Fill A Pita: Flaky Buttery Baklava + Egypt’s National Dish at Chinatown

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Singapore is certainly diverse when it comes to the food scene. From local food, to Japanese, to Thai, and European, there’s something for every palate when you’re dining out.

What I usually don’t see are places serving up good Middle-Eastern dishes, save for a few like Fat Prince and Artichoke. Perhaps it’s because Middle-Eastern cuisine isn’t what Singaporeans are used to—myself included. I came across Fill A Pita on social media, and I realised I’ve actually strolled past this humble eatery a couple of times, on my way to Chinatown.

Located on Nankin Row, Fill A Pita is nestled amongst a number of restaurants and bars frequented by the working crowd. As a result of the ‘Circuit Breaker’ measures, they’ve switched to self-pickup and delivery.

As you can guess from the name, this vegetarian Middle-Eastern eatery specialises in pita and dips, with a few mains.

If you can’t decide which dips or sides to try, I’d recommend getting Fill A Pita’s Platters (S$15/Single Platter, S$30/Two Pax Platter, S$45/Three Pax Platter).

The mixed platter comes with five sides—Baked Falafels, Fava Beans, Hummus, Labna Cheese and pita bread. These dishes may sound unfamiliar to you, but don’t fret, we’ll introduce them one by one.

I’m sure most of us will know what hummus is. Made from mashed chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and garlic, it can be eaten as a spread, dip or even a savoury dish on its own.

Fill A Pita serves up a thicker version of Hummus, closer in texture to paste than a spread or dip. I had to scoop it up onto my piece of pita before munching on it, though it was delightfully creamy.

The Fava Beans dip were a great accompaniment to the pita bread. This Middle-Eastern dip is also known as ful medames, and it’s actually a stew consisting of cooked fava beans served with vegetable oil, cumin, parsley, garlic, onion, lemon juice, chilli pepper and a litany of other herbs and spices.

Labna Cheese is another dish I only had passing familiarity with. This is basically cheese made from strained yoghurt, which is super creamy and velvety. Works great as a spread!

My favourite pick from the sides had to be the Baked Falafels. Made from chickpeas, fresh herbs, garlic and spices, these little pucks could’ve fooled me into thinking they were cookies.

If you’ve ever had green pea cookies, the Baked Falafels were close in flavour, but much thicker and chewier. I wished Fill A Pita sold a jar of these, so I could pop a few during snack time.

For those who prefer main dishes, Fill A Pita has you covered too. Their Pita Sandwiches (S$10 – S$13) came with varying fillings, and I decided to indulge with the Mix Pita (S$13), so that I could pick two fillings.

I chose Baked Eggplant and Labna Cheese for good flavour and textural contrast. I have to say, visuals-wise, this pita sandwich wasn’t the most appealing, and the delivery process probably didn’t help much. The shredded lettuce was also slightly wilted, but I really liked the flavour combination of creamy, tangy labna cheese and the more mellow eggplant.

Something that stood out to me was the Koshari (S$10), which is actually Egypt’s national dish. A mish-mash of chickpeas, macaroni, fried onions and spicy tomato sauce, this unique dish is served atop rice and brown lentils. It may sound odd, but the Koshari was satisfying and moreish.

This portion was filling enough that I ended up keeping half of it for lunch the next day. I really liked the spicy tomato sauce, which is made with a special Middle-Eastern spice blend.

For something a little more ordinary, the Lasagna (S$13) serves as great comfort food. It’s only available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so plan out your meals properly to get a taste of this cheesy dish.

But the highlight of my meal has to be this lovely piece of Baklava (S$3.50). It’s the only dessert on their menu, but if you’ve already gotten it right the first time, why try again?

The flaky top layer gave way to luscious, gooey syrup-soaked buttery pastry. Nuts, syrup, and cinnamon mingled in my mouth, and all too soon the dessert square was gone. More, please!

For those of us who enjoy a tipple or two with our meals, Fill A Pita’s sister brand Habouji is here for you.

Started in 2017, Habouji aims to bring people together over good drinks and music—in unconventional spaces. Think: carpet shops, soon-to-be-demolished buildings, a black & white house, and even a semi-cave.

Habouji brews up some truly intriguing cocktails, including upcycled ingredients from the Fill A Pita menu. The cocktails are pre-bottled and available for delivery, and each bottle comes with a pack of accompanying garnishes!

Priced at S$18 for each 100ml bottle and S$70 for a 500ml bottle, you can also opt for a mix of four cocktails (S$60/four 100ml bottles, S$240/four 500ml bottles).

I tried the Spicy Gimlet and Masala Old Fashioned, which was an eye-opening experience.

The Spicy Gimlet is a gin-based cocktail made with passionfruit, tamarind, citric acid, water and peppercorn water, then garnished with dried peppercorns. The result is a smooth, citrus-forward twist on the classic gimlet, with lingering heat on the finish.

Whisky lovers like me will enjoy the Masala Old Fashioned, a whisky-based drink made with masala syrup, chai tea and angostura. Notes of clove and cinnamon tickle the palate, with spiced aromatics and a slightly bitter finish.

If you’re looking to spice up your meals, the spread from Fill A Pita hits the spot. For now, you can satisfy your cravings through food delivery, and add a tipple or two.

Expected Damage: S$15 – S$20 per pax