The Ganga Cafe @ Bangsar

Ganga used to be one of my favourite neighbourhood spots — affordable, wholesome, and full of heart. The food had a home-cooked touch, and the service felt warm and personal. Sadly, that experience has changed drastically since Sumon’s departure. My recent visits have been disappointing: tea served cold or with sugar when we asked for none, nasi lemak heavy on rice but sparse on sambal, and “gluten-free” rotis that weren’t actually gluten-free. Still, I held on to some hope. But yesterday’s visit was the final straw. I had convinced friends—who initially suggested Mr. Naan & Mrs. Idly in Brickfields—to dine at Ganga instead. We placed an order for three aloo parathas at 10:55 AM. We waited... and waited. We checked on the order at least three times, and each time we were told, “Just 5 more minutes.” When I finally went to stand near the kitchen out of frustration, only one plate came out after nearly 40 minutes. The other two weren’t even ready. To make matters worse, the tea we ordered (specifically without sugar) came sweetened anyway. At boiling point, we left the restaurant without paying for the tea and patisa. I called Meetha Shah (the owner) while walking out. When we returned 10 minutes later, she said the issue was due to a “system error” — the cashier had apparently not sent the order to the kitchen. But here's the problem: Our order was not placed via a machine — it was taken by a staff member, with follow-up questions from three more after that. The cashier and kitchen are just steps away from each other. If the system really failed, why didn’t anyone follow up? Frankly, it felt more like deflection than accountability. Sadly, the charm that once made Ganga feel like a second home has been replaced by inconsistent food, poor service, and dismissive damage control. At this point, it’s expensive, basic, and simply not worth the hassle. A sad but honest reflection on what used to be a great little spot.

Recommended by a Grab Driver, I tried this all vegetarian southern Indian restaurant. I love their beetroot dosa, biryani and aubergine thingy. All very good and not overly salty. It's a cute humble neighborhood restaurant and loads of options especially GLUTEN FREE. Highly recommend. I order too much, and food comma for a few hours after eating. But really good.