Sai Food Stall in Puchong
Puchong is known to be the destination for Chinese cuisine, as it’s dotted with restaurants that serve flavoursome dim sum, yong tau fu, and chicken rice. But right at the junction of Taman Putra Perdana stands a slightly different establishment – Sai Food Stall.
Despite starting only in early 2023, this roadside stall has quickly gained popularity among locals for its hearty and affordable banana leaf rice, or thiruvilla sapadu, priced from a mere RM10.
Though we’ve read nothing but raving reviews about this eatery, none of them could beat a firsthand experience. For this reason, we visited the place to try out the viral banana leaf rice for ourselves.
A roadside food stall born out of a passion for food
Sai Food Stall is the owner’s culinary venture driven by his passion for cooking and the desire to share his favourite flavours with others.
His eyes and tone were full of genuine excitement as he showed us around the open-air kitchen during our visit.
On the gas stoves, big pots of curry were simmering – one for chicken and another for mutton. To make Indian flavours accessible to everyone, the owner sources all the protein from halal meat suppliers.
He also made sure we didn’t miss the basin of marinated chicken wings and thighs on the table. They were coated with a vibrant coral-coloured batter – a sure sign of the flavours packed within – ready to be fried.
As we watched the owner swiftly move between the pots and woks, we thought he was an expert multitasker.
One moment he was sautéing cloves, shallots, and onions in the wok over an intense flame, and the next, he was throwing a bunch of spices and herbs into the bubbling hot curry.
Banana leaf thiruvilla sapadu from RM10
For the uninitiated, thiruvilla sapadu features various dishes to go with rice. The signature Tiruvilla Sapadhu Chicken (RM10) at Sai Food Stall has chicken curry ladled over a generous amount of white fluffy rice, complemented with stir-fried vegetables and a hard-boiled egg.
Those who prefer mutton can top up RM3 for their Tiruvilla Sapadhu Mutton (RM13). The components that go onto the banana leaf are still the same, except that the rice is doused in thick mutton curry.
To make your meal even more substantial, order side dishes such as fried Chicken 65 or Chicken Varuval, which is stir-fried with a potent blend of spices and chillis over low fire.
Instead of a self-service style, the stall has staff serving you right at your table. They will lay banana leaves on your table and scoop out dishes from claypots and stainless steel containers.
Here’s our verdict
We first tucked into the Tiruvilla Sapadu Chicken. The curry was undoubtedly flavourful. It wasn’t as spicy as anticipated, but the heat slowly built up as we continued eating.
The meat effortlessly tore apart in each bite – a clear sign of how soft and tender it was. The stir-fried vegetables, on the other hand, boasted a nice turmeric note and went well with the rest of the dish.
Most importantly, none of the delicious gravy went to waste as the rice soaked up all of it like a good sponge.
Next up was the Tiruvilla Sapadu Mutton. We sampled it with the idea that it would taste similar to the previous dish, only to be proven wrong. The mutton curry was terrific.
If the previous curry was a cup of black coffee, this one would come with double shots of espresso. It tasted so much more robust, and richer and also spicier, certainly passing the “hot curry” vibe check.
We also loved the texture of the mutton, which was chewy and bouncy yet by no means rubbery.
Mutton is often an acquired taste but the one here didn’t carry any intense gamey flavour that many find unpleasant. Rather, it had a nice undertone of creaminess.
Affordable banana leaf rice by Sai Food Stall
There are plenty of reasons to visit Sai Food Stall – from the reasonable price to the delectable taste and the ample portion of food that can feed any ravenous customer.
While the stall all began in Puchong, it has since branched out to Kepong and Klang with each outlet managed by the owner’s siblings.
Business doesn’t start until 7.30pm but people always come in ahead of the opening time.
Speaking from our own experience, the place was at full capacity by 7.30pm. All the empty seats were filled and a long line had formed on the side – and it’s no wonder, as the food is worth the hype.
Address: No 35, Taman Putra Perdana, 47130 Puchong, Selangor
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7.30pm-12am (Closed on Sundays)
Contact: 013-288 8379
Photography by: xinyeegoh & Dennis Kong.
Cover image adapted from: The Smart Local Malaysia