Banana leaf rice is a South Indian tradition in Singapore: a mound of rice served on a fresh banana leaf alongside curries, rasam, vegetables, papadum and a fish head or meat curry, eaten by hand. Little India remains the heartland, but strong specialists are scattered island-wide, from Dempsey Hill to Upper Bukit Timah, spanning wallet-friendly vegetarian meals to Michelin-recognised fish head curry. The venues below are established, currently-open spots picked for their reputation, spread and value.
Last verified: September 2026. Hours and prices can change — we re-check our guides regularly, but do confirm before a special trip.
The list
Muthu's Curry South Indian · $$$
Farrer Park institution open since 1969, best known for its Michelin Bib Gourmand-listed South Indian fish head curry.
- Cuisine: South Indian
- Price: $$$ · Fish head curry from $32++; most mains $14-25++
- Must-try: Fish head curry, Masala chicken, Tandoori chicken
- Where: 138 Race Course Road, #01-01, Singapore 218591
- Area: Farrer Park
- Nearest MRT: Farrer Park
- Hours: Daily 10:30am-10:30pm
- Halal: No
The Banana Leaf Apolo North & South Indian · $$$
Long-running Race Course Road stalwart that serves its meals and signature fish head curry on banana leaves.
- Cuisine: North & South Indian
- Price: $$$ · Fish head curry from $24++
- Must-try: Apolo fish head curry, Mutton briyani, Tandoori chicken
- Where: 54 Race Course Road, Singapore 218564
- Area: Little India
- Nearest MRT: Farrer Park
- Hours: Daily 10:30am-10:30pm
- Halal: No
Samy's Curry South Indian · $$$
Decades-old South Indian institution serving banana leaf meals in a breezy colonial-era hall at Dempsey Hill.
- Cuisine: South Indian
- Price: $$$ · Fish head curry from $22++; mains from $15++
- Must-try: Fish head curry, Masala chicken, Fish cutlet
- Where: 25 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249670
- Area: Dempsey Hill
- Nearest MRT: Napier
- Hours: Wed-Mon 11am-3pm & 6pm-10pm; closed Tue
- Halal: No
Lagnaa Barefoot Dining North & South Indian · $$
Michelin Guide-featured Little India favourite with optional barefoot upstairs seating and a build-your-own spice-level curry set.
- Cuisine: North & South Indian
- Price: $$ · Curry sets, mid-range
- Must-try: Arusuvai curry set, Banana leaf set meal
- Where: 6 Upper Dickson Road, Singapore 207466
- Area: Little India
- Nearest MRT: Little India
Karu's Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant South Indian · $$$
West-side banana leaf specialist known for spice blends brought from India and its signature fish head.
- Cuisine: South Indian
- Price: $$$ · Fish head from around $28
- Must-try: Fish head deluxe, Crab masala
- Where: Block 808/810 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 678144
- Area: Upper Bukit Timah
- Nearest MRT: Hillview
- Hours: Tue-Sun 11:15am-9:30pm; closed Mon
- Halal: No
Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant Chettinad (South Indian) · $$
Global Chettinad chain with a Race Course Road outlet serving fiery, peppery Tamil Nadu-style curries and biryani.
- Cuisine: Chettinad (South Indian)
- Price: $$ · Mains roughly $10-18
- Must-try: Chicken Chettinad, Mutton biryani, Chicken 65
- Where: 76-78 Race Course Road, Singapore 218575
- Area: Little India
- Nearest MRT: Little India
- Hours: Daily 11am-11pm
Pavilion Banana Leaf South Indian · $$$
Halal-certified banana leaf rice chain whose signature is a claypot fish head curry, a good option for Muslim diners.
- Cuisine: South Indian
- Price: $$$ · Fish head curry $32.50++ (half), $42.50++ (whole)
- Must-try: Claypot fish head curry, Banana leaf set meal
- Hours: Daily 11:30am-4pm & 5pm-9pm
- Halal: Halal-certified
Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant Indian vegetarian · $$
Popular vegetarian spot in Little India with meat-free versions of Indian classics, ideal for plant-based banana leaf meals.
- Cuisine: Indian vegetarian
- Price: $$ · Dishes roughly $6.50++-$10++
- Must-try: Mock soup kambing, Palak paneer
- Where: 19 Upper Dickson Road, Singapore 207478
- Area: Little India
- Nearest MRT: Little India
- Hours: Daily 11am-11pm
MTR Singapore South Indian vegetarian · $
Singapore outpost of the famed Bengaluru vegetarian chain, strong on dosa, idli and Karnataka-style meals.
- Cuisine: South Indian vegetarian
- Price: $ · Dosa around $7+; budget-friendly
- Must-try: Masala dosa, Bisibele bhath, Rava idli
- Where: 438 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218133
- Area: Serangoon
- Nearest MRT: Farrer Park
- Hours: Tue-Thu 8:30am-3pm & 5:30pm-9:30pm; Fri-Sun 8:30am-3:30pm & 5:30pm-10pm; closed Mon
Madras New Woodlands Restaurant South Indian vegetarian · $
Reliable vegetarian standby in Little India, popular for its value thali sets served through the day.
- Cuisine: South Indian vegetarian
- Price: $ · Meals roughly $7-10
- Must-try: VIP thali set, Mock meat biryani
- Where: 14 Upper Dickson Road, Singapore 207474
- Area: Little India
- Nearest MRT: Little India
- Hours: Daily 7:30am-10:30pm
Bananabro Malaysian-style banana leaf rice · $
Kuala Lumpur import in the east offering affordable set-based banana leaf rice, a convenient east-side option.
- Cuisine: Malaysian-style banana leaf rice
- Price: $ · Sets $5.90-$9.90; curry fish head claypot $20.90
- Must-try: Banana leaf rice set, Chicken masala, Fried squid
- Where: 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, #01-43, Changi City Point, Singapore 486038
- Area: Changi
- Nearest MRT: Expo
- Hours: Daily 11:30am-9pm
At a glance: compare every spot
| Spot | Cuisine | Price | Area | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muthu's Curry | South Indian | $$$ | Farrer Park | No |
| The Banana Leaf Apolo | North & South Indian | $$$ | Little India | No |
| Samy's Curry | South Indian | $$$ | Dempsey Hill | No |
| Lagnaa Barefoot Dining | North & South Indian | $$ | Little India | — |
| Karu's Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant | South Indian | $$$ | Upper Bukit Timah | No |
| Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant | Chettinad (South Indian) | $$ | Little India | — |
| Pavilion Banana Leaf | South Indian | $$$ | Halal-certified | |
| Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant | Indian vegetarian | $$ | Little India | — |
| MTR Singapore | South Indian vegetarian | $ | Serangoon | — |
| Madras New Woodlands Restaurant | South Indian vegetarian | $ | Little India | — |
| Bananabro | Malaysian-style banana leaf rice | $ | Changi | — |
Your questions answered
What exactly is banana leaf rice?
It is a South Indian meal served on a fresh banana leaf: white rice ringed by vegetables, papadum, rasam and curries, usually with an add-on of fish head curry, mutton or chicken. It is traditionally eaten by hand, and folding the leaf towards you at the end signals you enjoyed the meal.
How much does banana leaf rice cost in Singapore?
A simple vegetarian set or dosa can start from around $3-10 at spots like MTR or Madras New Woodlands. Add-ons push it higher, and a shared fish head curry typically runs from about $22++ to $42++ at places such as Samy’s Curry, Muthu’s Curry and Pavilion Banana Leaf.
Which areas have the best banana leaf rice?
Little India, especially along Race Course Road and Serangoon Road, is the traditional hub. Beyond it, look to Dempsey Hill (Samy's Curry), Upper Bukit Timah (Karu's), Serangoon (MTR) and Changi in the east (Bananabro).
Are there halal or vegetarian banana leaf rice options?
Yes. For vegetarian meals try MTR, Madras New Woodlands or Gokul Vegetarian. Pavilion Banana Leaf is halal-certified; many other classic spots are not halal, so always confirm the current certification directly with the restaurant before visiting.
Do I need to book, and are there queues?
Weekday lunches and weekend meals at popular names like Muthu's Curry, The Banana Leaf Apolo and Samy's Curry can get busy, so larger groups should call ahead. Fish head curry is often cooked to order and can sell out, so it is worth checking availability when you arrive.