From banana leaf to viral reels: Kanna Curry House's recipe for social media success

For decades, Kanna Curry House has been known for its banana leaf rice and long-standing place in Malaysia's casual dining scene.

Lately, however, the restaurant has been earning attention for something else entirely: its social media content.

From meme-inspired videos featuring its own staff, to playful brand collaborations, Kanna Curry House has built a growing online following through content that feels more like a friend's Instagram feed than a restaurant advertisement.

According to Yoga Kannan, manager of the restaurant's Kepong outlet, the secret lies in keeping things real.

"I think people connect with our videos because they feel genuine," he said, in conversation with A+M. "We don't try to be overly polished or commercial. A lot of the videos we create reflect situations that Malaysians can actually relate to."

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Keeping it real, and Malaysian

Rather than chasing every viral trend, Kannan said the team focuses on creating content that reflects the restaurant's personality.

He describes Kanna Curry House's style as casual, relatable and "very Malaysian", blending everyday humour with current social media trends while staying true to the brand.

"We enjoy mixing our restaurant culture with current trends, memes and everyday humour," he said. "The content can be playful and sometimes unexpected, but we always want it to reflect Kanna Curry House's personality."

That approach also means saying no to trends that do not fit. While the team actively monitors social media conversations and viral formats, not every trend makes the cut.

"We always look for a midpoint. People need to find it funny, but it also needs to feel authentic to Kanna Curry House," Kannan explained.

The staff became the stars

One of the biggest surprises has been the popularity of the restaurant's own employees, many of whom now regularly appear in videos.

"We've definitely seen more people recognising our staff," said Kannan. "Customers tell us they discovered us through a particular video and decided to visit."

While sales have seen only a modest uplift, he said the bigger impact has been on brand awareness, particularly among younger audiences.

The growing enthusiasm has even spread internally. "One of the staff told me recently, 'Boss, tell me when you're doing content next, I want to be part of it,'" Kannan laughed.

The team's content inspiration often comes from everyday moments inside the restaurant itself, from unusual customer orders to conversations among staff.

"People think we hired a new social media team, but we didn't," he added. "We've had the same team from the beginning. What changed was the type of content and understanding what people wanted to watch."

More than food content

For Kannan, social media was never meant to be just another marketing channel.

The goal was to keep the brand relevant while introducing Kanna Curry House's heritage to a younger generation.

"We wanted to create a community that people enjoy engaging with, not just promote food," he said.

That philosophy has also shaped the restaurant's approach to brand collaborations and sponsored content. Kannan said the team actively avoids hard-selling and prioritises entertainment value instead.

Looking ahead, he sees social media remaining a key bridge between the restaurant and its customers.

"If our videos can make someone smile and then bring them to enjoy a banana leaf meal with friends and family, then we feel we've achieved something meaningful," he said.

For a restaurant famous for feeding generations of Malaysians, it appears Kanna Curry House has found a new way to bring people together, one viral reel at a time.

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