Famous Little India vegetarian restaurant Komala Vilas closed for 2 months, unclear when it'll reopen

Komala Vilas Vegetarian Restaurant, a popular heritage Indian food restaurant along Serangoon Road, has been closed for two months.

The well-known eatery hosted then Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and India prime minister Narendra Modi in 2015.

Diwali lights & delicious Indian food. Thank you @leehsienloong. pic.twitter.com/EQe7cX3BnZ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 23, 2015

The restaurant was established in 1947 by Murugiah Rajoo and now run by his grandson, Rajakumar Gunasekaran, 40.

When asked about the status of the restaurant, Rajakumar told The Straits Times that he was not in Singapore and will get back to them at the end of March 2026.

Sign says closed for renovation

A sign on the eatery's shutters said the place was "temporarily closed" for "renovation" from Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

There was no indication when the shop will reopen or if any works were carried out.

Another outlet at 291 Serangoon Road has been taken over by a Indian vegetarian restaurant, Vasanta Bhavan.

The sweet shop, Komala Vilas Sweets and Savouries, located at Upper Dickson Road, was also shut and listed online as "permanently closed".

A heritage business

Rajakumar Chandra, former chairman and current adviser of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA), told Tamil Murasu that he has been asked by multiple people about the status of Komala Vilas.

“It has been over two months without any work being done. This is creating speculation and rumours on what is happening,” he said.

He added that he was in close contact with the restaurant owner and described him as someone who is dedicated to carrying on the family business.

The restaurant is listed under the SG Heritage Business Scheme by the National Heritage Board (NHB).

The scheme awards businesses that are the “backbone" of Singapore’s cultural landscape.

An NHB spokesperson told ST that it has been in contact with Komala Vilas for matters relating to the scheme and defer to the business owners to share their plans.

Top photos via Google Maps