By The Table desk · Last verified 7 October 2026
Murtabak is a stuffed, griddled pancake: thin prata dough wrapped around spiced minced meat (usually mutton or chicken), egg and onion, fried until crisp, cut into squares and served with curry and pickled onions. It is sold by size and filling; a 2026 review of Singapore Zam Zam, the North Bridge Road restaurant founded in 1908, put its murtabak at $7 to $23 depending on size. Roti john is a French loaf split lengthwise, spread with minced meat, onion and beaten egg, and fried face-down until crisp, then finished with chilli and mayonnaise or sauce. The National Archives records that its name came from hawkers offering “roti” (bread) to British servicemen they called “John”.
Both are hearty, shareable and perfect after a long day. Here is what is inside each and how not to over-order.
Quick facts
- Murtabak fillings: mutton, chicken, beef, sardine or tuna; some places offer deer, cheese or vegetarian.
- Murtabak sizes: often small, medium and large; large feeds a group.
- Comes with: dhal or curry, and pickled or sliced onions.
- Roti john: baguette, minced meat (traditionally mutton), onion, egg, fried flat on the griddle.
- Roti john origin: 1960s, from hawkers serving British servicemen (NLB; National Archives oral history).
- Halal: both are staples of Indian-Muslim and Malay stalls; check MUIS certification if you need it.
Murtabak vs roti john at a glance
| Feature | Murtabak | Roti john |
|---|---|---|
| Bread | Stretched prata dough, folded like a parcel | French loaf, split open |
| Filling | Minced meat, egg, onion, spices inside | Minced meat, egg, onion on top, fried face-down |
| Texture | Crisp, flaky outside; soft, meaty inside | Crunchy bread, omelette-like topping |
| Served with | Curry and pickled onions | Chilli sauce, mayonnaise or ketchup, cucumber |
| Where | Prata shops, North Bridge Road restaurants | Malay and Indian-Muslim hawker stalls |
| How sold | By size and filling | Usually per loaf or half loaf, by filling |
What murtabak costs
Prices depend on size and filling, and on whether you are at a hawker stall or a restaurant. An Eatbook round-up in February 2023 found:
| Place (Eatbook, Feb 2023) | Price range | Fillings mentioned |
|---|---|---|
| Victory Restaurant | $5–$9 | Mutton, tuna, mushroom |
| Zam Zam | $6–$12 | Chicken, mutton, deer, tuna |
| Julaiha Muslim Restaurant | $7–$8 | Mutton, chicken, sardine |
| Casuarina Curry | $8–$10.50 | Mutton, chicken, loaded options |
| Springleaf Prata Place | $8.90–$16.90 | Chicken, meatless, loaded options |
By 2026, a review of Zam Zam put its range at $7 to $23 across sizes, so expect the 2023 figures to have risen. Restaurants may also add service charge and GST.
How to order
- Choose the filling: mutton is classic; chicken is milder.
- Choose the size: ask how many it feeds. A small suits one or two; a large is for a group.
- Curry: it usually comes with the murtabak; ask if you want a richer mutton or fish curry instead (often extra).
- For roti john: choose the meat, and say “less mayo” or “no chilli” if you prefer.
- Wait: both are cooked to order.
Worked example: supper for three
Say a stall lists a medium mutton murtabak at $10 and a roti john at $6. Order one of each and three teh tarik at $1.80, and the bill is $10 + $6 + $5.40 = $21.40, or about $7.13 each. These numbers are illustrative; your stall’s board decides.
The WahLiao Verdict
For a first try, share a medium mutton murtabak, dipped generously in curry, and if there are three or more of you, add a roti john for crunch. Ask the size before ordering, because a large murtabak is a meal for a family. Go hungry, go with friends, and leave room for a teh tarik.
Questions people ask
Is murtabak the same as prata?
It uses the same dough, but murtabak is stuffed with a full meat filling and folded into a thick parcel, so it is a meal rather than a side.
Why is it called roti john?
Hawkers asked British servicemen “Roti, John?” – bread, John? – according to accounts kept by the National Archives and the NLB. Another story credits a Sembawang hawker making an omelette sandwich for an Englishman who wanted a burger.
Is there a vegetarian murtabak?
Some prata shops make vegetable, cheese or mushroom versions. They are less common than mutton or chicken, so ask.
Can I take murtabak away?
Yes. Ask for the curry packed separately so the pastry stays crisp.
Sources: National Archives of Singapore, oral history on the origins of roti john; National Library Board Infopedia, roti john history and fillings; Eatbook, February 2023 murtabak round-up with prices; Trvlogue, 2026 Zam Zam review with murtabak price range. The Table explains; it does not endorse.
Read next: Prata Explained: Kosong, Egg, Plaster and How to Order at Supper · Halal, Muslim-Owned, No Pork No Lard: What the Signs at a Stall Mean · Back to The Table
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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