Big Leaf BLR - Healthy Indian rice meals with brown and red rice options

Malaysians from all walks of life love rice and many thoroughly enjoy a traditional Indian banana leaf meal replete with a mound of steamed rice, vegetables, spicy chicken and fish curries as well as the customary lentil gravy or “dhall”.

Order an accompaniment of fried chicken or fish fresh from the boiling wok and ladies and gentlemen, we have a meal fit for a king or queen. Most banana leaf restaurants offer only starchy white rice which means the carbohydrate consumption is not for the faint of heart especially for health-conscious Malaysians.

While the experience of banana leaf rice or BLR is usually synonymous with the image of crowded lunch crowds and poorly ventilated outlets, Big Leaf BLR in Section 17, Petaling Jaya aims to change that perception with an airy leafy environment for patrons to enjoy wholesome meals.

For smaller budgets, try the basic banana leaf set at RM8.50 which comes with three vegetable dishes and papadam plus as much curry as you like. For extra proteins, there is a wide variety of options ranging from fried chicken, squid, tenggiri fish, chicken ‘varuval’ and more.

About the healthy option, the restaurant also offers brown and red rice options at extra charge and the low starch rice are just as tasty as classic white rice. If you come at lunch time, please come early, the crowd gets very big quickly.

Big Leaf BLR, 600-GF, Jalan 17/12, Seksyen 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

How to get there: By RapidKL feeder bus no. T815 from Asia Jaya LRT Station or bus no. T816 from Phileo Damansara MRT Station, stop at the “Happy Mansion” bus stop.