There was one point in my life when Sunday lunches were solely banana leaf & we would go around PJ hunting for our BLR fix. Eventually we settled for our favourites at the lesser known Purnama Cahaya, the grumpy Kavitha’s (of which after one particular grumpier than normal incident, I refuse to head back there anymore) & Annalakshmi & Vishals. Other than these, I like Nirwana’s @ Bangsar, Devi’s @ TTDI & Sri Paandi’s too.
But I could never comprehend the popularity of Kanna’s & Raju’s. I personally thought they were both crap overrated & overpriced. The last I’ve been to Kanna was nearly 2 years ago, and it had left me with such a lasting impression that I never went back. Blame it on some tweets recently; all of them of which had positive remarks about Kanna, that gotten me curious enough to give it another shot.
During my last visit, I remembered crappy service, awfully salty fried chicken & pretty miserable vegetables for the basic set. You see, for most people, the basic set is not significant, as they would focus more on the add-ons – the curries, the fried goods, the meats. For me, the vegetables that comes with the basic set is VERY IMPORTANT, as I love my vegetables & I also view it as the fundamentals of how an outlet set the standards for their banana leaf rice.
2 years ago.
The basic set. RM4.00.
Vegetables that comes with the set: Potatoes in curry, cabbage & cucumbers in yogurt.
At least back then there was this cucumber + pineapple + onions yogurt coated mix. The one I was served last week was just plain cucumbers cubes.
Douse your rice in fish curry.
The famous fried chicken. It’s a must order for most, though I can’t understand why. I find it way too salty.
The norm: Add-ons of mutton, chicken, fish curries, etc.
I find that the staff would normally bug you to add these extras and would even show you the sour face if you decline! Anyone felt that before?
Your options of fresh seafood for the deep fryer.
To give credit where’s it’s due, the deep fried squids were additively good. I think that’s probably the only thing good going for Kanna.
I added an order of this “fish ball cake” & frankly, it was pretty terrible.
Some overpriced, so-called 3 layer tea.
De-shelled prawn sambal curry. Not too bad.
As you can see, I don’t really like Kanna at all. But as I mentioned earlier, I decided to give it another shot recently.
I can’t say much has changed, for my chicken was still salty but fortunately bearable. At least it was still tender & moist. The basic BLR set still came with 3 vegetables, all of which was disappointing.
The first was simply coarsely cubed plain cucumber (not even mixed in yogurt!), followed by cubes of radish in dry-ish curry & lastly the “kurma” curry vegetables which consisted of cauliflower & some carrot cubes. The last one was literally more kurma gravy than anything else. I certainly didn’t hit my vegetables quota with this!
The Basic Set. RM5.00.
Fried Tenggiri. Not very fresh or flaky enough. RM5.00 for this small piece.
Fried chicken. How can you not order the famous fried chicken right? RM5.50. Still salty.
1 mutton curry.
This was good & tender; not much chewing required. Thumbs up! For RM6.80, the portion sucks though. LOL.
The sotong goreng (deep fried squids). Addictively yummy! RM6.80.
1 watery teh-ais – RM1.60.
1 mango lassi – RM5.00 . This was a HUGE disappointment. It didn’t even taste like lassi; more like a milk + mango syrup.
I will NEVER order this again. That is if I ever even step into Kanna again.
Conclusion:
Like: Deep fried sotong (squids). Flavoursome curries. Mutton curry.
Dislike:
The fact that the basics (the banana leaf set) is pretty sucky compared to other BLR places. If you are here for that, then you’re pretty much eating nothing satisfying since the accompanying vegetables seems to be more of an afterthought rather than as main dishes of your banana leaf.
If you are willing to fork out extra $$ for the mutton, fried chicken, curries and other add ons, then Kanna’s would still be a viable option for your BLR fix. Otherwise, head elsewhere where you’ll get more bang for your buck.
So there, I have re-visited a place that I swore off after 2 years. Now, should I do the same for Raju’s? 😉
Kanna Curry House
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Petaling Jaya.
A very nice entry indeed… btw saya baru aje undi awak di
Best F&B blog!!! all the best..
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wow the deep fried sotong cheap wei, because I eat at other place the cost will be RM 8 – RM 12++++
Sad la the fried chicken, tak bersemangat 😛
thats why, teh o ais limau is the safest bet at any mamak place. XD
The basic set is very much inferior compared to other place.
Indeed! They probably made it so that you have to pay exorbitant prices fr the add-ons else you’ll be eating nothing substantial you see.
i’ve never been to both kanna & raju, though i have a friend who always swore that kanna is great! 😀
Hahah..a lot of people liked it too. I can’t udrstd why. But the sotong goreng is really awesome.
Long time didn’t eat indian food….
They cook it Just In time .. make it so tasty….
Oh yes, piping hot is best!
And i love the flavoursome curries!
kanna is still our regular haunt. the fish has unfortunately shrunk tremendously but it has never failed us in terms of taste. love the sotong goreng too.
you must order the fish curry when you next visit (which i assume will be quite some weeks, months or perhaps years later?)
raju has a “nose too high” attitude and food is rather bad. even dewi’s corner in bangsar has much of an attitude problem. asking for extra papadam can take ages:P
With some many BLR joints around, I’ll skip Kanna & Raju . Can’t stand the prices.
I like Devi’s but I alws go to TTDI one.
not tried the TTDI…will check that out. i kinda liked the one we did in Brickfields with Catherine.
Tht’s Vishals!
Yup, that one has been many Twitterers’ favourite too. Especially the “older” gang of ppl I flw on twitter. I trust their taste 😛
I guess you ordered the wrong fried chicken as they have another type called Chicken 65. They come in smaller pieces (cubes). But yeah, the sides are not that great compared to other BLR joints.
yes, with so many banana leaf rice joints around, I don’t see why do I have to tolerate this.
never know there was a hidden shop there..
Really? u never heard or ate at kanna??
i shall bring you to pj old town makan square where the auntie serves good cheap blr.
Or to selangor club for equally good stuff at kanna price.
Personally, i feel both kanna and raju overated. Raju is especially bad with sucky attitude.
old town makan square? yums yums! I’m sure there’s a lot o hidden gems there.
Selangor Club is whch one?
ok thanks Rebecca, now I got to go out searching for these delicacies at night!
there goes my diet… T_T;
Hahahah Devi’s is open til late! 😛
And what diet la!!
Do you have a review of nirvana????
Oh yes I do!
HAve you tried it?
u make me think back about penang. Still into mamak food. Have taste before original indian briyani? They are much more spicy from what we have in Malaysia
Sigh. Pg Nasi Kandar the best ok!
Going back this coming Saturday.. Cure back my taste of nasi kandar
I’m jealous~~
Still have empty seat to fill..lets go.. =P
lol.. I’m havin maids over to help me pack. Lorry move is on 11th feb.
wow! the sotong goreng really looks crispy! tempting!
It is Henry! Have you tried?
is it halal restaurant?
Not sure if got halal certificate – but a lot of Malay eat there!!
I prefer the sotong goreng in Raju’s cause of the onions they fry it with, oh and the ikan bulus.
Can’t deny they have a winner in the sotong goreng! Oh? Ikan bulus? I heard bt how good it taste, and texture too!
this curry house is so-so only. in fact, most banana leaf rice is not as fragrant as before already..
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I’m glad you agree! I can’t understand it’s popularity~
Hi rebeccasaw
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I been to this shop 2 years back also. Agreed, over price the meats given. My indian friend invited me for lunch.. we just took the basic add on with mutton curry n chicken curry.. both of us come the most RM35++ included drinks.
I agreed with u, if you don’t order add ons, the staffs will looking at you like 1 kind. Only two person can’t eat that much so we ordered for two persons portions.
We during lunch time packed like sardine no place to sit.. then have to wait for alsmost 30min to be seated… Sighs.. =(
Yes June! I hate it when that happens! Why can’t I just eat the basic set? Why must i be “coerced “into addin on those expensive chic/sotong/mutton? Hate it when they gimme that 1 kind look.
But it’s still packed huh? I dunno laa.. some ppl actually like it .. and willing to pay that price.
yes..overpriced and food nt nice..wonder why so many ppl still go there..perhaps they really no taste!
KL people baffles me -_-
Pg people would have banned this place on first sight!
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It is really interesting and beautiful,what you have said and described is just what I am dreaming for,I am happy to see this
Curry & Tandoor Corner
Basic BLR set now RM5.50 and on a faux banana leaf. Now I remember why I’m not there that often.
oh god. I’m staying away forever!
I went to Raju once…the attitude of the servers sucked big time, I was literally begging for service! will never ever go there again.
Same!
I never liked it here. But its popular. And if i have to go, it would be because all my friends are heading there. Certain items are still tasty though. EXPENSIVE too.
The service is really bad with sulky waiter. The food is so so and cant even compensate the sulky attitude. I rather go Raju anytime.
I totally hear you on this one.
Actually I find service at Raju – at times could be bad as well!
just went to kanna curry house today..they are not using banana leaves anymore..some green paper that looks like banana leave..kinda weird..
the fried chicken was good though..very tender and moist..
drinks are expensive..i ordered limau panas RM1.90..unbelievable..
Hi Maggie!
Yes I’ve got to admit that the fried items are addictive here. They got that right at least! However their prices are a real killer!