Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Does the stall name, Jiakali, at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre ring a bell? If you were a fan of its super gao, Indian-style curries, then you’d know that it closed down abruptly in 2024. What many people don’t realise is that it recently reopened in the same hawker centre — this time in a much more central and easy-to-find spot than before.
It’s funny to think I missed my chance to cover this stall two years ago. When it suddenly closed, I felt a pang of regret — mixed with an odd sense of relief that I hadn’t spent all that effort on a feature that would have vanished instantly (no offence intended!) Back then, I had heard so much praise about its thick curry and finally, I get to taste it for myself!
The owner mentioned that she doesn’t use dairy or coconut milk in her curries. Curious, I asked her if it was because she was lactose-intolerant. She laughed and said, “Nope! I just wanted to be different and not like everyone else.”
Jiakali’s menu, like before, features Chicken Curry (S$6), Mutton Curry (S$8), and Pork Rib Curry (S$6). Since chicken and lamb are quite common meats for curries, we decided to get the Pork Rib Curry and their brand-new item, the Pork Trotter Curry (S$10) instead.
The Pork Trotter Curry features hefty chunks of trotters that are fall-off-the-bone tender, with a great fat-to-meat ratio. The curry helps tone down the trotter’s natural richness, keeping it from feeling too heavy.
Honestly, I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy the curry as much as I usually do — coconut milk tends to make curries smoother and richer, after all. But, to my surprise, I didn’t mind it at all. The robust curry flavour hits your taste buds like a paintball at point-blank range.
Was it spicy? Yes, but bearable. It was a slow burn that doesn’t send you scrambling for a glass of ice-cold water, that’s for sure!
I enjoyed the huge piece of soft and fluffy potato that came with it — if only there were more!
The Pork Rib Curry didn’t disappoint as well. Similar to the pork trotter, each rib was luxuriously soft and fell apart easily with a light tug.
Looking for the perfect partner to soak up every last drop of that curry? You can get Coleslaw (S$2.50), French Loaf (S$1.50), or Rice (S$0.80) to go with it.
Speaking of French loaf, this is one you just can’t skip: the French Loaf Toastie (S$7) is an absolute must! Resembling roti John, this huge toasted sandwich is layered with coleslaw, your choice of chicken, pork, or mutton, and a generous sprinkling of mozzarella cheese that makes a glorious cheese pull.
With the meat that was drenched in dry curry and paired with the rest of the ingredients, every mouthful of the French Loaf Toastie was dangerously addictive — I’m still salivating as I type this out.
Old regulars and curious newcomers alike, do swing by Jiakali and satisfy your hunger with some seriously solid thick curries and delicious toast.
