vegetarian menu

Tamarind Hill, Vegetarian Menu, Kuala Lumpur

Words: Kirsten Durward    Photos: Monica Tindall

The three Tamarind restaurants are well known in Kuala Lumpur for their beautiful settings and their unique Thai-Burmese cuisine. Tamarind Hill offers a fresh open setting, quietly situated amongst verdant foliage that belies its location in the centre of the business district, just off Jalan Sultan Ismail. You’ll feel ready for your meal after meandering up the hill and climbing the elegant staircase to reach the restaurant on its lofty perch.

Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Entrance from the Street
Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Entrance to Tamarind HIll
Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Bar
Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Dining Area

We are welcomed with a refreshing glass of Tamarind juice, as part of the vegetarian set menu, diners may also select the more mellow tones of lemongrass juice.

Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Welcome Drink

The four course menu begins with a plentiful Thai Glass Noodle Salad adorned with soft Tofu. A sprinkling of crushed peanuts add texture to the glistening slippery noodles, which have a slightly savoury flavour and are only very lightly spiced. The following soup of Taro and Thai ginger is very thick in texture, and again not at all resonant with spice. The ginger is lightly sprinkled on top rather than blended through the soup.

Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Thai Glass Noodle Salad
Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Taro and Ginger Soup

The main course selection should warm any vegetarian’s heart. It’s often difficult to find a variety of tastes and textures in vegetarian dining in Kuala Lumpur, so it is lovely to be offered three distinctly different dishes. Soft bean curd is mellow with the signature tones of Thai basil in the sauce. Monica just loves the sautéed pumpkin that resonates with garlic, and delights in the three different types of eggplant that are served in a green curry reduction. I find the green curry flavor to be very more-ish and enjoy scooping it over the delectable chilli fried brown rice.

Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Tofu
Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Pumpkin
Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Green Curry
Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Fried Chili Brown Rice

The dessert endeavours to be an innovative interpretation of traditional Thai desserts. We always love sticky rice with mango in the classic way, and find the presentation of this dish pretty, with the delicate Thai Tea Jelly with mini tropical fruits. The meal closes with a selection of tea or coffee.

Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Dessert

Wine is not included in the set menu but during our visit we were happy to taste a Babich Pinot Noir from Malborough in New Zealand. Less well known than the region’s famous sauvignon blanc, the pinot noir is a supple wine with dark red fruit flavours and just a hint of vanilla. Particularly recommended for lamb, it also pairs very well with eggplant dishes and interacts well with the lightly spiced main courses we enjoyed. The Wolfberger signature Gewurtztraminer from the Alsace region is another underrated wine that is very good for the price point.  Particularly vibrant on the nose this light bodied wine zings with a note of zesty orange peel then lingers with apricot and rose petal. It was such good sipping with light Thai food that I had to request a second glass.  I confess to being surprised to enjoy such unusual selections of wine in this location and would recommend both as good choices for the food.

Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Babich Pinot Noir
Tamarind Hill, Kuala Lumpur
Wolfberger Gewurtztraminer

The vegetarian menu may vary depending on availability of produce, but we are happy to see a real commitment to offering a full vegetarian experience at this fine dining establishment. The menu is priced at RM220+ per person.

Reasons to visit: Fine dining in airy natural surrounds.  Good vegetarian main course variety. Well-priced unusual wine choices.


book now

Tamarind Hill
19 Jalan Sultan Ismail
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
+60 3 2144 8370or 2148 3200
www.tamarindrestaurants.com/tamarind-hill.html

Opening Hours
Monday – Friday
Lunch: 12:00 – 3:00 pm
Dinner 6:00 – 12:00 am
Saturday- Sunday
Dinner 6:00 pm – 12:00 am

8 Comments

  1. A vegetarian Thai? I love Thai and I sure would love to try this. Everything looks good, lovely entrance, lovely decor inside…oh…oh…the steps up the hill. Ummmmm!!!! LOL!!!

  2. Wasn’t aware that they’re three Tamarind restaurants in this one place. It’s quite easy to mistake the tofu dish for sweet and sour fish! 😉

  3. Lovely place with lovely food, the only problem is if you have too much to drink, the way down can be a bit adventurous isn’t it?

  4. Hi Monica, it really is heating up over here in Montreal! And we have had some 30+ temperatures, and very humid, which, as you know, I try to avoid at all costs. Just a couple of hours ago we got some heavy rain so I hope that this will help to bring down the humidity. It usually does. I love the staircase in your photo and the presentations are amazing, especially the dessert with all the colours!

    • Sounds like Malaysian weather 😉
      The staircase does make a dramatic entrance – it’s especially pretty at night when the lanterns are lit.

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