8 Restaurants That Switch Up Rice For Quinoa

The healthy seed is back in the limelight after former Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak recently announced he preferred it as a healthy substitute over rice. With quinoa containing twice the protein value of rice or barley and is also a good source of calcium, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B, E and dietary fibre, it's hard not to see why. We did a little digging and found 8 popular places for you to have quinoa around the city that don't skimp on flavour.

1. The Good Co.

Above Photo: Courtesy of The Good Co.

Tempted to indulge in Indian food but worried about having a carb overload? The Good Co. in Bangsar offers a healthy alternative with their quinoa biryani masala, featuring tri-coloured quinoa with herbs, bendhi, chick peas, healthy curry, aloo gobi (cauliflower and potato), roasted carrot and caramelised onion. Wash it down with one of their cold pressed juices and you've got your craving satisfied.

Find out more about it on their Facebook page.

2. Ashley's by LivingFood

Above Photo: Courtesy of Ashley's by LivingFood

Another healthy eatery in Bangsar, Ashley's has a reputation for cooking up good eats with a focus on healthy ingredients. Take the restaurant's recently revamped menu with a tribal influence, featuring this Lima dish that has tri-colour quinoa with palm heart, green banana, eggplant, cassava and corn kernel in achiote almond cream gravy, making it vegan and dairy-free.

Head over to their Facebook page to see what other healthy treats they currently are whipping up.

3. Pan & Tamper

Above Photo: Courtesy of Pan & Tamper

If you're looking for some quinoa goodness over at Solaris Dutamas, Publika, these guys have you covered. Order the Instagram worthy garden in a jar for a healthy medley that also doubles as a conversational starter.

See more of their creations on their Facebook page.

4. Ben's General Food Store

Above Photo: Courtesy of Ben's General Food Store

Although the restaurant focuses on family-style eats, they also offer a good selection of salads. Order the quinoa and chicken salad for a meal that will bust your hunger and taste good doing so. Or order it on the side to complement your pizza to share, we're not judging.

Find out more at their Facebook page.

5. Goodness Greens Cafe

Above Photo: Courtesy of Goodness Greens Cafe

Love the taste of nasi lemak but watching your waistline? Swap coconut rice for quinoa with Goodness Greens' nasi lemak wrap, taking grilled chicken thigh, hard boiled egg, ikan bilis, quinoa, tomatoes, Japanese cucumber, nuts, romaine lettuce, virgin coconut oil and sambal and wrapping it up in one complete package.

Discover what else you can get at the TTDI cafe on their Facebook page.

6. Raisin' The Roof

Above Photo: Courtesy of Raisin' The Roof

Situated in Plaza Damansara, this healthy eatery serves healthy drinks and eats such as coconut coffee and dishes like pumpkin quinoa salad to sway you from that plate of mee goreng. If you're ever in the area, this is one healthy eatery to consider.

Hit them up on Facebook for more info.

7. Table 9

Above Photo: Courtesy of Table 9

Coming back full circle to Bangsar, Table 9 in Telawi offers healthy Italian food with a Korean twist. Order the quinoa salad to share with the table, freeing you up to try the restaurant's other inventive dishes such as kimchi rice gratin and bulgogi pizza.

Learn more about this West meets East restaurant on Facebook.

8. Marmalade

Above Photo: Courtesy of Marmalade

Popular healthy eatery in Bangsar Village 2 Marmalade also has their own version of a nasi lemak called quinoa lemak. Multigrain quinoa is served in spicy sambal tumis, topped with a poached egg, anchovies and cucumber slices. If that doesn't interest you, how about their chicken teriyaki bowl that exchanges rice for quinoa with a whole lot of flavourful greens.

Visit the restaurant's Facebook page to learn more.

Topics

quinoa Healthy Food

Tatler Asia