Shiba Roti, Bukit Timah: “This roti prata wrap is a techni-colour medley that’ll fill you up”

I know that the East is famed for its mouth-watering variety of cafes, restaurants, and bakeries that wows foodies and picky eaters alike. I’m not going to lie—the West might just be making it a little hard for the East to keep that title. Joining the slew of Singaporean entrepreneurs keen to keep the hawker culture alive are Justin Tang and Leonard Lim with their brand new hawker stall, Shiba Roti.

Their stall features an adorable illustration of a shiba inu and is conveniently located a stone’s throw from the Beauty World MRT station, in Bukit Timah Food Centre. As the name half-implies, Shiba Roti’s menu boasts a variety of ‘roti prata wraps’—which are ready-made roti pratas­ topped with different colourful garnishes and fillings, and eaten like a burrito.

What I tried

I’ve always associated hawker stalls with traditional recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. As a result, Shiba Roti’s concept of modern fusion food made accessible in the same place as perennial hawker staples with recipes older than myself was a juxtaposition that piqued my interest.

Shiba Roti features a range of Signature Wraps (S$4.50+) that incorporates Korean, Indian, and even Greek flavours into their ingenious ‘roti prata wraps’. As a huge fan who never fails to ask for a second serving of the bright red pickled cabbage commonly associated with Korean food, the Korean Hot Chicken + Kimchi (S$5) called out to me first.

Folded tightly in the middle of a golden-brown roti prata is a generous scoop of kimchi and chicken, topped with fresh greens such as cucumber, bell peppers, and carrots. It’s a noisy medley of crunches made extra flavourful by gochujang-marinated chicken, fresh cilantro leaves, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. The dissonance between crunchy kimchi and a crisp piece of roti prata hit me immediately, though this pairing’s almost as good as the Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Operative word: almost. Maybe if I had Sam Wilson’s wings, I’d be flying down every week for one of these chicken-stuffed wraps.

Once my gastronomic faux-vacation to Korea was over, I was ferried over to India with Shiba Roti’s Tandoori Chicken (S$4.50) wrap. I know it’s not usually eaten with roti prata, but this aromatic rendition of a North Indian classic holds its own pretty well. Unfortunately, the homemade apple slaw would’ve shone brighter if not overpowered by the tandoori chicken’s more strident flavours—though it made the wrap more substantial, especially with the pickled vegetables.

The homemade apple slaw made a reappearance as the third signature item on the menu—Greek Lemon Chicken (S$4.50). It’s pretty uncommon to find any iteration of Greek food in hawker centres, and I think Shiba Roti made a commendable effort in pushing the boundaries of hawker food. Marinated with creamy Greek yoghurt and showered colourfully with rosemary, oregano, lime, lemon zest, and pickled vegetables, this wrap boasts of more individual flavours than you’d expect, though it comes together in a delightful tango that dips, twirls, and sticks the final pose.

I always make it a point to save the best for last in my reviews, and today’s star is Shiba Roti’s Luncheon Temptation (S$5.50). Plant-based food is definitely gaining traction in our eateries, though the usage of OmniMeat and its counterparts in hawker food remains few and far between. Paired with their staple apple slaw-and-pickled vegetable combination and wrapped in a crispy roti prata, the Luncheon Temptation is a good contender for Meatless Mondays. I do wish that the meat packed a bigger punch, perhaps with a sauce that would give the wrap a stronger umami flavour that it currently lacks.

Don’t let the picture fool you. Though it appears to be small, these wraps are generously loaded with flash-fried chicken and a techni-colour medley of vegetables that’ll fill you right up, especially if you’re on the go.

Final thoughts

Contrary to the pictures above, these ‘roti prata wraps’ are actually wrapped up and eaten like burritos, resulting in a little messiness if you’re not careful. Other than that, it’s an affordable meal, nice to look at, but ultimately nothing revolutionary. Shiba Roti is certainly something worth trying if you’re in the area, and who am I to say no to a buttery roti prata paired with… anything?

 Expected damage: S$5+ per pax

Other articles you might like:

Mentai-Ya, Tampines North: “Heaping portions, with mentaiko for days”

20 delicious zi char in Singapore that won’t hurt your wallet