Some resort to ‘Instagramable’ décor to draw in the crowds, while others aim to please by offering every conceivable dish known to humankind on their menus.
However, some restaurants do neither; they prefer to remain largely hidden from view, letting word of mouth do its magic instead.
In a quiet part of Puchong’s Bandar Puteri, lies the Puchong Chettinad Mess located on the first floor of an unassuming-looking shophouse.
Yet, given that the place is packed with hungry customers every lunchtime, it is evident that this restaurant is no longer a well-kept secret.
A no-frills restaurant, the dining area consists of only banquet tables and chairs while the kitchen is on the ground floor. Quite the far cry from the more extravagant of Indian eateries, but this lack of décor is certainly made up for in other ways.
Service here is quick, efficient and friendly, with the place being a family business that has been operating for over eight years now.
And once seated, let the family prepare a scrumptious meal of banana leaf rice before you.
Every new day brings with it a different variety of specials, which are written on the whiteboard next to the entrance.
On that note, don’t expect any fanciful drinks here. There’s no masala tea or lassi to be had, though water is free-flowing.
During FMT’s visit, the banana leaf rice came with helpings of beetroot poriyal, mango patchadi, vazhapoo poriyal (banana flower), watermelon raita and keerai kootu (spinach).
Quite the colourful collection of vegetables, and it’s not every day that you have fruit dishes included with your banana leaf rice.
No Indian meal is quite complete without a healthy dose of curry, and curry is aplenty here.
Crab curry is a rare offering, but a popular one nonetheless, so feel free to ask for a generous helping if it’s available.
Have your phones ready to snap away as the curry drizzles on the rice while the heavenly aromas of spice and seafood tease your senses.
Also, don’t feel self-conscious about adding other curries to the mix; there’s never enough of the good stuff and there’s no shame in flooding your rice when here.
Special mention goes out to the pappadam, which came in pieces large enough to scoop up and eat with the curry-soaked rice.
According to Google Reviews of the place, one dish that always gets the thumbs-up is the Mutton Varuval. As it turns out, this varuval is definitely worth the hype, with tender meat and a complex and rich balance of spices and flavours.
It certainly helps that this slow-cooked mutton dish is boneless, so you won’t have any issues chowing down whole chunks without breaking a tooth.
Also available on the menu was Chicken 65, that famous red, deep-fried delicacy you can spot a mile away. The chicken was served hot and crispy, fried to perfection with a marinade that richly flavoured the meat.
Leave some space for the Fried Squid – it is heavenly. Chewy and with a distinct sweetness to the flesh, be warned as this dish is rather addictive.
If you still have room to spare in your belly, enjoy a piping hot vadai, a soft and fluffy savoury snack you can enjoy on its own or with some curry or yogurt. The Cauliflower Soup is yet another palate pleaser.
But if you wish to end your meal on a sweet note, try the Payasam, also called Kheer, a sweet dessert with coconut, raisins and sago.
For such a secret restaurant, it’s quite evident just why so many locals have sniffed them out and drop by for lunch every day. You should too the next time you’re in Puchong.
Puchong Chettinad Mess
11, Jalan Puteri 7/9
Bandar Puteri
Puchong 47100
Selangor
Business hours: 11.30am-2.30pm daily (closed on Mondays)
Contact: 012-2833788 / 012-4043788 / 019-2169862