Class time!
In general, South Indian food is more rice based- In a Malaysian context, that would mean banana leaf rice. Looking at North Indian food, it’s more wheat based- consumed in the form of naan, rotis and chapatis.
And if you’re planning a trip to Melaka, I bet that you’ve heard of recommendations telling you to come to this North Indian Restaurant- Pak Putra, Melaka.
AMBIENCE
Come here around 6-7pm; The crowd wouldn’t be that bad around that time. Come here after 7 and be prepared to marvel at the hoards of customers waiting for seats.
Proof of Pak Putra’s popularity, this restaurant has been mentioned over several newspaper articles, earning it a spot on the itinerary of anyone planning a visit to Melaka.
Two of the most famous items here are their tandoori chicken and naan bread.
Tandoori is chicken marinated in yoghurt and spices to give it that nice, red exterior.
Next up, the naan station is where the magic happens. Naan is a flatbread, more thick and doughy compared to its other counterparts such as roti and chapati. You have several types of naan to choose from, ranging from cheese naan to butter naan, to the more unique pizza naan!
In goes the naan bread and tandoori chicken to the large cylindrical oven to bake. Standing near, you can feel the high heat radiating from this! This serves to give the tandoori a nice smoky, charred flavor while making the naan fluffy.
FOOD
Credit where it’s due, this place runs with clockwork efficiency so no matter how big the crowd, I’ve never had to wait longer than 20 minutes for the food to arrive. Several men take care of the tandoori while several others take care of the naan and other dishes; All in all, a very efficient system in place.
So the food came out today after about 10 minutes!
What I like about Indian food are the many colorful spices and sauces, unique in their own way yet working together in harmony to delight your taste buds!
The first dish to come is usually the tandoori chicken. Pro tip: Tell them you want the “tandoori drumstick” or they might serve you some less appetizing chicken parts, perhaps breast or wings.
They’ll cut the chicken up into three pieces: Though fiery red, the tandoori chicken is just mildly spicy, suitable for kids.
To prove that I eat my greens, next up is the Palak Paneer– Blended spinach, mixed together with paneer (Cheese) and yogurt. The spinach is blended to the point where it becomes a paste. Rich and creamy, a definite must get and one of the only times I don’t mind eating my veges HAHA.
The butter chicken here, again, is one of my favorites. (Every dish here is my favorite- It’s all so good!) Cooked with chunks of chicken breast, the butter chicken sauce is thick and slightly sweet, perfect when paired with rice. There’s a creaminess here given to it by the yogurt.
So remember what I said about Indian food, all the sauces working together in harmony? I like to mix the dhal, palak paneer and butter chicken sauce to create an all new paste together haha! Don’t knock it off till you’ve tried it, it’s seriously good.
Despite the naan being the must-get item here, I personally find plain rice to be the best companion to eat with all these wide-ranging sauces- the rice absorbs the sauce better. Still, for first timers, definitely give the naan a try!
My go to naan orders are the cheese naan and butter naan. The butter naan has a oily surface covered with fragrant butter, while they definitely do not skimp on the cheese when serving their cheese naan- Every cheesy bite goes really well with dhal!
One last tip from a pro: Here’s one thing that I like to do. Spread sauces on your slice of naan and put some meat on top, whether it’s butter chicken or tandoori. With me so far?
Then, simply fold the naan in half, or wrap it around the meat and there you have it: A burrito with a North-Indian twist! Is this peak culinary genius or what??
Finally, remember to tell them your table number when you’re paying for your meal. While queuing up, I remember overhearing a conversation by two tourists:
“Wow, this is the first time I’m seeing people queuing up not for the food, but to pay!”
And if the hoards of tourists and locals coming back to eat here again and again isn’t testament enough to the quality of food here, then I don’t know what is!
***
PAK PUTRA RESTAURANT
56 & 58, Jalan 4,
Taman Kota Laksamana,
75200 Melaka.
Growing Up With Jer 
Try the Jasin naan next time you are there!
LikeLike