Kanna Curry House (Banana Leaf Rice) @ Sec 17 PJ

Banana Leaf Rice, one of Malaysia's favourite Indian food, is liked by many although personally I'm not such a big fan and that's because I don't particularly fancy the usual dishes like varuval or peratal that go with these meals.  But I do eat banana leaf rice occasionally coz I do love rice with an assortment of vegetables and pickles, flooded with curry and a side of crispy papadums.

So, when I want to indulge in a bit of banana leaf rice after Sunday mass, my usual place is Kanna Curry House @ Section 17 PJ since it's one where the banana leaf rice is available early in the morning (like around 10am) when most other Indian restaurants (including Kanna in the past) do not serve banana leaf rice until at least after 11am.  I have been to Kanna numerous times over the years although it's usually for a roti canai breakfast more than anything else (check out my previous post here) but, during a more recent experience, the roti wasn't as good (just one off or maybe a different person making them that day?).

But today I'm here for their banana leaf rice as they're popularly known, having been voted the "Best Banana Leaf Rice Restaurant in Klang Valley" by the Star's People Food Awards + making it to many foodies list of Top 10, it remains one of the most well-patronised banana leaf rice eateries.  But, if you want to eat here, you have to get over the fact that they don't use real banana leaves here, it's a paper version that looks like a banana leaf! >.<

Most banana leaf rice restaurants offer between 2 - 5 veggies and here at Kanna there's usually three...and on that day, it was cabbage, radish and cucumber (yay, non-mushy ones).

Also, a must-have condiment at any banana leaf meal...papadums!  The papadums and the various vegetables are the basics, and they're all refillable, before you choose your add-ons ;)  Though I was the only one having banana leaf rice (out of the four of us at the table...my family does not like banana leaf rice all that much either), they were more than willing to let me have refills but I told them I didn't need any (in fact, I saw the table next to us where one member had banana leaf rice while the other had roti canai, yet the server scooped veggies for both of them...very nice of him).

The contraption carrying the 3 types of curries....fish, chicken and dhal will be left on your table for you to "banjir" (flood) your rice with as much as you like.  My favourite is the chicken and dhal.

You'll also get a complimentary rasam, which is a type of South Indian soup that's traditionally prepared with tamarind juice as a base, that's supposed to stimulate appetite and aids digestion.  However, I've never learned to appreciate rasam, so it was left practically untouched.

I'd be more than happy with just this simple meal of rice, veggies, papadum and lots of curry @ RM6.30 per person....and all are refillable on request to appease even those with hearty appetites! ;D

As with any banana leaf rice, there are many types of add-ons to your banana leaf meal for you to choose (be it chicken, mutton or seafood...and cooked in various styles like curries, varuval or peratal).  Personally, I'm not a huge fan of these styles, though I do eat them occasionally, but I've not eaten enough to comment on how good they are or aren't.

I'd usually go for the fried stuff like this Fried Squid @ RM7.60 that's a perennial favourite of ours and the difference of this one was the onions and curry leaves.  Freshly fried with onions for sweetness and curry leaves to add fragrance to the squid, they were tender and crisp.

Every bit of the onions and curry leaves won't go to waste (wished there were more).  I especially like to chew on the fried curry leaves to release a burst of fragrance in the mouth...absolutely delish!

The Fried Chicken @ RM5.80 a piece (for a whole chicken leg) is another must-order for us for its moist meat and crunchy skin.  The chicken leg arrived whole and we asked it to be cut and it came back looking like this unfortunately....butchered to death! O_o

Ok, here's a more flattering pic of the fried chicken leg coz, the next time we ordered it, we made sure we left it as it is.

The Fried Tenggiri @ RM5.50 for half a piece (it was a fairly thick cut) is something only I enjoy.  At times the fish is fresh and moist but, other times, it may be a bit on the dry side.

Having these dishes with my banana leaf rice is all I need for a fulfilling and satisfying banana leaf rice indulgence! ;)

If you're not into banana leaf rice, you can still enjoy all these dishes with a packet of Nasi Lemak @ RM1.90. Nothing great, just ordinary and edible.

My Personal Opinion

Since I'm not that into banana leaf rice + I've not eaten most of the dishes served with banana leaf rice here, I can't say if it's the best banana leaf rice restaurants in Klang Valley but probably among some of the best judging from the full crowd on Sundays (making parking here a nightmare) >_<

But I certainly think that the fried squid (with onions and curry leaves) and their fried vadai (my favourite vadai so far) are among some of the better ones I've had.

For loyal enthusiasts of banana leaf rice, you be the judge if they're worthy of the title given by the Star's People Food Awards...or their self-claim of 'Finest Banana Leaf Concept in Klang Valley'....hehe! ;D

Restoran Kanna Curry House

29 Jalan 17/45

46400 Petaling Jaya

Selangor

Tel: 03-7958 4814