Lynette Moey | 24 July 2025
For decades, Jai Hind has drawn loyal patrons (including this writer!), many of whom fondly recall its excellent mutton mince (kameer) and ras malai – a delicate North Indian dessert that remains a rare find in both Malaysia and Singapore.
Jai Hind’s prices remain remarkably competitive even today. A meal for two – including two warm, round chapattis, a fluffy naan, a masala chai, two portions of mutton mince, a curry chicken thigh, and a serving of ras malai – came to just RM25. It’s the kind of value rarely found in Kuala Lumpur establishments these days.
There are plenty of chicken, mutton and vegetable dishes to choose from, catering to both vegetarians and meat-eaters. What sets Jai Hind’s food apart from other joints is its authentic taste.
John Bhullar, 65, a loyal customer, has been going to Jai Hind for years. “This is what you call real food,” he says. “I always insist that they make my chapati fresh and not take it from the pile. My girlfriend is Chinese, and she loves the food too.”
Jai Hind’s front counters boast a very huge variety of sweets like gulab jamun, ladoo and palkova, traditional Indian sweets.
“During Deepavali, there would be queues and queues for the sweets,” John says. “Those sweets are famous,” Bhoopender agrees. “At one time, we were catering those sweets to the Malaysian Airline System.”
Bhoopender grew up with Jai Hind. He still lives in his childhood home above the shop itself, even though he has a house in Section 14, Petaling Jaya. “We rent that out. I prefer to live here.”
During the early years post-war, Jai Hind’s menu was a lot less hefty than it is today. “It was some chapati, dhal, rice and cow milk tea,” he says, adding that the cow milk tea is still famous today!
Today, the menu has expanded considerably. Jai Hind has also expanded from one humble shoplot to its current three today, although one shoplot is used mostly as a kitchen. The clientele has also expanded, adding many tourists and North Indian workers to its patrons.
“The North Indian workers like to come here because the food reminds them of home,” Bhoopender explains.
The store’s owner admits to worrying about the future and who will carry on the family legacy. “My three children aren’t interested, so I’m hoping my nephew might take over one day,” he says with a hint of resignation.
One can only hope – for the sake of great food at honest prices – that this grand old fixture of the Masjid India area continues to thrive for generations to come.
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