Best Fish Head Curry in Singapore: 14 Best Spots (2026)
Fish head curry is one of Singapore's defining hybrid dishes, born in the 1940s when South Indian cooks began stewing a whole fish head in spiced gravy for Chinese diners. Today it spans two broad camps: the fiery South Indian versions around Little India and Dempsey, and the tangier Nyonya/Cantonese "assam" and claypot styles found in zi char shops and coffeeshops islandwide. The spots below are drawn from reputable local food media and official restaurant pages; hours, prices and halal status change often, so always confirm directly before you go.
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 · $$$
Long-running Race Course Road institution known for its South Indian-style fish head curry served with rice and appam.
- Cuisine: South Indian
- Price: $$$
- Must-try: Fish head curry (red snapper), Masala chicken, Mutton biryani
- Where: 138 Race Course Road, #01-01, Singapore 218591
- Area: Little India
- Nearest MRT: Little India
- Halal: No
The Banana Leaf Apolo South Indian · $$
Operating since 1974, this Little India stalwart serves a South Indian fish head curry that uses pineapple for a balance of savoury and sweet, plated on banana leaf.
- Cuisine: South Indian
- Price: $$
- Must-try: Fish head curry, Mutton biryani, Tandoori chicken
- Where: 54 Race Course Road, Singapore 218564
- Area: Little India
- Nearest MRT: Little India
- Hours: Daily 10:30am–10:30pm
- Halal: No
Samy's Curry Restaurant South Indian · $$
Dempsey mainstay serving South Indian fish head curry in an open, fan-cooled dining hall, with rice served on banana leaf.
- Cuisine: South Indian
- Price: $$ · Fish head curry from about S$22
- Must-try: Fish head curry, Masala chicken, Fish cutlet
- Where: 25 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249670
- Area: Dempsey
- Hours: Wed–Mon 11am–3pm & 6pm–10pm (closed Tue)
- Halal: No
Na Na Curry Indian-Muslim style fish head curry · $$
Casual multi-outlet operator whose curry fish head can be ordered with different fish types; confirm the specific outlet and halal status before visiting.
- Cuisine: Indian-Muslim style fish head curry
- Price: $$ · About S$25 (half) to S$36 (whole)
- Must-try: Curry fish head (red snapper or gold-banded jobfish)
- Area: Multiple outlets (about 10 islandwide)
Pavilion Banana Leaf Assam / claypot fish head curry · $$$
Restaurant chain serving fish head curry in a claypot with a tangy assam-leaning gravy; verify the outlet's hours and halal certification directly.
- Cuisine: Assam / claypot fish head curry
- Price: $$$ · About S$32.50++ (half) to S$42.50++ (whole)
- Must-try: Claypot fish head curry (assam profile)
- Area: Multiple outlets
- Hours: Daily around 11:30am–4pm & 5pm–9pm (varies by outlet)
- Halal: Halal
Ocean Curry Fish Head Assam fish head curry · $$
Known for an assam-style curry fish head with a coconut-rich, tangy-sweet gravy; check the current outlet locations before heading down.
- Cuisine: Assam fish head curry
- Price: $$ · From about S$26 (half portion)
- Must-try: Assam curry fish head
- Area: Multiple outlets
- Halal: No
The Curry Wok Zi char / curry fish head · $$
Coronation Arcade zi char eatery serving a curry fish head with fish cooked to order alongside okra, tomato and brinjal.
- Cuisine: Zi char / curry fish head
- Price: $$ · About S$28 (small) to S$32 (medium)
- Must-try: Curry fish head, Steamed fish with okra, tomato and brinjal
- Where: 5 Coronation Road, #01-04, Coronation Arcade, Singapore 269406
- Area: Bukit Timah (Coronation)
- Hours: Wed–Mon 11am–9pm (closed Tue)
- Halal: No
IVINS Peranakan Restaurant Peranakan / Nonya · $$
Peranakan restaurant at Binjai Park serving a Nonya-style curry fish head using half a red snapper.
- Cuisine: Peranakan / Nonya
- Price: $$ · Nonya curry fish head about S$27 (half red snapper)
- Must-try: Nonya curry fish head, Peranakan dishes
- Where: 19/21 Binjai Park, Singapore 589827
- Area: Bukit Timah (Binjai Park)
- Nearest MRT: King Albert Park
- Hours: Fri–Wed 11am–3pm & 5pm–9pm (closed Thu)
- Halal: No
Zai Shun Curry Fish Head Cantonese-style curry fish head · $$
Popular Jurong East coffeeshop stall serving daytime curry fish head with wild-caught fish and a tangy gravy; often sells out.
- Cuisine: Cantonese-style curry fish head
- Price: $$ · From about S$26
- Must-try: Curry fish head (wild-caught red snapper), Steamed fish
- Where: 253 Jurong East Street 24, #01-205, Singapore 600253
- Area: Jurong East
- Nearest MRT: Chinese Garden
- Hours: Thu–Tue 7am–2:30pm (closed Wed)
- Halal: No
Xin Yuan Ji Zi char / assam fish head curry · $$
Bugis zi char spot serving an assam-style curry fish head packed with vegetables, open late daily.
- Cuisine: Zi char / assam fish head curry
- Price: $$ · About S$25.80 (small) to S$31.80 (big)
- Must-try: Assam curry fish head with zhap chye vegetables
- Where: 31 Tan Quee Lan Street, #01-01, Singapore 188117
- Area: Bugis
- Nearest MRT: Bugis
- Hours: Daily 11:30am–11pm
- Halal: No
West Coz Cafe Zi char / curry fish head · $$
Casual cafe serving a lemak, coconut-forward curry fish head in a large claypot; confirm the outlet and halal certification before visiting.
- Cuisine: Zi char / curry fish head
- Price: $$ · From about S$24
- Must-try: Signature curry fish head (claypot)
- Area: Multiple outlets (West Coast Plaza & Junction 10)
- Hours: Daily 11:30am–9:30pm
- Halal: Halal
Gu Ma Jia Private Kitchen Assam fish head curry / zi char · $$
Sennett Estate eatery whose assam fish head leans bright and tangy with tamarind, pineapple and tomato.
- Cuisine: Assam fish head curry / zi char
- Price: $$ · About S$31–S$34
- Must-try: Assam fish head with tamarind, pineapple and tomato
- Where: 45 Tai Thong Crescent, Singapore 347866
- Area: Sennett Estate (Potong Pasir)
- Nearest MRT: Potong Pasir
- Hours: Mon–Fri 11am–2:15pm & 5:30pm–9:30pm; weekends 11:30am–9:30pm
- Halal: No
Karu's Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant South Indian · $$
Upper Bukit Timah South Indian restaurant serving fish head curry with traditional spices, on banana leaf.
- Cuisine: South Indian
- Price: $$ · Fish head curry from about S$28
- Must-try: Fish head curry, Banana leaf set meals
- Where: 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
Canton Delicacies Cantonese / claypot curry fish head · $$
Geylang Bahru coffeeshop stall serving a Cantonese-leaning claypot curry fish head at accessible prices.
- Cuisine: Cantonese / claypot curry fish head
- Price: $$ · From about S$22
- Must-try: Claypot curry fish head
- Where: Block 69 Geylang Bahru, #01-27, Geylang Bahru Market and Food Centre, Singapore 330069
- Area: Geylang Bahru
- Nearest MRT: Geylang Bahru
- Hours: Fri–Wed 11:30am–9pm (closed Thu)
- Halal: No
At a glance: compare every spot
| Spot | Cuisine | Price | Area | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muthu's Curry | South Indian | $$$ | Little India | No |
| The Banana Leaf Apolo | South Indian | $$ | Little India | No |
| Samy's Curry Restaurant | South Indian | $$ | Dempsey | No |
| Na Na Curry | Indian-Muslim style fish head curry | $$ | Multiple outlets (about 10 islandwide) | — |
| Pavilion Banana Leaf | Assam / claypot fish head curry | $$$ | Multiple outlets | Halal |
| Ocean Curry Fish Head | Assam fish head curry | $$ | Multiple outlets | No |
| The Curry Wok | Zi char / curry fish head | $$ | Bukit Timah (Coronation) | No |
| IVINS Peranakan Restaurant | Peranakan / Nonya | $$ | Bukit Timah (Binjai Park) | No |
| Zai Shun Curry Fish Head | Cantonese-style curry fish head | $$ | Jurong East | No |
| Xin Yuan Ji | Zi char / assam fish head curry | $$ | Bugis | No |
| West Coz Cafe | Zi char / curry fish head | $$ | Multiple outlets (West Coast Plaza & Junction 10) | Halal |
| Gu Ma Jia Private Kitchen | Assam fish head curry / zi char | $$ | Sennett Estate (Potong Pasir) | No |
| Karu's Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant | South Indian | $$ | Upper Bukit Timah | No |
| Canton Delicacies | Cantonese / claypot curry fish head | $$ | Geylang Bahru | No |
Your questions answered
What is Singapore fish head curry?
It is a local dish in which a whole fish head (commonly red snapper) is simmered in a spiced curry gravy, usually with okra, brinjal and tomato. It emerged in Singapore around the 1940s when South Indian cooks adapted their curries for a wider audience, and it now exists in South Indian, Nyonya (assam) and Cantonese claypot styles.
What is the difference between South Indian and assam (Nyonya) fish head curry?
South Indian versions, like those in Little India and at Dempsey, tend to be richer and more heavily spiced, often served on banana leaf. Assam or Nyonya-style versions, common in zi char shops, are tangier and more sour from tamarind, sometimes with pineapple and a coconut-lemak edge.
Is fish head curry in Singapore halal?
It depends entirely on the establishment. Many South Indian sit-down restaurants that serve alcohol are not halal, while some casual chains and cafes market themselves as halal or Muslim-friendly. Halal status can change, so always check for current halal certification with the specific outlet before you dine.
How much does fish head curry cost in Singapore?
A fish head curry is usually a shared dish priced by size and fish type, commonly ranging from about S$22 to S$40 or more, with premium fish costing extra. It typically feeds two to four people when ordered with rice and side dishes.
Do I need to book, and does fish head curry sell out?
Popular hawker and coffeeshop stalls can sell out of their fish heads, especially at lunch, and some open only during the day. For sit-down restaurants, booking ahead or arriving early on weekends is wise. Confirm opening hours and availability directly, as they change frequently.
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