NOT a food blog
Jerry Maguire: We live in a cynical world, a cynical, cynical world, and we work in a business of tough competitors. I love you. You…..complete me.
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It was like my senses were awakened by the taste of ghee. At first, the twitch of the nose at the buttery aroma. Then the tongue, as I placed a spoonful of basmati rice caressed by masala and ghee. Utter bliss. It is gratifying to know that one of the commonest articles of Indian cuisine can also be one of the most satisfying.
Chicken or mutton cubes are marinated in a yoghurt base and cooked in biryani rice. Cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves and nuts spice the rice further and choppped coriander leaves complete the dish. The biryani at Jassal Tandoori Restaurant is probably the best biryani I’ve ever tasted. The rice is fluffy and full of flavour, and the ghee makes the dish highly palatable on its own.
The tandoori platter containing a selection of tandoori chicken, fish tikka and kebab is highly addictive. I reckon it’s due to the spices used and the fact that it is cooked in a special tandoori oven resulting in flavours that blend well into the meats.
The mutton vindaloo has a tangy masala base and is not as spicy as I expected. I’m not sure of its authenticity as a Punjabi dish (doesn’t it have its roots in Goan/Portuguese cuisine?), but it does make a lovely complement to the biryani. The mango lassi is rich and the sweet scent of mango is apparent, but it tasted a little powdery. All my hopes were placed on the gulab jamun (only my most favourite indian dessert ever!), a milky confection soaked in sugary syrup, but I found the texture rather hard, possibly because it was kept in the fridge before serving. Nevertheless, the flavour was lovely and I shall have to try it again when I am hit by a gulab jamun craving. Those who don’t have an affinity for gulab can also check out the other sweet, milky offerings.
Love at first taste. That’s what Jassal is to me.
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Dorothy: Shut up. Just shut up…..You had me at hello. You had me at hello.
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Chicken Biryani (big) – RM11.90
Jassal Tandoori Restaurant
No 84, Jalan Tun Sambanthan
Brickfields, 52000 KL.
Tel: 03-22746801
www.jesalsweethouse.com
Open 11.00am to 11.00pm daily.
Food, for me, is a means to an end and not an end in itself.
Food, for me, represents the love of family, the fellowship of friends, and the community and communality it brings.
daphne
July 16th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
argh… They look sooo tempting to me. Still trying to find a reasonable priced Indian place in Perth that doesnt taste like packaged stuff!
Lyrical Lemongrass
July 17th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Daphne, I guess your only hope is in cooking the stuff at home. Remember, the secret lies in the ghee. 🙂
Paprika
July 17th, 2009 at 12:07 am
mmmmm fantastic shot of the syrupy gulab jamun! Sounds lovely and so reasonable unlike some other places
Lyrical Lemongrass
July 17th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Paprika: I had a good hand model. Hehe. But yeah, food’s definitely reasonable. And it’ll definitely make u happy wan.
cumidanciki
July 17th, 2009 at 7:39 am
SHADDAP! you had me AT HELO!.. and again at GULAB!
so farnee.. the cheesiest lines and the most gorgeous photos… great read:)
Lyrical Lemongrass
July 17th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Ciki: Tee hee! Btw, WHERE’S MAH GULAB??
Sugar & Spice
July 17th, 2009 at 9:22 am
The gulab jamun looks extremely sinful :p
I’ve been wanting to stop by and have a meal at this place everytime I cross the crazy traffic in front of KL Sentral. Alas – I’ve been putting it off. Well now since I know the food is good, perhaps I’d probably need to give myself a harder push to make the effort.
You’re right – the vindaloo is a Goan/Portugese dish and the tanginess comes from the use of vinegar. I’ve been planning to make the Pork version – which is absolutely yummy but then again need to get it moving from my side.
Great review!
Lyrical Lemongrass
July 17th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Sugar and Spice: they’ve only been around for a couple of years, but biz seems to be booming. I guess people can sniff good food out, eh? Thanks for the info on the vindaloo!!
KY
July 17th, 2009 at 11:34 am
wah looks good!
Lyrical Lemongrass
July 17th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
KY: yah man. Guaranteed to make you one happy man.
superwilson
July 17th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
My eyes are set on the Tandoori Platter…
Still looking at it…
See you soon 🙂
paranoidandroid
July 17th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
OMG… You hit another weak spot of mine. Sweet Milky stuff. The two little balls of Gulab Jamun looks kinda cheeky… :p
Passed that area many times, but di not know about the existence of this place. Thanks for the tip!
ladyironchef
July 17th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
hahaha love at first sight! I like that! heh
I want to eat all the KL food when i’m there next week 🙂
Bangsar-bAbE
July 17th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Next time I ponteng work, I come look for you and you take me there okie? >)
Rolan Stein
July 17th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Oh MAMA! THAT’s more like it! The Jassal is suddenly and absolutely on my must-sample list for the next time I’m in KL – which I hope will be soon…depending only on some health issues.
Brings back gorgeous memories. Fair dink, I truly believe Malaysia has the best Indian food on the planet. And yes, I’ve spent extended time in India!
Pics are terrif, LL. My keyboard thanks you for the dribbling it’s just received. XX
Manggy
July 17th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Hah, I just knew someone else would bite at the You had me at hello thing. So I won’t 😉 But glory, that first rice pic just took my breath away.
thenomadGourmand
July 18th, 2009 at 6:44 am
ohh.. KL Sentral = traffic..but then there’s Sin Kee.. ahh.. a trip here soon ..
keatsthesunshinegirl
July 18th, 2009 at 8:50 am
We’ve been going to Jassal since last October. Generally, I like the food there. Friends rave about it. I’m not a fan of Indian sweets tho as I do not not have a sweet tooth! So, have to pass the gulab jamun.
550ml jar of faith
July 18th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Yes, one tandoori platter all to myself thank you!! This current diet of mine is so so very hard! Especially when all these posts keep pulling back in! :-S
Kwong
July 20th, 2009 at 1:46 am
The tandoori platter really looks good! I’ve never had biryani in a looong time! Haha would love to go there before I head back to Toronto!
A Lil Fat Monkey
July 20th, 2009 at 9:03 am
“Show me the curry! Show me the curry!”
Bring me there BFF!
lotsofcravings
July 20th, 2009 at 11:20 am
ok la..i m goin to hunt this down..if it doesnt require too much sweating of course..
fatboybakes
July 20th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
who are these flers you’re quoting? jerry macguire is who ah? and who the heck is dorothy?
cumidanciki
July 21st, 2009 at 11:31 am
your gulab is in mah gut.. 😛
sc
July 21st, 2009 at 1:12 pm
can almost hear secret garden playing in the background :p
looks like the briyani is a die-die must try! (and i will!)
J2Kfm
July 21st, 2009 at 11:57 pm
not a fan of Jerry Maguire’s, but as sc said, i can almost imagine the haunting voice of Bruce’s.
someday I’ll venture down to Brickfields, and see for myself what hidden treasures are there ….. Indian cuisines at its best/pure form?
HairyBerry
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:01 am
Jassal, you wait! After I’m done with my cholestrol cleansing ritual this Friday, I’ll come look for you. I’m storm in and hentam everything vindaloo and briyani you have.
You JUST wait there!!!!
superwilson
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Just realized something… im not in your blogroll… T T
Kiran
August 9th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Mouth-watering! Thank god I am very happy with Sizzler’s restaurant here in Florida – their Indian cuisine (briyani in particular) are simply amazing! Nonetheless, I do miss Malaysia 😀
Rajendra
May 24th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Hi,
I went to Jassal Tandoori @Brickfields after reading your review. I loved chicken biryani….it was authentic tasty biryani I’ve had so far in KL. The chicken was tender and the spices were perfect. Thanks for your review without which I wold not have discovered this restaurant.
hemaraj
February 18th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
why ar u so far in kl.come to malacca we are just came from cheng we eat globjamun so nice & sweet.
the choco globjamun also very sweet.
come malacca bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maneshaa
March 14th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
OMG!!! they look so gooood!! and very tempting 4 me!!!!