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Kosong, crispy, egg, mushroom cheese, chocolate honey… the options are endless when it comes to this beloved unleavened roti that originated from India. I was surprised when Master Prata at Alexandra Central ended up taking the title of best-rated prata on Google Reviews, amassing a rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 with a total of 2,100 reviews (at time of writing).
Despite passing by this establishment more times than I’d like to admit, it somehow never crossed my mind to actually try it (oopsie!). If the management is seeing this, I hope you’re not offended. Safe to say, I’m very much a creature of habit when certain foods are involved; prata for example.
Master Prata’s seating stretches far and wide, with tables and chairs spilling all the way to the heart of the mall. I was pretty impressed by the extensive menu, spanning from rice dishes and Western sets to soups and thosai.
30 types of prata? Yep, Master Prata is basically a trap for indecisive souls like me who take forever to decide on what to have. My colleague Zhen Wei had already warned me — prices are a tad higher than usual. S$1.90 for a Crispy Prata? I was curious to find out if the taste justified the price point.
What to order at Master Prata
Consensus reached: the Coin Prata Set with Mutton (S$12.50) stole the show. 4 little cylindrical pieces of golden-brown goodness arrived on our table, served with a modest dish of mutton curry.
From the very first tear of the coin prata, I knew it had potential — it wasn’t just a crispy, keropok-like roti with zero personality. In fact, it had the perfect amount of crunch on the outside, giving way to a fluffy, slightly chewy centre — just the way I like it.
If you have friends who run for the hills at the sight of mutton curry, then this dish might just rewrite their lamb prejudices. Each silky cube of mutton disintegrated like magic in my mouth, and when paired with the punchy, perfectly-spiced curry, it was an unforgettable duo.
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I’ve always been a fan of masala thosai, so when I spotted Masala Prata (S$3.90) being offered on the menu, I was naturally intrigued.
The centre of the prata was soft and squishy when I prodded it with my utensils. Tearing it open revealed pillowy, fork-tender potatoes speckled with mustard seeds and fragrant curry leaves that infuse every bite with a savoury punch.
The masala prata, when eaten with the luscious potato filling, was an absolute flavour bomb, though it wasn’t quite as crispy as the coin prata I had earlier. The tiny pops of mustard seeds brought earthy, nutty notes to the party, while the fragrant curry leaves tied everything together in a beautiful harmony of flavours. When compared to the classic masala thosai, this combination is easily a level above.
It was interesting that instead of just the usual kosong option, Master Prata gives you the freedom to choose what you prefer — Soft Prata (S$1.90) and Crispy Prata (S$1.90). I tried both to see which I’d gravitate towards. I’m usually not a fan of the latter, which made it all the more surprising when it won me over. Gorgeously crispy on the outside, the inside was still airy and soft, making it the perfect vessel when dunked into the curry.
Ranking slightly lower on my list of 5, the Egg Prata (S$2.90) was still a respectable contender. Most places serve them soggy, but this one was impressively crisp and held its own. Thankfully, the egg stayed wonderfully moist beneath its golden-brown, lightly crisped exterior.
Who Master Prata is best for
Master Prata’s versatile offerings allow you to invite anyone, non-prata lovers included. It’s perfect for a relaxing office lunch or casual family dinner.
How to get there?
Though Queenstown MRT Station EW19 is nearer, I would recommend heading to Commonwealth MRT Station EW20 instead, which has more buses that arrive at the Alexandra Ctrl bus stop. If it helps, Alexandra Central is located just next to Ikea Alexandra.
Do we recommend Master Prata?
For sure! But if you know of any other prata spots that are cheaper, please go ahead. Personally, despite the slightly-higher price tag, I would still add Master Prata to my list of places to visit to satisfy my cravings. It truly deserves its 4.6-star rating.
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