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Former teacher starts Chinese-Muslim beef roti business in Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

Former teacher starts Chinese-Muslim beef roti business in Singapore

From CNA · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • A former Chinese teacher, Harun Min, opened two popular beef roti shops in Singapore.
  • The shops, Ameen Roti, serve authentic Chinese-style beef and chicken roti made with traditional recipes and local ingredients.
  • The business has seen long queues, with customers praising the roti's authentic taste.

Harun Min, a 36-year-old former middle school teacher from Linxia, China, has found success in Singapore's food scene with his authentic Chinese-Muslim beef roti business. After vacationing in Singapore in 2024, Min launched two Ameen Roti outlets in June: a 15-seater restaurant on Haji Lane and a takeaway stall at Century Square.

The shops specialize in Chinese-style beef and chicken roti, prepared by cooks from Min's hometown. Beef roti, a popular snack among China's Hui Muslim community, features flaky pastry with a spiced beef filling, fried until crispy. At Ameen Roti, diners can witness the traditional preparation process, using spices imported from China and locally sourced beef.

I've always liked doing business. Even after graduating with a postgraduate degree in Sociology from Northwest Minzu University in China, I explored different businesses part-time. I wanted to try something new while I was still young.

— Harun MinMin discusses his long-standing entrepreneurial aspirations prior to opening his restaurant.

Min explains that while the dish might resemble other flatbreads like prata or Taiwanese scallion pancakes, its savory flavors are distinctly Chinese-Muslim. He notes that in China, the snack is known as niu rou bing or guo kui, and is commonly marketed as "Chinese beef roti" in Singapore and Malaysia. Min traces the dish's origins back to China's Tang dynasty.

Chinese tourists told us our roti reminds them of home. It tastes exactly like what they had back home. Our Malay friends’ feedback is that it's the best beef roti in Singapore.

— Harun MinMin shares customer feedback that highlights the authenticity and quality of his food.

Before venturing into the food business, Min spent six years teaching Chinese and mathematics. Although he enjoyed teaching, he harbored a long-standing interest in entrepreneurship. He tested his concept at various night markets and the Ramadan bazaar earlier this year, where the long queues and positive feedback from both Chinese tourists and local Malay friends convinced him of the demand.

Customers frequently remark that the roti reminds them of home, with many calling it the best beef roti in Singapore. Even with the permanent outlets now open, customers can expect to queue for 30 to 60 minutes during peak hours, a testament to the business's popularity.

Even after opening our permanent outlets, customers can still expect to queue for around 30 to 60 minutes during peak periods.

— Harun MinMin describes the ongoing popularity of his restaurants, evidenced by customer wait times.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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