Sri Nirvana Maju @ Bangsar (Updated!)

I have actually stopped blogging for a long while now already. But this is something I just had to do. For a long time now Nirvana Maju has been attracting droves of hungry locals and foreigners alike to their hearty and tasty Indian meals. But last Sunday drew my anger beyond words! RM12 for a piece of tenggiri fish! And it was a small piece mind you. Upon questioning, the cashier said it was fresh. So all this while you've been serving me stale ones? I visit this place every alternate week and order that same fried fish and it only costs RM6 and now all of a sudden it is doubled? Do note that the vegetarian meal has also been raised to RM7 from RM6 (RM5 in 2009) and the used-to-be-free yogurt is now RM1.50. Greedy bastards is all I can say!

The food is good, but I prefer non-greedy outlets. Visit at your own discretion.






Original Post

Good Indian banana leaf cuisine is so hard to find these days. Its an easy dish to serve, but these days restaurants are more into profit and neglect what makes a tasty and satisfying banana leaf cuisine. Even the standards at the famous Kanna Curry House in PJ have deteriorated over time.

One Indian restaurant I've been hearing quite a bit about is Sri Nirvana Maju. Located in the heart of Bangsar, this is the first place I have heard of that serves banana leaf cuisine up to the wee hours of the morning. Yes, you hear me right. People come here for banana leaf up to 2 o'clock in the morning! Every customer-full table is covered with banana leaves and customers range from foreigners and business folks to classy Bangsar diners.

The interior is well presented with hanging artificial flowers and yellow lighting. For a restaurant that is located among Bangsar's higher end establishments, it pries on a very simple and humble setup.

From top down: Rawa Thosai, Fried Spicy Chicken, and Onion Ghee Thosai

Besides the banana leaf set, Nirvana Maju serves your typical Indian fare including thosai, puree, and roti canai. Their thosais are excellent! The Rawa thosai I tried was crispy and so good that it makes me crave just thinking about it. Fried Spicy Chicken (RM5) is a spicy variant of your average fried chicken and a tasty one at that. But 90% of their customers come for the goods below.

Clockwork from top: Fried bitter gourd, fried cabbage, cucumber salad, long beans acar, and rice

Nirvana Maju's Banana Leaf Set (RM5) is  fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. The addictive fried bitter gourd, crunchy cabbage, fresh cucumber salad, and spicy long beans acar coupled with a triple dose of dhall, chicken, and fish curry makes this a simple yet hearty meal. The set is accompanied by papadam and rasam for that sour kick.

Alongside the banana leaf set, you can also order other sides consisting mainly of meats. SS was dying for  some squid, hence their Fried Spicy Squid (RM10 for 2). Its also not your average deep fried squid. The ones here are fried with an extra spicy marinate together with curry leaves and chili and finally doused with lime. Other customer favorites include Fried Spicy Chicken and Fried Fish. Don't be surprised when you see foreigners with the banana leaf set with chicken, fish, and squid. For them, this is heavenly cuisine. And I wont deny it. If you are not sure what to choose from, you can have a look at what they have at the back in the warmers.

An empty leaf is a happy leaf. Do remember to fold the leaf inwards to show your appreciation and that you will be coming back again ;)

So if you are fed up with below average banana leaf cuisines, give Sri Nirvana Maju a try. Sri Nirvana Maju also provides catering service.

Thank you to SS for her recommendation on this place.

Restoran Sri Nirvana Maju

43 Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar

59100 Kuala Lumpur

03-22878445

Sushi Zanmai @ The Gardens

I just celebrated my birthday last week and I would like to thank my friends and family for the presents and good food. Before we go there, last month we celebrated a friend's birthday with some salmon galore! Brenda is a sucker for anything Japanese and so, we surprised her with a trip to Sushi Zanmai.

Coincidentally, its also my first visit to the franchise and boy was it a welcome change from Sushi King. After the last disappointing RM2 Bonanza, I was getting pretty bored with Sushi King. Now, I have something better to look forward to. First of all, I must thank Suzanne for allowing me to take these wonderful pictures using her Canon EOS550D. I had a blast with it and even although I do not own a DSLR yet, these shots turned out good enough :)

This Sushi Zanmai branch at The Gardens exudes Japanese from the get go. The entrance, the welcoming staff, the lighting, wooden panels, and ambiance made me feel like I was in Japan for real.

Some sushi from the belt as a warm up; Unagi Sushi (RM6.80) is served with big slices of succulent and tasty eel goodness. Freshwater eel population is in swift decline and its only a matter of time before unagi dishes disappear entirely from Japanese restaurants. Its sad but true.

This is another sushi item from the belt. Didn't try it though, so I have no idea what it is :p As a red-plate, its also RM6.80.

Chicken Yakitori (RM6.80) is another appetizer with juicy and tender skewered chicken pieces.

Soft Shell Crab Maki (RM6.80) is a true delight with the fried crab going well with the rice and salmon roe exterior.

We had 2 orders of Sukiyaki (RM15.80) on our table of 6. A crowd favorite at Sushi Zanmai; thin slices of beef is served with a boiling mini gas-stove powered pot of miso soup, vegetables and wild mushrooms. The beef slices are so thin that they only require only 3 dips before it can be eaten. A refined and hearty Japanese dish.

I know I know. I got a bashing for ordering Chicken Katsudon (RM8.80). I wasn't sure what to eat and just felt like eating chicken and rice. I learned my lesson. Don't order chicken in a Japanese restaurant. I'm not saying the dish was bad. On the contrary. The dish was fulfilling with good portions of deep fried battered chicken served with egg and rice but the truth was, Sushi Zanmai's other dishes were so good, this pales in comparison.

If there had to be a creme de la creme for Sushi Zanmai, it has to be their Salmon Sashimi (RM13.80). This large plate serves 7 slices of the best salmon meat I have tasted in my life! A true melt in the mouth delight and exhibits Sushi Zanmai's quality for a dish that requires ultimate freshness. Since we couldn't get enough of this, we ordered another medium plate for RM10.80 :)

And just when we though nothing could top that, the Spider Roll (RM12.80) knocked us off our seats! Soft shell crab roll topped with avocado and cod roe mayonnaise, I cannot recommend anything better than this!


It was truly a wonderful Japanese experience and I'm sure even the birthday girl went back happy. Heck, she ate nearly a whole plate of salmon! If that doesn't make her happy, nothing will ;) And so again, Happy Birthday Brenda!


People mostly assume Sushi Zanmai is a pricier version of Sushi King. This could be due to Zanmai's more classy appearance but this is far from the truth. Zanmai prices are nearly similar with SK and some items are even cheaper. With SK standards dropping these days and Zanmai serving better on quality and quantity, I highly recommend Sushi Zanmai over Sushi King on any day.

Las Carretas Restaurant & Bar @ Ampang

Forget Chili's! This is my new favorite Mexican restaurant! How could I have missed it all my life!

I've been wanting to visit this joint for a while now and I finally did. Since it was a special occasion for me and SS, I was quiet eager to give Las Carretas a try, and so we headed to their Ampang outlet.

A slightly dim but colourful atmosphere greets you, Las Carretas' Ampang outlet is comparatively smaller but makes up for it with loads of memorabilia and Mexican-themed artifacts. No corner on the wall were left-untouched and you really get that Mexican feel.

Complimentary nachos! What the.. I had to fork out RM10 for these in Chili's! And they even taste better! Jumbo Margarita (RM27) serves two and is ideal for sharing. But this is by no means child's play. Even though Las Carretas has several other more potent margaritas on offer, I was surprised this one had quite a good kick to it, testament to the quality of tequila used I suppose. Las Carretas also serves a variety of other cocktails, beers, coffees, liquors, and wines at reasonable prices.

One item that caught my eye on the menu was Poppers; deep fried battered Jalapenos stuffed with four types of cheese. Why wouldn't I try it! You could either have 3 pieces (RM9.90) or 6 pieces (RM16.90). It was a perfect starter with hot melting cheese oozing out with each bite. I only wished the Jalapenos were hotter. Habanero version perhaps? :p Crema Campinones (RM9) was one of the best mushroom soups I've tasted with fresh ingredients and chunks of mushrooms giving a flavorful and authentic taste to it.

Main course was Mixed Fajitas (RM30.90). You can choose your fajitas to come with either chicken, beef, prawn, lamb loin, or a mix of chicken and beef. Whichever you choose, you can bet it comes juicy and tender. Together with the other condiments of onions, peppers, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and cheese rolled into a tortilla, this is another I feel beats Chili's version. Las Carretas also serves a wide variety of steaks and frequently holds offers for high quality meat and seafood on their website.

It was a truly memorable first visit to Las Carretas. Food aside, the best thing we enjoyed had to be their excellent service! From the time we set foot into the restaurant, the friendly and attentive waiters made you feel comfortable and pampered. And if you are celebrating a birthday, you can have one of them wear those huge Mexican hats and play happy birthday on a guitar! Now how cool is that! Las Carretas may not be as famous as Chili's, but if you ever cross paths with them in Ampang, Subang, or Damansara Heights, I can bet you'll get a better Mexican experience.

Las Carretas Restaurant & Bar

22 Persiaran Ampang

Kuala Lumpur 

Tel : 03-42571668

Web : Las Carretas

Soph's Birthday @ Pavillion & Paradize Poolside Coffee House

It was Sophia's 23rd birthday, and the gang had something in store for her. First of all, Happy 23rd Birthday to you again Soph :)

Most of you are already aware of the variety of food available at Pavilion KL's Food Republic. You see visit my previous visit here. After luring Soph to the western corner of Food Republic, we delved into their wide array of dishes immediately as we were all starving as hell. Sorry Soph, I didn't get to take a picture of your "maggi mee" tom yam soup :p

From the western corner (clockwise); we ordered fettucine carbonara, lemon dill fish, pizza (forgot which flavor), and beef & mushroom fettucine. The western and Italian-themed dishes here are relatively cheap but tasty at the same time. This is one food court you must not underestimate. Perhaps because this chain is from Singapore ;p 

After satisfying our stomachs, we took a short drive over the corner to Paradize Poolside Coffee House, located in the compound of the KL Lodge Hotel. Paradize is nicely set up with a small pool outside surrounded with wooden chairs and tables, and a fair amount of greenery.

Venture inside and its time to shake your body with some latin music! Every Fridays at Paradize is Latin Night! Dance Bachata, Merengue, and Salsa to their latin beats on a very nice and open dancing space. Expect a lot of good and seasonal dancers here. Do not be overwhelmed by your inexperience as there are also beginners around including myself :p

Entry is charged based on your choice of beverage; RM10 for a mineral water, RM15 for a Tiger, or RM20 for a Corona. Ironically Paradize Coffee House is known for their Teo Chew Porridge, but perhaps another time when we're not dancing :)

Overall it was a good night; good dancing and good sweating.. The most fun way to loose weight.. Dancing..

Paradize Poolside Coffee House

KL Lodge Hotel

2 Jalan Tengah
Corner Jalan Raja Chulan & Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur

Its that time of the year again

When there is not such thing as 'a glass of water please'

When there is no such thing as a dry shirt or dress

When there is no longer such thing as half or one pint

When girls start whooping your arss at downing!

OKTOBERFEST !!

Alright, before heading straight down to Euro Deli for their special Octoberfest Buffet Promotion, you might want to read up a little on what does Oktoberfest really mean to this diverse, spirited and wonderful Bavarian city of Munich. Knowing why you are celebrating this all-around-beer party is not a bad thing. Nobody wants to be a dumb blond right? :)

HAPPY OKTOBERFEST !!

Official Oktoberfest Website
Euro Deli Malaysia

- drink and drive safe -

Euro Deli Grill
No. 29, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng
50450 Kuala Lumpur

03-2162 6991

The Star :

According to Euro Deli Grill head chef Chong King Lee, the Veal Bratwurst cooked in warm milk is a specially prepared traditional German dish, which is only available at the restaurant for the festival. “This is a must have during the occasion and we have it every time to celebrate the festival.

“The veal sausages with herbs is first seasoned with salt and pepper then boiled until it is fully cooked before it is transferred into the warm milk,” said Chong, adding that a traditional way of serving the dish was with Sweet German Mustard.

Other dishes served along with a complimentary glass of beer includes Sausage with Sauerkraut (Cabbage fermented with edible Lactic Acid Bacteria), Stir Fried Red Cabbage, Boiled Eisbein (Pork Knuckle), Roast Eisbein (Pork Knuckle), Braised Beef in Red Wine and Vinegar, Kassler Ham, Spatzle (a type of German Noodles) with Bacon, Fish Fillet in Bernaise Sauce and Chicken Escalope.

Just like any other buffet, it is not complete without dessert and the restaurant offers home-made specialities like the Apple Strudel and Black Forest Cake as well as specially imported German Chocolate Mousse and a selection of fruits.

During the dinner, patrons are also invited to participate in various games organised by the outlet such as beer drinking, sausage eating, dancing and arm wrestling.

The buffet dinner is only available on Saturdays and is priced at RM 65 ++ (Adults) and RM 32.50 ++ (Children). It will not be available on Oct 27.

Finnegan's @ Midvalley

Time to clear the backlog closet! My first visit to Finnegan's Irish Pub & Restaurant..


I don't know why, but I've always liked anything and everything Irish.. The green Irish countryside, Irish pubs, Irish ales, Irish bagpipes, Braveheart, Roy Keane, Irish tap dance, The Corrs, Irish accent, and Irish girls.. ;)


I must have been Irish in one of my past lives :)


At the time of my visit, Finnegan's were having their Kilkenny Promotion; RM23 for 1 pint. I ain't a beer drinker, but what the hell right? With my shallow knowledge of beer-drinking, Ill describe Kilkenny Irish Ale as a rich, creamy and generally smooth variety.


Calamari & Onion Rings (RM12) as appetizers; hot and crispy, accompanied with a pleasant tartar sauce.


If everyday could be filled with a bit of Finnegan's, the world would be a better place :) So lets eat, drink, dance and cheers to all things that's great on this wonderful planet we call home!

Finnegan's Irish Pub & Restaurant

Mid Valley Megamall

G(e)003 Lingkaran Syed Putra

59200 Kuala Lumpur

Get Directions

03-2284-8157

Mother's Day ~ Italiannies @ The Gardens

When I say that my mum is hard to please, I mean it. Think family and you think 'Italiannies'. There's no other place that I know that combines ambiance, family-sized Italian cooking, hospitality in a warm and cozy setting. Welcome to Italiannies!

Calamari Caesar Salad ~ 10/10
RM25.90

Me and my family loved it! Authentic, fresh, and delicious! Tomatoes, olives, fresh salad leaves, artichokes, perfect deep fried squids, bread sticks, and an awesome tasting dressing!

Classic Cabonara (Non-Beef) ~ 6/10
RM29.90

Never order a Classic Cabonara without beef bacon. Although the dish is packed with creamy sauce and Parmesan cheese, its tasteless. The beef bacon was replaced with chicken stripes and Portobello mushrooms. Even so, it could not replace the taste and flavor the beef bacon offers.

Italiannies should consider lowering or standardizing the price of their Seafood Cioppino which has slowly risen from sub RM30 to RM38 now.

Since Italiannies were having their Mother's Day promotion by which the mother's main dish shall be discounted by her age, I planned to get her the famous Grilled Salmon Oreganetto. To my disappointment, they were all sold out. And it was only 7.30pm. Sob sob..

And so its replacement,

Chicken Milanese ~ 8/10
RM26.90

A perfectly grilled boneless chicken paired with a cream based sauce and topped with a Tomato Capper relish. A truly colorful and eye-popping dish.

The meat taste good even on its own because of how gently it was grilled. Tender and juicy with a lightly charred skin.

Tiramisu ~ 10/10
RM16.90

To top it all off; Tiramisu. First things first, this dish is outrageous! One bite sends you into delirium! In no particular order; chocolate syrup, vanilla sponge cake, brandy/rum liquor, and topped with chocolate powder.

This dessert can make your day no matter what. Reserve them, as it always runs out. Thankfully I did :)

All in all, everyone enjoyed a satisfying and colorful dinner. Hopefully mum did as well. Happy Mother's Day!

Credit to Italiannies for a good kitchen performance and friendly table service for the day. Even after so many visits to this franchise, it doesn't bore me to pay them another visit. I love Italian food and service, and Italiannies does not disappoint on that account.

Italiannies Pasta Pizza & Vino 

The Gardens

S209 Lingkaran Syed Putra
59200 Kuala Lumpur

Get Directions

03-22833675

Tappers Caffe @ CapSquare

Located in the quieter section of Kuala Lumpur city center is Capital Square; a newly built social and dining destination. Located along Jalan Mushi Abdullah, Capital Square provides adequate and cheap underground parking of RM2 (FREE if you watch a movie at TGV CapSquare).

To live up to its name of the latest dining experience in town, CapSquare boasts outlets such as Modesto, Tappers Caffe, Coffee Bean, Starbucks, Jarrod & Rawlins, Four Seasons Chinese Restraurant, Kohinoor Indian Restaurant, Bayernhaus, Thai La, and Urbanatic.

Although the list seems impressive, there are still many empty lots, and because the flow of people there is not heavy, it can get really quiet at night. But if you are looking for a quiet place to walk around, have a meal, and watch a movie, this is your place.

Earth Hour Walk 2009 was held here back in March. It provided CapSquare with much needed publicity. Due to its location and lack of entertainment outlets, most people are still drawn to KLCC which is located only 1km away.

Back to the food road; Tappers Caffe. A hearty meal required before catching X-Men Origins! :)

Hot Coffee ~ RM2.50

Tappers Caffe is a modern version of an old coffee shop selling a fusion of dishes with Malaysian roots. A hot cup of coffee to start things up. Thick and savory.

Mutton Rendang Rice ~ RM11(approx)

Since it was only the two of us, SS being the other, we decided to get 2 dishes and share them. First up, Mutton Rendang Rice. I wouldn't had imagine any place outside home that would serve mutton like Tappers did. Fat-less mutton chunks cooked to tender perfection and encrusted with rich rendang flavor. I was truly amazed. Being an Indian, my taste buds are all hot and spicy, but the dish did not disappoint. Rice is served with prawn crackers, cucumber slices, egg, and a light onion garnishing.

Hainanese Chicken Chop ~ RM10(approx)

Next up, a nothern Hainanese influenced Chicken Chop. Ironicly, Yut Kee Coffeeshop, famous for its Hainanese Chops, is located not far from here (going soon!) Its very hard to get authentic Hainanese Chops these days. Tappers Caffe's version of the dish was not bad. 2 pieces of chicken deep fried till golden-crusted and topped off wit steamed potatoes and vegetables, and a tomato-based sauce. The sauce could have been thicker and less sweet. Well not the best chops you'll find around, but a satisfactory meal :)

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I'm drinking to remember... - Wolverine

Tappers Caffe
G21, Persiaran CapSquare
Capital Square
50100 Kuala Lumpur
03-2691 2888

Happy New Year @ Chili's, KLCC

Avenue K's Club Quattro

Wonderful weather over KLCC as a new dawn approaches. Cold clear skies, colorful lighting, and a buzz echoing from the groups of people gathering in and around KLCC.

Margarita Presidente

But first up, dinner with SS and a visit to one of my favorite spicy outlets; Chili's :)

Salty, Sweet, and Sour

Perhaps my year could really be summarized by this cocktail. The pain through the salt, the sweetness through the margarita, and the sourness through the lime. After steps 1,2, and 3, what do you do again? Yes, repeat it all over again. Why? Because life puts you through saltiness and sourness so that you appreciate its sweetness :)

Grilled Lamb Shoulder

The last time I came here, I totally missed this on the menu. Not again! Its so hard to find good lamb shoulders these days and Chili's did not disappoint. I actually asked for it to be well done but it came somewhat medium. I guess they were rushing with the number of customers queuing up at the entrance.

Oh yea, It took us close to 2 hours to secure a seat. We had to get in a queue just to sign in onto the waiting list. Haha.. But it was fun..

Oh back to the food.. Yes.. At just below RM25, the Grilled Lamb Shoulder is a feast fit for 2. As it was medium, the meat was pink and required a bit of chewing. But the taste, excellent! A light bloody liquid on top of the meat did not deter us but made the meat look shinning-ly tasty. Chili's wholesome and specially made mashed potato is a killer together with fresh vegetables and garlic bread to round up this experience.

Old Timer Burger w Chili & Cheese

Well I'm not too well versed with the burgers from Chili's. I was slightly disappointed with the dry Cajun Chicken Sandwhich I had the last time I was here. Well looks like lightning does strike twice! Old timer, although comprising of mostly lean meat, was far too dry for my taste buds. The additional chili and cheese did not help either. Hopefully third time is a charm ;)


Overall we had a good time. A good dinner and chat to end 2008. Then its time to head outside and join the hordes of aimless people who have come to witness the fiery skies.

Aimless dots

So tall yet so big

More beautiful than fireworks

And that is why all my fireworks' shots were horrendous! :p


HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

TO MY FRIENDS & FAMILY

LOVED ONES

AND NOT FORGETTING

ALL MY DEAR READERS

Lets begin 09 with more sweetness, and less saltiness and sourness..

- rubinho

Chili's Grill & Bar

Lot 346 B, Level 3

Suria KLCC 
50088 Kuala Lumpur

03-21641400