An Unforgettable Breakfast Experience in KL

Bala's Banana Leaf Restaurant

Once, a few years ago, my daughter's father-in-law, a management professor from New Zealand, and his friend, another management professor from India, were visiting Kuala Lumpur. Being people of a strict formal academic and social bent, these two gentlemen were particular about where and what they ate during their stay. On days my wife and I weren't entertaining them with home-cooked meals, they insisted on going to the same few Indian chain restaurants with branches worldwide.

By the third day, I'd had enough. "No," I told them. "We are not going to the same old, dull eateries we've been frequenting for the past couple of days. Today, I'm taking you to my kind of place. It's nearby. Let's go."

And so, I took them to Bala's Banana Leaf Restaurant in Bangsar for breakfast at 8:30 AM. We easily found street parking nearby. The usual breakfast crowd hadn't started pouring in yet, so the restaurant was relatively uncrowded.

We found seats in the ground-floor al-fresco area. This area isn't just exposed to the elements; it's artfully integrated with nature. Strategically placed creeper plants in large pots meticulously arranged around the perimeter of the premises provided a complete, living canopy, shielding diners from the hot and humid sun while still allowing for natural airflow.

My visitors started looking around, smiling in admiration. In a short while, the regular crowd began to pour in. Soon, we were surrounded by what felt like an old community hub. There were families sharing laughter over a meal, old friends catching up, and solo diners enjoying a moment of culinary delight before heading to work. The restaurant's ambiance - familial chatter and laughter all around, the fragrant symphony of aromas, and the friendly service of the waiters all contributed to an overall feeling of being in a neighborhood joint, where, after the first ten minutes, everyone felt like a regular.

My friends let me decide what to order. I ordered three roti canai, two beetroot thosai, two portions of chicken curry, and three teh tarik. The roti canai and chicken curry arrived first. The moment they took their first bite, both visitors went "…MMMMMM" and raised their eyebrows in absolute delight simultaneously.

While eating, we continued chatting away like old friends for the next 1.5 hours. Even though we were getting full, we kept ordering this or that kuih-muih and extra cups of ice lemon tea and air suam, to justify our continued 'seat occupation' :-)).

That day, all of us had a wonderful breakfast experience. I've tried many times since to replicate that experience, but either the company hasn't been people of my age, or the timing was too late in the morning, or whatever. I never felt the same again during any visits thereafter.

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If any of you Georgians are at a loose end on any given morning in KL, and are game for company and wish to indulge in some tasty Malaysian breakfast, send me a message or give me a call. I will certainly join you. We can go to Bala’s Banana Leaf Restaurant in Bangsar. I live 5 minutes away. I will order. Cheers !!