I am always curious which of my reviews are most viewed. Gokul (no doubt due to it being ranked number 1 on my Top 10 Vegetarian Places list) is always one that gets a lot of readers. What is so special about Gokul is not only their Indian food. In fact, Gokul is an extremely diverse restaurant - Selling authentic Chinese, Western, Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. The key emphasis is on the word authentic, as these other cuisines are not 'Indian versions' of the dishes. They stay true to the origins of the authentic dish. It is these 'other' cuisines that will be the focus of my review on Gokul this time around. If you wish to read about just the Indian food Gokul offers, then my other review (HERE) is where you'll want to click next.Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 19 Upper Dickson Road
Contact: 63967769
Opening Hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm.
Although the price tag for this Islamic Dhum Briyani may seem a little hefty, please bare in mind this dish can be an entire meal in itself. The rice and curry were both sensational in this meal. Starting with the rice, this light briyani rice was a bundle of unexpected treats - Items such as raisins, cashews, mock meat can be found lurking inside. This gave the rice a lot of additional flavours and textures, which kept me captivated. Accompanying this rice, was a thick daal-esque curry, which was flavourful, non-spicy, and could be eaten on its own. Eggplant was the prominent ingredient in the curry. Superb dish.Price: $7.50. 9/10
Ayam Masak Merah can basically be described as chicken in tomato chilli sauce. It's origins are said to be from Malaysia. However, the Indonesian dish named ayam masak habang is virtually identical. Many Malay curries follow a principle of having four main spices used (green cardamom, star anis, cloves, cinnamon). However, the main distinguishing flavour in this curry is the zestfulness of the lemongrass. Typically Malay/Indo curries put me off due to the high spice levels, but this curry was spiced perfectly. Overall it was absolutely delicious. The mock chicken was quite different to the type usually used at Gokul, instead it was gluten derived. This curry would rank among one of the best I've sampled at Gokul. Finding a vegetarian version of ayam masak merah in Singapore is virtually impossible, so seize this opportunity and order it!Price: $7.50. 10/10
As mentioned at the start of the review, Chinese dishes can also be found on the Gokul menu, and surely the most synonymous Chinese dishes of all time is Chicken Rice. Again, the flavours and look of this dish are completely authentic, there are no Indian spices lurking inside. The rice was textured well, and flavoured. The mock chicken was derived from gluten, and although the texture was acceptable, I have tried better elsewhere. In addition to chicken and rice, there is also a mock chicken wrapped in pandan leaf, which was a welcome addition. The chilli sauce had perfect bite. Visually the dish looked incredible, with all the ingredients sitting on the banana leaf, which also adds to the overall flavour.Price: $6.00. 8/10
Conclusion - What can I say about Gokul that I haven't already said before? There are many people who read my reviews, and surely think that I am being overly positive or biased towards Gokul - But believe me I am not. There is a reason why I consider this to be the best vegetarian eatery in Singapore, and that is because almost every dish I have sampled from this restaurant has been outstanding. This achievement is extremely difficult to obtain, and must be commended. Whether you order Indian food, or other cuisines at Gokul - You will not be disappointed!
Overall Rating
Food - 9/10
Ambiance- 9/10
Service - 9/10
Value - 8/10
