Curry, Spice & Everything Nice

Craving a curry? Whether you're dreaming of a creamy korma or a biryani, the EL team went all in, indulging in everything from buttery parathas to tangy papdi chaat. We explored the best of Singapore's Indian dining scene, and trust us-these spots will spice up your life!

Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant

It may be 27 years old, but this family-run Indian restaurant continues to be popular. Reservations are highly encouraged even on a weekday night, it was busy and some tables had two sittings.

We love Indian food and were excited to see familiar dishes, such as papdi chaat. The bite-size Indian "nachos" were spilling over with tomatoes, onions, potatoes and chickpeas, generously covered with a yoghurt, mint and tamarind sauce, and a sprinkling of crunchy pomegranate seeds. We couldn't stop popping them into our mouths!

For mains, my daughter chose her favourite butter chicken (Chicken Makhanwala). The fragrance of the butter rounded out the flavours of the creamy gravy and she declared it "the best butter chicken" she's ever eaten. As I was undecided on the mutton dish, our hostess Anna recommended a half leg of Raan Sikandra. The meat easily fell off the bone and was tender to the point of melting in my mouth.

We mopped up our curries with Cheesy and Kashmiri naans, which were both fluffy and soft.

The servings were large so we barely could fit dessert in, but they kindly recommended a half serving each of gulab jamun and Nutty Delight. The latter won my daughter's heart with the generous amount of pistachio, almond and cashews folded into vanilla ice cream. We also indulged in mocktails and an aromatic masala tea.

The entire meal was made memorable by the exceptional service from the team, who were professional and quick on their feet, as well as the very pleasant live music from a threepiece band. Simply divine! Patricea Chow

#03-21B Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road (Level 3, Fairmont Singapore) shahimaharani.com | 6235 8840