Malaysian Restaurant Banana Leaf, Milpitas, CA

Sambal belacan eggplant and stringbeans

Sarang seafood aka Yam basket

Rendang chicken

Malay sizzling chicken

The food gang :-)

I always wanted to bring my friends to try the Malaysian restaurant Banana Leaf located at Milpitas, CA. It's about an hour drive south from Berkeley. Finally, we managed to organize this food get together and headed down to try some Malaysian cuisine. Thanks Jack and Yan for driving us down :-). So all of us were seated and patiently waiting for the food to arrive, BUT before that we of course have to order the food. So came the waiter, and I had been there several times already, hence I know what food should my 1st timer friends try the authentic taste of Malaysia cuisine. The waiter who initially served us was speaking at a bullet train speed, so none of us could actually understand what was he saying, but I kinda got his sentence, even though my ears had to open extra wide to absorb what he was saying :-). So, along the ordering, he did have a lot of suggestion to me, asking me to change what I originally wanted to order, reason was we have quite a big number of people and sharing would not be enough...I was like..huh...of course I want my friends to taste the real Malaysian dishes that is authentic to their taste bud :-) I comply to the 1st suggestion, but after that I was very stern to my decision when it comes to ordering Penang Asam Laksa! He was like...'oohhh...that is a fishy dish and not everyone can take the taste. I think it is not advisable to order that'....I was like...aiyoh....come on!! that's the most unique taste of Malaysia and I want them to try it...so finally I told him, ' I AM A MALAYSIAN, hence I know HOW it taste like :-)' At last, he didn't argue anymore :-). I think he was just being kind, and introducing what every dish will taste like and when none Malaysians try them, it may be new to them and they may not like it...but I was like...people here are adventurous when it comes to food! Look at the food diversity around California...It is AWESOME!!!

Well..my friends really like the Penang Asam Laksa, and I am glad that I insisted on ordering it! We started off with Roti Prata, then Rendang Chicken, Malay Sizzling Chicken, Sambal Belacan Eggplant and Stringbeans, Sarang Seafood (actually Yam basket), and of course ASAM LAKSA! :-) We were stuffed!!! but all of us enjoyed the food!