Came back to Kerala Restaurant in Johor Bahru for their popular traditional Indian rice meal served on banana leaves.
I love this traditional way of serving curry vegetables scooped from a stainless steel caddy. I am glad that Kerala Restaurant still serves curry vegetables this charming old school way.
I love my curry vegetables, and wow! I love this fried fish very much! The outside was fried to a golden brown crisp and had a gentle masala spice flavour. The inside though almost dry, still had a nice fresh fish taste. This fried fish is what I remembered most from today's meal.
The fried Mackerel fish and fish cutlets are fried in small batches and a staff will carry the large plate to offer them at the customers' tables - similar to the way fresh dim sum is served at dim sum restaurants.
My friend John like the fried fish belly - I shall try that next time ๐
The fried fish cutlet is made with different types of minced fish. Love to try this at the next visit too.
We also had curry sotong (squid). The curry sauce was nice - not too spicy with well balanced flavours and aromas. The squid was cook till quite stiff and chewy.
The curry chicken is the same - very nice spices while the meat is cooked slightly stiff.
We had a curry fish head. The curry was good with a blend of flavourful and aromatic ground spices which is mild and not overpowering. A Sea Bass head is used. (Personally, I prefer Ikan Merah for curry fish head.)
Kerala is a small shop lot restaurant. Simple, humble and basically furnished, Kerela Restaurant is comfortable and popular with locals. You can smell the pleasant spice aroma when you step into Kerala Restaurant.
Current owner Joseph took over Kerala Restaurant from his brother-in-law (who earlier took over from his dad who started the eatery in the 1949 along Jalan Ibrahim in old downtown JB). Kerala Restaurant moved to it's current location at Jalan Storey about 10 years ago.
I will definitely be back when I crave for white rice, curry vegetables and fried masala fish served on a banana leaf. Yummy!
I have to come back to snap a photo of Kerala's shop front for your reference ๐ I couldn't take a picture during my visit as it was raining heavily.
๐ One of JB's oldest Indian restaurants still serving traditional Kerala dishes on banana leaves. Home cooked style dishes with fresh ingredients and gently spicy aromatic flavourful spices.
The first time I stumbled upon Kerala Restaurant back in 2012, I had just the curry chicken ๐ click
I like the curry chicken and the restaurant, so I went back again the next day to have their curry mutton. After that I became a regular at the restaurant ๐ click
Restaurant name: Kerala Restaurant
Address: 55, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak Susur 1/1, Wadi Hana, 80000 Johor Bahru
Tel: +607 223 4282
Hours: 7:00am - 4:00pm (Sun off)
Click ๐ to read about my previous visits to Kerala Restaurant ๐
Previous
address:
Restaurant name: Kerala Restaurant
Address:
GPS:
Hours:
No pork, no lard, no Halal cert
Date visited: 26 & 27 Jan 2012, 29 Dec 2015
๐ Click to return to JB Best 100 page
Haha uncle i see this only i salivating already. Going there to eat before going to poly tmr. The fish looks great
ReplyDeleteLOL enjoy :-D
DeleteKerala used to be my favourite place for indian food but,the taste is not the same as it was when it is at Jln Ibrahim. I understand it's a different cook now.
ReplyDeleteI would recomend this place at Nusa Bestari for fish head curry. They will cook it on the spot if you don't mind waiting. I usually call in advance.. http://my.wowcity.com/johor-bahru/gpid/108961309983435627680/shalom-banana-leaf-caterers.htm
Do try out ashoka curry house. It is located at one of the single story houses near ong soon and bindu behind thistle hotel. I find the vegetarian curry rice quite worth it.
ReplyDeleteOK Thank you for the tip off. Share visit them soon. Appreciate it.
DeleteI used to eat at the Kerala Restaurant at Jalan Ibrahim in the late 60s and early 70s when I lived in JB. It was owned by the Francis family and the son in law runs it now.
ReplyDeleteI went back after 44 years in 2014 and again in 2015 and the food was exactly the same as in the 60s.
I am going back again in a week.
Are u johorean iam from kg mohd amin now live in kedah the good old days of jb
ReplyDeleteThey have moved to 55 Jalan Tun Razak Susur 1. New swanky wood panelling, air-conditioned, with ground floor and 1st floor. Sadly, the service is horrendous. 3 Indonesian waitresses with no smile, no hospitality, grumpy, slow and uninterested. Mr Joseph just sits behind the cashier's counter oblivious to the goings ons. The pricing is also astronomical. A rice set nows comes with 3 vegetables and the "mandatory fried fish or cutlet, as is itemised in the bill as "Nasi Ikan Goreng 150gm", at an astronomical $16.80. Try ordering an additional fish cutlet, and you get whacked another $16.80. Quality of food has also deteriorated with Indonesian cooks. It is a matter of time before this institution fades away from poor service, drop in food quality and over-pricing. Sad
ReplyDeleteThis was when they were transitioning from the old location to the new building - not to mention it was whilst the pandemic just started. The prices you mentioned are also incorrect. I ordered an additional fish cutlet and it was only RM7.50 (it’s fish so of course it’s more expensive). The main chefs are from India. My friends and family have been eating here for years and it still remains the best authentic Kerala cuisine around. Businesses are heavily affected during the pandemic. A little more compassion would do everyone some good
Delete