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roti prata
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Makan Spotlight: Roti Prata

Sweet or savoury, this Indian-influenced flatbread can be enjoyed at any time and any place in Singapore

Cam Khalid
Dawson Tan
Written by
Cam Khalid
Contributor
Dawson Tan
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Whether it’s breakfast or supper, nothing hits the spot quite like roti prata. This local comfort food can be described as the savoury lovechild of the fluffy American pancake and the flaky French croissant. And it's now 11th best-rated bread in the world, according to Taste Atlas. The grill-cooked flatbread is a simple dough mix of flour, water, sugar and salt, and if your chef's particularly skillful, lots of pizza-like tossing and twirling theatrics.

Despite being considered a Singaporean dish, roti prata was actually introduced by Indian immigrants. Roti prata – or roti paratha – translates to flatbread in Hindi. But its actual origin story remains a mystery. Some believe that it originated as a type of pancake from Punjab before evolving into what it is today. Others have said that it was brought over by the Muslim conquerors who also specialised in making various types of bread. And across the Causeway, Malaysians call it roti canai, which some claim is a nod to its origin from Chennai.

Whatever the backstory is, the roti prata is one of the most versatile dishes in Singapore, if not the world. Plain versions are good conduits for sugar or the usual curries that accompany a plate, but recent years have seen even more unique toppings like cheese, chicken floss, chocolate syrup and Milo powder sprinkled between the pastry folds. But if you prefer sticking to the safe side, you can’t go wrong with the classic prata kosong (which can cost as low as $1) and teh tarik combo.

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For the good ole classics

  • Restaurants
  • Indian
  • Rochor

For a vegetarian alternative, look no further than Ananda Bhavan. The history of one of the city’s oldest restaurants stretches back to 1924, when a Brahmin family opened up a joint along Selegie Road serving traditional Indian vegetarian dishes. That original branch is still dishing out all manner of flatbreads and curries, but now, it has four sister outlets complete with its no-frills ethos. On the food front, the prata is a safe bet. But instead of your chicken or fish curry, it’s served with dal and chickpea curry.

  • Restaurants
  • Indian
  • Bukit Timah

A popular spot for night owls, Al-Azhar, located at both Bukit Timah and Tampines, has your back when it comes to a late-night supper fix. Open till 2am daily, the restaurant is affectionately known for its naan, but its classic prata is still as toasty and crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. It’s served with the flavoursome chicken curry – you can even swap it with fish curry for the added kick. Otherwise, indulge in the popular calorie-laden prata and butter chicken set.

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  • Restaurants
  • Indian
  • Geylang

One of Singapore's best-kept secrets, this small stall is only open on weekdays and even so, their dishes tend to run out pretty early so it might take you a few tries before you finally get to try themt. It's all in the actual name of the shop, really  the prata kosong here is super crispy on the outside and much fluffier on the inside. It may sound and look so simple but there's a reason why people keep returning to this gem in Joo Chiat.

  • Restaurants
  • Tampines

This is the spot for late-night prata cravings. The open-air 24/7 Indian joint at Tampines draws hungry crowds every night – a testament to its highly-raved prata. The star flatbread dish is a happy medium between fluffy and crispy, and comes with a flavoursome curry on the side. If you’re ordering up the crowd fave egg prata, we recommend having it with sambal for extra heat.

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  • Restaurants
  • Indian
  • Hougang

The 24/7 joint is the best-known supper gem in the Hougang vicinity. The no-frills coffee shop sells a medley of Indian rojak, biryani, murtabak and other goreng-style dishes. But it is the freshly made pratas that draw the crowds. Expect a shatteringly crispy outside while the inside remains soft, warm and fluffy. We reckon it eats well on its own but if you're picking a pairing, go with the tangy fish curry to help balance the fat. It also comes with a sweet and savoury sambal for extra kick. For the adventurous, consider ordering the tower-like tissue prata that spans almost up to a metre tall.

The Roti Prata House
  • Restaurants
  • Bishan

You can never go wrong with The Roti Prata House. It’s one of the longest-running supper spots in Singapore, and here’s one of the many reasons why it remains popular: there are over 80 varieties of prata to choose from, including ice cream, milo, durian, and even a bomb cheese kaya prata. With so many different styles and flavours, you will be spoilt for choice. But if you’d rather stick to the crispy classic, then order the coin prata set and wash it down with hot teh tarik.

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Rahmath Cheese Prata
  • Restaurants
  • Singaporean
  • Toa Payoh

Despite its name, this humble prata stall in Toa Payoh doesn’t just sell cheese prata. It also draws in new and loyal customers with crispy prata kosong and thick, fluffy egg prata, which is its bestseller. Everything is made fresh from when you order so it might take a while to dish out. Nonetheless, its daily snaking queues are enough to convince you that the prata dishes here are worth the wait – and calories.

  • Restaurants
  • Singaporean
  • Ang Mo Kio
  • price 2 of 4

This is a household spot for many. Although many flock here for a quick prata and teh tarik fix, the menu also includes family favourites like fish head curry, biryani, thosai and murtabak. Popular with the weekend crowd and weary hikers from nearby parks and nature reserves, this place gets crowded pretty quickly. The classic prata kosong is on the doughy side but when it comes hot and fresh, you get to enjoy that crunch from the crispy edges.

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  • Restaurants
  • Indian
  • Bukit Timah

On any given night (or 4am in the morning) this coffee shop is packed to the rafters, a favourite spot to swing by for supper or post-clubbing/pre-dawn fuel. Happy and hungry punters tuck into favourite local dishes served, before finishing it all off with a super-sized Milo dinosaur or teh cino. But a main staple at this coffee shop? The roti prata stall of course. For prata purveyors, the prata kosong here is on the doughier side but still well-cooked. Another must-try is the fun-sized coin prata.

For prata with a twist

  • Restaurants
  • Sri Lankan
  • Rochor

From the chef behind Cloudstreet and Michelin-starred Cheek Bistro, comes Kotuwa. At this Sri Lankan restaurant, Rishi Naleendra digs deep into his roots to give us a taste of his heritage. It offers an introduction and an education, presenting us dishes like chicken kottu, a popular street dish of chopped flatbread, chicken and vegetables fried in spices – think of it as nasi goreng, but instead of rice, it's fried with shreds of roti prata. Then there are the curries. The dahl is perfectly cooked red lentils in a thick, creamy base with a complexity of heat and flavour that continues to build upon each other with each bite.

  • Restaurants
  • Contemporary Asian
  • Tanjong Pagar

While prata purveyors won't find one-dollar pratas in this joint, it is still worth a shout. Dreamt up by chef-owners Mano Thevar of two-Michelin-starred Thevar and Sun Kim of one-Michelin-starred Meta, the first-of-its-kind casual eatery concept attempts to meld flavours from Southern Indian and Korean cultures. Think crispy prawn pancakes ($28) laced with earthy Indian spices and paired with aromatic coconut sauce, inspired by the humble Thosai (Indian thin pancake) and Pajeon (Korean pancake). Another prata shop classic is the murtabak and Tambi's version – stuffed with melt-in-your-mouth oxtail meat and velvety-rich bone marrow – is not to be missed.

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  • Restaurants
  • Indian
  • Yishun

Beyond the classics, Springleaf Prata Place is more famous for its Plaster Blaster, an eggs Benedict-inspired prata topped with ham, poached egg and hollandaise sauce. But that’s not all – customers are always back for its other innovative creations too. Alternative prata dishes here include the Prata Goreng, its take on mee goreng that swaps noodles for strips of prata, and  Umami 50, an egg prata with luncheon meat, cheese, chicken floss and mayo. If you’re looking to go all out, treat yourself to the Prata Alfredo which comes with rosemary smoked chicken, fresh button mushroom, mozzarella cheese and creamy alfredo sauce, all stuffed into the prata.

  • Restaurants
  • Singaporean
  • Clementi

This prata shop in Clementi has all the trappings of a hipster cafe, massive neon sign included. Even its menu of prata is all jazzed up – the main star being the pizza prata. For the adventurous eater, The Big One will intrigue you. The pizza prata comes stuffed with chicken, peppers and olives, and topped with salami, cheese and basil leaves. You can still enjoy it with a side of fish curry too. For another interesting alternative, order up the Murtabak Maggie, which is prata stuffed with Maggi noodles.

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  • Restaurants
  • Bedok

No list of supper haunts in town is complete without this institution. And no amount of hygiene cases will knock its legendary status. There’s every comfort food you can imagine on the menu that will keep you satisfied till the A.M, including roti prata. Its Indian Kitchen menu features both the specialty and dessert prata. Treat your sweet tooth to the thick Prata Bomb, a melting combo of margarine, sugar and pastry, or the super thin, cone-shaped Tissue Prata that's sprinkled with sugar. Otherwise, beat the heat with an ice cream Tissue, served with a choice of salted caramel or banana-flavoured ice cream, or have your prata like a pancake topped with banana, and honey, chocolate, strawberry, or salted caramel drizzle.

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