Mamak (Malaysian Indian Muslim) food is dear to every Malaysian’s tummy and has managed to steal many tourists' hearts as well. However, Malaysian banana leaf rice is a delicacy differing a little from the usual mamak fare, as it’s directly adapted from the traditional South Indian culture! Eating steamed hot rice and rich spicy curries on fragrant banana leaves is an aromatic experience that will transport your taste buds to another realm. We've rounded up some of the best restaurants serving banana leaf rice in KL! Oh, and put aside those knives and forks, eating with your right hand is the way to go! Plus point, you’ll be able to taste the flavours so much better!
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1. Sri Nirwana Maju, Bangsar
Championed by its patrons to have the best fried bitter gourd in KL, this much-frequented neighbourhood joint is regularly visited for its banana leaf options. It gets quite crowded on weekends as well, so be there early if you'd like to dine here! Head over to Sri Nirwana Maju and get ready to experience the unmistakable energy of a frantic-paced eatery. But don’t be too shocked if you can’t hear one another over the loud bustling noises of this lively restaurant! #HHWTTip: This restaurant also has another outlet in USJ 9, Subang Jaya Halal status: All meats and ingredients used are Muslim-friendly Opening hours: Open daily; 11AM-1AM Address: Sri Nirwana Maju, 43, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur Contact: +603-2287 8445 Facebook
2. Fathima Banana Leaf, Bangsar
Situated near Bangsar LRT is this spacious corner restaurant serving all kinds of yummy curries, banana leaf rice and naan, courtesy of homegrown South Indian chefs. Dig in with your hands and let the flavours explode like fireworks in your mouth! Halal status: All meats and ingredients used are Muslim-friendly Opening hours: Open daily; 10AM-10.45PM Address: Restoran Fathima Banana Leaf, 10, Jalan Bangsar Utama 1, 59000 Kuala Lumpur Contact: + 603-2202 2286 FacebookP.S. If you're looking for more eateries along the city train lines, check out these 13 halal food spots along KL's MRT line that'll make you stop in your tracks ?
3. Saravanaa Bhavan, Bangsar
Purely vegetarian, this place is part of an international chain that serves authentic cuisine from South India since 2003. Patrons have said that they feel like they're in the original restaurant Chennai upon crossing the door into this clean, brightly lit restaurant! They also have other outlets operating in Brickfields, Masjid India, Leboh Ampang, and KLCC’s food court. Recommended are the thaali set, the mini tiffin meal with idly and dosa, as well as aloo gobi, palak paneer and veggie butter masala! Once you're done with all that eating, have some lovely spiced chai latte to end the delicious meal! Halal status: All meats and ingredients used are Muslim-friendly Opening hours: Open daily; 8.30AM–11PM Address: Saravanaa Bhavan, 52, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur Contact: +603-2287 1228 Facebook
4. Macha & Co, The Curve
Did you know the banana leaf has anti-oxidant properties that hot foods can absorb and also aids in digestion? ? Waterproof and large enough to serve gravies without any spillage, the spices and ingredients come together on the leaf like a match made in heaven! At Macha & Co, you can read facts like this while waiting for your food as they decorate tables with interesting tidbits! A modern banana leaf place, the outlet opened in Kota Damansara in the latter half of 2016, and they even have outlets at The Curve, Empire Subang Gallery and Mid Valley Megamall. Halal status: All meats and ingredients used are Muslim-friendly Opening hours: Sun-Thu, 8AM-11.30PM; Fri-Sat, 8AM-12AM Address: No 32-1, Jalan PJU 5/16, Dataran Sunway, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Contact: +603-6144 6444 Website | Facebook
5. Aunty Manju's Home of Banana Leaf
Located in the bustling shop lot quarters of TTDI, Aunty Manju serves MSG-free home-cooked dishes that patrons from near and far can’t seem to get enough of. On weekends, throngs of customers can be seen enjoying roti canai, thosai and apam for breakfast. Aunty Manju’s banana leaf rice boasts 5 vegetarian side dishes, instead of the usual three. Must-try side dishes include the crab curry and mutton marrow curry! Once during Ramadhan they even opened at 3AM to 6AM to cater for the sahur crowd, perhaps this will be a good option for next year’s fasting month if you live near TTDI? Halal status: All meats and ingredients used are Muslim-friendly Opening hours: Open daily; 7AM-12AM Address: Aunty Manju's Home of Banana Leaf, 18, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur Contact: +603-7733 5954 Facebook
6. Devi's Corner, Bangsar
Everyone’s go-to mamak joint in Bangsar also has a fully air-conditioned banana leaf section on the second floor. Join the buffet line and order up! Of all the vegetable side dishes, the mango chutney, crispy papadom, and fried bitter gourd get the all-around enthusiastic thumbs up. Recommended add-ons are their famous crab curry, creamy Kerala fish curry and absolutely-bursting-with-flavour chicken varuval and mysore mutton! Halal status: All meats and ingredients used are Muslim-friendly Opening Hours: Open daily; 24 Hours Address: Devi's Corner, 14, Jalan Telawi 4, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur Contact: +6012-267 6714 Facebook
7. Kanna Curry House
If you don’t mind paper banana leaves, Kanna Curry House in PJ is another great stop for a good banana leaf meal. Top dishes include their flavourful fried squid rings with crispy onion and curry leaves, cooked-till-tender mutton curry and honeyed chicken curry. Doesn't that sound heavenly? This joint has trays and trays of fresh seafood and chicken marinated with spices for you to choose from and your selection is then promptly deep-fried to golden perfection and served alongside the hot rice, cucumber salad, potato chutney and papadoms!Halal status: All meats and ingredients used are Muslim-friendly Opening hours: Open daily; 7AM-10PM Address: Kanna Curry House, 29, Jalan 17/45, Seksyen 17, Petaling Jaya, 46400 Selangor Contact: +603-7958 4814 Website
8. Fierce Curry House
Can’t decide between banana leaf and biryani? Fierce Curry House is known both for its banana leaf and biryani – their mixture of biryani and banana leaf sets are called Bir-nana. The Bir-nana sets are a combination of your choice of biryani rice (chicken, mutton, lamb or LOBSTER), with the usual banana leaf sides. They have a variety of vegetable dishes, sambar, rassam, naans, palaak paneer, prawn curry, tandoori chicken, aloo bindhi and many other tasty dishes! But of course, their speciality is the lobster biryani ?! This feast is definitely one for the epic foodies out there! The lobster is cooked in biryani rice and spices for that extra flavour oomph! You could also opt out of the biryani rice and have the usual banana leaf rice too. But where’s the fun in that ?? Fierce Curry House is located in Bangsar, and they also have a second outlet in Publika called Fiercer Curry House! Got to love that sense of humour! #HHWTTip: For the lobster biryani, you have to call and order 24 hours in advance because they run out pretty fast. Halal status: Do note that Fierce Curry House (Bangsar) uses Muslim-friendly ingredients and does not serve alcohol. However, Fiercer Curry House (Publika) serves alcoholic beverages. We suggest that you dine at your discretion. Opening hours: Open daily; 12PM-10PM Address: Fierce Curry House, 16 Jalan Kemuja, Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur Contact: +6019 770 1945 Facebook | Website
9. Bala's Banana Leaf
Owned by Mr Balakrishnan and his wife, this dynamic duo has been serving heartwarming Indian cuisine since the 1970s. First began as a thosai stall, Mr Balakrishnan had been preparing this savoury Indian crepe for 27 years before opening one of his first restaurants in Brickfields called Balakrishnan Bhavan. Today, the husband-and-wife continued their culinary legacy at Bala’s Banana Leaf in Bangsar. If you need more reasons to stay at your table, you know their banana leaf rice is the next best thing. Fill up your table with stingray masala, fried fish, and butter egg curry. Then, count your blessings for your delicious lunch in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Did you know that Bala's Banana Leaf also serves a variety of healthy thosai? While the spinach and pineapple flavours sound tantalising, come during the weekends and try their famous pink beetroot thosai instead. You can read more about it in this article. Halal status: All ingredients are sourced from halal-certified suppliers Opening hours: Open daily; 7AM-12AM Address: Bala’s Banana Leaf, 21, Lorong Ara Kiri 1, Lucky Garden, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur Contact: +603-2201 7107
10. Sham's Restaurant
You know you're in for a treat when you step into Sham's Restaurant. Situated in Taman Melawati, each banana leaf rice is complemented with various vegetable sides. To take your dining experience up a notch, order small servings of sambal mutton, chicken 65, and chicken curry. Dine like the locals do and let the staff pour a few spoonfuls of curry onto your steamed rice. As much as we love dhal, everyone has been raving about their famous fish curry, and you should definitely give it a try! Halal status: Muslim-owned Opening hours: Tue-Sat; 8AM-10PM, Sun; 6.30AM-10PM (Closed on Mon) Address: 37, Jalan Bandar 1, Taman Melawati, 53100 Kuala Lumpur, Selangor Contact: +603-4108 9337 So there you have it, we have a variety of banana leaf restaurants for you to check out! Hygienic and eco-friendly, eating on banana leaves is a lot more appetising than on normal plastic plates. Every time you eat banana leaf rice it’s practically saving the environment, so no need to feel too guilty!