You may be a fan of Chinese food and you may also love Indian food to bits, but you haven’t tried anything till you have indulged in a marriage of the two – Chindian. For the uninitiated, Indian Chinese cuisine (also known as Indo-Chinese cuisine or “Hakka Chinese”) as the name suggests is an Indian take on Chinese dishes and cooking techniques, which are adapted to Indian tastes. Chindian food is extremely popular in India, and Singapore isn’t untouched by this fascinating fusion cuisine either.
Here’s where you can go to enjoy Vegetarian & Vegan Indian Chinese food, in Singapore.
Fifth Season Tangra Chinese
Pan Fried Veg Momos in Chilli Garlic Sauce (Image source: Fifth Season’s FB page)Fifth Season offers a unique asian dining experience unlike any other. It is an experience with true fusion of cuisines from India, China and Tibet. A personal favourite, Fifth Season is loved by the kids as well. They happily customise dishes for kids, so if your kids can’t eat spicy food, you can choose the sweet garlic sauce (from among the host of sauces they offer) as the base for your preferred dish. Their Vegetable Manchow Soup (S$8.70++) is awesome and any meal here is incomplete without it. Other favourites here include the award-winning Pan Fried Vegetable Momos, Crispy Chilli Baby Corn (the zesty chilli garlic sauce can be replaced by sweet garlic sauce upon request). Also quite good are the Coriander Chilli Potatoes (S$12.90++) and Chinese Bhel (although we would prefer it to be slightly less sweet).
Fifth Season: Fifth Season Tangra Chinese, 28 Race Course Road, Singapore 218550. P: +65 6293 4842. Website.
Copper Chimney
Veg Manchurian (Image Source: Copper Chimney’s FB page)Although popular for its North Indian food, Copper Chimney has some interesting Chindian dishes on offer as well. The range here is not as vast but some of the Chinese Indian dishes here are definitely worth a taste. Their Veg Manchurian (S$11.55++) is good and so is the Hong Kong Style Vegetable Gravy, but we think their Hakka Noodles are top-notch.
Copper Chimney: 100 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207676. P: +65 6294 8891. Also outlets at Asia Square, MBFC and NPS Interational School. Check location addresses here.
Indian Wok
Aesthetic interiors, cordial staff, soft music and good food come together to create a good experience at Indian Wok. The food here is on the pricier side but the large portions do justice to the pricing. Popular dishes here include Chilli Babycorn (S$14++), Hot and Sour Vegetable Soup (S$10++), Vegetarian Manchow Soup, Pepper Chilli Paneer and Szechwan Fried Rice (S$12++).
Indian Wok: 695B, East Coast Road, Singapore 459059. P: +65 6448 2003. Website.
Manchurian Club
Manchurian Club brings to its patrons Indianised Chinese cuisine in an array of dishes. The food and service here always get mixed reviews, so if you’re around Changi Business Park, it might be worth a visit. The dishes here are reasonably priced and the portion sizes are smaller, so you can try a variety of dishes. Popular dishes here are the Eggplant in Chilli Sauce that doesn’t hold back on the spice; and the Chilli Paneer. Also notable are the varieties of rice and noddles on offer – Ginger Capsicum Friedn Rice, Schezuan Fried Rice, Yeng Chow Fried Rice, Szechwan Hakka Noodles, Cantonese Chowmein, just to name a few.
Manchurian Club: #01-02 Hotel Tower UE Biz Hub East, 2 Changi Business Park Ave 1, Singapore 486015. P: +65 6444 2600. Website.
Bikanervala
A quintessentially Indian chain renowned for its sweets, Bikanervala has a whopping 55 outlets in India, UAE, New-Zealand, Nepal and now Singapore. Although better known for their chaats and North Indian, they do serve a few dishes for lovers of Chindian food. Try the Schezwan Veg Noodles (S$10.50), Chilly Potato, Chilly Paneer or the Chinese Combo Schezwan (Combo of single serve schezwan noodles or schezwan fried rice with veg manchurian).
Bikanervala: 04-01, Viewing Mall, Changi Airport Terminal 3, Singapore
Bikanervala: 253 Tanjong Katong Road, 437041 Singapore. P: +65 6584 2590. Website.
Verdict:
Given Singapore’s love of food and varied cuisines, we’re surprised that there aren’t more restaurants here that offer good Indo Chinese food. Fifth Season seems to be the top choice when it comes to Chindian, the restaurant is quite popular and has stood the test of time, followed by Indian Wok. While Bikanervala and Copper Chimney do serve a couple of great Chindian dishes, variety is limited and both restaurants are better known for their North Indian.
Related articles:
9 Best Chinese Restaurants for Vegetarians, in Singapore
9 Best Asian and Asian Fusion Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Singapore
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