There are many eateries here, big and small, that sell delicious delicacies and tasty treats, oftentimes at reasonably low prices.
If you’re ever in the mood for a good flatbread, head down to Jalan Thambipillay and you will find a spot touted to serve the best in the city.
MTR 1924 is quite the household name among locals in the area, having been in operation for a conceivably long time.
This restaurant has quite the storied history, tracing its origins all the way to 1924 when a pair of brothers in Bangalore decided to start a vegetarian food business.
What began as a simple shop serving coffee and idli has since grown to become the Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, MTR for short.
Since its humble inception, the restaurant has opened several branches within India and beyond, with this branch in Brickfields being its first in Malaysia.
The eatery’s interior is simple but comfortable. While many restaurants in Malaysia have questionable hygiene, there are no doubts about the standards held at MTR.
Framed information boards detailing the history of the restaurant hang on the bright red walls, as evidence of its long culinary legacy.
The place prides itself with its menu of authentic south Indian vegetarian dishes and with over 40 menu items, one is easily spoiled for choice.
Among the must-tries at MTR is the Masala Dosa, beloved by many and often raved about in Google reviews.
While seemingly simple in terms of appearance, these triangle-shaped, golden crepes taste nothing short of perfection. Every bite is heavenly, courtesy of its crispy outer layer and soft and fluffy underbelly.
Each dosa also comes served with a thimble of ghee, green chilli chutney and lentil sambar, each adding flavour to an already flavourful dish.
Another dish worth a mention is the Rava Idli, a dish with an interesting story behind it.
Apparently, after the Second World War, food was scarce in India and due to the lack of rice, the folks at MTR turned to making these steamed cakes with semolina instead.
For a food borne out of necessity, these cakes are quite tasty and it’s no wonder that many people still enjoy them decades later.
Flavoured with yoghurt, coriander, cashew nuts, curry leaves and mustard seeds, these cakes are freshly made and their taste reflects it.
They have a certain spongy texture which makes them easy to enjoy, and of course, there’s chutney and potato sagu as sides.
But what if you wish to try a little bit of everything on the menu? Well, MTR offers Special Mini Meals, available for both lunch and dinner.
The name is quite deceptive as these thali platters are anything but small, consisting of sambar, rasam, pickles and payasam among others. You can enjoy the savoury options with either dosa or poori, and frankly, either choice is good.
As for refreshments, coffee aficionados will likely love the Filter Coffee served here, with its Arabic beans sourced from a plantation in Karnataka.
This beverage gets its name from how it’s made, using a traditional Indian filter with a mix of frothed and boiled milk and coffee powder.
If you have a sweet tooth, order the refreshing Mango Lassi instead, made with fresh and sweet mangoes.
With how good the food and service here is, it is safe to say that MTR’s culinary legacy will doubtlessly be continuing for the foreseeable future.
MTR 1924
69, Jalan Thambipillay
Brickfields 50470
WP Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 8.00am-10.30pm daily
Contact: 03-22764924