Banana Bro (Aeon Mall Bukit Indah)

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)

Address: LOT F16, Level 1, AEON Mall, 8, Jalan Indah 15/2, Taman Bukit Indah, 79100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia (Located within Aeon Mall Bukit Indah)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MXkGcmwGD9CDPjGj9
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

🍛 Craving Set = RM13.90
🐔 Chicken Varuval = RM7.90
🥤 1 Glass of Plain Water = Free

Service Charge 10% = RM2.18
Service Tax 6% = RM1.31

 Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.
Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.

As I was exploring Aeon Mall Bukit Indah, I came across this Eatery. It was interesting to see an Indian-Styled Banana Leaf Eatery in a Mall so I gave it a try. 😋 The Staffs were Mostly Friendly, Polite and kept to themselves. 

The Most Amusing thing that caught my eye is that the Signboard for this Eatery adopts a Green, Yellow sort of Colour Scheme and even Similar Font to the American Subway Franchise. 😅

Even more Amusing, there is literally a Subway right opposite of it as you can see.😅 The 2 of them facing each other like this has got to be on purpose! So Cute! 😅



A Minor Incident I faced with a Junior Staff  🤔

So when I was entering the Eatery, I was stopped by a Young Lady Staff with a Straight Face without a Single Smile and was told that where I tried to enter the Eatery is the Exit, and I should enter via their "Main Entrance instead". 🤔

This was an Off-Peak Hour and there weren't much Customers so I thought it was rather strange but I complied. 🤔 After I entered, I noticed other Customers entering via their "Exit" and weren't stopped like me though. Maybe the Junior Staff 看我不爽 I guess? 😅

Much Better Customer Service from the Manager 👍

The Manager of this Place though was a Complete Different Case. 😄 She's a Jolly Friendly Indian (Malay?) Lady with a Very Strong Customer Service Attitude that was Much More Friendly and Welcoming. 😄

Every Action she did was focused on Customer Service and she was so Friendly, that my Initial Irritated Feel towards that Junior Staff almost vanished. 👍 Really Nice Person, I even elevated my Score for this Place just because of 1 Special Act she did as you read on. 👍

Interior of the Eatery

The Eatery itself was Cleanly Maintained, Bright and Spacious. There is a Very Nice, Delicious and Appetizing Aroma of Indian Spices wafting in the Air. 🌿😋 Do note though there are not Handwashing Station, so you might want to take note of this if you would like to use the Traditional Style of using your Hands to eat at this Place. ✋ I'm impressed that all items were served up to me almost immediately after I ordered. 👍

🥤 1 Free Glass of Plain Water

It may sound strange to you when I say THIS glass of Plain Water was what elevated my Score for this place. 😅 Let me Explain. So interestingly, they don't have any Zero Sugar Drinks in their Menu. 🤔 When she realized I could not order any of their Drinks, this Manager with her Very Customer Oriented Service attitude automatically without me asking, offered me a Free Glass of Plain Water instead. 🥤😳

This was Very Impressive because she could have easily said they don't have any Zero Sugar Drink 🙅‍♂️ and just leave it at that, but the fact she took the effort to offer me a Glass of Water for Free thats not even indicated in their Menu is Very Admirable Service Attitude. ❤️ This may only be a Simple Glass of Water, 🥤 but her Sincere Customer Service Attitude towards me made me Very Impressed.❤️

🍛 Craving Set = RM13.90

This Base Craving Set they have is their Base Banana Leaf Set from which you can add-on if you wish. I liked that they actually use Real Banana Leaves which are even Specifically Branded with their Logo. 👍



This Craving Set consists of:
🍚 Rice
🥬 3 Side Veggies
🍛 4 Type of Curries
🍘 Papadom Crackers

Interestingly, everything in this Craving Set is Unlimited Servings. 🤔 Not only the Rice, but the Curries, Veggies and Papadoms too. 😳 Obviously you cannot share this Set with someone else. 😅 1 Set per Customer Only. But yea. As long as you don't waste food, EVERYTHING on this Set is Unlimited Servings. 👍

🥬 Protip for Vegetarians:
In a Way, This Craving Set is actually suitable for Vegetarians. 🥬👍 As long as you are not a Strict Vegan and request Not to Lum their Curries, this is essentially considered a Vegetarian Set. 👍 So if you're a Vegetarian coming to this Mall, this is an Eatery that you can consider to visit as I don't think there are any Pure Vegetarian Restaurants available in this Mall. 🤔

🥬 Yellow Cabbage Side Dish

I apologize I have no idea what this is officially called, but its a Classic Veggie you'd normally find in a Banana Leaf Rice. 🍛 Nice, Crunchy and Cabbagey, I thought it had a Noticeable Stronger Turmeric Flavour compared to others I've eaten. Also has a Slight Saltish and Mild Peppery Spiciness to it.

🥬 White Veggie Side Dish

This is a Mix of Cucumber 🥒 and Onion Strips 🧅 with a White Sauce that isn't Yogurt but rather taste Sweetish like something you'd find in a KFC Coleslaw. 🤔 It tastes Slightly Cold and is the Palette Cleanser of the Dish.

🤔 Red Fried Veggie Side Dish

I think this is some Fried Cucumber Skin? 🤔 I couldn't tell because the Fried Red Batter takes over the Main Taste Profile. It has a Soft Crunch with a Decent 油香味. 😋 Its purpose is to provide a Crispy Crunch to the Dish.




🍚🍘 Quality of the Rice and Papadom

The Rice in this Set is Standard Jasmine Rice, not Basmati Long Grain. Standard Look, Standard Smell, Standard Taste. 🍚 Papadom was Thin and Airy. It wasn't the Freshly Off the Fryer type of Crispy, but it was still Crispy enough.

🍛 Quality of the Curries

I have no idea what exactly are the Curries they used, so I'll describe each of them as best as I could. Fish Curry was Decent Tasting. 🐟🍛 Thick and Creamy. Nicely Spiced with a 重口味 Classic Fishy Taste you'd expect from a Decent Quality Fish Curry.

There is a Yellowish Curry that I have no idea what it was. It was Very Watery with a Sweetish Taste. 🤔

There is a Mashed Potato Gravy Thing which I think is some sort of Dhall? 🤔 Smooth and Creamy with an Elevated Level of Spiciness that doesn't bite.

The Last Curry is probably a Mutton Curry. 🐐🍛 Decent Tasting, although it wasn't those Thick Thick Gao Gao Meaty type.

Of all the Curries they lum, I feel the Fish Curry was the One that Stands Out More. 🐟🍛

🐔 Chicken Varuval = RM7.90

This is a Classic Indian Chicken Side Dish that I ordered as a Ala-Carte Side. Of course this is Not Unlimited Servings. 😅 The Sauce of this is Very Heavily Powered by Cumin, Fennel Seeds, Star Anise etc, all the Unusual Spices that you'd normally expect from a Classic Indian Dish. 🌿 Thick and Gao Gao, Spiciness doesn't bite initially but does linger long. People who cannot take Any Spicy might not be able to handle this Spicy Level. 🌶️😅

There are 9 Bite Sized Pieces of a Mix of Breast and Wing Cuts. 🐔🍗 The Breasts are Not Dry and have a Decent Tender Bite. The Wing Cuts are more Boney but also Slightly More Tender. Don't expect Every Piece to be Meaty is what I'm saying. 🤔 Total Amount of Actual Meat you get from this is maybe 1 Small Breast Worth? This Chicken Varuval has a Very Similar Taste Profile to Malay-Styled Ayam Masak Merah. (Red Sauce Chicken) 🤔 Both of them are the Very Thick, Saucy and Savoury Spicy type of Sauce. 🍯



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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At the Price of RM13.90 (S$4.20) for what is essentially Rice and Veggies didn't feel very Affordable, 🤔 but I thought was still reasonable because everything on the Plate is Unlimited Servings so theres that. 

The Overall Quality wasn't Particularly Amazing or Mind-Blowing but was Decent enough for a Mall-Level Banana Leaf Rice Quality of this Type. 👍 As I mentioned, interestingly this Set is actually suitable for Vegetarians. 🥬👍  As long as you are not a Strict Vegan and request Not to Lum their Curries, this is essentially considered a Vegetarian Set. 🥬

At the Price of RM7.90 (S$2.40) for 9 Pieces of Chicken Breast and Wing Cuts for the Chicken Varuval🐔🍗 felt Reasonable as a Meat Side-Dish. The Spices used for this Sauce is Very Gao Gao and tasted like there are No Scrimping of Ingredients. 👍 If you enjoy Ayam Masak Merah, you will probably also enjoy this too. This is a Decent Meat Side-Dish to order.

What impressed me most about this place, was that Lady Manager. 👍 She herself single-handedly lifted the Score of this Place despite the Initial Incident I faced when entering the Eatery. Everything she did was so Customer Service Oriented and I really appreciate that she not only did not leave me hanging when I couldn't order any Sugared Drink, she went above and beyond her Duties to offer me a Free Glass of Plain Water that is not even indicated in their Menu. 🥤👍

If you are in this Mall craving for some Indian-Styled Banana Leaf Rice and don't mind that this is a Mall-Level Eatery and isn't Super Amazing Mind Blowing Level, I can still recommend this place as the Prices for the Overall Dishes felt Reasonable and Taste was Decent Enough. 👍Hahaha just remember to enter the Restaurant only via their Designated Entrance lest you get barred from Entry from that 看你不顺眼 Junior Staff though! 😅