Gerai Makan Neelavathy @ Hulu Bernam, Selangor

In recent days, I have been doing entries highlighting the best Tamil eateries in Tanjung Malim and as part of this series, here is a place called Gerai Makan Neelavathi which I feel is the second best place in Tanjung Malim for lunch. The place is just a simple set up but serves excellent home cooked style food at very reasonable prices.

Ulu Bernam Market along Jalan Changkat Asa

Parking Can Sometime Be An Issue

This place is located right beside the Ulu Bernam Market along Jalan Changkat Asa on the Ulu Bernam side of town which comes under Selangor. As you come along the main road crossing the Bernam River, you would come to a traffic lights. At this lights, turn right and the moment you turn right, this stall is on your left. It is just like 10 meters from the lights. Sometimes, you could get parking along the side of the road or else, just another 30 meters in front, you could park along the row of shops. 

Gerai Makan Neelavathi

The Kitchen

Cashier Counter

Tables

This restaurant is a simple stall but it is covered and even at noon, the place is not that hot as it is well ventilated. This place is a family run enterprise and all the cooking is done here at the shop. As you can see, even the kitchen is very clean unlike some other famous restaurants where the kitchen is just so dirty.

Uncle Maniam Taking The Rice

Curries Station

Us Taking Our Own Dishes

The owner, Mr. Subramaniam or Uncle Maniam as I fondly call him, has been running this restaurant for more than 40 years now. Those days, it was in Tanjung Malim town itself  near the new bus station and since the stalls have been demolished for development, he has been forced to move to this new location. Here, you get both the normal rice and Par Boil Rice. Once the rice has been served, we just move to the curries station to select the curries. His curries are pretty good, no MSG and are absolutely home cooked taste. 

My Vegetarian Meal

My Vegetarian Meal

I had a huge portion of rice, two pieces of Tauhu Sambal, some vegetable and some Taugeh along with Sambar. The Sambar is very good and I would rate it at 9/10 .  The greens too were very good and the Tauhu Sambal was simply delicious. I would rate his Tauhu Sambal at 9.3/10 .

My Dad's Meal

Mutton Curry is a must try here!

My Dad had rice with two vegetables and Mutton Curry. The Mutton Curry here is awesome! For me, this is the best Mutton Curry in town and is cooked with lot's of potato's and lean meat. A must try for Mutton lovers. I would rate this Mutton Curry at 9.7/10 .

My Mom's Meal

My Mom's Meal

My Mom had rice with two vegetables and fish. The Fried Fish, was again good and freshly fried. I would rate his Fried Fish at 8.5/10 .

Papadam

Papadam is provided complimentary and you don't even have to ask for this. Mr. Maniam would just serve them at your table once you are seated with your meal. The Papadam's here are fresh and crisp, not the foldable stuff.

Rasam

Here, they would also serve the Milagu Rasam complimentary to everyone. It is served in small glasses like above. The Rasam here is tasty too, but not the best in Tanjung Malim. Nevertheless, I would rate this at 7.5/10 .

Iced Water

With our meals, we all had the above glass of Iced Water each. The total bill for the day for the three of us was RM 13.00 . That's one vegetarian meal, one meal with Mutton and another meal with Fish. The price is definitely very reasonable and the food is tasty with healthy ingredients. Definitely a place that I shall highly recommend!

Address: Lot 1050, Jalan Changkat Asa, Ulu Bernam,

                35900 Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia.

Opening Hours: 0700 - 1700 Daily (Closed on Sunday's)

Srri Tanjung Curry Hse @ Tanjung Malim, Perak

Srri Tanjung Curry Hse is is another Tamil restaurant that is buzzing in Tanjung Malim.  I have been here a number of times too but don't remember blogging about them and that is why, I decided to blog about them. In my opinion, this place ranks third for Tamil food during lunch and but ranks first for Tamil food during dinner. That is simply because, the other top two restaurants do not operate for business and this guy gets a huge flow of customers coming in.

Srri Tanjung Curry Hse in Tanjung Malim

Naan, Capati and Nasi Lemak Stations are set outside

Tables On The Street

Sitting Space

Indoor Area

Making Roti Canai

The restaurant has a large indoor and outdoor seating space. The outdoor seating space is only available at nights. Even during lunch, their business is very good as they have their own group of loyal customers. At nights, they have a limited amount of Rice and Curries, the usual Tamil food items, Naan and Tandoori, Capati and Nasi Lemak. My favourite here is always their Capati which is mainly the reason why I am here tonight.

Teh Tarik @ RM 1.30

Their Teh Tarik is quite decent. Priced at RM 1.30 per glass, it's fixed just nicely. I would rate this at 7.5/10 .

Capati @ RM 1.50 each

Capati @ RM 1.50 each

I have tried most of their items till date except their Naan and Tandoori Chicken. From what I have tried, besides their lunch spread, their Capati is quite good. Priced at RM 1.50 each, it tastes excellent. The only complaint would be that it is too thin. I would rate their Capati at 8/10 .

Pasipayiru Curry

Pasipayiru Curry

This Pasi Payiru Curry is provided when you have Capati's. This curry is simply awesome. Sometimes, I tend to have more Capati's simply because I love this curry. Must try here! I would rate this at 9.3/10 .

Nasi Lemak @ RM 2.00

Nasi Lemak @ RM 2.00

I also tried their Nasi Lemak tonight and it was good. The rice had the 'fatty' taste, the peanuts were crispy and the Sambal was sweet and spicy, just the way I love it. The Fried Egg too was nicely prepared. I would surely recommend this dish too and would rate it at 8.7/10 .

Mutton Perattal @ RM 3.00

Mutton Perattal @ RM 3.00

The Mutton Perattal was very decently priced at RM 3.00 . The setback was that it was that great in taste, in fact it was very ordinary. Above that, it was served cold which is something that I did not like. I would only rate this at 5/10 . 

Perhaps, if I have had the Mutton for lunch, it would have been better but this night preparation was just not up to the mark. The Capati (along with the Pasi Payiru Curry) and Nasi Lemak was quite good. I would definitely return for the above two items. 

Address: No. 25, Jalan Cahaya, Taman Anggerik Desa, 

                35900 Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia.

Opening Hours: Open 24 Hours Daily

Restoran Bisto Cafe @ Tanjung Malim, Perak

Having started sometime in February this year, this restaurant called Bisto Cafe has gained popularity among the locals in Tanjung Malim. Today, this is the most frequented Tamil restaurant in town. I have always been their loyal customer every time I am back in town. I did blog once about their non vegetarian fare and this time, shall be blogging more on their vegetarian food. This restaurant is located in Taman Bernam Baru, along the stretch of shops facing the main road.

Bisto Cafe in Taman Bernam

Bisto Cafe in Taman Bernam

Having started by two sisters who have no prior experience in the food business, this restaurant has been growing pretty well. Their secret is simply providing home cooked taste at very reasonable prices. This restaurant caters from breakfast to late tea and is closed for dinner. It would have been great if dinner was served too but due to the lack of staffs, they are unable to continue till late hours.

Curries Station

Curries Station

Today's Special, Kirai Kadayal

Many of the students from the University have their lunch here. In fact, compared to their dine in's, most of their customers do take away's. Many of the residents in Taman Bernam too come here to buy curries. Daily, they have different specials of the day and today it was the above Kirai Kidayal. Their daily specials are usually cooked in Claypots. Some days, they have Egg Kulambu, Karuvadu Kulambu, Onion Kulambu, Venthayam Kulambu and etc. In order to get a good spread, do come early. Best to be here around 12 noon as by 2 pm, most of the dishes would have been sold out. Besides eating on the plate, they also have Banana Leaf options available. But this does not follow the concept of Banana Leaf Meal where you get to enjoy unlimited rice and vegetable. It is just that leaves are provided at no additional charges if one prefer to have their lunch on a Banana Leaf. 

My Lunch @ RM 3.50

My Lunch @ RM 3.50

I just love Kirai Kadayal and when I saw that this is available today, I took a large serving of rice with lots of Kirai Kadayal and two pieces of Tofu Sambal. It is just RM 3.50 . The Kirai Kadayal was simply awesome and it was finger licking good. I would rate their Kirai Kadayal at 10/10 . The Tofu Sambal too is one of my favourites here and I would rate it at 9.5/10 .

My Mom's Lunch @ RM 4.00

My Mom's Lunch @ RM 4.00

My Mom went for a slightly bigger spread. This comprised of Rice, Sambar, Kirai Kadayal, Thovayal, French Beans, Egg Sambal and Meal Maker prepared with Sambal. The Egg Sambal was really good and I would rate it at 9/10 . The Thovayal is another item that is worth mentioning. If you fancy that, then it is a must try item here and I would rate it at 9.5/10 .

My Dad's Lunch @ RM 4.00

My Dad's Lunch @ RM 4.00

Generally here, regardless of the items taken, it is generally RM 4.00 for a vegetarian meal and I find it to be quite reasonable. Just by looking at the number of items that my Dad had, I feel that it is quite a reasonable price and the taste is just awesome.

Rasam & Papadam

Rasam

Rasam and Papadam is provided complimentary. Their Rasam too is good and is delicious to be drank on its own after a hearty lunch. I would rate their Rasam at 8.5/10 .

Coffee @ RM 1.00

Every time we come here, we never fail to have their coffee after our meal. The coffee here is very good, prepared similarly to those Indian restaurants in Brickfields. I would rate their coffee at 9/10 .

My Dad's Meal @ RM 4.00

My Dad's Meal @ RM 4.00

This is from the next day's lunch when we went there again. Today's special was Onion Kulambu which you would see more off from my lunch below. Again it was a delicious lunch for only RM 4.00 .

My Lunch @ RM 4.00

My Lunch @ RM 4.00

Their Onion Kulambu was filled with spices and onions and it was very good. This you can see from the amount that I have taken. One of the best one's that I have tried. Reminds me of my Late Grandmother's Kulambu. I would rate this at 10/10 . The Tofu Sambal again was very good. I also took some Fried Bittergourd which again was very good. Loved the amount of spices used to marinate before frying it. I would rate that at 9.3/10 .

This place never fails to impress me and the taste has always been consistent. If you happen to be in town and am looking for a good Tamil restaurant for lunch, then this is the place to head to. I always return a happy man.

Address: No. 15, Jalan Bernam Baru 1, Taman Bernam Baru, 

                35900 Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia.

Opening Hours: 0700 - 1900 Daily. (Off Days Is Once A Fortnight)