Social media highlights concern about iconic Indian restaurant’s closure in Singapore
Komala Vilas, Singapore’s iconic 70-year-old South Indian vegetarian restaurant famed for “dosa diplomacy” with PM Modi, has been closed for over two months for renovations. The owner has not specified a reopening date, fueling speculation about its future
Singapore: Singapore’s iconic Indian vegetarian restaurant, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was hosted to a meal by then-Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has been closed for nearly two months, with intense speculation surrounding the future of the eatery in the Little India precinct here.
One of the oldest Indian-origin businesses here, Komala Vilas’ prolonged closure for “renovations” has sparked a discussion on Facebook about whether the restaurant has shut for good.
The Komala Vilas vegetarian meal in November 2015 by Lee and Modi was described as “dosa diplomacy”, according to a media report then.
Over the seven decades, the restaurant became a household name and a tourist attraction, especially for serving traditional South Indian meals on banana leaves.
“Was disappointed to discover that Komala Vilas in Little India has been closed for renovations since January 19, but it is listed as open on Apple Maps. Sharing to help others avoid the same letdown,” The Straits Times quoted from a Facebook post on Wednesday.
In the same thread, another user said: “Sad to see the 70+ year old iconic legendary South Indian vegetarian restaurant shut its doors after probably 4 generations of being family owned and operated.” On the restaurant’s Google reviews page, customers have been posting regular updates to say the eatery has yet to reopen.
“We are temporarily closed for renovation starting Monday, January 19, 2026,” the Singapore daily cited the notice posted on the restaurant’s shutter as saying. The sign did not state when the restaurant would reopen.
However, there were no signs of any renovation works being carried out at the site, the newspaper added.
Rajakumar Chandra, former chairman and current adviser of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA), said he was aware of the speculation about the restaurant.
LISHA represents most of the businesses in the precinct – eateries, hotels, motels and small Indian-origin businesses.
“It has been over two months without any work being done. “This is creating speculation and rumours about what is happening,” the daily quoted Rajakumar as saying.
“Multiple people have asked him what will become of the restaurant.” “Komala Vilas is a longstanding heritage business,” he added, saying that it was upsetting to see the restaurant shut for the past few months.
Komala Vilas Vegetarian Restaurant was established in 1947 by Murugiah Rajoo. It is now run by his grandson, Rajakumar Gunasekaran, 40.
The restaurant is listed as an SG Heritage Business by the National Heritage Board (NHB), a title awarded to businesses that are the “backbone of Singapore’s cultural landscape and provide time-honoured trades, goods or services”, according to the broadsheet report.
“I’m overseas right now. I’ll get back to you at the end of the month,” Gunasekaran said in response to the daily call on March 17.
He had previously given the same response to Tamil Murasu, a Tamil daily here.
