The health benefits, the aroma of food on a banana leaf is so enticing!! To get an Indian feel in the city of Kuala Lumpur, try out these 9 most satisfying banana leaf meals in Brickfields!
- Vishal Food & Catering
Located at the “Temple Street” of Brickfields, this restaurant is not hard to locate with its long queues, especially during lunchtime. Be prepared to savour an authentic banana leaf on a large leaf, the size of your table! The basic meal consists of rice and 3 vegetables. You can then opt for their meat sides. Their chicken and mutton varuval are the go-tos here, spicy and aromatic. They also have “koli rasam”, an upgraded version of the tangy rasam where the ingredients are boiled with chicken and its bones (a chicken version of mulligatawny soup, perhaps?). Walk into Vishal Food & Catering for a truly Tamil Nadu banana leaf meal!
Address: 22, Jalan Scott, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +603-2274 1995
- Chechi Banana Leaf
Chechi is a Malayalee word which means sister but don’t be fooled into thinking they serve typical Malayalee fare. Located opposite the famous vegetarian restaurant Gandhi’s, this corner lot restaurant has much to offer. They have banana leaf sets ranging from the basic vegetarian set to the chicken, mutton and egg sets. You can also choose from a variety of a la carte dishes to add on which take around 15 minutes to prepare. Another unique aspect of this restaurant is that they offer you an option of replacing rice with chapati for your banana leaf meals (health-conscious people were kept in mind). Their mutton varuval is the best here, the meat is tender and the dish is flavorful. Let chechi treat you to a satisfying banana leaf meal!
Address: Jalan Tun Sambanthan 3, Wilayah Persekutuan, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +6011-2617 4522
- Moorthy’s Mathai Indian Rice Stall
For banana leaf meals that don’t burn a hole in your pocket, this is the place to stop by. Set in a food court called Money’s Corner, this stall holds gems to add to your banana leaf meal experience. The stars of the show here are not from the meat section. Turn to a sea heaven with their fried fish, fish cutlet or squid peretal. The curries are rich and spicy, coating every grain of rice well. Not to be missed is their deep fried bittergourd, slightly bitter with just the right amount of crispiness and saltiness to compliment your meal. With generous portions of side dishes doled out, walk out of Moorthy’s Mathai, you can’t even walk from food coma!
Address: 144A, Jalan Vivekananda, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: N/A
- Chennai Spice
With the name Chennai Spice, it’s obvious you will be swept off your feet with a South Indian banana leaf meal that tastes almost like the real deal! They are quite well known for their authenticity so rest assured that you’re getting your money’s worth! Rice is always steaming hot and fluffy with a variety of sides to choose from to add to your meal. Each dish has its own unique flavor so you will be savoring a different bombshell with every bite! Their signature dish here is their ladies finger cooked in a sour gravy which is perfect for those who love something tangy and spicy. Chennai Spice is definitely worth a try!
Address: 78, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +6016-208 7569
- Annalakshmi
At Annalakshmi’s (located in The Temple of Fine Arts), you will be blessed with a full belly with their vegetarian banana leaf meals. From Tuesdays to Sundays, they hold a Swayamvara Buffet Lunch where a host of vegetarian dishes are on offer to spoon onto your plate. At RM30 per person, it is certainly worth every senas it’s eat-all-you-can! Their best dishes are Chayote Sambar, Drumstick Curry, Snakegourd Kootu and Paneer Tikka Masala. To make your meal even more incredible, pair it with either Masala Chai or Mango Lassi!
Address: 116, Jalan Berhala, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +603-2274 0799
- Yarl Restaurant
For a banana leaf meal that has Sri Lankan tastes, head to Yarl! With both veg and non-veg options, this restaurant specializes in serving dishes that are authentically Sri Lankan. Yarl’s dhal is thick. Their dry chicken varuval is wonderful, it’s not your typical varuval, punchy with spices and tender to the bite. Pair it with their ladies fingers which they cook with grated coconut, not too overcooked or slimy, perfect! The ambience of this restaurant is wonderful, soothing greyish brown tones with a cafe-like outlook. Yarl warmly welcomes you to their restaurant!
Address: 50, Jalan Padang Belia, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +6010-360 6624
- Lawanya Food Corner
Priding themselves with the great taste of home cooking, that’s what you’ll be getting at Lawanya Food Corner. Indian-style cooking of vegetables can be soggy and overcooked at times, but not at Lawanya’s. Raised claypots contain row after row of vegetables and all look absolutely delish! Although they are not a vegetarian restaurant, their assortment of vegetables will make you head for the veggies rather than the meat! The greens still maintain their bright shade which is really appetizing to look at. Taste is also not compromised. For a meaty side, go for their mutton curry with the meat tender to the fork! Complimentary rasam and papadoms are provided when you dine-in. If you haven’t tried the food here, we strongly encourage you to do so!
Address: 1077/ 50470, 8, Jalan Scott, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +6016-220 2217
- Sathiyanery Vegetarian Food Centre
For fast, hot vegetarian banana leaf meals, come to Sathiyanery Vegetarian Food Centre. Their food is unpretentious yet delicious. Their self-pick lunch menu consists of 3 veggies with rice. There are vegetarian curries and dhal to “banjir”your rice with! Sathiyanery even has curd to go with your meal. Have a glass of masala tea after that filling vegetarian meal to aid digestion and aid the burping process. Burp! Reasonably priced and delicious, vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike will be pleased with the food here!
Address: 245/2, Jln Tun Sambanthan 3, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +6012-349 9662
- Selvam’s Corner
With over 20 enticing side dishes to choose from, you may need a crane to carry you out of the shop with your full belly! Named after the shop’s proprietor, it’s well-known among locals for its home-cooked South Indian dishes. You have to try their fried fish which has over 10 ingredients in its marinade! They only use Spanish mackerel for their fried fish, crispy exterior leads to succulent flesh, truly heavenly! Their chicken varuval and mutton peretal are also crowd favorites for its full-bodied flavors. Selvam’s Corner is the place to be for it’s comforting Indian dishes.
Address: G floor, Medan Selera, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +6017-883 4670
Written By Kartini Kannan
