Banana Leaf is a dependable Malaysian spot in Chinatown. (Wish we had more Malaysian choices, but I digress!) The dining room is spacious, with +20 tables, and an open kitchen so you can watch the staff at work. Usually I call in takeout orders for pickup, but I have stayed for a meal (usually with friends). Friendly service. My favorites: - Roti Canai - this flaky appetizer is a crowd pleaser. And that savory curry sauce! - Kangkung Belacan - stir-fried greens with chili paste. I'm obsessed with them. They're seasonal, so you might not always be able to order them. - Taiwanese Chicken - tasty, with the right amount of soy sauce. - Thai Basil Noodles - drunken noodles! Perfect when I want starch in my life. They take credit cards now (including paying with a smartphone). But pay cash and your bill will be slightly less. read more

See all

85 out of 100 Banana Leaf is a long-time Chinatown favorite. I was WOWED by the shrimp with lady fingers (okra), seamless service (reminiscent of a well-oiled machine), and an unexpectedly large interior. --- I dined as a party of two for lunch on Sunday. When we first entered, we were shocked at just how large the interior of Banana Leaf was as compared to the exterior. It is also decorated very fun inside. We ordered the mama's chicken, shrimp with lady fingers, and homemade roti canai. Just a note that the most updated menu is online instead of the photos here. (Also rice is not included with the entrées, but needs to be ordered separately.) (1) Shrimp with Lady Fingers- I would come back for just this again and again. It was not too salty, and it was very flavorful (just the right amount of fishy), and the okra was cooked just perfectly. I am a little bias as an okra fan, but I LOVED this dish. My only issue is that the shrimp wasn't deveined. (2) Homemade Roti Canai- The roti was very flaky and had an excellent texture. I guess it's no surprise that it's the biggest thing advertised on the menu. The curry was pretty standard that came with it. It was just a little strange to me that the roti canai was completely cold when it came out. (3) Mama's Chicken- The chicken was dry for us, probably as a result of the smaller pieces being fried. Overall, it was pretty OK, but we wouldn't order this again. The service was excellent- food was quick to come out & anytime we finished a dish, needed water, or needed the check, the servers were at the table before we had to say anything. Totally streamlined! read more

See all

A friend recommended it as a restaurant to try in the area and we came over for dinner as a party of two. We got seated immediately and they had a variety of Malaysian items on the menu that had a little of everything and ones similar to other Asian cuisine dishes. Roti Canai - The piece of roti was huge, a big portion for 2 people which we enjoyed. The curry was light and a little sweet paired with the thin and chewy roti. Pad Thai - A very classic dish. It was mildly spicy which gave a good kick and it had the classic flavors being sour, sweet, savory and nutty at the same time. The noodles were a nice texture with the crunchier bean sprouts, the tender shrimp and chewy tofu. We also tried the Hainanese Chicken which was a bit different than what we were used to but it was still tender and soft. A solid place for dinner in the Chinatown area if you're wanting to get some different dishes. read more

Banana Leaf - Pad Thai, Hainanese Chicken - Malaysian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

This is cute spot in Chinatown, Philadelphia. The staff were welcoming and the service was prompt! I got the Lychee Drink, Nasilemak, Roti Canai, and Pad Thai with Tofu. Everything was delicious and the flavor were so unique. The Nasilemak tasted similar to a South Indian dish and it felt like home while eating that. Lychee Drink was a bit too sweet but still pretty good. Definitely will be going back to try more. read more

See all

It offers numerous traditional Malaysian and south East Asian cuisine which are not easily available in restaurants elsewhere in the states. However the quality and the taste of the food are just ok. I take out food from them and the roti is cold. The Lasi Lemak is lacking flavors, where the coconut rice tastes plain and portion is small too. Overall I didn't have a satisfying experience from their food read more

Went here to try Malaysian food! I ordered the pad Thai and was able to make it vegan, but I did not expect it to be so spicy!! Next time, I'll ask for modification on the spice. The fried tofu in the pad Thai was amazing: crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, very satisfying to eat. I also ordered veggie dumplings, which were nothing special. I was really disappointed to find out that the roti canai has egg in it, so I was sad that I couldn't enjoy the roti canai starter but I should have looked more into it. I also ordered lychee drink which was amazing: sweet, refreshing, had lychee in it which I appreciated. Overall, food was hot and fresh but the spice was too much for me personally! This place seems pretty well established, run well, clean, and service was very attentive: my server reassured me which dishes were vegan which was so amazing and helpful. Would def recommend if you ever want to try Malaysian! read more

See all

I am surprised I've never written a review for this place! This has been around a while! I remember when they came on the scene (2006?) and they have continued to be dependable and delicious! My youngest and I were doing some Christmas shopping at The Fashion District and she spotted this on our walk to the mall and said she would like to try it! I was more than happy to oblige. I always have a good experience here, food and service. She ordered beef and noodles and I ordered nasi lemak. Both dishes were so good but a must order every time you come here is the roti canai; flaky bread with curry dipping sauce. So good! If you want a dependable place with consistent good Malaysian food, stop in at Banana Leaf. You won't be sorry! (BYOB! ) read more

See all

Banana leaf is my go to for Malaysian food in Philadelphia. The prices here are really good and the quality is amazing as well. When we went, it was very empty. We got our menus and asked for what items we wanted from the menu pretty quickly. We decided to get a homemade roti canai, appetizer mix, mama chicken, and banana leaf sizzling Japanese bean curds. I didn't care much for the roti in the roti canai. The roti was really tough and not cooked right. The liquid sauce that had the chicken was pretty good. I did wish it was spicier however. The appetizer mix has an amazing peanut sauce for the chicken satay. I also really liked the quality of the chicken in the satay. The spring rolls were also good- it tasted pretty freshly fried. The fried tofu was something I have never tried and I really enjoyed it as well. The mamas chicken is a must have! It was so thin and crispy. It was delicious. I didn't care much for the banana leaf sizzling Japanese bean curds. I didn't like the pork or the salted fish in this dish. It tasted kind of funny. I did like the size of shrimp in this, dish however. The dessert was to die for. We got the fried ice cream. I really like how they used Bassetts Ice Cream and how it was deep fried. I also liked the jelly they used with the dish (it tasted homemade). read more

See all

Excellent experience! The food is truly authentic and delicious. The satay was a highlight, and we loved the traditional flavors. It's a great place to hang out and enjoy high-quality Malaysian cuisine. 5 stars for the food and the friendly service! read more

The moment you walk into the restaurant, you'll feel like you are in Malaysia. The combination of synthetic and natural lighting works very well. The server was polite and very patient with us. They have an open kitchen where you could see how the magic is done. Personally, I prefer savory over sweet, but after tasting the Banana Leaf Mango Sauce, I am reconsidering my choices from now on. read more

Banana Leaf - Banana Leaf Mango Sauce - Malaysian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Service is okay - ran like a family shop vibes. Our server was quite nice. We ordered: Kang kung belcan: made with I think shrimp paste.. it was good however there was a strange after taste.. Beef rendang: quite disappointing the beef was dry and lacked flavor Roti canai: the roti itself was very good it was crispy chewy and soft. But the curry chicken was watery and lacked any sort of taste. Satay: best thing we ordered the chicken one is a bit better than the beef and the peanut sauce was good. read more

See all

Banana Leaf serves Malaysian food in Chinatown. It is a fairly spacious restaurant and the service is pretty quick. I went during off hours, but I am sure it is busier in the afternoon or evening. I also thought the pricing for dishes was not too bad either. I got the Thai Basil Noodles. I only got it with chicken as opposed to chicken and shrimp as I did not want shrimp. I had no idea what the dish was going to taste like. I honestly thought it would taste like pad kee mao or pad see ew, but it was more of a drier taste, kind of like a beef chow fun. I wanted more sauce on the noodle as I felt like the flavor was lacking in the overall dish. It tasted a bit burnt and it was not for me. In hindsight, I should have ordered a Malaysian dish as this is what the restaurant specializes in, so that is something I would consider if I came back here. read more

Banana Leaf - Thai Basil Noodles - Malaysian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Banana Leaf is a sit down Malaysian restaurant in Philly it's my new favorite. Their Chicken Satay is the best I found in the states -- not too over burnt/cooked, actually marinated before hand, appropriately sized. They also do a pretty good job with their curries as well where it's not too watered down but also not so coconut milk heavy that you can't taste the individual spices. They also provide really friendly and courteous service as well. Highly recommend if you're in the area! Now the part of the review nobody came for: - Water: Not particularly clean tasting but again, you're in Philly - Restrooms: Clean and relatively large Men & Women's restrooms - Accessibility: While there is a 'step up' dining area, if you're in a wheelchair, you'd be able to get through the entire restaurant, find a table on the 'main' floor, and the restrooms with no issues. - Seating: Plenty of seating throughout though if you have a group of 8+ you may want to call ahead since there's only one real location -- that I'm aware of -- for groups of that size. - Will it fill you up? While everything can be shared, you'd still want to estimate for one entree per person. You do have to buy your own rice. - Other Notes: The Menu in the restaurant is not the complete menu. Check out their website for the complete set of options. read more

We went here for my husband's birthday around Lunar New Year. The place is an institution. It looks like jungle vibes inside and appears to be family run. The food was very good including my pineapple fried rice. We will be back. read more

Located in Chinatown Philly, this tucked away spot was very busy on a Friday night! They brought out my order almost immediately but after waiting 10 mins, we still did not have my husband's entree. Not sure if the order was misplaced but after asking our server they were finally able to bring it out a few minutes later. I ordered the Nasi Lamek with rendang chicken. It was delicious home cooking. The bone in chicken thighs were moist and the sauce was deliciously seasoned. Rendang is considered a dry curry so less liquid than your typical curry. Paired with the cucumber and boiled egg, it kind of reminded me of a Vietnamese dish, thit kho but with chicken instead of pork. My husband ordered the calamari. Unfortunately it was overcooked and dry. The slices were thin so that all you could taste was the flour breading that it was fried in. After the long wait, it just added insult to injury. read more

Banana Leaf - Nasi lamek - Malaysian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The roti was really good! I was surprised at how much they gave me. For once I thought the roti was better than the curry that it came with. It had a nice fragrant of rice, water, salt, and sweetness to it that I've never experienced before for roti, even in Malaysia! It was crispy and thin. Very very good! The curry that paired with it is standard and tasty, but I didn't find myself finishing it since I ate the roti on its own all the way through. The beef rendang was a bit disappointing. It was kind of bland and didn't come with enough curry sauce. Service was quick and friendly though! read more

Banana Leaf - Beef rendang - Malaysian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Banana Leaf is a Malaysian restaurant located in Chinatown. I came with my friends on a Wednesday afternoon and it wasn't very busy which was a good sign for us. We ordered the crispy pork intestines and appetizer sampler to start. Then we shared the Nasi Lemak and the Sizzling Japanese Bean Curd. Our favorite was probably the pork intestines because we loved how it was deep fried paired with the hoisin sauce. The other dishes were very tasty as well. Will definitely return! Note: The menu they provide at the table is NOT the full menu, scan the QR code on the menu for the whole thing! read more

See all

The staff here was very kind and they were very conscious regarding my egg allergy the second I mentioned it to my server upon ordering. It's nice to see caring staff like this since a lot of the times I worry about eating out with an allergy. The restaurant had a unique design as it had an elevated area and was very spacious. I'm typically more comfortable with restaurants that have more compact indoor areas, but that's fine. This restaurant surely made up for it with their quick service. My food was out within five minutes of ordering, absolutely fantastic. I had the Hainanese Chicken with Rice, served with soy sauce and chili sauce. This meal was very fresh and delicious. The rice was the perfect consistency and the chicken had great texture and they gave just enough portions to make me feel satisfied. This is a must try restaurant if you're ever near Philly's Chinatown! read more

Cute Malaysian restaurant located on Arch Street. The servers are very nice. I love their roti and chicken curry for appetizers. Very small but filling to my belly. Pineapple fried rice is always my daughter's go-to. Chicken wings were nice and crispy but not worth the price since you're only getting 3 whole wings cut up to make 6 pieces. The pork intestines are usually pretty good here, except for when I ordered it this time. Didn't seem like they clean it out thoroughly nor added enough spices to cut the odor. The stir fried morning glory had a little too much shrimp paste. Overall, I still enjoyed the food. read more

See all

Came here 7 years later with a larger group and was weary. Thankfully, nothing changed and everyone loved the food! Roti canai - some parts of the roti felt cold but the chicken curry that comes with it was absolutely divine. It reminded my mother in law of her own mother's cooking. I would equate it to standard Bengali chicken with johl. Steamed Chicken Dumplings - would not order these again, if you have a craving for dumplings, maybe the fried ones are better. They were super congealed and lacked flavor and structure. Banana Leaf Chicken Wings - excellent flavor on these wings! Banana Leaf Satay (mixed) - beef was excellent, like a teriyaki jerky taste, the chicken was not as flavorful. Indian Me Goreng - these noodles were packed with flavor and veggies and meat! If you like dan dan noodles, lo mein or a packet of Maggi noodles, these will not disappoint. Sizzling with Black Pepper Sauce - we got this in beef, it was a bit salty but so good! The beef pieces were cut and cooked to perfection. Mama chicken - kind of like orange chicken with kung pao sauce, carb heavy with all the breading Nasi Lamek- if you're looking for traditional Malaysian food, this is where you should start! The rice was cooked to perfection. The boiled egg felt like home. The chicken curry and cooked veggies is authentic to the cuisine. Food came out fast, plenty of seating and does not smell odd inside. read more

See all

Always a reliable spot when in Philly. The satay is a big hit, particularly the chicken one. Even the pickiest of eaters would gobble them up. Service is friendly and prompt, and never have to wait long for a table despite the size of the party. BYO, make sure you stop by when you are in the area. read more

See all

Banana Leaf offers quick and affordable Malaysian food. I was craving a hearty meal and had never tried Malaysian cuisine before so I gave it a go. A table for me and my two colleagues was available immediately during the lunch rush. This place is huge! The waiters and waitresses walk around with pitchers of water to give refills anytime they're needed. The staff working behind the counter were nice; welcoming us on the way in and greeting us on our way out. I ordered the Banana Leaf Mango Sauce with tofu. There is also an option of chicken, shrimp, or beef. The sauce was smooth and not spicy (I didn't want to burn my face off). The mango was cut into medium slivers and the tofu was crispy. The only thing I wish it had come with was rice, however, the rice was an extra $1.50 so I opted to have it sans rice. I boxed the leftovers and will probably add rice at home. Overall, I had a good experience here! They have several vegetarian options and can even customize existing dishes to include vegetables and substitute meat for tofu. read more

Banana Leaf - Banana Leaf Mango Sauce - Tofu - Malaysian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Reminded me of eating in Malaysia with the way the chicken was all cut up. Service and seating was quick on a Friday evening. Food also arrived really quickly. Youngest daughter liked the chicken dumplings. We had to order a bowl of rice to go with the curry. read more

I was expecting more from this place. The food was just okay. I would say 6/10. We ordered the spare ribs as an appetizer. I have to say those were delicious, I've never had "fried" ribs before. I ordered the captains noodles. I thought it was good but the flavor was just NOT there. My boyfriend ordered the pineapple fried rice. The rice was good but the shrimp... EEWW. They did not clean it properly!!!! Disgusting. The service was mediocre. There were only two servers, so getting our order in took a little longer than I expected. I guess if you can get past the unclean shrimp the establishment is not that bad, but no thanks for me. read more

See all

I am obsessed with the Roti Canai. I buy about 4 at a time. Its tastes sooooo good. The flavors are indescribable. I'm grub hubbing right now. Also, you can't beat the price! read more

Food: In my opinion, I think they have one of the best value Pad Thais in the city. The noodles and chicken are perfectly cooked and perfectly saucy; generous portions. My favorite dish is the seafood tom yum rice noodle soup. The soup is nice and sour (which I love) but lacks a little spice. I always get a side of chopped chilis and then it is perfect. They have a generous amount of seafood and vegetables. We also always get the roti canai. Sometimes the texture can be a little too soft and doughy instead of nice and crispy. However, the chicken curry is consistent and flavorful. There is usually a piece of chicken and potato in it. Service: It is speedy and friendly. They checked in on us often. Ambiance: It's no frills. They have a well designed interior and it's huge. I would recommend making a reservation for a larger group (8+). They may require you to spend a certain amount. BYOB! read more

Banana Leaf - Banana Leaf Pad Thai - Malaysian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Quite yummy. Gives the best rainy day comfort food vibes. So many diff options. Some veg options but make sure they don't have fish sauce in it. The decor inside is rustic and like you're in a tree house. Mango salad was a fave of ours. We like this place. read more

The Pad Thai was delicious as well as the stir fried morning glory(A type of spinach that's popular in SE Asia), however when I ordered the Prawn Mee Soup the wait was long and the soup itself was not that impressive. I would probably avoid the soup there if I were you even though it looks nice on paper. read more

See all

It took me a while to get to Banana Leaf even though I am in Chinatown quite a bit. I have been there three times now in the last three or four months and I must say I should've tried Banana Leaf earlier. The restaurant is large and spacious and has that Malaysian colonial vibe. The weight staff has always been friendly and efficient. We usually order our Malaysian staples, Roti Canai, Beef Rendang and Singapore noodles. Recently, we had their version of Pad Thai, and it was very good also. Prices are reasonable and the portions are large. Banana Leaf has become one of our go to restaurants one in Chinatown. read more

See all

Found this buzzy little Malaysian restaurant thanks to Yelp! The inside is deceivingly large, we walked in and almost walked out because it seemed like there was no one in the restaurant. Our server led us all the way back down the hallway and we were suddenly greeted by lots of large parties happily chowing down on noodles and rice and having great conversation. Once we sat down we immediately knew we were in the right place. Our Indonesian coffee, roti canai, beef chow fun, and beef rendang were all immensely enjoyed by the family. Everything came out piping hot, tender when needed, and just authentic and delicious. Even though we were the only people in the restaurant with kids, our servers were so accommodating. They made a makeshift booster seat for my two year old, brought out appropriately sized utensils, and checked in on them often like they were their own. When they found out about my youngest peanut allergy, they made careful note to run through to the menu and make sure all of the dishes we ordered were nut free. This place isn't super aesthetic or fancy -- but it's good food served by good people and honestly made this whole meal a five star experience. read more

I had jury duty this week - and we were assigned a short lunch so I had to quickly eat and return. I remembered how much I like Banana Leaf - so I ran over here and let the lady know I was on a time crunch. She sat me immediately and told me they could serve me fast. I ordered a Malaysian ice tea and an Indian Mee Gorang. I can not believe how fast it came out - seriously - they made my food as soon as I put the order in. And it was delish!!! I am dreaming of going back for another Indian Mee Gorang soon. And I have to come at lunch for more of that tea!!! (Also I made it back to jury duty on time too!) read more

Banana Leaf - Indian Mee Goreng Noodle - Malaysian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

The food is amazing and staff took care of me! I definitely would recommend to my friends

What a hidden gem! Had the chicken wings, spinach/shrimp paste, and the pad thai. The wings were super crunchy! The spinach with shrimp paste is million out of ten!! Amazing service, very attentive. read more

See all

Had their takeout and dined in. In both instances, the food is delicious (you gotta get the roti with curry!). The pad Thai is actually quite good. Service is very fast and ambience is nice. Good spot for a casual dinner or takeout. read more

They did not have any halal item. Had to order vegetarian. If they advertise malaysian they should carry halal items. read more

Food: We ordered 10 courses that were served family-style for our big party. I particularly liked three dishes. First, the Kangkung Belacan which is a sautéed water spinach with Malaysian shrimp paste sauce was delicious. This was my favorite dish. Second, the Singapore Rice Noodles which came with a mild sauce with shrimp, bean sprouts, egg & Chinese cabbage was good. Lastly, we got a Tofu dish as well that I enjoyed! Service: Sadly, customer service is not a priority for this restaurant. They simply bring out your food all at once and leave. The servers rarely told you the name of the dish or what was in it to accommodate people who may have dietary restrictions. It was hard to get a hold of the servers to even ask for simple things like more napkins, or knives. I think if this restaurant invested more in improving its customer service, it would be more of a popular destination. read more

Banana Leaf - Tofu - Malaysian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

The food was pretty good for the price. Our favorite was the Thai basil noodles it was very flavorful and tasty! The roti canai was also good just wish the food was warmer. The chicken satay and the other chicken dish were okay. We also got the earl grey lavender tea which was aromatic and a great way to complete the meal. The ambiance and service were good. Nothing extraordinary but a nice lunch/dinner spot with a couple friends. read more

See all

I went here with 2 friends on a cold winter night looking with a goal of having some nice and hot savory dinner. We were not disappointed! Ambiance: Cozy place, wooden themed with more muted colors, and not too loud. Overall, a great time! Service: Honestly no complaints. We went on a less busy night, and I contemplated how they might have handled a fuller house. Food: As a vegetarian, I only had the curry rice with tofu, but my friends really enjoyed the red curry in clay pot as well as one of their noodle dishes. - Curry rice with tofu: Very flavorful coconut milk-based Malaysian curry with a good assortment of tofu and vegetables. It was a delicious combination of thick, salty, sweet, and not too spicy, and it reminded me a little bit of a penang curry. (I'm getting hungry again while writing this review.) It was also very reasonably priced at $10.50. The portion was a tad bit smaller than ideal, but also I might have just been particularly hungry that day. - A pot of Jasmine or black tea was available for $1 with a free refill, which was very welcoming on that cold evening. They had some additional tea options for a slightly higher price. A note for vegetarians here: None of the dishes under "Vegetables" appear to be vegetarian as they have some form of fish or fish sauce/paste. I also felt a bit wary about various of the noodle dishes that technically could be made vegetarian, but have some sort of seafood component as part of the dish. I hope to return soon! read more

Banana Leaf - Curry rice with tofu - Malaysian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I think banana leaf is a cute restaurant to having lunch in. Service was okay, not bad nor super great. There doesn't seem like there is much traction so pretty quiet. I ordered the roti and chicken satay and really like the chicken satay. The roti was nice and warm and a good amount. For entree, I got the chow kueh teow. It came with seafood and the only complaint I have is that the shrimp was not deveined and too over cooked for my liking. read more

Great food and prices! The roti telur tasted very similar to Indian roti and egg burji. The sauce it came with was tasty. The noodles were really good too, I liked how the tofu was cooked and it had a good amount of spice. read more

Banana Leaf - Roti telur - Malaysian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all