Banana Leaf Meal @ Restoran Raju, PJ

Raju's Curry House, that Indian Restaurant just off of Jalan Gasing, is indeed an icon for me. Because for me, they are one of the first banana leaf meals that was introduced to me, that I truly. As I recalled, my first time ever eating a banana leaf meal was at New Lay Sin restaurant @ Brickfields, when our school magazine outings during highschool brought us to Brickfields, thus New Lay Sin. Fast forward a few years later, we were introduced to Raju.

We arrived in the afternoon at about 1.30pm and found the lunch crowd still around. Although a lot of them has already gone back, the crowd was still quite substantial.

One of the things why I like to eat here is because, they offer a pick and choose station of your favorite meats and fish. All pre marinated and placed in a tray as shown in the picture above. What came as a surprise to me is, that they now post one fler to pick the stuff up for you, just in case you don't want your hands to smell like fish. hehehe. I guess he stands there to swap flies too.

After you pick em, just pass it to the fler here, and he will deep fry them for you. Your stuff will then come steaming hot with vapour flying out of your fish or meat. My plus point about this is that, at least they cook it fresh for you, I "think" its cleaner.

Many reasons why I like to come here. The restaurant is situated under a huge asam tree. Its cooling and it adds leaves to your meal (as you eat, gerenti you, sure one small leaf will drop onto your banana leaf). Secondly all their staff are neatly dressed, and ever ready to pose for your camera. Can you see the uniform they are wearing ? Neat isn't it ? Even their moustache is the same....wakakakaka....

That day I had a general vegetarian set with two pieces of Deep Fried Ikan Balos. My favorite fish, because its so deeply fried, you can even eat their bones. Again, my rice has to be drenched with a mix of sambar, chicken and fish curry.


Not sure who started this dim sum style of carrying extra dishes to the customer's table. This to me is new, although I heard that Kanna Curry House also practice the same thing. In the picture above, they were trying to sell those big prawns to us. As usual, I'd decline, must be very expensive wan. Last time, they'd just leave them in a stall and if you wanted them you take a saucer and pick up the extra dishes you want.


Rasam in most restaurants are given free compliments from the eatery, but at Raju's they have begun the practice of charging you 50sen for a small glass of rasam. I was surprised, but nevertheless had to pay for them.
This is the first time in my life, I see this being sold. Non Alcoholic Beer. WTF ? I think those drinks must be a can of training beer to make it easier for young kids to later graduate into real beer(like training bras). Wakakakaka..... Anyone tried those before, meant those beers?

To summise, they do serve really nice authentic indian food. Although they have increased their pricing recently, their food is still quite good. No complains on the food, but why charge for rasam , why sell non alcoholic beer (jees, that freaking lame man), and the dim sum style serving really just don't make sense.

Raju Restaurant
Jalan Chantek 5/13 (off Jalan Gasing),
Petaling Jaya


Also read:

Eating Asia
BSG
Simple Life
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