$6 Beef Roti? Ex-Teacher Behind Chinese-Muslim Eatery Ameen Roti Says Price Reasonable

Former Chinese and maths teacher

Before making the leap into food, Harun spent six years teaching in his hometown as a middle school Chinese and mathematics teacher.

While he enjoyed teaching, entrepreneurship had always been at the back of his mind.

"I've always liked doing business," he says. "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."

He had previously dabbled in ventures ranging from educational training workshops to selling retail sports shoes, but never imagined he would eventually become a restaurant owner.

"Never," he laughs. "It all happened by accident."

Snaking lines at trial pasar malam stalls earlier

Before opening his standalone outlets, Harun tested the waters at pasar malam stalls around Singapore earlier this year, including Woodlands, Tampines, and the Ramadan bazaar at Jalan Sultan.

Chinese-Muslim cooks from Linxia stationed here

The snaking lines convinced him there was room for the concept here. “Chinese tourists told us our roti reminds them of home. It tastes exactly like what they had back home,” he tells 8days.sg. “Our Malay friends’ feedback is that it's the best beef roti in Singapore.”

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

Though not the first to offer beef roti at local bazaars, Harun believes Ameen Roti stands out because he and his Chinese-Muslim cooks are all from Linxia, where the dish has long been part of their food culture, making the flavours truer to those found back home.

Only 2 menu items: Beef or Chicken Roti

Ameen Roti has only two items on the menu, the signature Beef Roti ($6) and Chicken Roti ($5.50).

“The crispiness of the outer layer requires skill,” he says. “We stretch the dough thin and fry it on high heat evenly in small batches to get crispy layers.”

“We have our own seasoning and recipe for the fillings to ensure our beef and chicken fillings stay tender,” Harun adds.

Disagrees with those who say his roti is expensive

While the eatery is currently Muslim-owned, Harun says it’s planning to apply for halal certification.

Invested $300K into biz

Harun himself doesn't cook. He has invested about $300,000 in the business so far with two partners, one of them a chef. There are altogether three Chinese-Muslim cooks from his hometown of Linxia here, each with more than 20 years of experience making beef roti.

"Our cooks already know how to make beef roti. They all come from my hometown, where this type of food is part of our culture," he explains. 

Initially planned to open Chinese restaurant in KL

Keen for a fresh start, Harun began exploring opportunities outside China. "I wanted to change my life while I was still young," he says. "I wanted my children to have more opportunities to choose where they want to work."

A trip to Malaysia later sparked the idea for his next venture. "I [initially] planned to open a Chinese cuisine restaurant in Kuala Lumpur," he says. "But I noticed beef roti was so popular among the Malays there."

Although he first considered starting a biz in Malaysia, Singapore eventually stood out as the better place to launch the business after he spent a week there.

"Singapore boasts stable policies, transparent business rules and a multicultural food market that welcomes international snacks. There's no hidden red tape,” he shares.

He adds: "I love food and traditional Chinese Muslim cuisine, so I chose to work in F&B despite its challenges."

Plans to bring his two kids to Singapore once biz stabilises

While he is now based in Singapore, his daughter and son currently study at an international school in Johor Bahru.

Harun’s wife, also from his hometown in China, looks after their children full time in JB, occasionally helping out with the business remotely. “My wife sometimes helps to manage the company’s accounts and communicate with suppliers,” he shares.

He lives in Singapore but visits them weekly and plans to relocate them here once his biz stabilises. “When my children come to Singapore, they give me support at work,” he laughs. “Sometimes, they help serve customers.”

Does he hope they take over the business one day? “I hope they have their own [careers] — it’s up to them if they want to take over,” Harun muses.

Ameen Roti is at 674 North Bridge Rd, S188804, open daily 10am–10pm, and #03-19, 2 Tampines Central 5, The Food Market by Food Junction, Century Square, S529509, open daily 9am–9pm. More info via TikTok.