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Me + Lunch = Happy
By bukkhead | July 8, 2007
The GF and I like to play a game, call it food math. Thai food is a mixture of Chinese and Indian. Malaysian food is a mixture of Thai and Indian, which I suppose makes it three quarters Indian, one quarter Chinese. I say Thai is Chinese plus curry and coconut, and Malaysian is Thai minus coconut plus tomatoes. You probably have your own equations. But the food at the Banana Leaf in Vancouver,. While Malaysian, can even be compared to other non-Asian foods and be still viewed favorably.
Nestled in a small shop on Denman, not far from First Beach, The Banana Leaf is not hard to miss. There’s more than enough other places to shake a stick at around there, and if you’re hungry for something in a particular, you might miss it. For me, Chinese is always the option when I know I am hungry and just want to gorge, and Thai is only an option when other people insist (I’m no fan). But I’m glad the GF was in the mood for this place, as it wasn’t quite as heavy as the Chinese take out I occasionally snarf, nor as nearly Thai-ish as the Thai places I eschew. That it’s not heavy, and caters to your preferred spice level, is good, since it’s across the street from a Fatburger, which would be a tough option to pass up for this here white boy.
The place is small but quiet, relaxed. Simply decorated, and the wait-staff in floral print shirts, attentive without being obtrusive. We started with Roti Canai, which the GF assured me I had to eat: “Flaky layered breads known as the Indian community’s greatest culinary contribution to Malaysia, served with curry dip.” It was light on the spices, depending on the dip for most of its flavor, though by itself it was indeed flaky, with just a touch sweetness, but not too yeasty. Score one point for the GF for assuring us this portion.
She ordered the Redang Beef Curry (more spicy than usual, please) while I opted for Mee Goreng, since I’m a noodle fiend. They were served promptly, and the more I ate, the hungrier I got as my body switched from bike ride mode (we’d just toured Stanley Park) to pig-out mode. I got my protein on, enjoying the mixture of beef, shrimp, egg, and tofu. And the tomato brought it altogether, like I said, making it less a Chinese experience and more it’s own. The GF assures me her own was excellent as well, though she was still enamored of the Roti.
Of course, the problem with eating on vacation or just out of town is that you can’t make a solid experience part of your dining repertoire, and if you ever do go back to that town, chances are you’ll want to go discover something new. But if you’ve never been to the Banana Leaf, find yourself hungry and in the neighborhood, you won’t be sorry you stopped in.
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