Bangla Lim, Eunos: “Next time I’m craving Bengali food, I know that I’m definitely coming back here”

When we hear of Indian food, our mind instantly goes to North Indian- and South Indian-style dishes. But did you know that that’s not all Indian food has to offer? With a huge amount of cultural diversity under their belt, it’s sad to know that other subcontinent fares are less common in Singapore.

Hence, I decided to bring it upon myself to feast on the lesser-known Bengali food. Bangladesh, located a little further East on the Indian subcontinent has gone through a lot in terms of history, however, they are hugely known for their spicy fare. And as a spicy food lover, I knew this was the right place for me. 

Before I bring you on a trip of flavours, here’s a little background on Bangla Lim—a food stall that opened in June 2021, located in an industrial canteen in Eunos. Bangla Lim is helmed by a Singaporean man, Lim Boon Kian, and an ex-construction worker and current head chef, Yousof. Although both of them are at the stall daily, Yousof does the bulk of work in the kitchen while Boon Kian helps out with the delivery. Quite the wholesome duo, huh?

What I tried

Bangla Lim’s Mutton Bhuna Bento Set (S$8.90) comes with polao—usually spelt pulao—rice and a side of thin omelette, stir-fried cabbage, and cucumber and tomato slices. Visually, it looks like an ordinary mutton and rice set meal that you can acquire from your neighbourhood Indian stall, however the wonderful medley of aromatic spices lets you know it’s going to be different from what your taste buds are used to. 

Akin to a rogan josh, the Mutton Bhuna comes in tender little chunks of lean meat with a couple of diced potatoes. Although the mutton was well-marinated and had a melt-in-your-mouth texture it still had subtle hints of gameyness and the strong aftertaste of cardamom—which didn’t really do it for me. What I liked was that it had an abundance of peppercorns which elevated the spiciness of the dish. When paired with the omelette—mixed with sliced green chilli padi and onion—and pulao rice, it becomes a tasty mouthful. The cabbage, however, was too salty for my liking. 

As you know, there’s no one way to make chicken curry—a simple dish that packs a punch with each bite. So, when I saw it on the menu, I knew I had to have the Murgir Jhol Bento Set (S$6.90). The bento set is essentially Bengali chicken curry with a generous amount of curried potatoes, pulao rice, and the same sides as the Mutton Bhuna Bento Set.

One thing that got me stoked was the fact that the dish comes with pieces of perfectly cooked chicken and an abundance of curried potatoes; what’s a curry dish without them? However, the rice-to-curry ratio wasn’t exactly equal because it could definitely do with more of that tasty curry. The Murgir Jhol, like the Mutton Bhuna, also had an aftertaste of cardamom—my nemesis—but the overpowering peppercorns and mushy potatoes enabled me to get past that. 

If you love potatoes, you can opt for an additional plate of Fried Potato (S$1.50). Although it’s no papadum, the thinly-sliced potatoes added a somewhat crunchy element to the otherwise gravy-filled dish. I was imagining a portion of fried potatoes that were as close to exciting as the previous dishes I’d already tasted, so when it tasted like regular homemade potato chips, I was a bit disappointed. 

Final thoughts

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have quite the delicious trip today. It was my first time having Bengali food, but it certainly won’t be my last. Although the gravies here are more spice-laden than the usual Indian fare that most Singaporeans are familiar with, it’s absolutely worth the try—especially if you love introducing your palate to lesser-known cuisines.

Next time I’m craving Bengali food, I know that I’m definitely coming back here to have a go at their other dishes. 

Expected damage: S$7 to S$10 per pax 

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