Bala's - Melbourne

I have observed that this restaurant can be inconsistent. Some nights the food is excellent, while other times it is not as good. read more I have observed that this restaurant can be inconsistent. Some nights the food is excellent, while other times it is not as good.

The butter chicken at this restaurant is absolutely amazing! Despite its unassuming exterior, the food inside is heavenly and comes at a reasonable price consid... read more The butter chicken at this restaurant is absolutely amazing! Despite its unassuming exterior, the food inside is heavenly and comes at a reasonable price considering the expensive city it's in. Delicious!

I used to visit this restaurant in the 90s before vegan options became popular. I hadn't been back since then, and since there were no reviews on Happy Cow, I w... read more I used to visit this restaurant in the 90s before vegan options became popular. I hadn't been back since then, and since there were no reviews on Happy Cow, I was hesitant to try it again as a vegan. However, I recently went with some friends and ordered from the menu. While I was initially surprised by the lack of vegan options on the website, I decided to try the yellow tofu with mushroom and coconut cream sauce that I remembered fondly. We also ordered yellow dahl and tofu satay, both of which were delicious, though the dahl was not as flavorful as I had hoped and the satay was a bit too sweet. The portions were generous and the prices were reasonable. Overall, I may come back here again for the nostalgia and a taste of the past.

Vegan Indian and South East Asian Curries with rice noodles read more Vegan Indian and South East Asian Curries with rice noodles

I recently dined at a restaurant and was extremely disappointed with the quality of the food. It seemed like they hadn't received a produce delivery in a long t... read more I recently dined at a restaurant and was extremely disappointed with the quality of the food. It seemed like they hadn't received a produce delivery in a long time, as the ingredients were in poor condition. The vegetables were soggy and flavorless, and the curry had an unexpectedly sweet taste. The rice was overcooked to the point of being mushy, and the garlic naan was soaked in stale oil. The Thai beef salad was drenched in a sugary oil and was limp and unappetizing. The Lamb Vindaloo tasted like a completely different dish and even had pieces of chicken in it. The curry puffs were not fresh and the spring rolls were frozen on the inside. Unfortunately, two members of our party became ill after the meal. The restaurant was unresponsive to our complaints and refused to make amends. We contacted health authorities in hopes that the restaurant will be forced to improve its cleanliness and food quality. I strongly advise against eating at this establishment unless you want to risk getting sick or losing weight due to a stomach illness.