Pure Vegetarian Meal: Murugan Idli Shop at Syed Alwi Road

If you want pure vegetarian South Indian food, then I would recommend Murugan Idli Shop. I thought their logo of steaming idlis was simple and enticing. It’s a 15 year old chain from Chennai in South India, with 2 outlets in Singapore. Checked out the one at Syed Alwi Road which is just opposite the famous 24 hour shopping haven – Mustapha. There’s another branch at Rowell Road.

photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie

I must admit that I prefer the service I get at Komala Villas. Perhaps I feel more at home there due to the nostalgia factor of having patronized the place for decades. Perhaps the food has been localized over the decades too. Find one particular head waiter there, very attentive and professional. He tops up our various items without even us asking. Now that’s service. Was also missing the thicker coconut chutney. The chutneys here seemed a bit dilute. But they did top up the chutneys when we asked. I wonder if the Idlis would have been fresher if I had come for breakfast instead. Maybe my expectations were too high, since I heard my aunts mention that this is the place to order idlis from and I was imagining idlis that melted in your mouth.

photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie

Overall the meal was good, but comparatively more expensive, perhaps as this is a famous chain. One Idli cost S$1.65. My companion pointed out that at other restaurants you get 2 for S$2. The Ghee Dosai cost S$4.25 and it was crisp goodness. The best item for me, was the Onion Uthappam which was fluffy tasty and not oily somehow. I don’t usually go for uthappum, but that was yummy indeed, and even better than the Dosai. Cost S$4.25. The full meal came to S$11.15 including GST.

The best part – the meal was very light and I did not feel bloated after as I usually do at other places. We didn’t get drinks here as we were hankering for tea, but they only had coffee on the menu. I am figuring the coffee must be pretty good but perhaps I’ll try it another day. I have fond memories of the tea and coffee I had in India. Somehow the street vendors were the best.

photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie

The Travelling Hungry Boy enjoyed the Idlis here and I wish I had seen his review as we missed getting the additional sauce – podi and ghee. Miss Gluten Free reveals why the meal was so good and light. So this was why I didn’t feel bloated after the meal. I just discovered that imitation or mock meat is made from Gluten and I really hate it. I just don’t understand the concept of mock meat and I think I am not alone in this. New places sometimes take time to grow on me. Think I’m going to start developing a craving for Murugan like Imp and perhaps as Notabilia recommended I should have gone early for breakfast.

Murugan Idli Shop
#81, Syed Alwi Road,
Singapore – 207660.
Telephone: 0065 – 62980858

About bookjunkie

Blogging about life in Singapore & recently cancer too.
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13 Responses to Pure Vegetarian Meal: Murugan Idli Shop at Syed Alwi Road

  1. Pingback: Daily SG: 14 Oct 2011 « The Singapore Daily

    • bookjunkie says:

      can’t wait to read your review when you try it. Wonder how the Singapore quality differs from the standards at the original Chennai restaurant.

  2. notabilia says:

    This is, hands-down, our favorite restaurant in Singapore. We have been there thrice in as many weeks.

    • bookjunkie says:

      great recommendation notabilia 🙂 think the light quality of the meal will grow on me. Appreciate the lack of bloating after the meal.

  3. chaithra says:

    There are shops like this back home…very basic setting ,minimal service but the food AWESOME !!
    I have been to above shop ,they are very minimal ,idle..chutney ..sambhar .But they are really good.
    Sometimes simplicity has so much to offer .

  4. chaithra says:

    I have not been to many . we always end up going to little India. But there is this one hotel ‘Sanskriti’ ,its in the same lane as the above shop.
    Awesome food ,huge varieties – north Indian,south Indian, Chinese Indian, non veg,veg , Thai Indian , Malay Indian..amazing options and its reasonably priced. too.

  5. Jayne says:

    My personal favourite is Madras New Woodlands located at Upper Dickson Road. Lover their pratas (light and fluffy), appoms, idlis and their waiters too. The few I know are from India and have worked there for yonks!

    • bookjunkie says:

      Thanks so much for the recommendation Jayne.

      I do like Madras Woodlands as well 🙂 Love that they have appam on the menu.

  6. Pingback: Murugan Idli Shop @ Syed Alwi Road | Vegetus. A way of life.

  7. Pingback: Butter onion uttappam @ Murugan Idli Shop | Vegetus. A way of life.

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