Although Tamil Heritage Month is almost over this year, I want to share my review of this iconic restaurant in Singapore that has been serving authentic vegetarian Tamil food since 1947! This is a spot that my dad wanted us to go to while we were here because the last time he went was 30 years ago. Therefore, I had to check it out to see if it was worth the hype and I share my honest thoughts in my detailed review, including what to expect, its cultural significance, and more information. Before you read below, make sure to follow me on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook as I post more Singapore and food content! For a preview of what to expect, watch the video below!
About and Location
As mentioned earlier, this restaurant has plenty of seating and a rich and significant history when it comes to Singapore since they are credited as the restaurant that introduced and popularized authentic Tamil vegetarian cuisine in this country. It’s also impressive that they were able to maintain success through the decades since they first opened their doors in 1947 (zoom into the picture to read some of the cool facts). They also keep things the same throughout the years as they maintain their authentic Tamil culinary practices to preserve Tamil food traditions that can be appreciated by locals and tourists regardless if they are Tamil or not. This reminded me of the New York food cart legend, Dosa Man who is also Sri Lankan Tamil who also serves popular Tamil dishes like dosa, idli, vadai and brings in people from all different backgrounds to enjoy authentic, vegetarian Tamil food. The restaurant is located in the heart of Singapore’s Little India, which hosts many other Tamil businesses and cultural events/festivals such as Pongal and Thaipusam. As mentioned in my Singapore/Malaysia shopping post, Tamil is one of the main languages in Singapore and it’s because of the Tamil migrants who arrived here in the 19th and early 20th centuries who played a crucial role in building Singapore’s infrastructure and society which includes businesses like Komala Vilas. The exact location is 76-78 Serangoon Rd, which is a 6-minute/33-minute walk from 313@somerset but I’d recommend taking a grab or taxi if you can. Keep in mind they don’t take reservations and you can either dine-in or get takeout.
Price
Another thing I loved about this place was the price. As mentioned earlier, this restaurant is in the heart of Little India which has a lot of things for cheap from food to groceries to even authentic 22 karat gold jewelry. One of the other popular places in Little India is the Tekka Markets (a 4-minute walk from Komala Vilas) which is a very popular Hawker Centre where you can also get cheap street food, fruits, and more. Nonetheless, it doesn’t beat what you get at Komala Vilas for the price you pay. We got a rice meal ($12.50), Vegetable Briyani ($13), Garlic Naan ($4), Aloo Gobi Masala ($10.50), Mutter Paneer ($11), Mango Lassi ($5.50), Tea ($1.80) as well as a pair of Samosas and Vadass for $4.60 and $3.80 respectively. The total came out to $66.70 which might seem like a lot but the portions, quality, and comfort you get make the pricing justified. Sure, it’s not the same pricing my dad remembers from the last time he ate here but he even said it was worth it.
Taste
The food was definitely worth it because of how fresh and tasty everything was. Starting off with the drinks, the mango lassi has a great vibrant colour and you can tell they are using fresh mangos but I did wish the consistency was a bit more smooth. The tea was nice and I believe they used the Teh tarik method of repeatedly pouring the drink back and forth to smooth it out. As for the snacks, I forgot to take pictures but the vadai and samosas were massive and stuffed. It came in clutch when we had a long day of walking or just needed a snack. My personal favourite was the rice dishes (briyani and thali/rice meal) because there was a great amount of rice that was cooked nicely with numerous different aromatic vegetarian curries to indulge in. I loved the paneer (cottage cheese) because it was chewy and drenched in a creamy curry. The aloo gobi (cauliflower potato) wasn’t bad either and the spice level was mild as well, both curries whether it is was the paneer or gobi, it melts in your mouth. If you want more flavour go with the garlic naan that comes in multiple pieces and elevates the taste of all the curries. I also love that it comes with appalam (popular Tamil snack that is made out of deep-fried black gram bean flour) to give a great crunch with each bite.
Overall
All in all, it’s safe to say that my dad was right on this one and it’s definitely worth the hype! I highly recommend Komala Vilas if you are ever in Singapore and try to beat the lunch rush if you can. The food is tasty and you are supporting a business that has made a significant impact on the country’s economy, culture, and culinary experience. Let me know if you have gone or plan on going in the comments below or on social media by following me on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook especially since I will be posting more Singapore, food, and travel content!