• Name: Banana Leaf Restaurant
• Type: Malaysian
• Locations: Broadway & Willow; Denman; West Broadway (Kits) — see website
• Website: http://bananaleaf-vancouver.com/
• Eating Options: sit-in, take-out, delivery
• Reservations: optional (Denman doesn’t take reservations)
• Accepts: cash, debit, all major credit cards

Review

We started the new year by breaking our resolution of eating at home more. Our weakness of willpower was worth it, as we discovered a new restaurant that will likely become part of our must-dine list.

It was pretty busy last night at the Broadway and Willow location. We waited 5-10 minutes before we finally flagged down the hostess to get on the list. She said the wait would be 20 minutes but we were seated within 2, which was a nice surprise. The service was efficient and friendly, and several staff helped out by making recommendations or translating the Malaysian menu titles. We also overheard one of the staff (Kevin, I think) treat a few tables with complimentary spring rolls or dessert, to make up for long waiting times or unavailable menu items. It was nice to observe such pleasant customer service.

The food was amazing and the atmosphere cosy, colourful, and quite enjoyable. I particularly liked the little dessert menus that come in the shape of a green banana leaf. Nice touch. We’ll definitely come back and sample the other dishes that we didn’t have the time or stomach to try last night.

Tried:

Fresh Young Coconut – $5

Menu description: Cool, refreshing juice and tender, delicious meat served in opened whole coconut.

Oh my god! There is nothing like having an entire freshly cracked-open young coconut all to yourself. You’re given a long spoon to scrape the meat off the husk, and a straw for the juice. I kept ooh-ing and ahh-ing all throughout this delicious drink! Glad to know this restaurant serves it. I believe it’s also available from Thai House.

Beef and Seasonal Vegetables in Sambal Coconut Sauce – $10

Menu description: Sliced beef and seasonal vegetables sauteed in chili sambal sauce blended with lemon grass, galangal, turmeric and dried shrimp paste, enriched with coconut milk.

Our server suggested this dish over the rendang beef, since we wanted some vegetables with our meals. It was exactly what we were looking for in a dish: tender beef balanced with a blend of cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, red peppers and a mild and chunky sauce. It came ahead of the coconut rice (cutely wrapped in banana leaves) that we ordered, but we couldn’t resist eating it solo. Definitely a dish we’ll order again.

Abundance of Seafood, in Singapore Chili Sauce – $20

Menu description of sauce: This is virtually Singapore’s national dish, cooked with chili sauce blended with lemon grass, tomato & egg.

The seafood sampler came with tomatoes, mussels, clams, scallops, octopus, tiger prawns, and some sort of whitefish. The sambal sauce was one of many you could have chosen, and was delicious–surprisingly sweet with a hint of spice. The octopus and scallops were very well prepared. Usually I find octopus too rubbery and the scallops dry and flaky, as a result of cooking them too long. They were so well made that I ate those two exclusively, while Kurt went to town on the mussels and clams. I preferred the taste of the beef dish, but it was a close race.

Pisang Goreng – $5

Menu description: Crispy fried banana with vanilla ice cream topped with crushed peanut & condensed milk

Pisang = banana, Goreng = fry / stir-fry. Pretty good, though I prefer the rum-raisin grilled banana at Rugby down the street. Could have used more condensed milk too, though if I had it my way, it would be drowning in a pool of it!

Want to try:

Rendang Beef Curry – $10

Menu description: No festive occasion is complete without this rich Malaysian dish, lean beef cooked to melting tenderness in coconut gravy and spices.

One of the chef specialties. Beef swimming in a coconut curry cream. We went in favour of the Beef and Vegetables in Sambal Chilli, suggested by our server, since we were wanting some veggies to balance out all the meat we were eating.

Dungeoness Crab – $13/lb (min 2.5 lbs)

You can pick your sauce or go on Mondays, when a daily special is prepared for only $9/lb. Looked fantastic, but at this price, even on Mondays, you and your party will have to agree on this dish or you’re out at least $20 for one person’s craving.