Cover These ‘curry-nary’ powerhouses in PJ pack a punch with flavour and offer great value for money (Photo: Getty)
These ‘curry-nary’ powerhouses in PJ pack a punch with flavour and offer great value for money (Photo: Getty)
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Don’t be fooled by their laid-back exteriors—these ‘curry-nary’ powerhouses pack a punch with flavour and offer great value for money
Laying aside the joy of cafe-hopping from one Instagram-friendly eatery to another—how many of us have been left utterly disappointed in the past when restaurants fall short with their food offerings while trying to impress with their lavish interiors?
Yet I’m convinced Malaysians are not easily fooled—where there’s good food, there food-loving crowds will gather. It is at the most humble and laid-back spots, in fact, where those golden interactions take place—from hawker centres where CEOs and entrepreneurs gather over plates of roti canai to kopitiam hotspots where the ambience is secondary, and good food makes everyone happy.
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Here are five places to go in Petaling Jaya for simply fantastic, carb-rich comfort meals without the frills—perfect for feeding yourself first and the camera last.
Restoran Sri Seenu
Plastic tables, crowded walkways, and banana leaves piled high with rice and accompanying dishes—Sri Seenu is one of those underrated gems that is remarkably consistent for an absolutely delicious banana leaf meal. Forget the frills and fancy work attire—this is a place to enjoy your rice and curry alongside folks from every walk of life.
A vegetarian banana leaf meal here costs less than RM10 a person—yet the combination of fried and stewed vegetables, dhal, ghee, pickled chillies and papadum are consistently flavourful and delicious. Top it off with a plate of fried fish or meat, but really—even the basics are enough to feed your heart and soul to their content.
39, Jalan Dato Mahmud 11/4, Seksyen 11, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
See also: The story behind how beloved neighbourhood grocer Qra first began
Uncle Mani’s Banana Leaf Restaurant
It’s absolutely no surprise to me that Uncle Mani’s Banana Leaf Restaurant in the up and coming Taman Megah neighbourhood attracts individuals from all over, from uncles and aunties in shorts and tees to affluent, young professionals and food bloggers ready to capture mouthwatering food videos.
I don’t come here for the Instagram-famous claypot nasi lemak or even the banana leaf set—my go-to dish at Uncle Mani’s is the unbeatable Chicken Satti Soru (claypot rice): a massive portion of curry-soaked rice, chicken and sliced egg that’s still somehow less than RM15. It’s not biryani and it’s not banana leaf if you’re craving either one—but it certainly does satisfy those hunger pangs on rainy nights.
90, Jalan SS 24/2, Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya
Asian Rice Pot
Above Photo: Asian Rice Pot/Facebook
Photo: Asian Rice Pot/Facebook
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Love it or ‘leaf it’—Asian Rice Pot was a Grab delivery staple in my household during the lockdowns circa 2020 or 2021. The chicken varuval and anchovies sambal at Asian Rice Pot are really soul-warming, so it’s worth indulging in a chicken biryani meal for RM20, a sambal anchovies set for RM15 or a vegetarian set meal for just RM12—inclusive of two vegetable dishes, two types of curries, payyasam and papadam.
11, Jalan SS 5A/11, Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya
Ruby Curry House
Above Photo: Ruby Curry House/Google Earth
Above Photo: Ruby Curry House/Google Earth
Photo: Ruby Curry House/Google Earth
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Located in an unassuming street in Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, next to the beautiful Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Ruby Curry House is the place to go for a delicious South Indian breakfast. From plates of idli and poori for less than RM5 to delicious mutton varuval and vegetarian dishes that will keep you coming back for more, Ruby Curry House is beloved for its simple and tasty dishes and consistently good flavours.
965 E, PJU 6A, Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, Petaling Jaya
Biryani stall at Mayang Oasis Food Court
Above Photo: @kennieyue76/Instagram
Photo: @kennieyue76/Instagram
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Petaling Jaya’s Mayang Oasis Food Court is located in Taman Mayang Jaya—at the heart of where hawker centres and banana leaf restaurants are interspersed with the more gentrified likes of Milligram or Sanzaru Izakaya & Bar.
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In the pork-free section of the foodcourt, situated next to Joe’s Western Food corner is a humble stall selling naan, biryani, mutton kadai and more tasty South Asian fare that’s simply out of this world. Look for the Jawi sign on the stall proudly flanked by words like ’Biryani Rice’ and ‘Naan Tandoori Chicken’. This is the kind of place to get a massive plate of chicken biryani that costs less than RM15. A plate of naan, dhal and tandoori chicken, meanwhile, will set you back less than RM10 or RM12—yet the owner does not skimp on ingredients, from chickpeas in the dhal to juicy chunks of tandoori chicken that will stain your fingers red for at least two hours.
Jalan SS 26/9, Taman Mayang Jaya, Petaling Jaya
Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
