Come Sunday or any day where you can kick back, make time for a little banana leaf rice action. An institution in Petaling Jaya, this place was once under threat by a wicked rival who named themselves Sri Paandi too. Totally confusing customers and etc, that "curry war" as it was previously termed got loads of attention and even spanned a television commercial based on that infamous feud. Luckily now the whole debacle seems to be over, as the other Sri Paandi is gone leaving the "real one" there.
Dining here is always a great experience and service is impeccable. Once your bum touches the chair and you tell them you want banana leaf rice, you get mobbed by a team of purple shirt guys. First, it's the banana leaf chap, this affable fellow (who was very pleased with my picture of him) who carries a stack of leaves. As soon as the leaf is laid out, the symphony starts - "rice, curry vegetables, all kinds of crackers, rasam (that sourish soup), yoghurt to cool your tongue down and the various types of curries." Everything gets laden down as fast as you can blink and shout out yes or no.
Then there's the tray of deep fried goodies - the fish cutlets, chicken pieces, that always seem to go perfectly with the curries. It's not hard to spot him, as the fella who mans the tray walks around with his goodies perched high on top of his head. Don't forget the chutneys and the all important curry to drown your rice with. My favourite is the chicken varuval here, pieces of chicken coated in a not overly spicy paste that is bursting with flavour.
Go wash your hands at the sink and dig in slowly to the mound of rice, flooded with curry and dhal to start your meal. Once the purple-shirt fellas have served you and the others, you find them relaxing and even asking you if they can look at the back of the Sunday papers to check the 4D scores. While he takes down the numbers, Splashie Boy is so amused he had to ask him, "ada kena tak?" (did you strike?).
Sri Paandi
Jalan Dato Mahmud 11/4
Off Jalan Universiti
Petaling Jaya
(Halal. Open from 8am to 11pm. Banana leaf rice is for lunch and dinnertime. GPS N3 06.664 E101 38.961. Google map is here.)
(Halal. Open from 8am to 11pm. Banana leaf rice is for lunch and dinnertime. GPS N3 06.664 E101 38.961. Google map is here.)
*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.
23 comments:
I likes Banana Leaf a lot....
This place is one of my favourite. :D
Hmmm long time never been there also.
adrian - time to revisit! I find it best for lazy Sunday lunches while flicking through the Sunday papers.
i remember leaving this place..a very very happy man hahaha
I love reading about your culinary adventures. Like your coverage of a mix of cheap, everyday stuff to nicer, once-in-a-while places.
Stuck in China, i can only drool and fantasise.
Nice photos too, love the 50mm f/1.8 :)
OMG! The guy in the first Pic is Becky's number 1 fan. I can't remember his name though...ROFL. Followed her from the table to the wash basin and back. Great Service! :P
*typo on previous comment ;) had my spell check turned off as well :P*
looks really tasty ... this is one of those places that's perpetually on my to-go list, but i've still never been here. sad but true. with the hot weather these days though, i retreat to air-conditioned places for most meals and avoid spicy food
Joe - yeah they shld have a tagline..."satisfaction guaranteed here"!
Tan Yee Wei - am sure the food in China must be good? Which part are you at? Thxs for the comp, well needed to get thru mid week work days.
Unkaleong - LOL, you better fight him off then but he's a sweetie though.
Sean - sigh, the weather seems to be getting worst though. Not only hot but hazy. Yeah, these places shld eat at nite or when the sun goes into retreat behind the clouds or else...the heat can kill you!
Been having banana leaf rice cravings!! just went to kanna curry house over the weekend. Now have to drag toyboy to check this one out. ^_^
the 1st pc gave me a shock! & i immediately scrolled dwn to chk the comments section. ahemm..as expected he commented.
hurmmph.
but tht aside, the BL here's really rocks! Kanna's no way as gd - for me at least..
Must set up fan club for Becky de... Unka, better up your game! =P
I've never eaten the BLR here, I always go to Kavitha's or Nirvana in Bangsar. I must try this...on a not-so-hot day definitely!
Oh yes I think my BLR senses are a-tingling. That shot of Becky's fan is awesome! He's a man on a very noble mission, laying the foundation for gorgeous, gorgeous meals! :-D
Its always refreshing when the waiters ( somehow there are no waitresses,lol !)at banana leaf restaurants always fight to pose for us when we snap pixs of the green leaves , giving the impression of how natural and wannaB Bollywoodish they are ! We like it !
Compared to the normally suspicious Chinamen and women... ( welcome to 1Malaysia)
Chicken varuwal...bursting with flavours....Missing my banana leaf rice since Steven's Corner.
Oh I love the chicken and miss the fish, but what's truly out of this world is the free potato masala that comes with chappati. Totally will just banjir my banana leave with it!
Nuff said!
thought i'd jump in here with a recommendation: kavitha's in taman petaling, pj (near the taman petaling girls' school) is my absolute favorite place for banana leaf rice. from jalan gasing, turn left before you reach the old town roundabout, then turn right at the T-junction, and it's on your right. the veg fare is yummy, and i've always favored a mom & pop shop for these kinda foods :)
i've alwys want 2 try to eat on banana leaves.. but never even tried once.
i'm so gonna come to this place & give it a try.
All my friends raved about this place.. still never made my way there before :( so many good food that I've missed!
I only dare to hentam this on Friday.
Every time after eat here, definitely will "fishing" when back in office under a nice cold air cond.
means any Sri Paandi in KL now, IS THE REAL DEAL?
cz if i'm not mistaken, there's one in pandan indah, but i thought another imposter.
Ooohh ya...if i can recall, their fried sotong is damn good! Can only eat BLR if i can have a siesta session after tat!
I totally agree with BSG's comment abt these guys loving their pics taken - they are sooo obliging, really.
more rasem please.. wiggle wiggle:P
toygirl - Kanna is also a fav, love the deep fried goodies there.
thenomadgourmand - LOL on yr fan's pix. Now you can frame it up and stare at him everyday.
Bangsar-babe - Nirwarna's is pretty good too but a little cramped in that shop.
550ml - yes, without him we will be all lost since no banana leaf. In fact everyone always has to wait for him before they start!
bsg - yes, the chinaman will scowl at me. "I'm busy, go away!"
worldwindows- chicken varuval is yums here!
qwazymonkey - oooh, now I feel like another round, so when when when?
thxs alia. Will give kavithas a try next time I'm in PJ.
Julia - hope you like it!
leo - one day, we all go ok?
email2me - that is why Sundays is the best. Wake up and slowly do this for brunch over Sunday papers.
j2kfm - I know the one in brickfields is real. Not sure abt Pandan Indah as I rarely go that area though.
pureglutton - guess they also love to camwhore!
ciki - yums, one rasam is more than enough for me though.
Post a Comment