Anjappar: Food so authentic, it’ll put a smile on your face

Indian food is everywhere in Singapore but Indian food that’s authentic? Not so easy to find.

The chances get higher when you dine in Little India, but really it depends on which restaurant where you go to.

If you’re along Race Course Road, some of the Indian restaurants have the tendency to tone down their spices and flavours to appeal to the tourist dollar.

So if you’re looking for that authentic Indian dining experience, the task of choosing the right Indian restaurant can be more than a little daunting.

Which is why when Anjappar opened along Race Course Road back in 2005, they caused quite the stir as they were specialising in authentic Chettinad cuisine that was cooked as close as possible to what you got if you ate in Chennai.

Established in Chennai in 1964, the restaurant now has 74 outlets around the world.

In Singapore alone, Anjappar has expanded to three more outlets in 10 years and gained many loyal customers who have made it their go-to place for an Indian food fix.

Thanks to an in-house spice grinder which freshly grinds spices everyday, the taste of the spices in every dish are wonderfully articulate and ever-present.

The difference is immediately apparent with starters like the Chettinad Mutton Bone Soup ($5.50). The consistency of the soup is thin but don’t let that deceive you as the mild mutton stock flavour comes power packed with all sorts of spices.

The bold spice levels are also apparent in their range of curries, the highlight being the Mutton Sukka Varuval ($13). Tender cuts of lamb are marinated with crushed peppercorns and fried with chopped onions and curry leaves.

Similar to another dry-fried dish of mutton mysore but with moist tender meat. An addictive dish.

The bold spice levels are also apparent in their range of curries, the highlight being the Mutton Sukka Varuval ($13). Tender cuts of lamb are marinated with crushed peppercorns and fried with chopped onions and curry leaves.

Similar to another dry-fried dish of mutton mysore but with moist tender meat. An addictive dish.

Their Golden Fried Prawns ($18) are also worth ordering. Prawns are coated with hand-pounded masala, fried to a golden yellow colour and has a wonderfully sticky chewy, crunchy texture. The warm slightly tangy, garlicky chilli sauce on the side is also not to be missed.

Tandoori dishes come perfectly executed with moist meats and a slight charred exterior as are their biryanis with soft lamb meat and unbelievably rich and flavourful rice.

Dishes like the classic Butter Chicken Masala ($15) comes wonderfully well-balanced with just the right amount of sweet, sour and rich creamy flavours.

Lastly, it’s not common to go to an Indian restaurant to have pratas (or parottas as they call it) but do make an exception in this case. While the egg and plain parottas are similar to our local versions, their Ceylon Chicken and Mutton Parottas ($9-10) resembling our local murtabak, are not to be missed.

The dough is wonderfully springy and crisp in the right parts, but the pure joy is in the filling as it is filled with highly flavoursome meat scraps, chopped onions that are meltingly soft and with chopped green peppers and egg.

Of course, there’s nothing more impressive than a giant dosa that is all the rage these days. Great for sharing with families and groups of friends, the Anjappar Family Dosa ($11) takes a normal dosa and super-sizes it.

Even though it’s longer than your arm, the taste is not compromised in any way. It comes with that appropriate melting crispness and the side dips — coconut, mint and tomato/chilli chutneys and sabar — come wonderfully robust and uncompromisingly full-flavoured.

And if you’re one of those who has to have a fish head curry (after all, you are in Race Course Road, Singapore!), Anjappar has it covered. It serves a medium ang go li (sea bream) whole head drenched in a flavourful curry that has just a tinge of sourness in the taste.

You’re pretty much guaranteed a great meal at Anjappar but ironically, you don’t have to go down all the way to Race Course Road to have it.

They have outlets in the West (Jurong East) and in the East (Changi Business Park).