THE GARDEN BANANA LEAF — Restaurant in George Town

📌The Garden Banana Leaf

🍃For an AUTHENTIC vegetarian banana leaf rice experience, The Garden Banana Leaf restaurant CANNOT be missed. Located in Penang Island, patrons who are not vegetarian still FREQUENTLY flock this amazing eatery!

🌿Lush greeneries and towering shady trees surround this open air restaurant. The location is deliberately placed in such a way for you to be one with nature. It feels fresh, looks fresh, and IS fresh. Why so? ONLY 3 authentic South Indian dishes are served daily, freshly made, never ever carried forward from yesterday's remnants. The 3 dishes are never the same for each day. I can vouch for that because I went there for 2 days in a row; the food was that good. You just sit down, and take in whatever is served to you.

🥘The dishes were AMAZING. The coconut Chatni was blended there and then when I arrived, and the aroma of the delicacies were heavenly. Just look at the pictures! My colleague, Dr Ashwin, who is not a vegetarian, was pleasantly surprised at how much he relished the cuisine, despite not being the biggest fan of vegetarian food. We absolutely loved it. The spices felt really fresh, and the food was rich. Cauliflower with mushrooms, pumpkins, ladies finger.. I can just go on and on about the variety of the delicacies served. We chose the par-boiled rice option, and true enough, there were no regrets. Complemented with the curries, it was spicy and delicious.

👪Mr Vaira, the humble owner who started this business 3 and a half years ago, has very deep connections to this piece of land which is near Penang Free School. Living nearby during his younger days, he would spend more hours with an Indian family here than at home. This very family still is the caretaker of this land, which is at the very far corner is the burial site of a very prominent Penang man - Khoo Thean Poh. There is a certain reverence that emanates from this eatery.

🥊The story behind the start of this restaurant stems from Mr Vaira's background of healthy living. A former national sportsman and previous national champion in Boxing, Kickboxing and Sanda (he actually emerged as champion in the North American Full Contact Championship in Baltimore, Maryland), Mr Vaira has a strong passion for healthy living. This is strongly emphasized as he once experienced depression while being a manager of a company. He left his job, and together with his wife who is a post-graduate zoologist from India, decided on giving an authentic concept of healthy living through banana leaf rice. Today, Mr Vaira's wife stands as the head chef of the entire operation, preparing amazing vegetarian South Indian delicacies from scratch.

🌿With this health-conscious direction, note that there is no MSG, no recycled oil, no dishes served overnight and warmed up. Rock salt is used with all the freshest of herbs they prepare.

🥛Payarsam is complementary, only served on Tuesdays and Fridays. It was the first time I actually enjoyed Payarsam thoroughly, simply because it was only MILDLY sweetened. From my experience, I've never really preferred Payarsam due to it being incredulously sweet (perhaps I've not tried it at enough restaurants, apologies in advance). Basmati Ghee Rice is served on Wednesdays, Briyani is served on Fridays, and Basmati Tomato Rice is served on Saturdays.

🥑Opening only at 11:45am till 3pm, costing Rm8 per set, this hidden gem cannot be missed for Banana Leaf lovers. An amazing gastronomic adventure...

If you’re looking for a hearty and authentic South Indian vegetarian meal in Penang, The Garden Banana Leaf in Georgetown is a must-visit. Located in a quiet area along Jalan Free School, this charming eatery offers a homely and relaxing ambiance, with rustic wooden tables and lush greenery providing a peaceful escape from the city's hustle.

For just RM10 per meal, you get a fulfilling banana leaf meal with an ever-changing selection of fresh vegetarian dishes. The standard set includes:

A generous portion of steamed rice (choice of parboiled or white rice)

Three daily-changing vegetable dishes (e.g., pumpkin curry, brinjal masala, stir-fried okra, or cabbage with carrots)

Sambar & Rasam – Both are rich in flavor, with a perfect balance of spice and tanginess

Crispy Pappadam & Pickles – Adds a crunchy contrast and a burst of sourness to complement the meal

Chutney & Yogurt – Helps cool down the spice levels, making the meal well-rounded

Each dish is made fresh daily, using quality ingredients without MSG or recycled oil, ensuring a healthy and authentic taste. The spices are well-balanced, and every bite bursts with flavor, reflecting true South Indian home-style cooking.

Apart from the regular banana leaf set, The Garden Banana Leaf offers special rice dishes on certain days:

Wednesday – Basmati Ghee Rice

Friday – Briyani Rice

Saturday – Basmati Tomato Rice

Tuesday & Friday – Complimentary Payasam (a mildly sweet South Indian dessert)

The Briyani on Fridays is particularly popular, cooked with fragrant spices and served with a side of raita and dalcha, making it a favorite among regulars.

The restaurant’s open-air setting makes the dining experience refreshing, especially with the gentle breeze flowing through. The owner and staff are extremely friendly and welcoming, treating customers like family. Their passion for serving good food is evident in the way they interact with diners and ensure a pleasant experience.

For just RM10 per plate, this banana leaf meal offers unbeatable value. The generous portions, flavorful dishes, and homely atmosphere make it one of the best vegetarian meals you can find in Penang at this price.

Whether you're a vegetarian or just looking for a delicious and affordable meal, The Garden Banana Leaf is a fantastic choice. The combination of fresh ingredients, authentic flavors, and warm hospitality makes it a hidden gem worth revisiting. If you’re in Georgetown, don’t miss the chance to indulge in this delightful South...

Went to Penang for a Work & Travel Trip and needed to find a good spot for lunch.

Was craving for something vegetarian and banana leaf like for lunch and found "The Garden Banana Leaf" and saw great reviews, and immediately went there.

This banana leaf restaurant is like an omakase, the head chef (lady in pink apron) cooks the dishes of the day and you get every dish plated on your banana leaf, so no worries on what to choose.

The owner (gentleman in white) is very attentive and makes sure all customers have a seat and will even open new tables if needed during lunch hour.

Food was great, healthy and hearty for my stomach. It was a really lucky choice for me to come have lunch here.

The owner then proceeded to make sure we're well taken care of and poured warm water for us. Mr Vira (Owner) then proceeded to greet us and have a chat, we found out that Vira and his wife (Head Chef) started this restaurant with the sole intent to serve healthy food to the customers in this very unhealthy climate of junk-oily food.

Mr Vira then went on to speak about how he started the restaurant from scratch, his challenging childhood and how martial arts paved his way of life and shaped him to the man he is now, he also runs a social initiative program for the marginalised community in Tamil primary schools and helped them to do well with their health and grades ("Zero to Hero" program). He speaks highly of both his daughters that are currently studying and working respectively and are running another social initiative on the side as well. It was really great learning from Mr Vira about his life and how he built his life and what he aims to do in the coming years too.

Before we left, Mr Vira gave me his contact number as well and told me to call him if he needed help in Penang. That was really amazing since we were total strangers just a minute ago.

Overall, I had a great meal and made a great friend. All the best with your ventures Mr Vira and to your daughters as well, and let me know if you'll have a...