Zam Zam Restaurant

Few restaurants in Singapore carry the weight of history that Zam Zam does. Founded in 1908 by Haji Mahmud, a man who had travelled to Singapore from Kerala in southern India, Zam Zam has been feeding the Kampong Glam community and countless visitors from around the world for well over a century — making it one of the oldest continuously operating Indian-Muslim restaurants on the island and an irreplaceable part of Singapore's culinary heritage. The restaurant has been passed down through generations of Haji Mahmud's family, surviving the transformation of the city around it and emerging as a landmark in its own right. In 1985, the neighbouring Singapore Restaurant was absorbed into the fold and the two establishments merged, giving the restaurant its full name of Singapore Zam Zam. In 2008, on its centenary, the kitchen mobilised all 61 staff to give away 1,500 packets of mutton briyani to the public in celebration — a gesture that spoke volumes about the values of generosity and community service the restaurant has carried across its lifetime.

The setting is inseparable from the experience. Zam Zam occupies a pair of two-storey shophouses at 697-699 North Bridge Road, directly facing the magnificent Sultan Mosque — one of Singapore's most iconic landmarks, with its golden dome visible the moment you step out of the restaurant. The surrounding Kampong Glam precinct, with its mix of heritage architecture, independent boutiques, and the bohemian energy of Haji Lane just around the corner, gives the neighbourhood a character unlike anywhere else in Singapore. The ground floor is where the kitchen action unfolds in full view — murtabak dough being stretched, filled, folded, and pressed onto the griddle with practised confidence, and briyani pots simmering with their aromatic spice blends. Ground-floor seating is casual and alfresco in feel, cooled by strong fans, while the upper floor offers air-conditioned seating at long communal tables for those who prefer a cooler environment. The atmosphere throughout is honest, warm, and unpretentious — very much a neighbourhood institution that has never needed to dress itself up.

The menu is anchored by two pillars: murtabak and nasi briyani. The murtabak at Zam Zam is widely considered among the finest in Singapore, distinguished by a characteristic not found elsewhere — it is placed atop an additional base layer of fried prata kosong, creating a sturdier, more textured foundation, and filled with a generous, well-seasoned mixture of egg, onion, and your choice of protein. The filling options are broad and include chicken, mutton, beef, deer, sardine, and vegetarian, with the chicken and mutton versions drawing the most consistent praise. The outer crust is crispy and golden, the interior moist and flavour-packed from freshly blended spices — a murtabak that satisfies in a way that bears out its century-long reputation. Portions are generous; a single small murtabak is comfortably shared between two. The Nasi Briyani is the restaurant's other crown jewel, built on a family recipe of authentic Indian spices that have been carefully adapted over generations to suit the local palate. The briyani gravy in particular has been cited as the secret behind the dish's enduring popularity — a deeply aromatic, richly layered sauce that elevates every grain of rice. Briyani is available with chicken, mutton, beef, and deer. Beyond these two signature items, the menu extends to roti prata in plain, egg, and onion variants; sup kambing; mee goreng; nasi goreng; and a range of Indian-Muslim side dishes and beverages.