If you go for a vegetarian buffet lunch or dinner, how much do you think it will cost?
How much are you willing to pay?
What if there’s no fixed price for the buffet?
 
Annalakshmi Vegetarian Restaurant is located within the premise of The Temple of Fine Arts. Not much is publicized about this eatery but it’s main objective is to generate income for the centre to continue their activities, eg. classical/traditional dances classes.
The centre is using a corner lot bungalow at Babington Avenue, nearby to the Penang General Hospital.
 
Annalakshmi is an international chain of vegetarian restaurants operating in a unique concept of "Eat to your heart’s content, Pay what your heart feels". It is a Non-profit organization.

Eating is considered a sacred ritual everyday in everybody’s life as the prayer goes — “thank you for today’s bread”. Anna means food and Lakshmi is the presiding deity. Hence the food served is “Prasad” - a sanctified offering. Any food or drink prepared lovingly, selflessly is delicious and nourishing, not because of its recipe and rich ingredients, but because of the spirit of self-less.

It has a branch in Perth called as Annalakshmi on the swan, located on the Swan River.

read more here

Their concept is "Eat as you like, pay as you feel"
"You cannot put a price on the food prepared by a mother or a wife, and this is why at Annalakshmi you - eat as you like and pay as you feel."
 
The entrance
 
 
 
A stage for practices and performances
 
To reach the restaurant, you have to walk pass the stage and straight ’til the end of the house where you will see the "Annalakshmi" sign.
Leave your shoes outside and walk in to the simple but nice cafe-style setting
 
 
 
The restaurant serves buffet vegetarian food. Everything is self-service but the helpers in the restaurant will serve you drinks.
Price-wise, it’s purely up to your own discretion.
 
 
There’s only a line of food but it’s enough of variety for a simple vegetarian meal. I was there on a weekend. Some of the food available was white rice, fried rice, fried noodle, dhall, potato curry, stir-fried ladies fingers, and a few other indian dishes. The food varies depending on the cooks involved on that particular day (all volunteers). Unfortunately there was no papadum in sight that day. But my parents said they had it the last time around.
 
 
Cold sky juice is served once you sit down. The volunteer will then ask you if you would like to have other drinks like coffee, tea or lassi (yogurt drink).
My choice is obviously lassi…my favourite drink to order when I’m in an Indian restaurant.
We heard from others, the coffee is also very good. They use imported coffee beans. Will try that next time.
 
 
Here’s the lassi. We all choosed mango lassi. It is very thick and greatly infused with mango flavour. Can even rival the lassi from other restaurants!! *recommended*
 
 
 
Food is buffet-style so feel free to take whatever you would like to eat. But be considerate that you should be able to finish all that you took and not waste food.
 
 
The curries and dishes here are actually quite mild. No spicy or mouth-burning dishes, so it’s suitable for children too. While I was there, there are a few tables of family with children enjoying their food.
 
 
There’s also fried noodle and koay teow.
 
 
 
And the special of the day was Rojak or Pesembur (Indian style)
 Strips of cucumber and radish plus some flour-like balls (sliced) and vege fritters drowned in rojak sauce.
 
 
 
 
And for desserts, mung beans.
 
 
After eating, just drop the money/donation at the kitchen counter (there’s a book there, just slid it at the centre spread).
You are helping them with your donations while you get to enjoy some Indian vegetarian food.
So if you are looking for a nice and quiet place to have some simple vegetarian food, do try it out.
 
Look out for this sign when you turn into Babington Avenue. It’s the first house on your right.
 
 
 
A floral shot just outside the restaurant.
 
 

Contact:
Annalakshmi Vegetarian Restaurant
a.k.a The Temple of Fine Arts Malaysia
 1, Babington Avenue, Georgetown,
10300, Penang
Tel: 04-2288 575
 

Others:
Payment is purely on donation basis (Pay as you wish)

Business Hours:

11.30am onwards - Lunch
6.30pm onwards - Dinner

(Monday to Sunday)

GPS:

5°23.460′ N   100°16.726′ E

Map:
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