Restoran Bunga Raya Indah (Banana Leaf Rice) – 1 September 2016

My colleague, Derrick Lee invited me for lunch today and he suggested this banana leaf restaurant on the 1^st floor at a busy junction of Leboh Ampang. You will not see many other races in this restaurant as it’s mainly populated by Indians. 

The staircase leading up to the restaurant

As I walked in, it reminds me of my school canteen, long tables with stools. Also, don’t expect air-conditioners, only ceiling fans. 

Inside of the restaurant

You sit down, and the waiters will come and serve you. They placed a banana leaf in front of us (you may want to clean it with wet wipes or trust that it has been cleaned for you), scooped out 3 types of assorted vegetables, sometimes cooked in dhal curry (I was informed that they changed the types of assorted vegetables everyday), Indian / white rice and poppadom, with complimentary water (don’t ask me whether it’s mineral or not, just drink it). 

Then, another waiter will come by and ask you whether you want fish or chicken curries or dhal. 

Fish curry for me please

My meal, i.e. Indian rice, dry curry potatoes, dhal and non-spicy dhal with chickpeas, properly laid out, topped with fish curry. This meal will cost you RM5.50 only

You can have the rice with the given 3 types of assorted vegetables or walk to the front counter and order your meat, i.e. lamb, chicken or fish and they will put it onto a small plate and bring it over to you.

Front counter serving only meat dishes and eggs

Front counter serving only meat dishes and eggs

I decided to order a dry curry chicken (which I think it’s called the Chicken Varuval) and lamb and Derrick ordered fried chicken.

Chicken Varuval 

Lamb

Fried chicken

Normally it will be so much tastier if you were to eat banana leaf rice with your fingers but we decided to use fork and spoon.  

After the main meal, I asked for my favourite Rasam (spicy and sourish soup, an aid to digestion) and Derrick asked for Tairu (fresh yoghurt that is supposed to tone down the spiciness).

Rasam and Tairu

Also, please be reminded that after you have fully completed your meal in an Indian restaurant, I was informed by my Indian friends that you fold the banana leaf towards you if you think that the food is good and will come back again; and fold outwards if you think the food is bad and will not come back again.

Remember to fold the banana leaf towards you if you find the food was good and will come back for more

The service in this restaurant was good, as the waiters kept asking us whether we wanted more rice, curries and sides vegetables. However, they were not so generous with the poppadoms though.

The whole meal only cost RM22.00 for both of us and it’s so worthwhile, with tasty food. The only drawback is hot curries, be prepared to sweat a lot!!!!

The details of the restauarant:

Restaurant Bunga Raya Indah

41, 1^st Floor, Lebuh Ampang

50100 Kuala Lumpur