Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Murtabak

Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Murtabak

Murtabak
Murtabak



Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2025 (across 25 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:
Murtabak, Mutabbaq, Martabak Telur, Mutabar,
Murtabak Mutton, Murtabak Chicken, Murtabak Tuna, Murtabak Sardine, Murtabak Beef, Murtabak Deer



Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $7 - $15









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Description:
The Murtabak is a Singaporean Indian dish, featuring layers of folded dough generously stuffed with various ingredients, then pan-fried. Also known as Mutabbaq, Martabak Telur, or Mutabar, the Murtabak dish is usually priced around SGD $7 to $15 per serving. The typical varieties include Murtabak Mutton, Murtabak Chicken, Murtabak Tuna, Murtabak Sardine, Murtabak Beef, or Murtabak Deer. It's commonly eaten for lunch, dinner, or supper.


The dough used for Murtabak is made with a blend of all-purpose flour or bread flour, white sugar, salt, ghee / clarified butter, chicken egg, evaporated milk or condensed milk, and water. The dough is kneaded until smooth and stretchy, then left to rest for at least 2 hours or more. When rested, the dough is flipped, stretched, and filled with a medley of ingredients before being pan-fried with ghee / clarified butter.

The variety of ingredients used in Murtabak are standard, comprising one type of meat or fish, diced red onions, and whisked chicken egg. These are usually spiced with garlic paste, ginger paste, curry powder, cumin, turmeric, and coriander. The meat or fish ingredient comprises only one of the following; minced mutton, shredded boneless chicken, tuna fish flakes with red chili, sardine fish flakes with red chili, minced beef, or minced deer meat. After stuffing the dough and folding it into layers then pan-frying, the Murtabak will have a crisp fluffy exterior, a tender moist interior, with smoky meaty (or fishy) bready eggy vegetal salty savoury spice flavour.

The Murtabak is often served with a side dish of sliced juicy cucumbers dressed with thick tomato ketchup for vegetal sweet flavour, and rich medium thick fish curry gravy (made with either red snapper fish, Spanish mackerel fish, sea bass fish, or pomfret fish) with fishy savoury salty spice flavour. When served, the Murtabak will usually be sliced into cubes for ease of eating.


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1. Al Falah Barakah Restaurant / Har Yassin Restaurant
@ 363 Joo Chiat Road
Opening Hours: Daily 24 Hours

Taken in 2012


Taken in 2012


Taken in 2012


Taken in 2012


Taken in 2012


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Murtabak (SGD $10) @ Al Falah Barakah Restaurant / Har Yassin Restaurant.

Established since November 2007, this stall is praised for their well-executed renditions, generous portions, and wide range of fillings.

The pan-fried dough is crispy, fluffy, golden, and light, folded and filled with wispy chicken egg, crisp red onions, and your choice of spiced meat or fish - tender minced mutton, chewy shredded chicken, flaky tuna fish, or soft sardine fish, generally spiced with turmeric and curry powder.

Has lovely smoky meaty bready eggy vegetal salty savoury spice flavour. Served with a side of fish curry or chicken curry for added salty savoury spicy kick.






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2. Al Yusra Muslim Food
@ Buangkok Hawker Centre, 70 Compassvale Bow #02-K02
Opening Hours: Daily 8am – 9:30pm

Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Murtabak (SGD $8) @ Al Yusra Muslim Food.

Founded in February 2024, this stall is popular for their generous portions, suitable for sharing.

Their rendition has thin chewy pan-fried dough, folded and layered with wispy chicken egg, crisp red onions, and a choice of spiced meat or fish - tender minced mutton, chewy shredded chicken, flaky tuna fish, or soft sardine fish, seasoned with turmeric and cumin.

Has a moist look, carrying smoky meaty bready eggy vegetal salty savoury spice flavour. Served with a thin fish curry that lends fishy savoury spice flavour.






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

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Murtabak (SGD $8) @ Al-Ameen Eating House.

A rare example of a rendition that has only gotten better, improving with time.

As long as a forearm, the thick chunky rendition has thin crisp pan-fried dough folded and layered with a generous helping of ingredients. Love that it's non-greasy.

Includes wispy chicken egg, crisp red onions, and a choice of either tender turmeric spiced minced mutton, or chewy shredded chicken.

Has addictive smoky bready eggy meaty vegetal salty savoury spice flavour. Wholesome sides of fresh lettuce and crisp cucumber, both with vegetal sweet flavour.






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4. Casuarina Curry
@ 136 Casuarina Road
Opening Hours: Daily 7am – 11pm

Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Murtabak (SGD $8) @ Casuarina Curry.

Established in the 1950s and later incorporated in January 1993, this chain of stalls is known for making their dishes from scratch daily. The brand is family owned, run by brothers Ramanan Subramaniam and Ravindran Subramaniam, sister Thenmozhi Subramaniam.

Famed for their rendition, which has a crispy light crunchy pan-fried dough which shatters beautifully when bit. Folded and layered with wispy chicken egg, crisp red onion, bouncy button mushrooms, and gooey cheddar cheese, along with a choice of spiced meat or fish.

The most popular are tender turmeric spiced minced mutton, chewy shredded chicken, or soft sardine fish. Carries smoky bready meaty eggy vegetal salty savoury spice earthy tangy zesty sour cheesy flavour.

They also offer unique renditions, including a vegetarian option with cabbage.






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5. Marhaba Murtabak Restaurant
@ 52 Changi Road
Opening Hours: Wed - Mon 12:01am – 11:59pm, Closed Tue

Taken in 2009


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Murtabak (SGD $8) @ Marhaba Murtabak Restaurant.

Founded in March 1994, this humble eatery punches far above its weight with generous portions and consistent quality. A go-to place after working late.

Their giant rendition has layers of golden fluffy crisp dough folded and layered with wispy chicken egg, crisp red onions, gooey cheddar cheese, and a choice of either tender spiced minced mutton or chewy shredded chicken.

Incredibly filling, with smoky bready meaty eggy vegetal salty savoury sweet cheesy spice flavour. Served with a thin mild chicken curry for a gentle savoury spice kick.






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6. New Rezki Restaurant
@ 203 Bedok North Street 1 #01-469
Opening Hours: Daily 24 Hours

Taken in 2015


Taken in 2015


Taken in 2015


Taken in 2015


Taken in 2015


Taken in 2015


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Murtabak (SGD $8) @ New Rezki Restaurant.

Their rendition has distinct use of turmeric, red onions, and chicken egg within the layers of folded dough. Filled with either spiced minced mutton or shredded chicken.

Has a fluffy soft crispy wispy tender chewy texture, with enticing smoky bready vegetal meaty eggy salty earthy savoury sweet spice flavour.

Thin slices of juicy cucumber with vegetal sweet flavour are drizzled with thick tomato ketchup on the side.






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7. Singapore Zam Zam Restaurant
@ 697 North Bridge Road
Opening Hours: Daily 7am – 11pm

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Murtabak (SGD $8) @ Singapore Zam Zam Restaurant.

Founded by Abdul Kadir in 1908, this century-old eatery remains family-owned to this day. Famed for their 2 signature dishes, no one does it like they do.

Their rendition features a stretched dough, folded and layered with chicken egg, diced red onions, spices including turmeric, and a choice of meat or fish, such as minced mutton, shredded chicken, tuna fish flakes, sardine fish fillets, minced beef, or minced deer meat.

Pan-fried till the outside is crisp and golden, while the inside is fluffy tender soft chewy in texture. Has robust smoky bready meaty vegetal eggy salty savoury sweet spice flavour.

On the side are juicy cucumber slices with vegetal sweet flavour. Served with dhal, fish curry, or chicken curry.






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8. Springleaf Prata Place
@ 1 Thong Soon Avenue
Opening Hours: Daily 8am – 11pm

Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Murtabak (SGD $12) @ Springleaf Prata Place.

Opened by S.V. Gunalan in February 2003, this popular chain of eateries is best known for their 'Ultimate' series - modern and creative prata inventions, with 1 new creation every year since the inaugural Singapore Food Festival Ultimate Hawker Fest in October 2012.

The Mini Ultimate Murtabak (SGD $10.90), created in October 2012, features crispy soft dough folded and loaded with tender chunky marinated spiced tandoori chicken, bouncy portobello mushrooms, wispy chicken egg, and gooey mozzarella cheese. Has smoky bready eggy vegetal earthy meaty savoury sweet salty cheesy flavour.

The Double Murtaburger (SGD $12), created in October 2013, features crispy soft dough folded and stacked with 2 juicy minced lamb patties, wispy chicken egg, thick black pepper sauce, rich chili sauce, and gooey mozzarella cheese. Resembling a classic Ramly Burger, this carries smoky bready eggy meaty savoury salty cheesy peppery spice flavour.

Pair with thick chicken curry with sweet savoury salty spice flavour, or thin fish curry with fishy savoury salty spice flavour.






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9. Thasevi Food
@ 237 Jalan Kayu
Opening Hours: Daily 24 Hours

Taken in 2009


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Murtabak (SGD $8) @ Thasevi Food.

Founded in December 1981, the original Jalan Kayu prata stall has seen peaks and troughs in their business, though in recent years, they've made a quiet comeback.

Their rendition is well-executed, with fluffy crisp layers of folded dough, filled with wispy chicken egg, crisp red onions, and a choice of either tender turmeric minced mutton or chewy shredded chicken.

With smoky bready vegetal meaty eggy sweet salty savoury spice flavour. Paired with juicy cucumber dressed with thick tomato ketchup with vegetal sweet flavour, and a side of curry for a salty spicy kick.






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10. Victory Restaurant
@ 701 North Bridge Road
Opening Hours: Daily 7am – 11pm

Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Murtabak (SGD $8) @ Victory Restaurant.

Established in October 1974, this rival stall serves a comparable rendition.

The layers of folded dough are thin and crisp, shattering beautifully. Within, generous fillings of crisp red onions, wispy chicken egg, and a choice of spiced meat or fish - tender minced mutton, chewy shredded chicken, flaky tuna fish, soft sardine fish, tender minced beef, or tender minced deer meat.

Has nice smoky bready meaty vegetal earthy eggy sweet salty savoury spice flavour. Served with juicy cucumber dressed in thick tomato ketchup, with vegetal sweet flavour.






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- Chindamani Restaurant Private Limited – Quality Different From Before
@ 151A Serangoon North Avenue 1 #01-81

Taken in 2018


Taken in 2018


Taken in 2018


Taken in 2018


Taken in 2018


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025


Taken in 2025






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