Malabar Recipes Banana Leaf Bestmart Nusabestari — Restaurant in Iskandar Puteri

⭐☆☆☆☆ (1 Star)

An Absolute Disaster in the Name of Malabar Food – Malabar Recipes Banana Leaf, Bestmart Nusabestari.

If there were a zero-star option, Malabar Recipes Banana Leaf would have earned it effortlessly. I’ve dined at countless places across Malaysia, but this one stands out for all the wrong reasons — dreadful food, absurd pricing, and customer service so bad it’s almost insulting.

Let’s start with the food, because that’s where the disappointment begins. The rice was cold and clumpy, clearly old and reheated. The curries were a watery, flavorless mess — oily on top, but hollow in taste. The “chicken curry” was so poorly made it tasted more like boiled meat tossed into leftover gravy. The vegetables were soggy, bland, and completely lifeless. Even the papadam — the simplest part of any banana leaf meal — was chewy and stale, like it had been sitting in a corner for hours.

For a restaurant claiming to serve authentic Malabar food, this was nothing but a mockery of the cuisine. There wasn’t an ounce of freshness, spice balance, or care. Everything tasted mass-produced and soulless.

And then there’s the price. The amount they charge for such substandard food is simply outrageous. You’d expect this pricing at a place known for quality and taste — not somewhere that serves food that feels reheated and carelessly plated. Every ringgit spent here felt like daylight robbery.

The service, however, managed to make the food look better by comparison — and that’s saying something. The staff were inattentive and unbothered. When we politely tried to share our feedback, the woman sitting at the counter — who appeared to be in charge — responded with shocking attitude and hostility. Instead of listening or apologizing, she actually lashed out at us for daring to comment on the poor food quality. The arrogance was unbelievable. It was the clearest reflection of how little this restaurant cares about its customers.

That encounter said it all — this isn’t just a restaurant with bad food; it’s one run by people who simply don’t care. The indifference of the staff and the attitude of the woman at the counter make it clear that customer satisfaction means nothing here.

The management clearly has no control or pride in their establishment. There’s no supervision, no consistency, and no sense of responsibility. It feels like a business that exists only to make money while cutting corners everywhere possible — on quality, service, and respect.

In short, Malabar Recipes Banana Leaf is the perfect example of how a restaurant can fail on every front: terrible food, inflated prices, and rude, defensive behavior from staff. A truly disheartening experience that left a bad taste long after the meal ended.

Save your money, save your time, and go anywhere else. This place is an embarrassment to what Malabar cuisine is...

We paid RM130 in total. 4 Sadya was RM100 4 drinks (Coconut water, Pasumpal Bru Coffee, Mooru and Iced Water) was RM30

We had booked for the Onam Sadya today (7th Sept 2025), expecting at least a decent meal. What we got instead was far from it.

Leaving authenticity aside, I was still willing to be grateful for the effort. But the real issue was this: the quantity of each vegetable dish was barely half a tablespoon, and worse, the vegetables were spoiled clearly one to two days old.

When I quietly raised this with the owner at the counter, his response stunned me. Instead of taking responsibility, he asked why I hadn’t spoken up earlier, saying they could have replaced it with “newly cooked” vegetables. In the end, I was still made to pay in full, and somehow blamed for being “too quiet” about the spoiled food.

I walked away baffled. I paid, not wanting to create a scene or hurt a business that’s clearly struggling, but the experience left me disappointed, frustrated, and questioning their integrity.

Respond to your comment dear sir & mdm,

Greetings, and thank you for your response. Let me be clear, my intention was never to tarnish your reputation. I don’t gain anything from that. If that had been the case, I would not have paid in full and walked away quietly. I raised my concern respectfully at the counter as you just had another family who walked into your restaurant, but instead of acknowledgment, the blame was shifted onto me for “not speaking up earlier.” That is not acceptable customer service.

The issue was not authenticity but food quality the vegetables were clearly not fresh, and the portions were barely half a tablespoon each. For RM130, this was neither fair value nor a decent meal.

Suggesting that “newly cooked vegetables” could have been offered only proves my point that the food served to us was not fresh to begin with. Feedback, whether positive or negative, should be received with accountability. Dismissing a valid complaint as an attempt to “create a bad reputation” is both unprofessional and unfair. As a paying customer, I have every right to share an honest experience, especially when the quality falls far below expectation.

I hope you take this feedback constructively and ensure future customers do not face the same...

Onam Sadya at Malabar Mess, Nusa Bestari – A Celebration of Flavors

To mark the festive occasion of Onam, Malabar Mess in Nusa Bestari truly outdid itself with a traditional Onam Sadya that captures the essence of Kerala’s grandest festival. As soon as the banana leaf was laid out, you knew you were in for a delightful feast that embodies both tradition and culinary artistry.

The Onam Sadya Spread:

Onam Sadya is known for its variety of vegetarian dishes, and Malabar Mess didn’t hold back. The meal offered a beautiful array of flavors and textures, each dish complementing the others in perfect harmony. The upper portion of the banana leaf was adorned with the traditional pachadi (a tangy yogurt-based dish), avial (a mix of vegetables in a coconut and yogurt sauce), and kootu curry (a flavorful blend of chickpeas and vegetables). Each dish had its unique flavor profile, from mildly spiced to sweet and tangy.

The vibrant beetroot pachadi added a touch of color and sweetness, while the rich and aromatic sambar and rasam perfectly balanced the entire meal with their distinct spice notes. The crispy banana chips and papadam added the perfect crunch, contrasting well with the softness of the rice and curries.

To end the meal on a sweet note, a bowl of ghee-laden payasam was served – a rich, creamy dessert that completed the Onam Sadya experience with the perfect amount of indulgence. A small banana was also offered, a fitting finish to the traditional spread.

The Overall Experience:

Malabar Mess has captured the spirit of Onam with their Sadya, staying true to its roots while offering a hearty and delicious meal that leaves you feeling satisfied and content. If you're in the Nusa Bestari area and looking for a place to celebrate Onam or simply enjoy an authentic Kerala feast, this is a destination worth visiting. The warmth and hospitality, combined with the vibrant and diverse meal, made the Onam Sadya here a...