Sri Ananda Bahwan Garden Cafe

Sri Ananda Bahwan Macalister Road outlet (22 May 2015)


Sri Ananda Bahwan Garden Cafe (GPS: 5.42143, 100.30384) is one of the most popular chains of Indian restaurants in Penang. It has many outlets in Penang, including the ones at Bagan Luar, Bagan Ajam, Bukit Mertajam, Prai, the two along Penang Street (one of which is purely vegetarian), the ones in Tanjong Bungah and Macalister Road. The chain has also opened outlets in Sungai Petani, Kulim, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and even Chennai.

Sri Ananda Bahwan interior (22 May 2015)


I have known of Sri Ananda Bahwan for a long time, and have also eaten at its Penang Street outlets many, many years ago, but the last time I visited a Sri Ananda Bahwan outlet was in 2014, a year ago. When I heard of the opening of Sri Ananda Bahwan on Macalister Road, I wanted to try it, but all the good home-cooked food got in the way, and it wasn't until a damp evening of 22 May, 2015, a long time since it opened, that I finally paid a visit to the restaurant.

The outlet of Sri Ananda Bahwan on Macalister Road occupies a porch beside the office of the Penang State Hindu Endowments Board. Parking is easy compared to the Penang Street outlets as they have a spacious parking area here.

Sri Ananda Bahwan is on the Map of Jalan Utama, Penang

A selection of the food we ordered at Sri Ananda Bahwan Macalister (22 May 2015)


This is by far the biggest Sri Ananda Bahwan that I have ever visited (I have been to the two on Penang Street, the one at Bagan Luar and the one at Bagan Ajam). The ordering system is also rather high-tech. If you want to call the waiter, to press the buzzer on your table. Considering the size of the place, I thought that is quite a good idea.

The reason we visited Sri Ananda Bahwan was that my wife had a craving for tandoori chicken, which was what we ordered as part of the plain naan set (RM9.00). Adding to that, we ordered the crispy fried cauliflower (RM8.00), the Chetinadu uttapam (RM3.00) and the paper tosai (RM2.50). After these ordered were served, I added an order of roti tissue (RM3.80). For drinks, we order plain warm water (RM0.20) and cold water (RM0.30), and for dessert, the ice kacang ice cream (RM5.80).

Recommended food at this eatery

Plain naan set, Sri Ananda Bahwan Macalister (22 May 2015)


Crispy cauliflower, Sri Ananda Bahwan Macalister (22 May 2015)


The uttapam at Sri Ananda Bahwan Macalister (22 May 2015)


The paper tosai at Sri Ananda Bahwan Macalister (22 May 2015)


The roti tissue at Sri Ananda Bahwan Macalister (22 May 2015)


I like the naan but felt the chicken given is a bit small. The crispy cauliflower was not interesting at all. And at RM8.00, not a good value for money. I had higher expectation for it. The Chetinadu uttapam is fine but not particularly outstanding. The paper tosai is up to expectation but the roti tissue (probably because by the time it arrived, I was already half full) was below expectation, not as crispy as I wanted it to be. I give a major thumbs down for the ice kacang, which at RM5.80 is way overpriced, considering the size of it.

Sri Ananda Bahwan Garden Cafe is on the Map of Jalan Macalister, Penang

List of Restaurants in Penang and Restaurants in Malaysia