[Penang, Malaysia] South Indian breakfast at Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant, Little India

[klyeoh (Peter)]

Two-decade-old Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant in Penang’s atmospheric Little India bore a name which was inspired by Chennai’s famous New Woodlands Hotel which specializes in Udupi-style vegetarian cooking.

This smallish, pristine-clean eatery has just about a dozen tables, and can get pretty busy just after 9am on a Sunday morning like today.

Our breakfast spread today was a selection of South Indian, specifically Tamilian breakfast staples, all served with coconut 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢-𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘺 and 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘩𝘢𝘳.

1. 𝘗𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭 - utterly addictive spiced, mashed rice. It’s gingery, savory, intoxicatingly flavorsome. The accompanying coconut chutneys and sambhar merely provide delectable variances in the flavors of this innocuous-looking, polenta-like mound of deliciousness.
   
   

2. 𝘐𝘥𝘭𝘪 - delicate little ivory-white spongey discs, perfect when paired with coconut chutney, or drenched in sambhar.
   
   

3. 𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘢 𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘪 - this insanely delicious crepe looked like something Jackson Pollock would create if given access to a hot griddle painted with ghee, and a palate of semolina batter, cumin seeds, fresh ginger shreds, coriander leaves and green chillis.
   Utterly scrumptious on its own, but elevated to ethereal levels when anointed with the creamy chutneys and lightly-spiced sambhar are added.
   

   

4. 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘪 - a crisp, glossy crepe made from a ground rice-and-lentil batter, rolled into a tube with a delicately-spiced potato-and-onion filling in the middle. So delicate, it shatters at the merest touch and melts in one’s mouth.
   

   

5. 𝘜𝘱𝘶𝘮𝘢 - my personal favorite South Indian breakfast option, almost similar in texture and spicing to the pongal, but made from roasted semolina instead of mashed rice. I can have this every day for breakfast, and nothing else, for the rest of my life.
   
   

6. Masala tea - spiced, slightly sweetened hot milk tea to wash everything down - the perfect beverage for this breakfast.
   
   

One of the best breakfast spots in town.

Address
Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant
60, Penang Street, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +604-263 9764
Opening hours: 8.30am to 9.30pm. Breakfast items are offered only up till 11am.

[linguafood (Natascha)]

Looks fantastic! What a delish way to start your day!

[Harters (John Hartley - a culinary patriot, cooking and eating in northwest England)]

Well, this is a timely thread. We going out for dinner this evening to a favourite Indian place. They serve masala dosa as a starter and I was toying with the idea of having it. Your photo convinces me that I should, Look lovely and much, much, bigger than on offer here