Fish head curry

Indian version of fish head curry

Place of origin Singapore
Region or state Singapore, Malaysia and Nepal
Creator Indian Singaporeans
Main ingredients Red snapper fish heads, vegetables (okra, eggplants)
 Cookbook: Fish head curry   Media: Fish head curry

Peranakan version of fish head curry
Fish head curry is a dish in Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine with Indian and Chinese origins. The head of a red snapper is semi-stewed in a Kerala-style curry with assorted vegetables such as okra and eggplants. It is usually served with either rice or bread, or as a shared dish.


Fish head curry or Muri Ghanto is an essential Bengali food item, made with rice and fish heads. The fish used generally is rohu. It is a festive item on Bengali menus, used on occasions like Bhai Phota, Aiburo Bhaat and Saadh. The dish is prepared so that the rice is not completely cooked through, giving it a grainy texture. This dish can easily be called the paella of Bengal.


Fish head curry is a dish of relative popularity amongst Malaysians and Singaporeans and tourists there, although it is generally not categorised as cheap hawker fare. A typical fish head curry served in a claypot costs between $10-20 and some of the best can be found in hawker centres and neighbourhood food stalls. The origins of the modern dish began in Singapore, with a chef wanting his South Indian-style food to cater to a wider clientele, notably Chinese customers who considered fish head a special delicacy. Today, restaurants of not only Indian, but Malay, Chinese and Peranakan associations serve variations of this dish.


In Mithila, Odisha and Bengal (Bangladesh and West Bengal) where the staple is rice and fish, one very popular fish head curry is made with moog or mung beans but other vegetables can also be used. The gravy is very thick and very spicy and the rui fish (rohita) is most popular for this.


A slightly varied version is also cooked in the Mithilanchal part of Bihar known as muri ghanth. In this type a day-old fried head of any fish is used and it is cooked in pulses.

Tamarind (asam) juice is frequently added to the gravy to give it a sweet-sour taste (see asam fish); this variety of fish head curry normally has a thinner, orange gravy. Additionally, a certain amount of coconut milk is often used in the curry.


The Best Fish Head Curry Hawkers in Singapore

Curry Fish Head

1) Karu's Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant  
Open for lunch    Open for dinner    808, Upper Bukit Timah Road S(678145)
Closed on Mondays


2) Hooked On Heads
Open for lunch    Open for dinner    
Sin Ming Plaza #01-01
6 Sin Ming Road S(575585)


3) Lau Hock Guan Kee
 Open for lunch    Open for dinner    Open late night  
328, Joo Chiat Road, #01-02 S(427585)
Closed on Thursdays


4) Penang Food Restaurant
 Open for lunch    Open for dinner    Open late night  
76 Lorong 25A Geylang S(388258)


5) B K Fortune Seafood Restaurant
 Open for lunch    Open for dinner    Open late night
887 Bukit Timah Road S(279896)


6) West Co'z Cafe
Open for lunch    Open for dinner  
West Coast Plaza #02-23
154 West Coast Road S (127371)


7) Curry & Curry  
Open for lunch    Open for dinner  
Blk 203 Hougang Street 21 #01-45 S(530210)


8) Gu Ma Jia 姑妈家
 Open for lunch    Open for dinner  
45 Tai Thong Crescent S(347866)


9) Ocean Curry Fish Head  
 Open for lunch    Open for dinner  
181 Telok Ayer Street S(068629) Closed on Sat Dinners and Sundays
Blk 92, Toa Payoh Lor 4 #01-264 S(310092)  


The Best Fish Head Curry Hawkers in Singapore

Curry Fish Head

1) Karu's Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant  
Open for lunch    Open for dinner    808, Upper Bukit Timah Road S(678145)
Closed on Mondays


2) Hooked On Heads
Open for lunch    Open for dinner    
Sin Ming Plaza #01-01
6 Sin Ming Road S(575585)


3) Lau Hock Guan Kee
 Open for lunch    Open for dinner    Open late night  
328, Joo Chiat Road, #01-02 S(427585)
Closed on Thursdays


4) Penang Food Restaurant
 Open for lunch    Open for dinner    Open late night  
76 Lorong 25A Geylang S(388258)


5) B K Fortune Seafood Restaurant
 Open for lunch    Open for dinner    Open late night
887 Bukit Timah Road S(279896)


6) West Co'z Cafe
Open for lunch    Open for dinner  
West Coast Plaza #02-23
154 West Coast Road S (127371)


7) Curry & Curry  
Open for lunch    Open for dinner  
Blk 203 Hougang Street 21 #01-45 S(530210)


8) Gu Ma Jia 姑妈家
 Open for lunch    Open for dinner  
45 Tai Thong Crescent S(347866)


9) Ocean Curry Fish Head  
 Open for lunch    Open for dinner  
181 Telok Ayer Street S(068629) Closed on Sat Dinners and Sundays
Blk 92, Toa Payoh Lor 4 #01-264 S(310092)