Shared aspiration for F&B venture
Three friends open restaurant specialising in north Indian cuisine in PJ New Town

SUPPORTIVE friends and shared aspirations are key to collaborating on a project, in this case a newly opened restaurant specialising in north Indian cuisine.

That is how three best friends – Ravita Kaur, Menminder Kaur and Harneil Singh – united their passion to launch Chapati Delicacies in Petaling Jaya’s New Town in Selangor.

“We used to collaborate and do smaller events together, and we were also the cooks that prepared the food,” said Ravita.

“One day, Menminder suggested opening a restaurant to introduce our food and here we are.”

Chapati Delicacies, which serves both north Indian and Western fusion cuisine, is located at the back of Strawberry Fields Hotel.

Ravita said their decision to introduce Western cuisine into the menu was to provide more choices to customers.

Malai Kofta paired with assorted naan. — Photos: AINA AMIRAH/The Star

“We want to cater to various preferences, especially children who may find Indian dishes too spicy,” she said.

The restaurant’s chefs, who hail from India and Pakistan, came highly recommended by a friend.

They underwent a rigorous interview process before being hired to work in the restaurant’s kitchen.

“While some dishes showcase the chefs’ original recipes, a significant portion also reflects our own contributions, resulting in a fusion of flavours,” said Ravita. She recommended the pakora and samosa for appetisers.

The golden-brown pakora had a crisp exterior and sweet filling thanks to the onions, while the samosa came with a generous filling of mashed potatoes and peas.

Bru coffee (RM10) and Punjabi tea (RM6), the latter crafted with a robust blend of spices including cardamom, were served alongside the appetisers.

Chapati Delicacies serves authentic north Indian dishes and Western fusion cuisine.

For main courses, Ravita highlighted the Malai Kofta, a dish featuring dried fruit, potato and paneer (cottage cheese) balls submerged in a rich tomato and cashew gravy, and Kashmiri Rogan Josh which has tender mutton cooked in a thick, onion-rich gravy with a creamy consistency, likely owing to the addition of yoghurt.

Between the two, the Malai Kofta was a personal favourite and I kept going back for more.

Chapati Delicacies also offers a wide range of breads and naan options.

One that captured my attention was the Methi Paratha (RM7.20), which has a distinct taste with its earthy and slightly bitter notes from fenugreek leaves.

The dhall and raita paired well with Chicken Briyani (RM22.80), while another must-have dish is the juicy Tandoori Chicken (RM16).

Highlights from the restaurant’s Western fusion menu are a Vegetarian Burger with potato patty (RM18.50), made with a medley of onions, potatoes, spices and cornflour coated in breadcrumbs before being deep-fried.

Those who relish spicy dishes will enjoy the Vegetarian Burger that offers a fiery kick.

Lah Pizza (RM46) features a combination of four pizza flavours – Margherita with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, tandoori chicken, lamb curry, and pepperoni.

Golden-brown pakora is great as appetiser.

Chapati Delicacies’ dessert menu offers the classic Pani Puri (RM10), a crispy breaded shell stuffed with potatoes and onions, Dahi Puri (RM12) and Sev Puri (RM10), to be paired with yoghurt and tamarind juice respectively.

The star of the menu was the Dahi Puri. According to Harneil, it was a common occurrence for customers to swiftly declare the dessert as their newfound favourite.

“While Pani Puri is more familiar and widely known in Malaysia, many customers will name the Dahi Puri as their favourite once they try it,” he said.

Menminder recommended the restaurant’s mango lassi for a perfect ending to a meal.

“We never dilute the mango lassi with water; it’s made purely from fresh fruit, milk and yoghurt.

“That is why it has a very rich and thick consistency,” she said.

CHAPATI DELICACIES, No.7, Ground Floor, Back Portion, Jalan 52/16, Petaling Jaya New Town, Petaling Jaya. (Tel: 03-7931 6686). Business hours: 11am-10pm; closed on Mondays.

This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
Eating Out,Chapati Delicacies,Petaling Jaya,north indian,food,Petaling Jaya New Town
SUPPORTIVE friends and shared aspirations are key to collaborating on a project, in this case a newly opened restaurant specialising in north Indian cuisine.