022 |
Fish Tikka (SGD $6.40) @ Jaggi's Northern Indian Cuisine.
Their rendition features medium sized deboned fillets of mackerel fish, coated with mild spices and yoghurt, then roasted in a tandoor oven.
Has a soft flaky moist texture, with pleasant smoky meaty sweet savoury spice flavour.
Accompanied with a bit of lime juice for a tangy zesty sour touch. Usually paired with bread or rice.
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7. Madura's Restaurant
@ Paya Lebar Square, 60 Paya Lebar Road #01-08
Opening Hours: Daily 11:30am – 9:30pm
@ 115 Syed Alwi Road
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm – 1am
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| Taken in 2023 |
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| Taken in 2023 |
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| Taken in 2023 |
Fish Tikka (SGD $16) @ Madura's Restaurant.
Fairly large and succulent chunks of boneless king fish, coated with a generous marinade of yoghurt and spices.
This has a tender moist flaky texture, coming off in smooth fillets. Has smoky meaty sweet savoury salty spice flavour.
Drizzle a bit of lime juice for a touch of tangy zesty sour flavour.
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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 2023 |
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| Taken in 2023 |
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| Taken in 2023 |
Fish Tikka (SGD $24) @ The Banana Leaf Apolo.
They've toned down the spicy notes on this over the years, so their current rendition has more of a natural taste and less fiery heat.
The large boneless chunks of monkfish fillets are flaky soft juicy in texture, with a mild yoghurt and spice marinade. Has lovely smoky meaty sweet savoury salty spice flavour.
Served with fresh salad on the side.
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| Taken in 2015 |
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