At first glance of the name "Gin Rik Sha", I thought it was a Japanese restaurant as the name means "pull rickshaw" in Japanese. But, Gin Rik Sha turned out to be serving Indian cuisine with a modern twist.
Located at the hillside of Bukit Damansara, this peaceful restaurant provides a nice hideout for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a while. Stepping into Gin Rik Sha, I couldn't help but noticed they have done a very good job in keeping the "modern" theme consistently throughout the restaurant, from the contemporary furniture to the metal and copper elements they have incorporated in their decor.
Mango Chicken Pappadoms. We started our dinner with some Mango Chicken Pappadoms. The well-marinated chicken and sweet mango goes perfectly well with the crispy pappadoms. It is best eaten as soon as it was served, as the gravy and mango juice might soak through the pappadoms.
Bombay Masala Salmon. I enjoy salmon and I love masala, but it was my first time pairing both together. The salmon was perfectly baked with masala, served on a bed of couscous. This is definitely a healthier version of Indian cuisine.
Paneer Tikka Masala. This is one of the must-order dishes whenever I'm at an Indian restaurant. This vegetarian alternative to chicken tikka masala has certainly hit all the right notes of creaminess and spices.
Pistachio Kulfi with Caramelized Bananas & Sesame Brittle. There's no better way to end a meal with some icy cold kulfi. The sweetness of the kulfi, caramelized bananas and crunchy sesame brittle was a perfect way to end our night.
Apart from the food, Gin Rik Sha has a cocktail bar and they have some interesting cocktails too. When we were asked what our preference is, I opted for something with a savoury note and my friend just had 1 request - to have her cocktail strong. LOL!
Makati. A vodka-based cocktail with a touch of coffee in it. It was smooth and what's not to like when it's a combination of coffee and vodka!
Firaun. Inspired by the word "pharoah", Firaun was definitely a strong option yet refreshing at the same time. If you are looking to start off the night with something light on the taste.
Moscow Mule. A classic vodka-based cocktail with a touch of of heat from the ginger and refreshing lime.
Gin Rik Sha has definitely redefined Indian cuisine with their modern interpretation. If you are looking for a place to chill with friends over nice food while getting away from the busy streets of Klang Valley, Gin Rik Sha might just be the perfect spot for you.
To know more updates on Gin Rik Sha, check out their Facebook and Instagram.
Address: 37, Ground Floor, Plaza Damansara, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Operating Hours: Monday - Saturday (4.30pm - 12am), Sunday CLOSED
Contact: 010-243 8266
Food is something that many Malaysian lives for and most of the time, we would go the limit to hunt for good food. One of the many celebrated local delicacies is the banana leaf. Fragrant white rice generously drizzled with aromatic curry paired with 3-4 vegetable sides, it just leave me feeling satisfying both on my palate and stomach whenever I had my banana leaf.
Most of the banana leaf restaurants can be quite hot and stuffy due to the kitchen constantly frying and cooking the food. On top of this, you'd definitely walk out from the restaurant smelling like banana leaf. However, there's a new banana leaf restaurant in town that serves decent food minus the hot and sweat!
Opened in 5th March 2018, Bananabro is a new addition at Berjaya Times Square. Occupying the Lower Ground East entrance, Bananabro serves authentic banana leaf meals using only fresh ingredients with intense flavours. Taking inspiration from India's street, art and cultures, Bananabro elevates the dining experience of authentic southern region through modern and contemporary touches in their dishes and drinks.
Surrounded by glass windows, the interior of Bananabro is very cosy and spacious.
The Craving Set (RM 12.90). Basic banana leaf rice set consists of rice, 3 vegetable sides, rasam, yoghurt, papadum and 4 different curries to choose from. If one serving is not enough, feel free to ask for refill!
Fried Squid (RM 9.90). Usually I'd add on some other dishes, and one of them is fried squid. Springy squid with crispy aromatic batter.
Chicken 65 (RM 7.50). Instead of the entire fried chicken, I prefer Chicken 65. They have chopped up the chicken into smaller pieces, which is so much easier to eat and work best as a sharing option too!
Fried Chicken (RM 5.90). Alternatively, you can opt to have the entire juicy fried chicken to yourself.
Fried Tenggiri (RM 8.90).
Mutton of the Day (RM 9.90). Apart from the deep fried options, their Mutton of the Day is a must try too. Tender mutton pieces served in aromatic gravy, I actually went back the 2nd time and ordered it again.
Apart from banana leaf rice meals, Bananabro serves Nasi Lemak Fried Chicken (RM 11.90) too. Starting from 8:30am to 11:30pm you can enjoy your nasi lemak with tender juicy fried chicken and acar at the side.
Teh-Tarik Lawa - Cold (RM 4.90). Tea is a must have and somehow a perfect pairing when it comes to banana leaf. The Teh-Tarik Lawa is smooth to the taste and it's not too sweet.
Lassi (RM 6.90). Lassi is a popular traditional yoghurt-based drink from India and it's both cooling and refreshing to have, especially when you are having heavily-spiced food such as banana leaf. There are 4 different flavours to choose from - Original, Strawberry, Mango and Soursop.
Whenever it comes to modernizing traditional food or cuisine, I usually find them to have more misses than hits. However, Bananabro has definitely hit many marks when it comes to their food. If you are around KL or at Berjaya Times Square, do visit and give them a try. Also, if you have yet to try, go for their Mung Bean Curry!
Bananabro will be opening their 2nd outlet at Gardens Midvally by end of the year. Do lookout for their new outlet.
To know more updates on Bananabro, check out their Facebook and Instagram.
Address: LG-59B, Berjaya Times Square, Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Operation Hours: 8:30am to 9:30pm DAILY
Contact: +603 2732 4605
If you drive around Seksyen 16 often enough, it is very hard to not see name "Malgudi" around the area. Malgudi is a fictional town created by an Indian author R.K. Narayan. The story is so well-known that many started to believe Malgudi actually existed. Hmm.... maybe I should make a trip to India and explore the country for a bit.
Sadly, I'm still lacking of travelling fund to do that. However, I get to have a taste of India when I visited Malgudi Restaurant at Seksyen 16 last week.
Walking into Malgudi, I can't help but to notice the paintings and artwork hanging on the wall. The interior is like what you would expect from an Indian restaurant - colourful and vibrant.
More sittings are available on the 1st floor, and if you are going in a big group, the long tables are just perfect.
Seval Combo (RM 16). Vegetarian deep fried onions, bitter gourd and cauliflower. The deep fried fritters are really crunchy and I could still taste the sweetness and natural flavours of the vegetables.
It tasted so good that I even ate the bitter gourd (I HATE bitter gourd!).
Nasi Lemak Briyani (RM 19.50). Yes, you read it right. It is called Nasi Lemak Briyani, as Malgudi has brilliantly combined both nasi lemak and briyani into 1 delicious plate of food! Served with your usual sides of a nasi lemak, they have incorporated briyani flavours into the rice as well as the fried chicken.
I love this so much especially the sambal. Grew up in Johor, I'm very used to sambal that are on the sweeter side. The sambal at Malgudi has a hint of sweetness but as it lingers in the mouth, the spiciness starts to kick in. Go easy on the sambal, especially if you have low tolerance in spicy food. Nevertheless, this is a dish MUST ORDER at Malgudi!
Oh ya, the Nasi Lemak Briyani will only be served at Malgudi for a limited time only from 31/8/2017 till 16/9/2017. So, don't miss out the chance to try this brilliant dish before it runs out!
Kulfi (RM 7.50). What better way to cool down after having a deliciously spicy food with a plate of frozen dairy dessert? Kulfi is a popular frozen dairy dessert from the Indian subcontinent flavoured with saffron, nuts served with cow's milk. I like the creamy texture but I find it is a tad too sweet especially after having a spoonful of the ice cream.
Fresh Lime Juice (RM 5). Something sweet and acidic to wash down all the delicious food. It is perfect relieved for the palate from all the rich flavours of the dishes too.
Overall, the food I had at Malgudi were really great, especially the Nasi Lemak Briyani. During the time we were dining at the restaurant, we had the chance to speak to the lady boss. Malgudi aims to serve delicious Indian cuisine to their customers, hence everything on the menu are made from scratch at the restaurant. Compared to some Indian restaurant, the pricing at Malgudi might be a bit higher, but with the efforts and ingredients used, I would say Malgudi is a place worth checking out, especially if you are an Indian food lover like me!
To know more updates on Malgudi Restaurant, check out their Facebook and Instagram.
Address: 17, Lorong Universiti C, Seksyen 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operation Hours: 12pm to 3.30pm, 6pm to 10.30pm DAILY
Contact: +603 7931 2556
Malaysia is a multi-cultural country and is no surprise that the country is considered as a food heaven for many foodies. Among all of the delicacies available in our country, Indian food is one of my favourite cuisines. I love the aromatic spices of Indian food, and for me, these are my kind of comfort food.
If you enjoy these heavenly-spiced dishes, let me take you on a gourmet trip to FLOUR Restaurant - a place where you'll get authentic North Indian food.
FLOUR was founded by a couple in love - a chef from India and a pretty lady in Malaysia. The restaurant has only been operating for less than 2 months, but it is so well-received that the place is always full house. We were there when they were about to close for their lunch break, but the restaurant was crowded and we were lucky to have reserve a table beforehand.
The interior is cosy and I especially like the sofas area.
Lasooni Ghost (Mutton Curry) with Kulcha (Sesame Roti) (RM 20). The mutton was super-duper extremely tender; and the gravy was rich, thick and aromatic! We couldn't help but to wipe up every drop of the gravy with the freshly-made sesame roti.
Murgh Makhani (Butter Chicken) with Puri (RM 18). Chicken pieces marinated for several hours, barbequed in tandoor and served in mildly spiced tomato curry. Every bite was an explosion of flavours, and I like the acidity that the tomato added to the rich curry.
Ajwaini Baingan with Laccha (RM 15). Brinjal cooked with Ajwain based spicy brown curry. You might be surprised to know that North Indian cuisine consist of a lot of vegetarian dishes. When it comes to vegetarian food, these people really know what they are doing. Instead of using local brinjals, they imported theirs from India to keep the authenticity of the dish.
Maa Ki Dal with Jeera Rice (RM 15). If you think this Dal is the ones that you'll usually have in mamak, you are wrong! This was so much flavourful and goes extremely well with the rice.
Mutton Biryani (RM 20). If you love biryani, THIS IS A MUST HAVE!!!!!!!! The rice was fluffy, mutton was tender and I just can't get over the spices. No wonder the biryani is one of the restaurant's best-sellers.
Thali by Maharaj (Veg) (RM 15). Thali is an Indian-style meal that consist a selection of various dishes served on a platter. Served with a variety of vegetables, home-made yogurt, white rice and roti; thali is perfect for those who want to try a little bit of everything. Apart from vegetarian option, FLOUR offers their thali with choices of chicken or mutton too.
Mango Lassi (RM 8). I'm never a fan of lassi. I never could understand what's so great about this drink... until I tried the mango lassi from FLOUR. Trust me when I said this the best lassi I've ever had. Without any added sugar, they only uses pure mango and home-made lassi to produce the lassi. It was thick and fruity. Absolutely a must have at FLOUR!
During our visit at FLOUR, we had the chance to talk to the chef for a bit. To keep the integrity and authenticity of their food, they insist to import the ingredients from India as well as custom-made certain equipment to prepare their food. Throughout the conversation with the chef, I could feel his passion for food.
FLOUR is still going through a soft launch period and they are still making some slight amendments. I'm looking forward towards their official launch and what other delicacies they will be serving at the restaurant.
A friendly reminder, do make reservation before dropping by if you do not want to be disappointed.
For more updates on FLOUR Restaurant, check out their Facebook.
Address: 69 & 71G, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Plaza Damansara, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur
Operation Hours: 11.30am to 3pm (Monday) | 11.30am to 3pm, 6.30pm to 10.30pm (Tuesday to Thursday) | Friday CLOSED | 11.30am to 3pm, 6.30pm to 10.30pm (Saturday & Sunday)
Contact: +6012 221 4066
Email: flour@ynwgroup.com.my
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