Enjoy dining without burning a hole in your pocket, no membership required
Swing by this standalone joint for the delightful south Indian grub and stay for the swanky vibes. This spacious bungalow along Lorong Maarof is a great spot for celebrations with friends. The dishes on the menu are good for sharing, and there’s plenty worth trying, from the pleasantly sweet Madurai Vegetable Biryani (RM28) to the creamy Pachakari Kuruma (vegetable curry, RM18), plus non-vegetarian dishes like a spicy Keralan-style chicken curry, Mahabali Feast (RM25). Gajaa at 8 also has an in-house bar — the aptly named Whiskeypedia houses an impressive line-up of whiskies, including one from India.
For a meaty main, go for this chicken curry! Expect tender, fall-off-the-bone thigh meat swimming in that spicy, zingy gravy. It is, however, on the runnier side, which I’ve noticed with Keralan curries.
Good for two, this veggie-loaded biryani came piping hot, moist and fragrant. It has a mildly sweet and nfruity finish too! The star is cashew — as with all of the other must-orders at this new Keralan spot in Bangsar.
New spot for Keralan fare in Bangsar! Like its competitors in the area, Gajaa has a buffet spread at lunch (from RM24.90 pp), but we found the a la carte options to be more attractive.
This one’s the mixed vegetable kurma, made with cashews, coconut milk and a myriad of spices. I like the creaminess of that gravy ladled over rice, and the generous portion of green beans!
Loaded with carrots, beans and peas, the veggies are cooked in a rich coconut and cashew curry that’s out of this world. There’s a tinge of sweetness, and thank goodness for that as it’s pretty fiery. I soaked my briyani with this.
If you must have protein, get this curry. Slightly sweet yet spicy, the onion-base (tasted like it!) gravy coats tender pieces of chicken that’s tasty to the bone.