The Garden Banana Leaf Rice is one of those hidden places in Penang by word of mouth.
A few of these gems are scattered in George Town and other eateries just a drive away.
Community places are some of the best places to eat; knowing Penangites who love to eat and share, many others will soon learn how to get there.
Remember, not all the local favorites are in the Indian restaurants in George Town.
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The Garden Banana Leaf Rice
The eatery is in an open-sided shed near the roundabout at Heng Ee High School.
Its entrance is from Free School Road, just next to the famous Banana Fritters Stall.
Partially hidden by the lush trees and herb bushes, the entrance is obscured.
Just drive slowly; you will see a tarred area with cars parked underneath trees.
The eatery has a ramshackle, tin-roofed kitchen, a partially covered dining area, and a few tables underneath the trees.
The peaceful environment at The Garden Banana Leaf Rice Penang
Importance of Healthy Digestion
The Garden’s chef uses many leaves, herbs, bark, and roots traditionally considered a nutritional powerhouse of vitamins and minerals.
Chef Ratna places great importance on the use of Indian herbs in her cooking.
Some of the simplest yet most profound aspects of Ayurvedic nutrition provide health benefits, and the herbs make your food smell and taste delicious.
Aside from digestive support, these magic herbs aid digestion and detoxification and provide other health benefits to your internal organs.
Some common spices in South Indian cuisine include whole seeds roasted in a dry skillet before use.
Celery, Banana Blossom (Jantung), Tomatoes, and Ginger
Spinach, Drumstick (horseradish tree), and Snake gourd.
Cumin
You can add ground Cumin powder to curries, soups, and stews. Cumin promotes intestinal calm and comfort and helps flush natural toxins from the system.
Coriander
Coriander leaves, stalks, roots, and whole coriander seeds can be used similarly to whole cumin seeds.
The ground Coriander powder combines well with other Indian spices for cooking.
In Ayurveda, coriander helps support a healthy appetite, maintain the kidneys’ proper function, and purify the blood.
Fennel
Whole Fennel seeds are used in cooking, and ground fennel works well in sauces and soups.
Fennel seeds also work to freshen the breath!
Turmeric
Turmeric is lovely in curry mixes for lentils, rice, and potatoes, making your food a gorgeous golden-yellow.
Cardamom
A sweet spice, Cardamom supports comfortable digestion and combines with cinnamon and fennel in baked goods, coffee, and desserts.
Chef Ratna places great importance on the use of herbs in her cooking.
What is The Garden Banana Leaf Rice?
The Garden serves a thali set for their Banana Leaf Rice lunch, which I like.
It takes the guesswork out of what to order.
Well, your only selection is either the flavored rice of the day or Parboiled Rice.
The thali set consisted of Mint or Parboiled Rice on the day I went.
Sometimes, I don’t listen properly.
By rote, I ordered the Parboiled Rice, only to feel a big regret when I saw what the people at the following table were eating.
The Mint Rice is flavourful and very tasty.
You get three Vegetarian Sides
• bitter Gourd fried,
• potatoes
• spinach with dahl
Condiments
• sambar
• papadum
• Sun-Dried Chilies fried in oil
Soup
• Murungai Keerai Rasam soup
The Garden Banana Leaf Rice Penang’s vegetarian thali set.
Thali Meal at The Garden Banana Leaf Rice
The rest of the sides depend on the freshest and best in the wet markets on that day.
Murungai Keerai Rasam (Moringa leaves)
Murungai Keerai Rasam is a healthy South Indian Rasam made with spices and garlic to aid digestion.
Murungai Keerai, Drumstick, or Moringa leaves are rich in iron, calcium, potassium, and protein and aid our body in several ways.
They eliminate free radicals and improve bone and cardiovascular health.
South Indian Sun-Dried Chilies fried in oil.
I couldn’t believe I willingly gave up my delicious crisp fried chili whenever I ate with someone I knew.
I missed out on one of the best condiments for a Thali meal all these years.
If you haven’t tried, you must.
The chilis are not spicy but fragrant, salty, crispy, and addictive.
The South Indian Sun-Dried Chilies fried in oil on the Papadum is a great appetizer.
Crispy Bitter Gourd Chips
Most of us avoid the Bitter Gourd because of its bitter taste!
Bitter Gourd is a healthy vegetable that acts as a hypoglycemic agent.
With its rich source of soluble fiber and low glycemic index, Bitter Gourd helps lower blood sugar levels.
The Bitter Gourd Chips are coated in a light batter with just the right amount of seasoning – Red chili powder, Masala Spices, and Turmeric powder.
The rice flours make this extra crispy and crunchy to the taste.
Red Coconut Chutney
While the red-colored Kerala-style coconut chutney is best for Idli, Dosa, and Uttapam, I find it very tasty when cooking rice.
The red chilies add heat and smoky flavor to the grated coconut chutney. The Red Coconut Chutney is excellent.
Smart Dory’s Review of the Thali Meal at The Garden Banana Leaf Rice
For vegetarians who love South Indian home-cooked cuisine, food at The Gardens is something they enjoy to the fullest.
You will meet Chinese and Indian vegetarians from all walks of life out for their lunch here.
Some regulars come by daily as the lunch thali set changes daily.
My favorite day is Friday, and we get a little dessert – Payasam in a metal cup.
While some people like hot mugs of milky, spiced masala tea, my standard order is a hot Bru Coffee (with fresh cow’s milk).
Astro interviewed Wira under the shade of the trees at The Garden Banana Leaf Rice Penang.
Don’t just take my recommendation for Banana Leaf Rice.
You will see that the business is brisk, with an endless line of customers pouring in from noon onwards.
Since its opening in its first year, I have eaten at The Garden Banana Leaf and gladly return whenever I can for one of the tastiest South Indian vegetarian lunches in Penang.
Better head there before The Gardens Banana Leaf Rice makes it to national reputation – on Astro!
Be one of the few first to discover it!
So, remember to wash your hands, and then dig in your yummy lunch!
Happy Days!
The Garden Banana Leaf
50, Jalan Free School (Free School Road) 11600 Penang.
Tel: +6017-896 2331
Operating hours: 12 noon to 3.00 pm
Closed on Sundays.
Facebook: The Garden Banana Leaf
Blog Disclosure: This is a NOT sponsored blog post. All opinions are mine. The writer and friends paid for their meal.
