When Anu visited us for 2 days, she wanted to have good vegetarian Malay food in Singapore. I hadn't really looked around for asian vegetarian food in Singapore, we mostly just get Indian when we eat out or maybe Mexican or Italian. A quick search brought up Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant in Upper Dickson Road, near Little India, and boy, it was a treat!
A quick look at what we ordered and the reviews for each.
Gobi 65 to start the meal. It was crisp and perfectly cooked inside. We especially loved the mint chutney it came with. They also served fried papad for the table.
Vegetarian Laksa. Anu specifically wanted vegetarian Laksa and Gokul did a decent job of it too. The portion size was quite but and the broth was quite authentic in terms of texture and colour. However, for someone who has had the real thing, this was no match. I could taste too much coconut in the gravy (btw, there's nothing called too much coconut, ever, but in a Laksha, there sadly is) and without the fish, a Laksa is not a Laksa. Anu and family were quite happy with it too. The fried tofu was sodden and cooked perfectly too.
The chilli chicken that TH and I ordered. They use mock meat made with soy protein for this and it was really good. I could manage with this if I just can't eat the real thing anymore. It came on a sizzler plate which was an added bonus.
Manchurian Fried Rice. Was flavourful, spiced just right, and was a generous portion than four adults could share.
Malaysian Sambal is made with dried anchovies and I was a bit skeptical when they offered the vegetarian version of this. This sambal fried rice was a pleasant surprise! It was delicious and had a pretty distinct flavour from the Manchurian Fried Rice above although they look the same.
Vegetarian Char Kway Teow with mock meat. Char Kway Teow is a dish very close to my heart so I was eager to taste the vegetarian version. It was good. Not Penang-street-food good but still very good for a vegetarian version which had to take its flavour from mock meat.
The delicious vegetarian kheema masala dosa that Amrith and I shared. It was spicy, made with soya chunks and peas, and some masala, and was very filling. Came with sambar and three kinds of chutney in generous quantities. A great order and one I would repeat if I went back although the menu is so vast and has so many other enticing things for us to try.
TH and I also shared a drink called Ice Lychee Delight. We both love Lychee so this was pleasant and cooling, especially paired with the spiciness of the kheema dosa. Anu's daughter got a veggie burger that came with fries and also an ice cream sundae.
For a very filling meal for 4 adults and one child, the cost was very reasonable at SGD 75.
Their website has the detailed menu with pictures to show what it is. Portions are generous so be cautious of over-ordering. They also have South Indian and North Indian food but since Asian / Malay / Indonesian vegetarian food is rare in Singapore, I would definitely recommend that.
Overall, highly recommended for a different vegetarian dining experience in Singapore. Check out more restaurant reviews on Edible Garden.
Gokul (Asian) Vegetarian Restaurant
19 Upper Dickson
Road Singapore 207478
Tel: 6396 7769
Alternate Location:
190 Fortune Centre
#01-07 Singapore 188979
Tel: 6337 4811
Anonymous
We packed back a dum Briyani one Monday afternoon. It was some recycled food that got spoiled. We were very disappointed. We are some regular customers of Gokul from the very beginning. I will not go back again.
Komala
Hubby & I went to Gokul in March 2011 after hearing all the rave reviews. Sadly we were disappointed.
We ordered claypot briyani, hydrabad dum briyani & tofu sambal.
The hydrabad briyani came with 2 gravies. One of the gravy was extremely salty. The tofu sambal was very very disappointing. I don't know how the dish can go wrong but the sambal doesn't taste like sambal & had a wierd taste. I'm not sure how to describe the taste but it was a totally tasteless sambal.
We are Singaporeans so sambal is common in our diet.
I would go back to try the other dishes again.
Fern @ To Food With Love
Vegetarian food never looked so good! I'll have to try this when I'm in Singapore.
Anu Nandu
I was waiting for this post. And having seen all of it now, I remember how excited we were to eat that day!! Loved the food and was thrilled to hav had laksa.
Every now and then, can you send me some??
Joyful
The food looks really good and you're making me hungry 🙂
Isa
Wanted to go there with friends last year, but then one of our friends insisted we went to the restaurant in front- Lagnaa, instead (which btw was terrible). I never managed to go...but after reading your post, I will definitely make sure we try it soon!! Cheers, Isa 🙂