Not to worry: here’s FMT Lifestyle’s pick of five family-run Indian eateries you should visit for delicious, homey meals – and yes, they’re all wallet-friendly!
1. Amachi’s Palagaram, SS17 Subang Jaya
High-school sweethearts Narmatha Shanmugam and Aaron Jay Dason are the couple behind SS17’s viral appam sensation.
Founded by Narmatha’s grandmother in the 1970s, Amachi’s Palagaram now thrives at Aaron’s grandfather’s home in Subang Jaya.
Weekends buzz with hungry customers drawn to the nostalgic experience of savouring one of the Klang Valley’s finest Sri Lankan appam.
Choose from four delicious variations: original paal appam with a milk-infused centre; plain or egg appam served with a smoky coconut sambal; and their decadent jaggery paal appam.
Location: 35, Jalan SS17/1, SS17, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
2. Sai Food Stall, Puchong and Kepong
This evening roadside stall in Puchong is all about Thiruvizha Sappadhu, a banana leaf meal that originated as a festive dish.
At Sai Food Stall, chicken or mutton curry, served from a sizzling claypot, is generously poured over a mountain of banana leaf rice, creating a messy and spicy experience.
Sri BV, Sai’s founder and chef, comes from a family of caterers and cooks, with his talented chef brothers often lending a hand at the stall.
The best part? Their chicken thiruvizha sapadu is only RM10, while the mutton option is RM13!
Now with several branches, including its main one in Puchong, this is one Indian meal you can’t afford to miss.
Puchong location: 35, Taman Putra Perdana, 47130 Puchong, Selangor
3. Akka Nasi Lemak, Seri Kembangan
That’s right, it’s the viral Akka Nasi Lemak. Sangeetha Manimalar, affectionately known as Akka (meaning “sister”), is said to be the sole breadwinner of her family, though you can sometimes spot her son helping out at the stall.
After a video of her homecooked offerings went viral last year, people from all over the country flocked to her stall, queuing for more than five hours to get their fill.
While nasi lemak may not be strictly Indian, her extensive variety of dishes – many with Indian flavours – have stolen the spotlight.
From prawn sambal and chicken curry to nasi pandan and classic coconut milk rice, you will be spoilt for choice.
Location: 17 & 18, Jalan PUJ 3/10, Seri Kembangan, Selangor
4. Paparegs Briyani, Petaling Jaya
Nothing screams Indian food like briyani, and this past year, Paparegs Briyani has been making its rounds on social media.
Located in Restoran Taikong, this humble stall run by a father-daughter duo has been growing in popularity, and now has over 5,000 Instagram followers.
Known, of course, for their briyani with delicious side dishes such as mutton varuval and ayam rendang, Paparegs’ homecooked flavours and affordable prices have people coming back over and over again.
Other items on the menu include lamb shank gravy, mutton peratal, chicken varuval, and the curiously named “chicken 65”.
Location: Restoran Taikong, 511, Jalan PJU 1/1 Kampung Cempaka, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
5. Roadhouse BBQ, Petaling Jaya
Sureshwaran Raju lost his left forearm in a motorbike accident over five years ago, but that didn’t stop his dreams.
With help from his family, including his mum and sisters, he bounced back and is now the proud owner of Roadhouse BBQ.
At this food court, his stall stands out: he mainly serves western barbecue dishes like grilled lamb chop and mushroom soup, but also offers Indian-inspired dishes such as chicken tikka.
Skewers of chicken marinated in Indian spices and grilled over charcoal are hard to resist – all prepared from scratch and cooked by this talented and resilient chef.
Location: Mango Tree Café, 36-3B, Jln PJS 5/2, Taman Desaria, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor