Meet your new favourite sandwich: Roti John! Eggy, savoury, saucy perfection—the ultimate sandwich that’s even better when made at home.

If you love french toast then you have to try our local rendition: Roti John! This is a beloved street food snack that has won hearts across Singapore and Malaysia, and perhaps even Southeast Asia. Whether you’re enjoying it from a hawker stall in Singapore or Malaysia, or recreating it in your own kitchen, this sandwich is a true crowd-pleaser.

With buttered grilled bread, a savoury meat-and-egg filling, and saucy toppings, Roti John is the ultimate comfort food for any time of day. I love Roti John, but I don’t really like to buy it because the egg-meat filling is never satisfying – why is it always a thin layer? Unacceptable!

It’s ridiculously easy to make at home, so here’s my easy recipe for it!

What is Roti John?

Roti John is essentially an omelette sandwich, where a flavourful meat-and-egg mixture is cooked directly onto bread. It is often topped with shredded vegetables and drizzled with sauces like chilli sauce and mayonnaise for added flavour.

The name “Roti John” has its origins in Singapore:

“Roti” means bread in Malay

“John” is thought to refer to Westerners (or “Johns”). Back then, all Westerners were addressed as ‘John’ by the local hawkers.

Legend has it, back in the old days a Westerner – John – was craving for a hamburger. He asked the Mamak stall owner if he has any burgers. The enterprising man thought for a while, before replying “no, I don’t, but I have something even better for you.”

And voila – Roti John is born!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy: Perfect for weekend breakfasts, or lazy weekend snacks.
Bursting with Flavor: The combination of curry-seasoned meat, eggs, and toppings makes it irresistible.
Kid-Friendly: It’s a meaty egg sandwich – what’s not to love?
Budget-Friendly: Uses simple, everyday ingredients.

Key Ingredients for Roti John

1. Bread aka the Roti

Soft baguettes are the best type of bread to use. Unlike French baguettes with their crispy exteriors, these soft baguettes have a pillowy texture that works perfectly for Roti John.

Unfortunately, they’re not that common to find, and are typically found only at neighborhood bakeries.

My easy solution? Hot dog buns! They’re easy to find and has a soft texture unlike regular baguettes. As a bonus, hot dog buns are smaller in size, making them much easier to eat and portion. Plus, let’s be honest—most of us don’t have giant skillets at home to cook those big baguettes properly!

Oil or Butter: For achieving that extra rich flavour, and very light crisp on the bread. Caution: it might get a bit greasy… but hey, that’s roti john for you! Ghee is a good alternative, otherwise neutral oil will work as well.

2. Omelette Filling

Protein: Ground beef, lamb or chicken forms the savoury base of the filling.

They are seasoned very simply with:

Curry Powder: The only spice in this recipe that adds tons or warm flavour! I used Baba’s Curry Powder. If you want to keep this even simpler (or keep this completely spice-free, even though I’ll argue there’s no heat in curry powder), feel free to omit. This is still a delicious sandwich.

Onions: This recipe just needs onions! Basic, but so important. Any type of onion will work, I use red onions.

Eggs: Bind the filling together and create that iconic omelette layer. The omelette is kept simple – seasoned with just salt and pepper.

3. Toppings

Here’s where you can add whatever you like!

At the very basic, these are the sauces you need:

Chilli Sauce

Mayonnaise

You can also add tomato ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, black pepper sauce, cheese sauce… you get it!

To DIP or not to DIP?

There are two ways to serve Roti John:

Drizzle with sauce

The more typical way is to drizzle sauces directly on the toast, as per this recipe and the method above.

This is also how Roti John is served at hawker stalls.

Make a Dip!

The other way is more common when making this from home: create a watery chilli sauce dip!

Make the dip with just chilli sauce, diluted with warm water. Before eating, dip the roti john in the sauce, let it soak it up and dig in!

With this method, you do not put sauce on the roti john at all. Why does this method even exist?

Besides chilli sauce, it’s quite rare to find an array of sauces ready to go at home!

4. Optional – Veggies

Purists will insist no veggies should be added, but if you want to bump up the nutrition value and turn it into a more complete meal, keep it simple with just:

Shredded Cabbage

Tomatoes

Cucumbers

Key Steps to Making Roti John

1. Prepare the Meat Topping

Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

Add diced onions and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes.

Add ground meat, curry powder, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat, until fully cooked, about 4 minutes.

Remove from heat and let cool for about 5 minutes.

2. Prepare the Hot Dog Buns

Butterfly the hot dog buns by slicing them open lengthwise without cutting all the way through.

Optional: Lightly butter the tops of the buns for added flavour. I don’t do this as there will be enough residual grease on the pan later on, but feel free to slather on more butter if you love an extra buttery, greasy bun!

3. Prepare the Egg Mixture

Crack eggs into a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the cooled meat mixture.

Whisk until well combined.

4. Pour in the Egg Mixture

Heat 1 tsp butter in a skillet over medium heat.

Give the egg mixture a quick mix to redistribute the ingredients evenly. Pour about 1/4 of the egg mixture into the pan, spreading it evenly.

TIP! Use a ladle for easy spooning of the meat-omelette mixture. This way you’ll get the best control of meat to egg ratio too.

5. Press on the Buns

Immediately place one butterflied bun, cut side down, into the egg mixture.

Press the bun lightly but firmly into the egg so it adheres well. Push the egg mixture inward to minimize overhang.

Allow the egg to cook until set, about 1 minute.

If any part of the omelette extends beyond the edge of the bun, use a spatula to gently press along the bun’s edge, creating an indentation in the overhanging omelette.

6. Flip and Serve

Flip the entire sandwich carefully and toast the top side of the bun for about 30 seconds.

Fold excess omelette overhang on the hot dog buns after flipping.

Remove the Roti John from the skillet and repeat with the remaining egg mixture and buns.

7. Assemble and Serve

Top the cooked side of the sandwich with shredded cabbage or other vegetables, if desired.

Drizzle generously with chili sauce and mayo, or other sauces of choice such as tomato ketchup and cheese sauce.

Fold the bun, serve immediately, and enjoy!

Another reason why I love making roti john at home: I get to spam the sauces! The saucier, the sloppier, the better, I say!

How to Serve Roti John

Roti John is best served hot and fresh from the skillet.

Slice it into bite-sized portions for a snack or appetizer, or enjoy it as a full sandwich for a satisfying meal.

Want to turn it into a complete meal? Pair it with a side of crispy fries or a light salad.

Tips and Tricks

Don’t Overload the Egg Mixture: Use just enough filling so it sticks to the bread without spilling over.
Press Gently: Press the bread lightly but firmly into the egg mixture to help it adhere without breaking the bread.
Customize the Flavours: Adjust the curry powder to suit your taste. Add chili flakes for heat, and chopped cilantro or spring onions for freshness!
Prep Ahead: Cook the meat mixture in advance and refrigerate it. Mix with eggs just before cooking.

Storing and Reheating

Storage

Store leftover Roti John in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Keep the toppings separate to prevent sogginess – but personally, i don’t mind a soggy roti john!

Reheating

Reheat in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until warmed through and crisp.

Alternatively, use an air fryer or toaster oven for a quick reheat.

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