Bangsar's Best: Indian Restaurants

Tucked away in the corner of quiet Jalan Maarof, Sagar boasts two adjoining private halls suited for discreet dining. With its Daily Lunch Buffet (RM35 per person), which includes a bread basket and a soda, it’s not hard to indulge in a filling meal. Over 18 classic North Indian dishes are on offer, allowing visitors to sample across the menu without breaking the bank. Try the batter-fried bass fish fillet in masala sauce, eggplant masala and flavourful tandoori chicken on fragrant biryani rice, or dip a piece of garlic naan into dhal curry. When the weather calls for it, wash down your meal with their refreshing Mango Lassi (RM12).

Set along Jalan Maarof, Saravanaa Bhavan tempts those with a hungry appetite for a frill-free Chennai Indian Vegetarian lunch. Try the Saravana SPL Meal (RM14), a surefire win with 11 sides including raita, curd, vegetable curries, papadum and butter chilli, all to be eaten with fluffy white rice and a warm chappati. Ice cream and sweets, both included in the meal, will cool down the spice. Also good is the Masala Dosa (RM6) — a rice and lentil crepe served light and crisp with spicy potatoes stuffed in its centre. It looks huge but it's so good, you may just finish the entire portion by yourself.

Idli Only Café dedicates a bulk of its menu to its namesake, with up to five variations — Butter Podi, Masala, Rava, Manchurian and Upma — of the rice and lentil cakes. Go for the Butter Podi Idli (RM10), butter-fried idli covered in spiced podi. The crisp exterior breaks open to a soft, pillowy centre. The economical Regular Idli Set (RM4) includes three pieces of idli steamed to perfection, best paired with dhal, chutney and sambar. End with a sweet Panankalkandu Paal (RM3), milk with palm sugar and spices.

Seated along Jalan Telawi 3 is Sri Nirwana Maju, famed for both its long queues and killer banana leaf rice. Space is limited so prepare to get in line but rest assured, the staff is quick to get you seated. Dive into the Vegetable Meal (RM8.50), a full spread of banana leaf rice with a liberal serving of glorious fried bitter gourd, or go the extra mile with the Vegetarian Biryani Rice (RM9.50), which upgrades the banana leaf set with biryani rice. Balance your meal with a protein — Fried Chicken (RM5) with meat that comes right off the bones or the deliciously flaky Fried Tenggiri (RM10-RM20).

The acronym WTF may mislead your mind, but certainly not your stomach. This casual dining joint offers an attractive menu of fusion food. Have a taste of the Fondue Cheese Pav Bhaji (RM16), a Maharashtra-inspired fondue served with a soft bun, or get your hands on a piece of Butter Naan (RM5) slathered with slow-cooked black lentils in the Dal Makhani (RM16). Still no clue what to order? Leave it to the chef to surprise you with a Something, Whatever, Anything or I Don’t Know — a mystery menu with prices ranging from RM9 to RM18.

The Ganga Café on Lorong Kurau is an ideal casual dining spot. Ease into lunch hour with a plate of incredibly addictive Vadai (RM2.50 for two pieces) or Pakoda (RM2.50 a plate) while you consider your options. You will not go wrong with the sumptuous Chapatti Set on Thali (RM7.50), which comes with a generous serving of vegetables and dhal. Fret not rice-lovers, The Ganga Café also has options like Brown Rice (from RM5), Tomato Rice (from RM7) and Biryani (from RM7). If the open air setting gets a little too hot, cool down with the Ganga Amrit (RM3.50) or a Pranic Juice (RM5.50).

Devi's Corner on Jalan Telawi 2 is your go-to joint for a hearty banana leaf lunch, or to quell late night hunger pangs after a couple of drinks. In the day, don’t miss out on the robust flavours of the Banana Leaf Rice (RM7) served with four vegetable dishes, spice-laced rasam and papadam. When asked for your choice of curry or dhal, make sure to spew the magic words — crab curry. It comes laced with a rich, fragrant gravy to accompany your rice. Supper calls for Devi’s Roti Canai (RM1.70) with sambal and dhal, or a sinfully delicious Garlic Cheese Naan (RM5).

Hidden along Jalan Kemuja, Fierce Curry House offers a small outdoor seating area as well as indoor communal tables that welcome groups of four to six. Get the Chicken Hyderabad Dum Biryani (RM17), boneless chicken thigh cooked with spiced basmati rice in a sealed container, resulting in steaming hot, moist biryani with refreshing achar and raita on the side. Alternatively, try the Banana Leaf Thali (RM10), which comes with a choice of rice or chapati with five vegetable dishes, dhal, vathal kulambu (vegetable curry) and kesari, a saffron-tinged semolina dessert, for an aromatic finish.

Find Anjappar along Jalan Maarof, staking a claim in authentic Chettinad cuisine and a rightful spot in Bangsar’s Indian restaurant scene. Quiet and lit in fluorescence, Anjappar is a great space to dine with close friends or family. The famed Chicken Lolly Pop (RM16) is a must-have plate of five juicy chicken lollies, marinated and fried to perfection. It's best enjoyed with a squeeze of lime. Follow with the moist Chicken Masala (RM15) and mop up the just spicy enough gravy with the Parotta (RM5), their version of a flatbread.

Sharing the same lot as Idli Only Café, Indian Kitchen is one of the lesser known restaurants in Bangsar, but with prices so affordable, it shouldn't be long before more patrons flock here for their North Indian cuisine. Start strong with the intense flavours of the tender Chicken Tikka Masala (RM18) and balance it out with the creaminess of Palak Paneer (RM15), soft cubes of cottage cheese in a spinach gravy. Mop up the gravies with either the Plain Naan (RM3) or Garlic Naan (RM4) and when you’re ready for another go at the food, the tangy Mango Lassi (RM7) will help renew your appetite!

Located at a bustling corner of Jalan Telawi, finding a parking along the street can be tricky, so park in Bangsar Village or at the food court parking lot and take a short walk to Raj. Finding seats won't be nearly as difficult, considering the ample space at this corner lot restaurant. Try Raj's crispy Roti Canai (RM1.50), a buttery take on the flatbread served on banana leaf, and be lavish with the curry that goes on it! If you must have rice, enjoy the Banana Leaf Set Meal (RM7.50) — bonus, it is free of MSG! Also make space in the tummy for a fragrant, spiced Rava Thosai (RM2.50).