Pakka - Cambridge in Cambridge

71 Castle St, Cambridge CB3 0AH, United Kingdom

★★★★☆
(474 reviews)
Categories: Indian restaurant Indian takeaway Kerala restaurant Vegan restaurant Vegetarian restaurant

About

Order our freshly prepared dishes online and avail exciting offers on it by ordering through our online ordering website. Thank you in advance for ordering your food online from Pakka - Cambridge.

Website
pakkacambridge.co.uk
Address
71 Castle St, Cambridge CB3 0AH, United Kingdom
Plus Code
6477+42 Cambridge, United Kingdom
Time Zone
Europe/London

Business Hours

Monday
12–2:30 PM – 5:30–10:30 PM
Tuesday
12–2:30 PM – 5:30–10:30 PM
Wednesday
12–2:30 PM – 5:30–10:30 PM
Thursday
12–2:30 PM – 5:30–10:30 PM
Friday
12–2:30 PM – 5:30–10:30 PM
Saturday
12–2:30 PM – 5:30–10:30 PM
Sunday
12–2:30 PM – 5:30–10:30 PM

Services

Service options
No-contact delivery Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Coffee Halal food Late-night food Small plates Spirits Vegan options Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Family friendly Groups LGBTQ+ friendly Transgender safe space
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs
Parking
Paid parking lot Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.0
★★★★☆
474 reviews

Most Mentioned

south indian food (26) dosa (17) kerala food (11) starters (11) delivery (11) coconut (6) phone (5) kokum (5) fish curry (5) seasoning (5)
5 stars
250
4 stars
102
3 stars
48
2 stars
28
1 stars
46
★★★★★
October 31, 2024

Our experience at Pakka was great! The food was delicious and the quantities very generous. The staff were kind and very efficient. I highly recommend it!

★★★★
October 11, 2024

recently dined at Pakka, an Indian restaurant that impressed me from start to finish. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with a cozy and comfortable setup perfect for a relaxing meal. The service was excellent—staff were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. The food was the highlight, with authentic Indian flavors that were perfectly balanced and generously portioned. Both vegetarians and meat lovers will find plenty of delicious options to enjoy. Overall, Pakka offers a memorable dining experience with great food, service, and atmosphere. I highly recommend it and will definitely be back!

★★★★★
April 16, 2024

A Culinary Gem on Castle Street: Pakka Cambridge During a leisurely morning stroll on Castle Street, a savoury aroma wafted through the air, steering my senses to the source of culinary enchantment. There stood Pakka, a resplendent South Indian restaurant that beckoned me inside. It was like stumbling upon the culinary crown jewel of Cambridge—a beacon of traditional, authentic South Indian cuisine shining brightly amid the rustic charm of the downtown strip. The warmth of the welcome by Binu, the steward of this gastronomic treasure, was matched only by the rich, aromatic flavors that define the place. From the moment I walked in, Binu’s hospitality illuminated my visit, ensuring that my experience was as delightful as the food was delicious. The traditional South Indian paratha and Kerala Fried Chicken (KFC) were revelations, transporting me to the heart of Kerala with every bite. Fellow diners, Greg and Rekha, recommended the lamb chops and chicken biryani for next time, which I eagerly anticipate trying. Pakka isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a culinary odyssey that offers the best of South India, right here in Cambridge. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Kerala, Pakka serves as an authentic local haven of South Indian cuisine. I left filled with the light of joy from an incredible meal, promising Binu and his team that I would return soon for another round of heavenly delights.

★★★★
March 19, 2024

Indian dine inn or take out on Castle St, pretty central for the city. Licensed, larger than it looks from the outside. Varied menu with dietary restrictions marked. Some interesting dishes, food & service good. Some on street parking.

★★★
March 19, 2024

Brightly lit inside, food arrived very quickly. Not as well spiced or interesting flavours as many similar restaurant. More expensive than we usually pay AND 12.5% service charge added to the whole bill. That means we paid service charge on the VAT tax part as well.

★★★★★
December 17, 2023

Excellent curry and great value especially for Cambridge , we just dropped in by chance well out of season for holiday or student and had a delightful meal a fresh bottle of French Vermentino. A wonderful full chicken dish and a fresh Prawn dish with butterfly king prawns and some delicious smoked tamarind , Yummy. Pop by for a nice experience and friendly service or order for a home delivery.

★★★★★
July 22, 2023

5-star service and food! Very reasonable price. This is one of the best Indian Restaurants I have ever tried. All dishes are delicious, especially the sesame vegetable dish. Highly recommend those who visit Cambridge to try this.

★★★★
July 18, 2023

The place really knows how to recommend great dishes. Everything on the menu tastes amazing. They offer the flexibility to adjust the spiciness levels of their dishes, and even the spicier ones remain incredibly flavorful. Additionally, they have a selection of Indian beers available to complement your meal. Highly recommended!

★★★★★
December 21, 2024

The food here is amazing! I especially love the Naan with curry and cabbage thoran. Their service is friendly and quick too!

★★★★★
November 30, 2024

Fantastic and friendly staff. Also, one of the tastiest curries we have had in a long time, would absolutely recommend and would go again.

★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

First up the food is first class and very tasty at Pakka. However, the night we visited was a shambles. We had booked a table, but it wasnt ready. When ready, only half the cutlery & napkins were present. Our order was eventually taken and arrived after an hours wait. So not a great overall impression. The restaurant was clearly understaffed and the two lads worked off their feet with a full restaurant and takeaway orders. So hoping it was just a one off and that things improve at Pakka soon.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Absolutely lovely curry with exceptional flavours! Wish I lived closer!

★★★★★
November 21, 2024

Consistently brilliant.

★★★★
October 21, 2024

Very good customer service. Food is affordable.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

One of the most underrated Indian restaurants in Cambridge

Local Guide
October 21, 2024

terrible. service charge is a scam.

October 21, 2024

I went to pick up the order and I had been waiting for 10 minutes but no one responded me then one guys came and he told it takes 10 minutes then I asked to him you should tell me before then he replied I can not ask anything him .also the food is very bad even the guys behavior is rude

August 21, 2024

Most unhelpful management. Overpriced food. I am their neighbour. Been there twice. Service was slow and I needed one onion which I was willing to pay over market price and they refused. 1 onion not even 10p. Well Goodluck u lost a customer. Ppl try Banana leaf much better

★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Ordered food on just eat. Got the time completely wrong had to leave the pub early to come back to receive the delivery, or the guy was just going to leave it. Daal is bland. Chicken tikka, tasted almost sweet. Naan was stone cold. Above is factual.

August 21, 2024

The worst South Indian food I have ever had in my life. The chicken malabar is a joke and I ordered the chilli paneer was the worst thing I have spent my money on. Please dont call this Indian food, I feel I was fooled.

July 21, 2024

Food is awful.

★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Ordered the vegetable kootu from here. The description says the dish consists of lentils and mixed vegetables but when I received it I could barely find any vegetables in it. Most of it was just oily gravy. Disappointing for the price.

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

Best biryani chicken in my opinion and the restaurant is lovely and has a website where you can easily order for collection

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

A day out to Cambridge and decide to go for Indian cuisine dinner. There was no much options for authentic ones but ended up in Pakka Restaurant. They served us well. The food was very tasty with true south Indian taste. Staff were so welcoming, and the ambiance was really cozy and worth spending an evening. I would recommend this restaurant without a doubt, if you are looking for a authentic south Indian cuisine, especially Kerala.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

The paneer here is very good

★★
June 21, 2024

I just ordered from the restaurant via Uber Eats because I thought the dishes would resemble Kerala cuisine. However, the chicken Malabar curry I received was just an onion curry with chicken in it..very bad experience. Instead of Kerala paratha, I received some sweet naan and it took one hour to even get the food..not going to order again.

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

I came with a friend from the USA, as she lives in a part where there isnt much South Indian food available. I ordered Manchurian paneer which I have never eaten before, it was delicious. My friend ordered a coconut chicken dish and thoroughly enjoyed it. The 65 Broccoli was good too. We dined during a heatwave so the restaurant was very warm and when they noticed we were feeling the heat our very sweet waiter put the AC on for us.

★★★★★
May 21, 2024

Great food and lovely service. Definitely our favorite Indian restaurant! It would maybe be nice to have some music in the background. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

At first we where put off by the decor, however after realising the adjacent Indian restaurant was only vegetarian we came back We were glad we did ! The service and staff where lovely and welcoming, the atmosphere was a bit lagging however it was a Sunday ! The food menu didnt look familiar so I went for a recommendation and it was amazing honestly the food was so fresh and tasty Then the bill We where very happy with the bill and happy to pay 10% service charge as the food was so reasonable and for what you get I would of tipped more ! The drinks matched our price of food as we like a drink Highly recommend and we will come back

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

Had lunch here with a friend while in town for work. Clean and calm atmosphere, kind service, fresh hot naan -- would go back!

★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Food was so so. Didnt taste authentic, but passable. Service and atmosphere were great though.

★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

So much onion in all gravies ... food taste is not that good need to be upgrade the standards.. Fish malabar curry was not authentic ...chilly chicken full of onion less chicken piece and no capsicum ... so need to be upgrade the standards of taste and quick serving Food

★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Nice ambience.. Nice food

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

Nice food and excellent service

April 21, 2024

The worst part is denying entry for a party of 8 when the entire restaurant is empty, simply due to the fact that a mandate minimum spend of £18 per person is to be billed and we were looking for coffee or chai! Its not like the party is going to stop with just coffee but simply denying entry to the restaurant was over the top! Never in all my time in the UK have I experienced such callousness and indifference! Out of the door glimpse of the horrible experience we would have got, had we been able to actually have something over there was more than enough. Anyone planning to visit here be forewarned.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Great food. My friends were impressed by my choice of venue

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Great place!

March 21, 2024

I ordered paneer butter masala, but it has excessive food coloring and lacks spice, tasting mostly sweet instead. Despite attempting to contact the restaurant by phone, there was no answer, leading to a disappointing experience.

Local Guide
March 21, 2024

I honestly cannot understand why this place has high ratings because the food is so BLAND unlike any other South Indian restaurant Ive been to. The fact that they dont even offer dosa as a main on their menu should have been an indication as to how far from authenticity this place is. On top of that, they charge 12.5% for a very poor service which is optional but they are aware that most customers are unlikely to request removal of it. They even give you back your used cutlery from your starters for your main course! What a place! Its a canteen, not a restaurant. The first and the LAST time we get ripped off in this place!

Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Horrible place. They dont give all the items when you order and if you want to call them to complain they will not answer the phone. Now Im waiting since one hour and I dont have my food yet.

★★★★★
March 21, 2024

Lovely place. We had a few starters and main items - Masala dosa , Onion bhaji ,Erachi ularthiyath & Chicken uluva koottu was the best. Suggest to reserve ahead. And staffs was really friendly

★★★★★
March 21, 2024

This is our go to place for South Indian food. Staff are also helpful and kind. We were served complementary iftar, that was a really good gesture.

February 21, 2024

Pakka koothara (bad) restaurant. Fish molly was like dal curry. At the least, please provide food thats worth the price you are charging. Do not recommend. Its way too overpriced!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Vegetarian options: Available. Dish will be customized Accordingly. You can ask for the spice level to your taste and the staff are very friendly to keep you happy with the taste. Parking: In front of the restaurant there is pay and park available.

★★★★★
January 21, 2024

I am not from India so I don t know the food is authentic or not, but it works for me very much. Like it a lot!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Very friendly waiters and consistently good food

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Visited here Friday lunchtime before Christmas with a large group of friends, wasnt sure what to expect as it was our first time here. The manger was very hospital and advised us on the different types of curry, well I was blown away by the tastes of the different spices in each dish. Will definitely vist again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Best South Indian food in Cambridge!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

After spending £70 the previous night in another Indian restaurant, the meal was mediocre at best. We had a very nice meal here and had an extra pint of beer each and was given a bill that was under £50! Will definitely come here again if we are in Cambridge. Very friendly staff that couldn t do enough for us.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Delicious top quality food with a wide varied menu. Atmosphere was heart warming, would recommend for family, friends and dates :)

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Top quailty food, good portions, service was lovely and helpful. Recommend it for any occasion.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Really happy to taste some genuine kerala food after a long time. The staffs were really kind especially Apsara. Keep up the good work.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Such an amazing ambience. The staffs were really active and pleasant. The taste was uncomparable. Great experience

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Beautiful ambience and friendly staff. The service was fast and food was delicious.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

2023 - an unfortunate reversal. The bread was excellent. Curries were quite poor. Service couldnt be faulted. 2019 - Curries and starters were excellent. Breads less so. Only trainee service staff on the day - service was less than stellar

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Absolutely delicious food!! I m lucky enough to live next door and go there once a week! Wonderful staff too!!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Hidden gem

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Biriyani was average as compared to Kerala food and very expensive food prices

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great ambience Delicious food Excellent customer service Affordable price Thank you Pakka team We will come back again for more experience *****

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Very good ambience and really tasty food. Didnt get chance to meet all the staff but Tom is very friendly and welcoming.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Really had a great Indian food so long with wide variety of dishes specially the spiciest tawa chicken and erachi lamb dish.Much recommended.will be back here

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

A wonderful place! Really kind people and amazing tasting food! My mum and I loved our time there.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Really delicious food. Quick and friendly service. Whenever I eat there and whomever I take to this restaurant, the experience is outstanding.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Tried first time and Dosa and dal is a winner

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

A bastion of affordability in a sea of expensive restaurants. The food was good and quick at lunchtime.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The taste is very local, it can only be said to be a light taste suitable for modern people. The price/performance ratio is not high. The portion of barbecue for 2 people at 20 pounds is only the amount for one person at other places. But it s not expensive per person and you can order more dishes. The decoration is a highlight. It may be suitable for a date. All in all, I dont recommend it for the food.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Tried ordering online and the food was very good. Portion sizes are large, especially the naan. Received an extra papadam as well.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Good south Indian food with friendly service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Tasty south Indian food and good service. It is near to city area and also open in morning time.

★★★★
December 21, 2023

Very nice food and very nice poeple

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

If you want good Indian food, this is the place. Tasty, cheap and quick. Good service, too.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Had a great south indian dinner.great customer service and delicious dinner

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Pakka restaurant in Cambridge, and I must say it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. This establishment not only delivered outstanding customer service but also offered a wide variety of mouthwatering South Indian dishes.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great Dosa

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food was mediocre. I ordered a papadum and got served a pickle tray too. Didnt taste it a bit or didnt even order it but they still charged me 2.5 pounds. Beware of this scammy part and return whatever you didnt order.

★★★★
December 21, 2023

Authentic Indian dosa. Perfect taste and crunchy. Sambar was good but chutney may be improved probably two chutneys would be great. Price 7.95£ for Masala Dosa is OK. Worth a visit. Vegetarian options: Good vegetarian options. Vegans may also find choices.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Favourite curry restaurant in Cambridge, the staff are very nice and make great recommendations. Ive visited +-4 times and always had great food. The restaurant tends to be quiet, not sure why- its lovely!

December 21, 2023

Not halal - staff lied about food being halal and claimed to be Muslims when they weren t.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I went as a group of 5 with not reservations on a Friday night no wait and the best Indian food I ve ever had definitely recommend

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

First time ever eating Indian food. I had the green lamb curry with a side of basmati rice. It was fantastic for someone who s never tried it before and wasn t too spicy either. Definitely recommend it if you ve never had Indian food before and/or want something a bit more on the milder side. 10/10

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Authentic food, good taste, good portions. Excellent dinner choice with friends if you re considering some south Indian cuisine. Parking: Nearby parking lot within 2 mins walking distance from the establishment

December 21, 2023

Paneer Butter Masala was not properly cooked. When we asked the waiter, we were told This is how we cook it. You have to pay the complete bill. (We never insisted about non-payment). Then due to this poor service, we wanted to remove the optional Service Charge. Then an argument ensued. The water said this time In that case, should I also remove the discount were providing you for booking online? (The discount was advertised on their website). After several minutes of argument, we were allowed the discount. One of the worst experiences Ive personally had in a restaurant.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Everyone please note, the review I wrote below was written ten years ago, hopefully it has gotten better in the years that passed. Would I good there again? - No. The service was appalling, took 30 mins to be served drinks, that was after reminding them several times. The side plates were delivered around 20 mins after the poppodoms. Then the plates for the main came out, my girlfriends plate was dirty (the waiter seemed confused that I didnt want her to have a dirty plate). The meal came out to us in dribs and drabs. One of the other members of the party was served a very salty meal, it was returned to the kitchen, whereby it had coconut milk added. Throughout the meal it seemed that we were constantly chasing for our drinks. After the first person had finished their meal, the waiter focus seemed to be on collecting our plates one at a time.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I think this restaurant is the best Indian food in cambridge , And the waiters are friendly and always smile , Thank you

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Food was great and good portions, lovely bright and cosy interior and service was attentive and very welcoming. Would recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

One of the best Indian food in Cambridge.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great food but took a while.

December 21, 2023

My visit to Restaurant Pakka, boasting of authentic Kerala cuisine, was an unfortunate letdown. I eagerly ordered a variety of dishes, hoping to savor the rich flavors of Kerala. To start, the masala dosa lacked a basic seasoning it was shockingly saltless, rendering it bland and unappealing. As if that wasnt disappointing enough, the accompanying chutney was served at a frigid temperature, making me wonder if it had been taken straight from the fridge. This chilly condiment further detracted from the dining experience. I also tried the gobi 65, which, to my dismay, was inexplicably tasteless. The spices and flavors that are expected to burst in your mouth were notably absent, leaving me unsatisfied. The most distressing part of the meal was the Kerala fish curry. It not only failed to impress but was also marred by an unpleasant, lingering odor. This issue was an immediate appetite-killer. Even the South Indian coffee, was far from authentic. It was exceptionally thin and lacked the rich, aromatic quality one associates with this beverage. The coffee was indeed a disappointment. In summary, my dining experience at Restaurant Pakka was a far cry from the authentic Kerala food I had hoped for. The absence of basic seasonings, the unappetizing gobi 65, the pungent fish curry, and the thin, tasteless coffee left me with a strong desire to seek out a better representation of Kerala cuisine elsewhere.

★★
December 21, 2023

This used to be a real treat and favourite. Not sure if ownership or management has changed - used to be a family who ran this and served unusual southern Indian dishes. The food we had last night was very average and dominated by heaps of cooked onions. No subtleties or interesting flavours. Avoid.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I recently ate at Pakka Restaurant with my friends, and it was amazing. We easily booked a table for 5, and the menu had so many delicious South Indian dishes to choose from. The standout for me was Erachi Ularthiyath, which was bursting with flavors and went perfectly with paratha. The chicken biryani was also excellent with its authentic Malabar taste. The side dishes were a tasty addition. What made our experience even better was the fantastic service. The staff was friendly and made our meal special. If you love South Indian food and great service, dont miss Pakka Restaurant. Its a real gem!

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Travelling from Godmanchester to London. Stopped off to taste some Kerala food. Hugely disappointed with the shoddy preparation of the food. Left most of the food untouched. Very friendly service though. Food

★★★
December 21, 2023

The food tastes fine and was bit expensive. There is no parking available.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

We had a great experience with pakka restaurant. We had chicken lolipop and masala dosa as starters and Nan,Irachi ularthu and Paratta, Kozhi curry as main course. Everything was upto our expectations and we got the authentic taste of Kerala. Also the Ambience and the service was beyond words. The staff was very welcoming. I recommend Pakka restaurant for everyone to enjoy tasty food at reasonable price and great atmosphere.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Delicious food and friendly staff. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Good food amazing service, highly recommend to mallus

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great choices of Indian food.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

We love this little Indian restaurant. Its never very busy, and yet its probably become one of our favourite Indian restaurants in Cambridge! Be warned that this isnt a traditional British-Indian restaurant menu, and you likely wont find your usual favourites as a result (no Jalfrezi or Madras for example, which are our usual go-tos). However, if you like South Indian cuisine or are up for trying something slightly new, then you cant go wrong. Im a huge fan of the Kerala fish curry, and weve tried several of their lamb dishes (curries and otherwise) and none have disappointed. The dosas and all the other starters weve had have been delicious too. The restaurant decor is nice and colourful and bright, and weve found all members of staff to be super friendly to deal with. A pleasure!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Fab restaurant

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

What a hidden gem! Definitely try the Keralan specialities. It was delicious.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

pleasant place and tasty food

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Good food, friendly staff.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Good portion, tasty food, good ambiance

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Delicious food and beautiful setting. The garlic naan is good.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Fresh ingredients, extremely tasty and authentic!! My favourite Indian in Cambridge!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Authentic Indian food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Had an excellent meal today! Particularly recommend the Kathrika Koottan with chipati or rice!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

amazing food, very nice

December 21, 2022

We had first visit at pakka restaurant. As we looking for the indian vegetarian food but our experience was very disappointing because the staff was very rude. They behaved so badly with us. Never recommend to anyone

December 21, 2022

Ridiculously small portion sizes. Bland and tasteless food. Literally go to any other Indian restaurant but this one.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

I came in with a few friends yesterday. The Indian food is really good, the ambiance and service is the best in Cambridge. Tawa chicken was heavenly, overall very good experience!

December 21, 2022

Worst food in Cambridge. Cold on arrival. Rude staff. Would never go back.

Local Guide
December 21, 2022

We had great expectations we wanted to try authentic Kerala food especially the Erachi ularthiyathu which looked yummy in Facebook ads but were utterly disappointed. Firstly the restaurant was completely empty which made us feel weird , the staff seemed not so enthusiastic in welcoming us. We ordered Prawn curry & the mutton curry, chicken 65 as starter & chapatis. The items were served relatively quickly but were totally tasteless, the prawn curry was too watery, the mutton was not so tender & chicken 65 was okay somewhat but didn t felt fresh, the chapati was very hard. So an overall poor experience!

Local Guide
December 21, 2022

I feel its not authentic Indian restaurant. We ordered butter chicken, Malabar prawn which were sweet in taste. If you expect spicy food I strongly recommend dont go.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

The ambiance of the restaurant was simply amazing.The lamb calicut was soo tasty and authentic kerala style. The service was so fast.The kerala paratha was must try, the best in cambridge. Will go again. I

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

We visited on Sunday afternoon. I liked their food and service, the price they charged and service they provided its worth visiting once. We ordered both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food and both of them were delicious.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Nice food and a good variety of it - I visited as part of a large group at lunchtime and one order went awry, but otherwise an enjoyable meal

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Starters are excellent. Biryani not so much. Good service.

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

We got food delivery. The food wasnt great with the exception of kozhi chicken which was ok. The chilli chicken tasted like chinese takeaway (we chose it because it didnt have coconut milk but the name should have been a red flag), the masala dosa was tasteless and floppy (some softness was expected since it was delivered, but we have gotten delivery from another place and it arrived crispy), the kheema naan had a decent naan but couldve been meatier. They gave free papadums!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Serves many authentic dishes, quality of food and service was great. Fresh tasting, and full of flavour. Would recommend the Kodumpuli Chemmeen, it had smoked tamarind in it which was something I hadnt tried before (tangy, with a subtle smoky aftertaste). Also recommend trying the dishes you may have not heard of, such as the Erachi Ularthiyathu (lamb dish)- had rave reviews from our group. Menu has lots of interesting options, as well as vegetarian options.

Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Hardly few kerala dishes available.. they dont have many options... i really expected more options.. Biriyani was soaked in some kind of gravy!! Uh..

★★★
December 21, 2022

Good quality food, but slow service! Nice decorations though!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Good veggie options Vegetarian options: Good veggie options

December 21, 2022

Very insulting experience from the guy who was in reception 2 days before. Very rude approach when we group of friends went there. Never again to paka.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

It has been decorated and more beautiful inside. Food is still very delicious and very good south Indian sea food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Love the deco and food is amazing too especially the sticky sesame vegetables. Good portions and value for money. Great service, highly recommend it

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

The Aubergine Fingers are the best! I thought I would update my review. Ate in house for the first time. The starters are so good. The calamari & the spicy potato fingers were great. We love the small intimate feel of the restaurant and the lovely lighting

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Very nice restaurant in Cambridge.. With our budget.. Good & lovely place.. With beautiful menu with services.... Option available to choose for a your on level of spicy... Thank you pakka group.. Behind this all.

★★
December 21, 2022

NOT-south-Indian!!!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

It s a great experience in pakka Cambridg. The ambiance is very welcoming and charming. Amazing food and service. Staff are extremely knowledgeable and make great recommendations Food really awesome

★★
December 21, 2021

Food was good, but when I ordered take away, they sold my phone number and wont stop messaging me even when I told them to stop. Now I have to change my phone number as Im plagued my unblockable marketing messages and spam phone calls. Their food isnt worth the hassle.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Nice Restaurant with wonderful ambience and best indian cuisine

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

5 stars Best service &Food was Amazing I will recommend others sure Excellent

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Nice decor, attentive but not overbearing service and the food was delicious! We want to come back and try everything else!

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Really delicious food we were big group of 16 people had a family reunion dinner and were all vegetarian actually tryed all the dieshes starters and mains, food was mouth watering with few traditional south indian Currys yummy! We highly recommend to visit and will pass on word with friends and family

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

The food and service were really good and a rare find in Cambridge!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Great authentic South Indian cuisine that s worth every penny. Good atmosphere with perfect balance of seriousness and relaxedness. Very attentive and polite serving waiters and waitresses who did not even charge us service charges! Highly recommend Kheema Naan, Tandoori Chicken, Tawa Chicken and the Biryani.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Came here after a day at a conference at the university. The ambience of the restaurant itself is lovely: very light and airy inside, and modest, unpretentious fittings. I dont often go for starters at an Indian because I always fill myself up too early but since we were all sharing I chipped in. We got some aubergine fingers, samosas and sweet chilli vegetables, all of which were exceptional. In fact, we got a second portion of the aubergine fingers! My main was chicken tikka with pilau rice, with some garlic naan on the side. I was actually bamboozled here, as I assumed that this was chicken tikka with sauce. However, this turned out not to be the case! I was concerned that this would mean that the dish would be dry, but I was pleasantly surprised: the chicken pieces were very moist and tender, infused with plenty of spices which all adds up to a fantastic taste. The naan was also very nice. All in all, if I ever return to Cambridge then I will definitely keep Pakka in mind!

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

What an experience! The food was absolutely delicious. The staff were on point, well presented and very well mannered. Well done Vaishak Chetan, you have definitely gone above and beyond we shall see you again very soon !

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Lovely curry, keralan paratha is a highlight.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

They have done an excellent job of facelifting this place. I went regularly for years when it was Nivedyam. Food standards are better and we all (from Kerala) found the food to be as nice and authentic as it could be.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

They have lot of gluten free dishes. Almost everything, except bread, is gluten free!

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Such a fantastic meal, especially loved the naan and the garlic spinach. Very reasonably priced, and great ambiance. Cant wait to go back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

We managed to book a table at very late notice and had a great time at Pakka. The staff were friendly, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the food was incredible! So much better than your average Indian!

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

The food quality was mediocre and the delivery experience very bad. They delivered the food 45 minutes late with no warning and never picked up the phone when calling to ask where my order was.

★★★
December 21, 2021

Nice south indian restaurant. Porottas are freshly made, same as the masala dosas. The curries are nice as well, maybe not spicy enough to my taste, but its decent enough. Atmosphere is also nice, same as the location.

★★
December 21, 2021

Poor service, waited an hour and a half for food and the curry was tasteless, naan was rubbish and side was dry. Would not pilau again.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Very tasty but pretty expensive.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Really great under the new ownership. Friendly service and comfortably the best Indian food Ive had in Cambridge.

★★★
December 21, 2021

The food is no doubt very good quality served in pleasant surroundings but the evening was spoiled by slow inattentive service. Long waits (almost an hour for starters) and no check backs suggests they were either understaffed or their staff poorly trained. Either way a potentially great evening became a very mediocre one.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Delicious starters, dont jump straight to the main course!

Local Guide
December 21, 2021

I am confused on the dining reviews here as I just ordered from them through deliveroo and the Paneer butter masala was beyond shocking! It was basically like a canned tomato soup with cubes of paneer. It was runny, bland and had no hint of any spices! The pilau rice was like plain rice. I was looking forward to dining as they sounded authentic especially with all those items in the menu. Sad :-(

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Really good Asian restaurant, light and bright interior. Excellent menu with some unusual dishes,fish selection as well as vegan.Good value and good portions.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Great experience. Authentic Kerala food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Very good service. Equally good food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

I loved the ambiance. Great service and tasty food. No draught beer , that s the only drawback ;( .

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Awesome gluten-free range. Great sesame honey starter and equally great Kerala fish curry main

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Loved the fish curry and dosa!

★★★★
December 21, 2020

It was ok..food good but service a bit patchy

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Good food and relaxed service with a smile

December 21, 2020

Dont go. Just dont. We went there thinking that it would be good indian food. The one-star rating is not me overexagerating. The meat was dry with poor seasoning. We didnt get our naan bread as ordered. Poor service, in my opinion. Relatively expensive, especially for the food you get. I have never eaten this bad Indian food, which in general always is tasty. The overall experience was just not good at all...

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Very nice south Indian restaurant

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Excellent dosas! The menu has many different types of Indian dishes, including plenty of vegetarian options. The naan is quite good, but the paneer dosa is definitely the star of the show. The staff is very friendly and attentive. And not too pricey either. Really a great experience all around!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Best South indian Dishes . Good ambience Recommended for Couples & Family meetups Food 100% Good service

December 21, 2020

Ordered food via Deliveroo, one of the curries we ordered didn t arrive, one of the curries wasn t seasoned properly, we contacted them and got told to call Deliveroo, after reporting it to delivery they told us it could take 2 days to resolve this dispute. After contacting the restaurant again to ask them to send the food to us as it was clearly their mistake, they said no as they re very busy after being challenged on this as we had paid for the food the guy started shouting down the phone reiterating that it s not his problem and he can t do anything. Disappointed because we ve usually never had an issue with them, but after this debacle, we won t be going back.

★★★★★
December 21, 2020

Very different to the typical indian restaurant and high quality, airconditioned dining and overall very impressive.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Homey South Indian Food with friendly service. I and my Indian friend went there for lunch and it was great. Aromatic but not overly-seasoned. Great selection of vegetarian menu. The service was great as well. It gives the homey and casual vibe, not an upscale luxurious restaurant. The shop is part of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme that runs in August 2020.

★★
December 21, 2020

Food was unfortunately poor. Not chewable and no taste. Disappointing

★★
December 21, 2020

Very friendly place. However Was disappointed.there were lack of flavoours.very disapponited with the malabar lamb. was shocked by the portion of piloa rice and quality we were served. Except for the roti and spinach which were really good and servers friendly. Should the servers not be wearing masks? Will not go back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

5 star experience for Onam feast.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Delicious food

★★★★★
December 21, 2020

I m from Kerala and miss my mum s food so indulge occasionally in this restaurant s amazing alternative. I wish I could bring my mother here to eat!! Amazing Nadan chicken curry and beans thoran absolutely hit all the right notes - spicy, fresh and authentically homely ...and the staff are really helpful!

★★★★★
December 21, 2020

If youre after authentic south Indian cuisine in Cambridge, then this is the place for you. Source, partner of a south Indian who raves about the place :)

★★★★★
December 21, 2020

Wonderful and delicious food.

★★★★★
December 21, 2020

The guys who own this place are my neighbors- my window has a view right into their kitchen and I see them working hard all the time to prepare food that is fresh, and I can confirm that it is very tasty!! They have very fair prices, even as a student on a budget like me, a great selection of food, and they are a small business that you can feel good about supporting!

Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Horrible, watery and pretty bland! I dont understand the high star rating, it really was a total disappointment. This place has had a chequered past including hygiene closure a long time ago and I was hoping that it has improved since my last visit years ago. But it is still dissapointing. Im really sorry.

★★★★
December 21, 2020

As always friendly service and tasty food

★★★★★
December 21, 2020

Delicious food! We had takeaway which arrived quickly, we will order from Nivedyam again. Would recommend the Erachi Ularthiyathu, a delicious and unusual lamb curry

★★★★★
December 21, 2020

This is our absolute favourite-ever Indian takeaway. Exceptional vegan options, especially those with coconut milk. Great dal, chana masala, and spinach dishes. Highly recommended.