A father’s legacy roars on at Tiger Jit Singh Chapati

2026-03-28 - 23:21

Balbeer Singh, better known as Bobby, is keeping his late father’s legacy alive at Tiger Jit Singh Chapati. (Hizami Safri @ FMT Lifestyle) KUALA LUMPUR: For more than half a century, Tiger Jit Singh Chapati has stood its ground. Even as the city’s skyline rose around it, this humble eatery has remained a comforting constant where the aroma of freshly made chapati lingers in the air, masala tea is brewed fresh and conversations flow easily. Today, 64-year-old Balbeer Singh, better known as Bobby, operates the eatery, carrying forward his father’s legacy. “The business was started in the early 1970s by my dad who was known as Tiger Jit Singh,” Bobby told FMT Lifestyle. “His real name is actually Jit Singh. In his younger days, he was very active in wrestling, and there was a wrestler known as Tiger Jeet. His friends started calling him that and the name stuck,” added Bobby. Bobby’s father, Tiger Jit Singh, founded the business in the 1970s. (Hizami Safri @ FMT Lifestyle) Even today, two tiger plush toys sit atop a fridge, a simple tribute to the man who started it all. Most of the dishes, Bobby shared, are rooted in his father’s recipes: simple, hearty and comforting. “He was a good cook, even though he never went to any cooking school as he came from a very poor family. He used to go to a gurdwara and help cook – that’s where he picked things up,” explained Bobby, a retired senior broadcasting technician with RTM. Bobby took over the business in 2010 after his father passed away. For him, running the eatery is a way of honouring his father. He is guided by one principle: never compromise on quality. “My father’s philosophy was never to cut down on ingredients. Prices can skyrocket, but you don’t skimp on ingredients. Once you do, the quality drops. That was his philosophy and I stick to it. “I still buy the same ingredients. Prices have gone up, especially for Indian spices, which are very expensive now, but we don’t skimp on them. “That is why the quality of our food has remained the same,” said Bobby, adding that they even make their own ghee. Customers can enjoy a spread of sides, including chicken, mutton, fish and vegetables. (Hizami Safri @ FMT Lifestyle) During a visit by FMT Lifestyle, the eatery hummed with its usual rhythm. The soft clatter of utensils blended with the steady flipping of chapati on the hot griddle, while regulars lingered to chat with Bobby – many of them part of the eatery’s story for years. Among them was Malaysian double Olympian Nashatar Singh Sidhu. “I’ve been coming here since Bobby’s father’s time, somewhere around the 1980s,” Nashatar told FMT Lifestyle. Even today, the 86-year-old drops by frequently, drawn not just by the food but by the chance to catch up with old friends and those he has come to know through the eatery. For Bobby, it’s regulars like these who have kept the business going through the decades. And given how delicious the food is, it’s little surprise that people keep coming back for more. The chapati is soft and fluffy, perfect with a creamy leafy vegetable dish called “saag”, scrambled eggs called “anda bhurji” and lentil dhal. Don’t miss the Punjabi-style chicken, mutton and sardine dishes, each served in rich, flavourful gravy. Other highlights include biryani, served on Mondays and Fridays. Pair the meal with a hot cup of masala tea made with fresh buffalo milk. The brew is rich, aromatic and comforting. Pair your soft, fluffy chapati with (top, L-R) chickpeas, chicken, mutton and sardine dishes – and don’t miss the masala tea. (Hizami Safri @ FMT Lifestyle) In the mornings, customers can enjoy a breakfast of nasi lemak, thosai, vadai and more. But beyond the food, Tiger Jit Singh Chapati is a place where memories are shared, familiar faces return and a father’s legacy lives on. Looking ahead, Bobby hopes the business will continue to stand the test of time. “I want to make sure my father’s name carries on for as long as I can. I hope that one day, someone can take over from me and keep the business alive,” he concluded. Tiger Jit Singh Chapati 325/9, Jalan San Peng 55200 Kuala Lumpur Business hours: 7am-3pm (closed on Sunday) Contact: 019-306 8544 / 019-903 2265 For location, click here. Prefer not to drive? The Pudu LRT station is about a two-minute walk away!