Copper Chimney @ little India Singapore

Copper Chimney at little India served up authentic Chindian and Mughlai cuisine.

Chindian cuisine, a term to describe mixture of Chinese and Indian Heritage, in the food arena, it should not be interpreted as the typical Indian fare but served the Chinese food adapted to the Indian palate. Chindian means the marriage of Chinese and Indian food through decades of cultural immersion by the two sides of people near the China and India border, the culture exchange gradually developed into a new stream of cuisine and lead to the birth of Chindian – an authentic North Indian cuisine that originated from India.

Mughlai cuisine represents the cooking styles used in North India especially Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. North Indian food is heavy with thick and creamy curries but moderate spiciness. Yoghurt and dairy products are inevitable and play a key role in the main stream of the cooking.

Copper Chimney is specialised in both the Chindian and Mughlai have been operating in the current location for a long time but changed of the management two and half years ago with a revamped menu. The new management behind Copper Chimney has since spreading the arms establishing another few outlets in the Central regions from their well received  North Indian food.

Copper Chimney is centrally located at the heart of the little India right opposite the famous Mustafa Shopping Centre.

Salt and Pepper Baby Corn ($9)

Baby corn was battered, stir-fried with diced garlic, peppers and soy sauce. The crunchiness and juiciness of the baby corn was instantly felt at the first bite coupled with the enticing flavour. A lip-smacking starter.

 Chicken Malai Tika $12

The chicken was marinated in a Malai style with cream, ginger and garlic. The chicken was perfectly grilled to retain the juices and tenderness coupled with the good seasoning to make a subtly flavoured Tika that excite every of our tastebud.

Rumali Roti $3.50 & Garlic Naan $3.50

Rumali roti means handkerchief bread arises from its similarity to the handkerchief, the roti was tossing and spinning in the air by the chefs with hands to create this extremely thin flatbread. It has to be eaten fresh and hot before it losses all the chewiness.

The garlicky Naan went perfectly with the most of the dishes especially the butter chicken.

 Butter Chicken $11.5

The chicken is marinated with yogurt and spices, cooked in a mildly spiced curry sauce that includes butter. The butter chicken is tender and tangy, not as cloying as some others we tried before.

Mutton Roganjosh $12.0

This delicious mutton curry is a staple of Kashmiri dish consists of mutton cooked with a gravy base with an aromatic combination of spices and colour extracted from the plant to impart a crimson colour. The meat was tenderly soft and little efforts required to tear it apart.  We like the rich potent, tasty and all at once tangy mildly spiced and savoury dish.

Vegetable Jaipuri $10.0

A rich and creamy based mixed vegetable curry and very mild spiciness.

Vegetable Manchurian $9.0

Vegetable balls made of cabbage, bean and carrot etc, the deep fried vegetable balls were cooked in a tamely spicy gravy and a good accompaniment to the Schezwan fried rice.

Chilli Garlic Noodle $11.0

Not fiercely hot and the noodle was fragrant with the hints of garlicky flavour.

Szechwan Fried Rice $11.50

Mild spiciness Szechuan fried rice with traditional Basmati rice.

Lychee Kulfi $7.0

Indian desserts are famous for sugary sweet but the Lychee Kulfi from Copper Chimney was surprisingly good, perfect dessert to end the meal.

Sizzling Brownie with Ice Cream $7.5

“This is definitely not part of the North Indian cuisine.” We cracked a joke on this western dessert.

The brownie was served in the hot plate topped with ice cream. Hot chocolate poured over the ice cream and dribbled down to the sizzling hot plate ignited plume of smoke with the hissing sound. The hot plate charred the bottom of the brownies and gave the pastry a different dimension in the taste and we kind of like it.

 Mint Calamasi $4.0

Calamasi mixed with mint and fizzy soft drink, a refreshing drink.

 Coke Jal Jeera $5.0

Jal-jeera is an Indian beverage made of various spices include cumin, ginger, pepper and mint etc with the typical fizzy soft drink that is a perennial favourite in India. The Coke Jal Jeera has a distinct and strong herb taste which is very subjective to the liking of the individual.

Copper Chimney Our verdict:

The restaurant was full house when we were half way through our visit which is a clear endorsement to its popularity. For us, we can agree all the dishes work; it is simple but scrumptious, so, if you are hankering looking for a place to indulge in authentic North India or Indian Chinese cuisine.  Copper Chimney can be a good choice.

Copper Chimney, little India Singapore

Address: 100 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207676

Hours: 11:00am to Midnight (Mon – Thur, Sun), 11.30am to 1.00am (Fri & Sat)

Telephone: +65 6294 8891

Website: www.copperchimney.com.sg