Curry Leaf Restaurant in Damansara Uptown: Mum’s Recipes, Everyone’s Favourites

What: Curry Leaf Restaurant, Damansara Uptown, KL, Malaysia

When: January 2013

Food: Indian banana leaf

Rating: 8/10

When it comes to comfort eating on a lazy, hot Sunday, nothing can beat a banana leaf spread, and I think I have found a new favourite, thanks to my pal Joseph and his useful hint about “the best banana leaf in Damansara Uptown”.

Curry Leaf Restaurant, just along from HSBC and within spitting distance of Tropicana Mall, is the spawn of (arguably) the best banana leaf in Seremban. The original joint was run by an intrepid mother of three who, 14 years ago, decided to try her hand at F&B after the family’s shoe manufacturing business began to decline.

Simple, clean, and neat interior

 “We still use some of her recipes in the kitchens,” Dewayne – the son and restaurant manager of the new branch in Damansara – “and I train the staff to make the food like she did.” The effort is clearly working, and despite having only opened his doors in December 2012, Dewayne is already seeing a packed restaurant on weekday lunchtimes thanks to the four offices nearby. “From March I am going to start running a shuttle bus to and from their buildings,” he says, “as some people tell me they can’t make it over and back in the lunch hour.”

Anything catch your eye...?

The customer clearly comes first in this homely, welcoming banana leaf restaurant, and though Dewayne may be slight and quietly spoken, he knows just how to make a diner feel glad they stepped in through the doors, namely by offering some of the best banana leaf grub I have tasted in a long time, even beating my usual local go-to for a meal of the green stuff. 

Curry Leaf’s menu extends far beyond banana leaf sets however, and a help-yourself section serves to supplement the pages of offerings, from naans and Indian breads (some are only available for breakfast), to rice and noodle dishes, chicken, fish, seafood, mutton, a whole page of vegetarian dishes, tandoori, and even a few kids meals and Western choices.

Drinks are the simple, reassuring ones: fresh juices (RM3.80), lassi, hot and cold tea, coffee, milo, and the popular Malay drinks such as Barley Ice, Teh Tahrik, and even Chinese Tea for those who so desire.

Carrot Juice and a Peach Lassi

Start with the banana leaf set – priced at RM6-RM6.50 depending on whether you opt for plain rice, par-boiled rice, or biryani rice – and then supplement the tasty veggies (these change each day) with meats and breads of your choosing.

Veggies served until you pop

A Fish Head Curry that will transform your meal!

We were in the knowledgeable hands of the manager, and so were guided to some of the tastiest dishes available. The masterpiece, centrepiece of our meal was the Fish Head Curry (from RM25 depending on weight), which is vast enough to feed six and stupendously tasty. Big, tender chunks of snapper sit inside a tangy, tasty, tomatoey curry, with lots of softened, flavourful vegetables (okra, aubergine, tomatoes) nestled alongside the fish. Order this and you will not regret it!

Deep fried prawns and squid were also on the order, and the crunchy rings of squid were some of the yummiest I have tasted for a while, with the prawns already deshelled to aid swift crunching and enjoyment.

Crunchy fried squid at RM10

Fried prawns for RM10

Chicken is always my favourite meat, and my beloved Tandoori Chicken (RM6) was superb – the meat soft enough to pull away at the touch of a fork and tasty enough to be delicious all on its own – while the Chicken 65 (RM10) was boneless, tangy, and easy to disappear.

Some of the best Tandoori Chicken to pass my lips

The popular Chicken 65

Mutton had its moment of glory in the fragrant, richly spiced Mutton Varuval (RM7), while a Mutton Biryani (RM9) was Joseph’s personal favourite, the meaty chunks cooked into the fragrant rice and the towering portion being completed with a dish of creamy raita.

Fragrant, meaty Mutton Varuval

Perfectly piled Mutton Biryani

Kashmir Naan that will soothe away your cares

A final mention must go to the Kashmir Naan (RM5), which should be ordered with a cup of warm milo when you have had a really bad day. The bread is thinner and crispier than most, generously dotted with raisins and candied cherries, before being drizzled with sugar (which crunches nicely when cooked) and a spiral of fresh mango.

Colourful, attractive, and comfortingly sweet, this had the table ooo-ing in pleasure, but I saved a little space for the Thosai, which had been made at my special request and was perfectly springy and sourish.

I can never resist the thosai...

Oooo the fish head curry....

So much food! Such lovely flavours! We were full too quickly, but I was impressed and reminded just how good the old banana leaf restaurant can be, especially when it is a run by a family with a long-term commitment to good food and with such a well-meaning, charming gentleman running the show. Dewayne hopes to open another branch in the Klang Valley next year, but will spend his 2013 efforts on establishing Curry Leaf in Damansara Uptown.

I will certainly be a return visitor; who can resist the lure of good food, a good range, a welcoming aspect, and affordable prices? If you are in the area and craving some comfort food cooked with care and spark, head over and load up your leaf!  

The Sunday lunch bunch

Thanks Joseph for the tip, and Dewayne for looking after us so memorable!

Curry Leaf Restaurant

75 Jalan SS21/37

Damansara Uptown

47400 Petaling Jaya

017 337 7880

www.facebook.com/restaurantcurryleaf

Open: daily 7am-10pm

Catering services available and private dining room upstairs

Halal