I’ve always found it somewhat embarrassing that I’ve never been to Banana Leaf. It’s the granddaddy of Malaysian food in Vancouver and it was on the list… it just wasn’t quite high enough on the list to make it a destination. My granny’s been in the hospital though, and there aren’t a lot of options in that area that have both beer and good food, so off we went.
I was almost giddy seeing the beautifully decorated room and the menu. We ordered a round of Singapore slings to start things off right, but when it arrived I found it bland and underwhelming. I chalked that up to not really having a liking for umbrella drinks to begin with and ordered a beer chaser.
But then the roti canai came and it was okay, but also a little greasy. Same with the satay. The beef rendang was drier and chewier than it needed to be and the laksa looked promising but it was chewy too. I wanted to order the black rice pudding but I just didn’t want to be disappointed again.
Beautiful rooms, multiple locations and a solid reputation mean that it was full late on a Tuesday night and will continue to be popular with Vancouverites, but I can’t help wondering if they’re coasting a bit.
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Banana Leaf
820 W Broadway, Vancouver (+ various)
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