• In my continual quest for good thosai, I found myself at Little India again. Armed with the brand new knowledge of another Indian eatery to check out, I made a trip to Sri Kamala Vilas Restaurant.
I got curious about these cute-looking hollow breads after seeing people eating them on two separate occasions. My friend simply calls them “the two bombs”. Eventually we learned the proper name, “poori”.
S$2.40
Rating:
The poori was served with two vegetarian sides – chickpeas and curried potato. I’m not a fan of chickpeas (or any kind of peas for that matter) but I loved the curried potato! Do they use some special breed of potatoes for this? It certainly looks very yellow and very fresh!
As the poori is just a thin layer of wheat and completely hollow on the inside, it started deflating shortly after it was served. This doesn’t affect the taste of the food, but food bloggers and photographers may want to take note.
S$0.80
Rating:
What’s Indian food without some good ol’ teh tarik (“pulled” tea)? The one over here tasted only average. The froth layer was a tad thin too. Having had the awesome teh tarik at Sri Vijaya Restaurant previously, probably anything else would always fall short!
Game to try a different kind of thosai, I skimmed through the menu and found something with an unfamiliar-sounding name – rava thosai. A quick check with the staff revealed that this had a green chilli and onion filling. Sounds good to me!
S$1.70
Rating:
The thosai came folded neatly and had multiple holes on the surface. I found the green sliced chilli and onion to be severely lacking or else this would have made for a much more flavourful dish. As usual, it was served with different types of gravies. As usual, my favourite was the orange-coloured coconut chutney.
The Indian staff would gladly scoop more gravy onto your plate when any of it runs out. For me, it really completes the entire Indian dining experience!
I just needed to get some pictures of these metal buckets of gravies!
Chicken MasalaS$3
Rating:
And now, we get to the best part – chicken masala! For $3, you get a juicy chicken drumstick with lots and lots of fiery-red gravy! That gravy was practically bursting with flavour! It was rather spicy (it had all sorts of Indian spices) too and went extremely well with both the poori and thosai. Heck, with a gravy that thick and tasting that good, it would go well with anything!
This one is a must-try!
Like Sri Vijaya, sri kamala vilas (not to be confused with the more famous and similar-sounding komala vilas restaurant) is a no-frills coffeeshop too. No air-conditioning, fairly large place with ample seating. It is tucked at the foot of a HDB block beside tekka market, along buffalo road.
I know I had visited sri kamala vilas to try out the thosai. As it turned out the thosai wasn’t exactly worth making a special trip for. But at the end of the day, the chicken masala really made it all worthwhile!
662 Buffalo Road #01-16
Singapore 210662
Tel: +65 6291 1164
Jul 30, 2007
90
Yes, eaten here before. Its very nice. Did u try eating with your hands?
Jul 30, 2007
3472
Nope. It did cross my mind though. But I just can’t get used to the idea of eating an entire meal using my bare hands alone!
Jul 30, 2007
22
argh! i wrote a long msg and it disappeared. ok. start over.
the last few makan places u reviewed were all indian restaurants!! are u on an indian-food-only-diet? haha..
2 sundays ago i went to an indian restaurant too, at little india. but i dont remember what place it is now. uhh. so much for “blogger”, huh? haha.
btw how come u dint go for the MCC gathering last saturday? :( was hoping to see u there.
Jul 30, 2007
3472
Haha I’m on an Indian food craze! It’s not only the taste that appeals to me, but the overall feeling I get when eating Indian food. I don’t think I can ever get sick of it.
Oh I meant to go for the gathering! But it was raining the whole afternoon and by the time the rain stopped, I had to head off to some other place! Saw the pictures of Miss Clarity Cafe on Claudia’s blog though. Very nice :)
Jul 30, 2007
4
Hey Veron,
If you’re going upmarket a little, go over to these 3 Indian restaurants that I’ve visited over the past 3 weekends.
(a) Indian Restaurant @ Hotel New Otani (Liang Court), Level 5 or 6.
(b) Song of India (My parents treated me on this one, but let me tell you, the ambiance and food is fantastic.)
(c) Indian Restaurant @ Holiday Day Inn Parkview. Basement. Ask them for the 1-for-1 coupons. They usually give us. Go for the weekend buffet.
Sidenote: Have you received my emails? Was hoping to get a reply from you.
Jul 31, 2007
44
Wow, that masala chicken sure looks appetizing and sumptuous!
this reminds me of a indian coffeeshop along middle road …
i didn’t took note of the stall name but, it’s beside Cheers convenience store.
They serve addictive masala chicken beryani!
i keep going back there for more …
Jul 31, 2007
1
Thank you so much
Jul 31, 2007
14
Interesting, i will be eating loads of indian food from thurs onwards…3months in india to be exact! Also, a BIG Joyous Happy Birthday 1 day in advance! May your life be as spicy and flavourful as all the indian food u love!
Jul 31, 2007
3472
Glenn: Out of these 3 I have visited the one at Holiday Day Inn Parkview. My ex-boss brought me there. He’s a native Indian so he can tell where all the good Indian food are! I have been pretty curious about Song of India so I might give it a try. Thanks!
Jayson: Masala chicken bryani sounds shiok! Bring me there next time!
andy: My gawd. 3 months in India! You’re like living my heaven!
Thanks for the birthday wishes! I don’t think there’s ever been a year (since we met) that you’ve forgotten :)
Jul 31, 2007
15
i like the thosai and ‘teh tarik’ you have mentioned. For the thosai, especially the potatoes and their cravy. Yummy!
Jul 31, 2007
11
really make me so hungry!!
din eat Indian food for years..argh…
miss the food!!…yummy….
Aug 5, 2007
3
Back in Army, I was always at their ‘cousin’ Komala Vilas at least twice a week due to the fact that most of my mates then were Sikh and Indians and we love the cheap and good food.
That was about 17 years or so ago though, haven’t been there recently.
Aug 7, 2007
2
Yes, I’ve tried very good but recently I have tried another indian restaurant called Queen’s Tandoor at Unity Street quite unusal, got chinese Indonesian type of food and off course the indian food too. Must try
Aug 7, 2007
3472
Wow, guess what? I love Indonesian food AND Indian food! This sure looks like one promising place to check out! Thanks!
Aug 30, 2007
2
That’s nice to know that you enjoy indian food. So have you gone there yet.
Mar 15, 2010
1
I have visited this Sri kamala Vilas restuarant so many times. And, the chicken masala is impeccable.
I would strongly recomend this restuarant for its TASTE, AMBIENCE ,QUALITY AND THE QUANTITY(MUCH MUCH MORE THAN OTHER SHOPS). Y SHOULD WE MISS SO MUCH OF FOOD (QUALITY AND DELICIOUS) THAT TOO IN LESS DOLLARS.:)
Jul 19, 2010
1
I think in the same way like you. I cannot eat the entire food with my hands. I do need to use for sure my spoon or fork. And let me tell you something. I had try it eating with my hands specially the liquid ones like the daal recipes, but I cannot get use to it because I do not like it.