When it comes to Sri Lankan food, most people assume that it is one and the same thing as Indian cuisine. In truth, while the two cuisines do share some similarities, Sri Lankan cooking has its unique features, which set it apart.
Yarl, the rare Sri Lankan restaurant
Image Credit: Matthew Rafat on Google Review (Left), Kavinthran Vijandrum on Google Review (Right)
If you want to see this for yourself, what better way than to taste Sri Lankan food? Not sure where to look? Check out Yarl, a Sri Lankan restaurant that is nestled in Brickfields, a rarity among the numerous Indian eateries there.
The place has quite an interesting history, having started off as a mere food stall. It has since garnered a positive reputation as one of the best places for Sri Lankan food. In fact, it has since acquired sibling outlets, a restaurant in TTDI and a cafe in Heritage Row.
While the two newer outlets may appear fancier, the original Brickfields outlet retains its hominess. This is the sort of restaurant which anyone can patronise, whether you are alone or with family or with colleagues.
Family recipes, real spices
Image Credit: Yarl on Google Review
As to what it serves, Yarl is named after the city of Yalpanam, aka Jaffna, in southern Sri Lanka. This part of the country has Tamil influences in its food, but it is still different from what you can get on the mainland.
Many of the menu items here are based on age-old recipes passed from one generation to the next. And if you are wondering about the authenticity, this place frequently imports spices from Sri Lanka. You will be tasting the real thing, for sure.
Tasty thosais
Image Credit: Richard Gomez on Google Review (Left), Jackson Lee on Google Review (Right)
Most people sing praises of the thosais which are served here. Of the several thosais on the menu, the bright yellow Yarl Thosai is the most prominent. It gets its colour from turmeric powder, and is a versatile dish that is equal parts light and healthy.
Also worth a mention is the Mutton Masala Thosai. Savoury and spicy, the mutton masala complements the crispy and crunchy thosai perfectly. Yarl is generous with stuffing the thosai with masala, so there’s always goodness with every bite.
Crab curry & rice
Image Credit: Eddy Jibzee on Google Review (Left), Shirley Wan on Google Review (Right)
From 3pm onwards, the dinner sets are available. Among the sets is the Yarl Thali Set, which comes with three vegetables of the day, rasam, pickle and of course, rice. Parboiled rice is available, so do inquire if you would like that healthier rice option.
The restaurant is also famous for its Signature Crab Curry. These crabs are bought fresh from the market on a near-daily basis. Thus, they are never frozen. The sweet taste of seafood is thus never diminished and is only made better with the delicious curry.
Appams for teatime
Image Credit: Shirley Wan on Google Review (Left), Mano Subramaniam on Google Review (Right)
What if you don’t want a heavy meal? Check out Yarl’s appams then. There are three options for you to pick from: sweet, egg or plain. The sweet one is, unsurprisingly, a crowd favourite, with folks indulging their sweet tooth with coconut milk and brown sugar.
It is also best to wash down the appams with a lovely warm drink. Yarl has plenty of those, with the masala tea and bru coffee being great caffeine options. The masala tea here is made with Ceylon black tea, cinnamon, cardamom and milk, making for a truly refreshing beverage.
Worth your time?
For a speciality restaurant, Yarl’s menu is reasonably priced, which would greatly encourage return visits. Whether you want to try something new or just want good food at good prices, Yarl is most certainly worth a visit any time.
Yarl – Brickfields
Address: 50, Jalan Padang Belia, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 8 am – 10 pm daily
Contact: 010-3606624
Halal Status: Pork-free
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Image Credit: Gareth Chen on Google Review (Left), Yee Yee on Google Review (Right)
