Pure Saiva has established itself as a leading destination for vegetarian Indian cuisine, thanks to its holistic and clean eating approach. With two outlets in the city, I often visit their PJ New Town branch, which can become quite crowded during peak hours. It is noteworthy that they have now expanded to a larger space to accommodate their growing clientele.
Yes, Pure Saiva has moved. It now occupies a space just a few doors down in the same row of shops. Regulars will recognize that the previous establishment was Me’nate Steak Hub, which has closed its doors, making way for the exciting new Pure Saiva. Expect the same clean, white ambiance, now even bigger and better.
Menu
Thali Set, RM 10.80 each
For a hearty meal, the Thali Set is perfect, featuring rice, payasam, rasam, papadam, three vegetables, gravy, and more. We chose tauhu sambal, pumpkin, spinach, chickpea, and mixed vegetables, with the tauhu sambal being my favorite for its flavorful balance of slight spiciness, sweetness, and sourness—ideal to eat with rice and pumpkin. The potato cutlet was a satisfying meat substitute, packed with flavor and a great complement to the thali set.
Pandan Nasi Lemak, RM 9
I have good memories of this dish from the old outlet and truly enjoyed it. While the flavor remains delightful, the serving size has shrunk, missing fried items like tempe and chips. The sambal is still enjoyable, though not as spicy as it once was—I even requested an extra serving. When paired with rice, kacang, and crispy mushroom strips, it was quite satisfying. This dish is good, but I strongly believe they should reinstate the variety in the Nasi Lemak, just like they used to.
Address: 24, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, Bandar Baru Petaling Jaya, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
When I first saw the phrase ‘Private Kitchen’ on their signboard, I assumed it was synonymous with ‘Private Dining.’ However, unlike the exclusive nature of ‘private dining,’ which typically requires reservations, this term is used very loosely here. It functions like any other restaurant, requiring no reservations, and welcomes walk-ins.
The interior stands out with its tasteful decorations. The greenery and flowers elegantly draping from the walls, combined with the meticulously chosen color tones and seating arrangements, created an inviting ambiance. It’s clear that quite a bit of effort was put into crafting a welcoming atmosphere, and it paid off. Dining here is was an enjoyable experience.
Menu
Claypot Curry Vegetables (Spicy), RM 22 with Fish Slices, RM 5 + Four Heavenly King, RM 23.90 + Multigrain Rice, RM 3.50
Four Heavenly KingClaypot Curry Vegetable
This restaurant boasts a large menu, which gave us quite the challenge to land on a dish; however, we ultimately chose the Claypot Curry. This dish paired excellently with rice, especially given its rich and flavorful gravy. By rich, I mean it was thick in texture, not from excessive milkiness but from a good depth of flavor and spice. It offered a pleasant spice level that was invigorating without overwhelming my palate. The dish features an assortment of vegetables, including brinjal, long beans, okra, cabbage, cauliflower, and generous slices of vegetarian fish. The combination of these ingredients was nothing short of delicious and satisfying when eaten with rice.
The Four Heavenly King is a delightful side dish that features a mix of vegetables with a vegetarian twist. In this restaurant, traditional belacan made from prawns is cleverly replaced with small bits of tasty vegetarian mock meat, mimicking the texture of prawns in a classic belacan dish. The flavors were enjoyable, showcasing a wonderful selection of vegetables like brinjal, long beans, okra, and tempe. The gravy is thick and satisfying, offering a spicy kick that pairs beautifully with rice and the Claypot Curry Vegetable. They successfully captured the essence of belacan flavor, making it an enjoyable dish.
Address: 51, Jalan SS 22/11, Damansara Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya
Opening hours: Everyday. 10.30 am to 3 pm, 5.30 pm to 10 pm.
I seldom dine at vegetarian restaurants due to my preference for meat. However, on this particular occasion, I sought a change. While exploring dining options in Bukit Gasing, I came across Saiva Kitchen. Their menu featured a diverse selection of Western, Indian, and Chinese vegetarian cuisine, which piqued my interest. I was surprised to learn that the establishment has been in operation for six years. I have passed this row of shops along Jalan Chantek (opposite the Thai Buddhist temple) numerous times, yet it had not previously captured my attention until now.Another reason for my decision to try Saiva Kitchens was its commendable average Google rating. An average score of 4.5 out of 5, derived from over 230 customer reviews, led me to believe that the quality of food at this establishment was of a good standard.
As the restaurant occupies half of a shop lot, it presents a relatively compact space. However, it offers sufficient seating to accommodate both small and larger groups. In terms of design, I appreciated the grey walls, which contribute to a calm and relaxed atmosphere. During peak hours, the noise levels may increase slightly. While the ambiance was pleasing, it was the culinary offerings that left a lasting impression on me. Several dishes I tried were delightful, and once again, I was reminded that vegetarian cuisine can be just as flavorful as its non-vegetarian counterparts.
Menu
**** No MSG, No food coloring, No artificial flavoring ****
Vege Mutton Cheese Stuffed Thosai, RM 14
This thosai was exceptionally good and quite filling as well. Mutton and cheese is not a combination I would typically prefer; however, I was informed that this particular thosai was regarded as their bestseller. The thosai itself was slightly thick, featuring a crispy exterior and a buttery interior. Generously filled with an ample amount of flavorful mutton varuval and cheese, this thosai was genuinely delightful. Each mouthful was simply divine.
Vegetarian Chicken Masala Claypot Rice, RM 15
I have a fondness for Satti Sorru/Claypot Rice and was intrigued to find out whether there is a difference in flavor between veg and non-veg version. Upon trying it, there seem to be none, there was no discernible difference in taste. It was enjoyable eating the rice with gravy as it had good flavor. As for the meat, I wished there was more as it included a smaller serving.
Curry Noodles, RM 15
This dish was delicious. I chose to order it after noticing numerous favorable reviews online, and it also appeared to be a bestseller. Regardless of wether the dish was vegetarian or not, the flavor profile of this dish was good. I found myself savoring the curry thoroughly. The dish included mee hoon, tauhu, fuchuk, long beans, vegetarian chicken, and additional ingredients.
Crispy Vege Chicken Sandwich, RM 15
As simple as it looked, this was quite a good sandwich. I saw several tables ordering this and that influenced my to also give this dish a try. The sandwich was made up of whitr bread, lettuce, sauce and the star of the dish, their crispy vegetarian chicken filling. Crispy and flavorful it was. Seeing that their Mushroom Sandwich is their bestseller, I’ll be sure to give that a try next.
KFC Style Popcorn Chicken, RM 8
We selected this dish as a light appetizer to enjoy prior to the arrival of our main course. The image presented in the menu was somewhat misleading, as there was a noticeable difference between the image/photo and the actual serving. As a result, I anticipated receiving a larger portion than what was ultimately provided. Nevertheless, the popcorn chicken was quite delectable. It was rich in flavor, likely attributable to the selection of spices used. The batter consisted of a blend of ingredients, including breadcrumbs, Nestum, and others. It was quite enjoyable; however, I wished that it had been served in a larger portion.
Pandan, Serai & Ginger Juice, RM 5.50
On a sweltering day, should you desire an invigorating drink, the Pandan, Serai and Ginger has the potential to provide significant relief from the heat. With every sip, one can discern the flavors of pandan, lemongrass, and ginger. All natural, it is important to note that no artificial flavorings were used.
In conclusion, we enjoyed a gratifying lunch at Saiva Kitchens. Will we consider revisiting this establishment? Indeed, we would.
Address: 21, Jalan Chantek, 5/13, Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya.
While navigating through SS2 and coming to a halt at a traffic light, I noticed Cropitiam upon a brief survey of the surroundings. Situated on the first floor, amidst a cluster of establishments that includes well-known eateries such as Strangers at 47, Kanna Curry House, Omulab, and others, Cropitiam represents the most recent addition to the F&B offerings at this location, specializing in vegetarian cuisine.
** The coffeeshop is located above Organic Leaf, a popular vegetarian restaurant in the vicinity. Both are managed by the same people but each embodying different concepts.
They clearly invested significant consideration into creating an eatery that is both comfortable and inviting. The pleasant white yellow undertone was visually appealing, and the windows contributed to the establishment’s illusion of a traditional kampung-style coffeeshop setting. With benches made of cement, I initially thought that posterior will be aching in no time thanks to the hard surface but to my surprise, those simple benches was comfortable and effectively kept me cool. Overall, it was a well-designed coffeeshop.It was my first time eating vegetarian food in an eatery with a Hainan kopitiam concept.
KopiNasi Lemak Chicken RendangPenang White Curry MeeFried Radish Cake
Cropitiam is a meatless eatery. Other than egg, all meat is substituted with mushrooms, soy and more. The menu features a selection of dishes commonly found in local kopitiams, some of which are personal favorites. Facing difficulty in deciding on specific dishes to try, I sought the assistance of the waiter and ultimately opted for two of their popular offerings.
The Penang White Curry Mee provided a delightful culinary experience. The curry, although light in texture, boasted excellent flavor, complementing the combination of mee, mee hoon, long beans, tauhu, and vegetarian chicken. As for the Nasi Lemak Chicken Rendang, it was truly delicious. The meatless chicken, resembling mini drumsticks, was both appetizing and well-prepared. The texture and taste of the rendang gravy were delightful, although I would have appreciated a larger portion, as two pieces were not sufficient for me. Additionally, the substitution of thin, crispy fried mushrooms for anchovies was a delightful twist, adding a flavorful, crunchy element akin to keropok. This dish paired seamlessly with the rice, sambal, and kacang. The Fried Radish Cake is worth a try. It consisted of cube-like pieces of radish cake with taugeh and egg that was cooked well. Yum!
Overall, I had a pleasant experience at Cropitiam. While I am not particularly inclined towards a vegetarian diet, this eatery can be included in my list of vegetarian options in the area. I would likely visit Cropitiam again in the near future.
The restaurant has been in operation for thirty years and has built a strong reputation for consistently serving high-quality vegetarian cuisine. Over the years, I have frequently observed a diverse clientele frequenting the establishment – young and old, Chinese, Indians, Malays and even ‘Mat Sallehs’. There obviously is something well liked about XinMin. As I was able to find a parking spot nearby, I deemed it an opportune moment to finally experience the establishment for myself.
NEU XinMin occupies two shop lots, providing a spacious and accommodating environment suitable for large groups and gatherings. Its classic setting reflects its thirty years in business.
The noodles were cooked to perfection, achieving a delightful balance between wet and dry, precisely to my liking. The flavor was also enjoyable. Many establishments often fall short in delivering flavorful vegetarian noodles, but this particular dish was quite appetizing. I found it to be enjoyable.
Butter Flavored Mushroom Leg
Yum! This dish was truly delightful. The crunchy, flavorful mushroom legs were a pleasant prelude to the arrival of the other dishes. In terms of taste, it bore resemblance to the popular “salted egg” flavor. If I’m not mistaken, it was enhanced with a generous amount of sweetened nestum as a garnish, providing an appealing taste and texture to the dish as a whole. The mushrooms themselves were fried in a flavorful batter. Altogether, this dish was exquisite.
BBQ Fish
This dish was also delightful. I am uncertain about the exact preparation method for the BBQ Fish. It is possible that it was grilled, similar to barbecued meat. It featured a thickened rendang-flavored paste and was truly delicious! Despite selecting Small option, the dish contained two sizable pieces of fish. The meatless fish had a soft, dense texture with a slight chewiness, making it quite enjoyable and a perfect accompaniment to white rice.
Curry Mixed Vegetables
Just as with the other dishes, this one also surpassed my expectations. The curry exhibited a rich and robust flavor, reminiscent of a creamy curry mee. It was delightful enough to savor on its own, but truly enhanced when paired with white rice. The dish additionally featured a variety of vegetables such as eggplant, okra, carrot, long beans, and tofu.
There is no doubt that I had a thoroughly delightful dining experience here. All the dishes ordered were delectable and enjoyable. Although I typically prefer meat, I would not hesitate to explore vegetarian options if this is the kind of dishes I can indulge in.I will certainly be back here for another visit.
We recently visited the area for lunch and, given the numerous dining options available, we turned to Google for recommendations. One of the suggestions was My REAL Cafe, a vegetarian establishment. With a Google rating of 4.2 stars from over 270 reviewers, I anticipated a satisfying lunch, considering the promising ratings.
The dining establishment occupies two shoplots, and I appreciate that they provide two distinct seating configurations. One is designed for formal dining, suitable for accommodating large parties, while the other setting offers a more relaxed ambiance, perfect for intimate groups and individual diners.
Menu
Food options were plenty here. They offer mix rice, noodles, fried rice, individual dishes, Western, Local and more.
Wan Tan Mee with Chicken Rendang, RM 11
The dish exceeded expectations with its delightful combination of light and springy noodles, perfectly cooked vegetarian chicken, fuchuk, leafy vegetables, and potatoes. All the ingredients harmonized to create a delectable plate of noodles, leaving no room for dissatisfaction.
Sambal Petai Abalone Mushroom Burger, RM 21
The dish would have been exceptional had the burger buns been warm and lightly toasted. Regrettably, they were not, resulting in a taste reminiscent of biting into dry and hard bread. However, the remaining components on the plate were delightful. The fried mushrooms, in particular, were exquisite. The batter was flavorful, and they were fried to perfection, offering a satisfying crunch followed by a burst of flavors. Additionally, the generous portion size allowed me to fully enjoy the dish.
The meal also featured a serving of potato wedges and a bowl of thickened soup. Initially resembling tomato soup, which I typically do not favor, upon closer examination, it turned out to be quite enjoyable. The thickened soup had a subtle warmth from the pepper and spices, and it contained ample portions of petai, bell pepper, mushrooms, and other ingredients, imparting a pleasing crunchy texture to the soup. Despite the mishap with the burger buns, the remaining components on the plate were delightful.
In the near future, I am inclined to revisit this establishment. I appreciated the cuisine and atmosphere, as well as the extensive range of dishes available.
Every once in a month now, I attempt to be a vagetarian. The word here is ‘attempt’ lol, because I only last till lunch. By the time it hits evening, I am craving for them chicken 🤣🤣 I suck at being a vegetarian, my success rate is perhaps 20% but I shall keep trying lah.
Anyways, this time we dropped by Pure Saiva for a visit. It opened doors last year, having been operating for 15 months so far. It sure does not seem like it when you step into the restaurant. Everything was so pristine and white that I thought the most it could be was a few months old.
Everything is organized and structured. As you head in, you immediately start lining up at the mix rice section. There is a standard fixed price for the rice and all the items on the plate – RM 10.80. There was basically about 20 items to choose from. So, you simply tell them what you want and they’d put it on your plate. Then, you sit and eat. Once you are done, you clean up after yourself, take your plate and leave it in the designated area.
Seeee, as I said, everything was structured and organized.
2 plates of rice, RM 10.80 each
Plate 1Plate 2
Food was delicious. Between the two plates, there was some pumpkin, brinjal, tauhu cubes, ladies finger, tomato chutney and green vegetable with some coconut spinkle. Each plate had a serving of papadum, payasam, rasam, dried chili and chutney. There was 2 choices for rice – white rice and Ghee basmati rice. I decided to try the latter. Ooooo yum. The ghee + basmati rice combination was a delight by itself, it had its own flavor. I enjoyed eating it by itself without any curry.
I’d be back here soon, for sure 😍
Address: No. 34, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, PJ New Town (few doors away from Affin Bank)
Opening hours: Everyday. Weekdays, 7 am – 6 pm. Weekends, 8 am – 3 pm.
We ‘bungkus’ lunch from this cafe today. If you guys like ‘Mamak’ food and hang out often in SS2, chances are that you’ve been to Murni. The same folks that run that restaurant also runs M’Laboori. The similarity ends there I suppose. This cafe is all about vegetarian food and it also serves as a library.
Menu
Veggie +, RM 12
Ooooo man, this was one good pizza. It was light, thin crusted and came with plenty of toppings. Lots of mozzarella cheese, broccoli, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, eggplants and olive. It was a delicious dish. The pizza was shared between the 3 of us, each of us 2 slices. Despite eating those, it felt like it was hardly enough. Next time I am going to order one box, all for me, myself and I. No sharing 😊
Tempeh Bro +, RM 12
The Tempeh Bro + is their most popular sandwich. You’d get bread with cheese spread + bits of tempeh + some sort of flavorful paste + petai + tomatoes. It certainly was a unique sandwich.Not the usual combination you’d see regularly. To me, the sandwich as a whole tasted good. However, as I very rarely eat tempeh, I cant comment on the tempeh specifically. That is for you to decide.
Nyonya Curry Mee, RM 9.90
The Nyonya Curry Meewas very good. It certainly exceeded our expectation. The gravy was tasty and well flavored, all of us enjoyed slurping it on its own.Initially, prior to pouring the curry in, you can see the bowl, it consisted of noodles, long beans and eggplants. With the curry, there was about 6 tofu and a few pieces of vegetarian chicken. Once you mix it all together and start eating, it is da’ bomb.
Overall, all the dishes we ordered were yummy. I would like to drop by for a revisit and give their other items a try.
Address: 55a (First Floor), Jalan SS 2/75, SS2, Petaling Jaya
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 10 am – 10 pm. Mondays closed
