Cafe Malabar in Victoria

Cafe Malabar is a South Indian restaurant. This restaurant is quite unique in their offerings. While its common for Indian restaurants to serve roti, Malabar Cafe has multiple different types of breads. Flaky buttery flatbread (parotta), soft spongy pancakes (appam), crepes (dosa), savoury donuts and more. Many of their dishes are naturally gluten free and they have lots of vegetarian, meat and seafood options. We ate the tasting board for two. We opted for the puff pastry filled with a savoury masala and a boiled egg. Next we chose a saucy, creamy, coconut goat stew. And as a contrast, not saucy Kerala pepper beef and fried chicken. Yes, THREE main dishes in the Tasting Board! This came with a plain rice, which I was delighted with because its a grain Ive not had before. And another rice with fried onions, cashews and raisins. Parotta and appam breads added even more variety. All this is complimented by an array of condiments and citrus green tea. Everything on the board is intricately spiced. Also, their spice heat levels are good for Western palettes. Some dishes are not spicy-hot at all and some have a bit of a kick. On a different day I had the mushroom malasa with two breads. Many different types and sizes of mushrooms were stewed in a spiced creamy coconut gravy. *Chefs kiss!* Chefs Kiran Kolathodan and Karma Tenpa grew up in Southern India. They celebrate the tastes of Kerala, which is on the Malabar Coast. Malabar Cafe has been deemed in the top 5 best new restaurants in Canada and Victoria by different magazines. Instead of having a few favorites I eat every time, Im likely to eventually try everything on the menu. Its that good!

The food was delicious unexpected flavours. We had the Kerala Tasting Board along with some extras. The menu guides you to order one dish with another as suggested pairings we tried the Kappa tapioca with the Alleppy Fish Curry. It was fantastic. They will be moving out of the market to a new location in the new year can t wait to return, so many other things to try.

Superb South Indian food! Chicken, fish yum. I think that just about everything was gluten free. Unbelievable quality for market food. Food

Such amazing food and service. The setting is meh, but you dont even notice that because the cuisine is so fantastic.

Stopped by for dinner. We got the tasting board, which is recommended for two people. It came with a couple of appetizers, two curries, paratha, appam, two kinds of rice and many condiments and chutneys. The food was delicious and the service was prompt and friendly. Definitely going back there!

Had mushroom curry. Amazing taste.

The food was so good. Amazingly good value.

Ive ordered take out from Cafe Malabar a few times and the food is always tasty. Today I ordered two dosas and the mutton curry. The order took almost an hour to arrive and was cold. They provided one really small roti to pair with the bowl of mutton curry and the dosas were pretty small aswell. Though tasty, I find the food portions could be more wholesome for the price.

Nice staff very friendly and helpful! I have to say, this is THE BEST SOUTH INDIAN FOOD! I ve ordered a few times through Uber Eats and was very impressed with the quality and flavor. So, today I decided to dine in, and it was just as amazing. A must-visit for anyone looking for authentic Kerala-style South Indian cuisine!

Such a nice variation on the more common Indian dishes. Friendly staff too. Definitely deserves the recent media coverage.

Absolutely the best Indian food I ve ever had! Do not hesitate! Everything is worth trying!

Best Kerala (South Indian) food hands down. The flavours were so amazing it felt like I was transported home! Absolutely recommend this restaurant. And Amjitha was so pleasant it made our dinner very memorable.

Not a pleasant experience. 1)Rats everywhere. I saw 2 when I was paying for the food. 2)Returned the curry as it was not good and they replaced it. 3) mediocre taste Food : 1/5

Incredible food and incredible service. We came during a rush and they were so lovely.

First I will say that the taste was very different from other Indian food I have had. Great spices and flavour. However we went on a Friday night and it was busy. Ordered and then waited 50 minutes for our meal. The owner was apologetic as was the serving staff. While I can appreciate their offering I would say that the efficiently of the food and delivery needs some work. The Victoria resturant industry is competitive. I wish you the best.

Loved it!! The flavours were so unique and balanced, and the staff was lovely. We tried the parotta and beef in banana leaf and the kochi kochi and they were both delicious. Definitely going back to try the tasting menu as everything on the menu sounded good!

My meal here last night was incredible!!!! I would write that in all caps if it wasn t so obnoxious!!! We had the tasting board and I was blown away with the delicious flavors. They were a burst of joy for a dreary November night. My favorites were the beef curry, the masala rice and all the condiments! Also a burst of joy and enthusiasm was the staff person who was overflowing with excitement to share stories her culture and the food. She really added a lot to this experience. The cafeteria atmosphere is the only thing lacking, and hopefully if lots of people go they can upgrade to their own restaurant. This felt like big city caliber international food. Go soon!

Food was delicious and service was lovely. Thank you so much

Delicious food and great hospitality by the owners/ chef. A must try stop if you visit the island and you are a foodie!

Cafe Malabar is a must visit if you re in Victoria! The food is phenomenal and unique and the service is warm and friendly. I wish I could have taken a gallon of the tea home!!

Great food

Best South Indian food I ve had in Canada hands down.. I ve lived in Toronto, Saskatchewan and BC and nothing comes close to this! The food in itself is authentic and delicious but they make it even better with the warm welcome and service. One of the best experiences ever and we can t wait for the next time we ll be going there to eat!

Service very slow

Absolute authentic food and drink wonderful hospitality.. we have not found such a delicious South Indian food even in Vancouver took us three years to find this type of food in Vancouver and now found in Victoria thanks

Its a nice little place with very delicious food! For people exploring Keralite food (like me) I would recommend trying the tasting platter. You get 2 choices of curries, parotta, appam, ghee rice, and matta rice, and egg puff or veg cutlet. Also 2 cups of sulamani chai. Staff are friendly too!

I ordered the Parotta + Beef in Banana Leaf aka KIZHI PAROTTA and it was so good! One of the best dishes Ive had in Victoria. Only constructive criticism would be to try lowering the price. $23 + tax + tip puts the meal closer to $30, which means its something Id get once a month instead of once a week. If you cant drop the price, maybe an option with a smaller portion size? Or drop the banana leaf aspect? Just spitballing some options! Regardless, delicious! Ill be back!

Absolutely loved Cafe Malabar! We loved everything we tried and ate beautiful aromatic Keralan food that is the best I ve tried outside of India. Thanks to the chef for the amazing & flavourful dosas, biryani s, curries, and parathas. Can t wait to come back to try more!

Disappointing. Had heard good things and was looking forward to trying, but this was such a bad first experience that it was likely the last. Waited 20mins for water, and that was after going back to the counter to offer to bring our own water over - had to wait a further 10mins after the server insisted no, he would bring it over. After 50mins asked the server if our food would be much longer, was reassured it was coming soon only to have two tables that ordered after us receive their food first. Finally the food arrived, and it was... fine. A mushroom green curry was flavourful and rich, the hoppers nicely crispy/chewy, but I would have liked a little bowl of rice to enjoy the sauce over. More problematic was a chili chicken dish that was full of bone shards that made eating treacherous. The staff was apologetic for the delay, but the servers insistence that it wasnt their fault because the chef had lost our ticket really just left a bad taste.

KL 10 is my absolute favorite dish from any restaurant in Victoria!

So fantastic, so delicious, each dish is a flavour bomb, I ll be back again and again to try every single dish!!

Wow. The flavors here are incredible and being a South Indian restaurant, unlike 99% of Indian restaurants. You are in for an absolute treat!

Excellent fish curry and fish biryani. Ask for their speciality. Unique South Indian flavor

The food here is simply amazing and most authentic Kerala cuisine I had from Canada. They have really good options for vegetarians as well. The wait can be little longer and its more like a food court but the food is worth the wait. Highly recommended! Vegetarian options: The have good selection of veg curries to go with the breads and hoppers.

Good South Indian food.

The best new restaurant in Victoria Ive tried this year. Incredible food -- try the mushroom pacha masala!

Very tasty food, more like a self served

Cafe Malabar is located in the very casual Victoria Public Market on Douglas St. Despite this casual location, the food is delicious enough to be served in a high end restaurant. The food is unique to the southern India Kerala region, with flavours that are out of the ordinary and delicious. The service is also very good and very friendly. I definitely recommend it. Parking: The parking garage is a few steps from the Market and the restaurant.

Wow! Delicious! Highly recommend!

Amazing food. Period. Small operation in a busy public market setting, so expect a wait. Recommend ordering ahead. Great for family style and sharing.

They handed the delivery order to the wrong delivery driver. Even after i stated multiple times that i was waiting for that order. Waited over an hour..

Amazing. Good.. friendly people working there. Polite. They accomodated my dish by adding a bit of extra rice, on request as it was too spicy to handle ! Nonetheless, very homely authentic Kerala food. It was yum ! Be aware of the waiting time as some dishes can take long to make !

Hands down the best Kerala cuisine I have enjoyed outside of Kerala. Beef biriyanu was on point with the perfect blend of spices and sides. I appreciate the effort behind it. Kizhi porotta was perfect. Not the frozen porota scam but actual Kerala porota prepared and cooked to perfection. Kl10 was also delicious. Paal porotta with beef melted in my mouth and I could eat it every day if I could. Chicken biryani was also cooked to perfection. Spicy prawn fried rice, uhh, took me back to my childhood. My brain was in shock that it unlocked my grandmas cooking. Me and my family enjoyed the food very much. Sad that I could not try more of their dishes. Recommended.

Food was great and their service was exceptional too. Thank you!

We drove from Nanaimo to Victoria just for their food. This is the NO.1 Indian restaurant on the island in my opinion. We absolutely love all the dishes we have tried so far.

Had a function at home and we ordered from Cafe Malabar for catering - south indian Breakfast and Lunch. Excellent food, quality, and service. Kiran was especially quite involved in the process and had provided good suggestions for the menu to suit our requirements. Special shoutout to them for very minimal plastic usage and being very environmentally friendly in their packaging as well as providing food in returnable boxes. Totally recommend! Vegetarian options: We ordered a mini Sadhya and it was excellent!

One of our friends suggested that it is a must go Kerala restaurants. We happened to visit the restaurant on our trip to the island this summer. We were super excited to try the Kerala authentic dishes. We bought $140 worth food( different varieties like egg puffs, kizhiporotta, beef fry, king prawn fry, mussels fry, chicken curry, appam and porotta).All our high expectations of having delicious Kerala dishes came to an end once we started tasting each of them. We bought the items for our dinner , and we ended up throwing some of the items in the garbage . To be honest, our day ended with such an aweful a day bitter feeling. Even our little kids told us never to go there again. To name the dissatisfaction we had, here is the list: 1.Porotta: Was very salty, and bittery. We bought 2; somehow, we finished 1 , and the 2nd one went in the garbage. 2. Kizhiporotta: Again, too salty that one could barely take it to the mouth. The beef mix didn t had any taste of beef. It had a gross smell of raw fish. 3. Tiger prawn fry: the worst prawn dish I have ever ate in my life. Both myself and my husband had the same feelings about this. We felt like throwing up because it was not well-cooked. The head part looked raw and had a waxy texture in mouth. The shell was brittle for the 2 well-cooked ones. Kids did not taste it, thank God! We had to throw it away. Both of us are pretty sure that it was not a fully cooked one. This was never expected from a highly rated Kerala restaurant. 4. Egg puffs: very small puffs. Barely any filling . Not worth for $5/piece. In general, the food is expensive compared to other Indian restaurants; also, for the less qualntityfelt very bad for wasting a huge amount of money at the restaurant to finally left with hungry stomach again that night. There was not even a single item we bought from the restaurant, which we can give more than an average rating. Average rated items: -Appam -Chicken varutharachathu Indeed, the staffs were great. Thank you for that. We will never visit here again. Our worst experience on a list of Kerala food items.

Excellent food and service must try!!!! Chatti chore chicken fry was amazing ..

The food was amazing. It took me back to Mumbai, India where my mom s neighbour who was from kerela she made some amazing Malabari cuisine and at time shared it with us too. The food is true to its name and it was one of the best meals my husband and I had after a very long time. If anyone wishes to eat authentic Indian cuisine which is not Punjabi then please visit Malabar cafe at Victoria Public Market, Victoria BC. Vegetarian options: There are vegetarian and vegan options. Just ask the chef

We ordered on DoorDash so write off all other angles but the food, which is amazingly good. I lived in Kerala for 4 years and can smell good Kerala food. This is by far the best that I have had in Pacific North West. Highly recommended. We had the fried chicken, chicken curry and ghee rice, all amazing. The fried chicken is too good to be true .

Top notch food.

Kerala fried chicken was OUTSTANDING .wow cooked to perfection, crispy on top , soft and juicy inside ..loved every bit of it .these guys are cooking authentic food like back home .best I have tasted so far in Canada .thanks for the experience will come back for more.

Food is delicious! We had egg samosa fish biryani, prawns fry and rice. Everything was so good :) must try this place

Awesome food.... Excellent service. Strongly recommend this place for good food.

Awesome food. The best south indian food i ever had in Canada.

Really amazing service and mouth watering dishes. Worth it.

I visited Cafe Malabar last day. All the foods were delicious and authentic. Moreover, the service I got from them was really pleasing. Guy named Harshi took care of us really well. I can recommend Cafe Malabar to those who are looking for authentic Kerala food with good service without any doubt.

The food was absolutely exquisite! Truly authentic Kerala cuisine and every dish was made with perfection. The Kizhi Parrotta with Chicken Curry was delightful! Would definitely recommend to others and come back myself.

i died and came back to life

This place is absolutely amazing, the employee was extremely nice. The food is great for the price, loved the chicken curry and the steamed king fish. I highly recommend this store.

Kerala Cravings Conquered! This place isnt just authentic, its like a taste bud trip straight to Malabar! Dosa crispy, Chatti Choru bursting with flavor, and Appam with a veggie stew so good, it had me reminiscing about a hidden gem in Kerala. The spices are on point, not a flavor out of place. Parkings a breeze across the street at the Hudson market lot (bonus points for knowing Golden City!). This is your new Kerala go-to! Vegetarian options: There is a section in the menu themed Garden that has all the vegetation options.

I recently visited Cafe Malabar a charming restaurant located in the heart of Victoria. I was eager to try their South Indian cuisine. Food: I ordered the masala dosa, idli with sambar, and kerala parata and pepper beef and chicken. The masala dosa was crispy on the outside and filled with a delicious potato mixture. The food reminded me of the flavors I enjoyed during my childhood trips to South India. Service: The staff was friendly and attentive. Our food arrived promptly, and the waiter was knowledgeable about the menu, offering helpful suggestions. Overall Experience: My experience at Cafe Malabar was delightful. The food was flavorful, and the atmosphere was inviting. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to enjoy authentic South Indian cuisine. Conclusion: Overall, I would rate my experience 10 out of 10. I look forward to my next visit!

I was excited to order the Biryani but was very disappointed with both the service and the food. The Chatti Choru was excessively oily. If you plan to visit this place, I recommend opting for takeout. We experienced terrible service despite paying upfront with a generous tip. I had tried the chicken Biryani two months ago, which was the best one in BC.

I stumbled upon this place while exploring Victoria and absolutely loved the food and the service here. Definitely worth the visit if you re craving dosa and delicious vegetable stew.

I am actually dumbfounded. The last time i went everything was different....the guy who took our order, the service and the food everything was topnotch Today I went again to have the same experience but it was the crappiest feelings ever. Not one single table was cleaned, i could not find anyone to even ask for a napkin so that I can clean myself, stuff were not rude but felt like they are just doing cause they had to! I went there around 4.30....still more than a hour left to their closing..... really did not understand why everything was like not welcoming anyone to eat environments! Really disappointed! Also I ordered the same dosa i ordered before....they forgot to add one of the main part of the dosa i specifically requested but thats ok, after pointing that out to them they brought that in a bowl separately! But the dosa was sooooo oily! Really disappointed this time. Its a shame, I really liked the place!

Had the most delicious fish biryani and the service and attention to detail were impeccable

I ordered on UberEats - pittu, fried fish, and the kizhli parotta - all items were fresh and delicious! I also appreciate their sustainable packaging.

This is what I mean by authentic- not just in flavour but also in presentation & service, ofcourse Chef nailed it in taste. We tried the Spicy Prawn Fried Rice & Kizhi Parotta. I can t recommend this restaurant enough, the flavours will definitely transport you to Kerela- just close your eyes and grab your first bite. Love that the chef checks on you while you savour his food (lil gestures goes a long away) it s the best time to give a feedback so these guys can grow even bigger. Don t doubt or second guess if you wanna try this place.

Fantastic Kerala food. We had Chatti choru, Kizhi parotta and Chicken biriyani. Each dish was delicious and tasted authentic. Must try of you are in Victoria and love Kerala cuisine.

Even though the store was closed, they still managed to provide us food. It shows their hospitality towards customers. One of the best biryani in BC i ever had. Thankyou guys for your great service.

Authentic kerala food. I tried chicken biriyani, and it was scrumptious

Good had nice flavour, portion was small and to be honest I would not spend that kind of money on that small portions again. I can t complain about the taste, flavour was decent and people were nice and helpful while ordering. I was still hungry after $50 . So it wasn t what I expected.

BEST RESTAURANT IN VICTORIA. This food altered my brain chemistry. These guys know how to use spices. Eating felt like walking through the gates of heaven LOL

The only dinner we had time for in Victoria, and we were definitely not disappointed. Best South Indian food Ive ever had.

Chai & lemon tea were good.

Yum!!

Amazing flavours, beautiful food, great service. We will be back to eat everything on the menu. In the Victoria Public Market. Cant wait until these guys open their own space!

The food is such a uniquely delicious flavor experience you cant get anywhere else in Victoria! The chef really seems to care that his patrons have a wonderful meal too. I will be back for more!

Best Malabar style food that we tasted in Northern American continent. We ordered - KL10 - Ghee rice aka neychoru with Kerala fried chicken n curry - Kallumakkai aka Mussels - Kerala Beef Roast - Appam n porotta - Desert Tender coconut Crème Caramel - Tea Everything tasted authentic.. This place is in a strip mall, not a fine dining restaurant mostly like a takeout. Service was excellent.. place like this in Victoria was a surprise to us visiting briefly here.

Absolutely fantastic biryani

We keep coming back. The food is incredible and theyre really friendly. Havent tried anything on the menu that hasnt been exceptional. 10/10 Kid-friendliness: Great place to come with kids!

As a Malayali, I was incredibly satisfied with the food at the cafe. It was so authentic that it felt like I had been transported back to Malabar to enjoy a meal! Lovveeddd every bite.. would totally recommend everyone go try it out of you are in Victoria. Oh and you should not miss the filter coffee...

Chai was incredible! Food was really delicious and the presentation was impeccable. Can t wait to eat here again!

Giving 4 stars to atmosphere as the place is hosted inside a public market. Not the restaurant s fault. But food, that s awesome!! Will definitely come again!

Food was super nice.really like that lemon tea and nice service

We came all the way from Vancouver for Kerala food (of course, I am a Malayalee ) and it was all worth it! Authentic and tasty Kerala food, plus very friendly staff.

Delicious food with great service and lots of variety to choose from! We were unfamiliar with Kerala cuisine and now we feel like we cant live without it.

Super delicious food - Friendly staff - did a take out (Kerala Parotta, Mushroom curry and Veg Cutlet)- got a complimentary Sulaimani when I was waiting for my take out order -I would definitely recommend this restaurant to experience the flavors of Kerala looking for more Veg options in the future

Stumbled upon this place when visiting the Public Market and it became the best meal we had in Victoria for a short weekend visit! Food was delicious and you can see the details that go into the plating, choice of ingredients. Highly recommend!

Good food, reasonable price but a bit slow in cooking

Amazing food by chef Kiran !!! Anu is amazing in her service!!! I think it s best mallu food I ve had in BC.

We ordered lamb biriyani, and was too salty couldn t eat- i had so much expectation but as a malayali i am disappointed:(

Authentic Kerala dishes are available and taste very very good

Customer service 100000%! Came here while on vacation for Toronto. Had kizhu parotta and chicken biryani. Best Malayalee restaurant!! Highly surprised how delicious it was! Better than any kerala restaurant in Toronto!! The restaurant is tucked in a cute market and great atmosphere and vibes. I can t rave enough about this restaurant, next time I m in Vancouver in coming straight to this restaurant! Can t wait to see their expansion into a full restaurant!

Great food and service!

Cafe Malabar offers an authentic taste of South India in the bustling Coho Commissary kitchen. With a menu inspired by Keralas coastal cuisine, featuring coconut-infused dishes and a symphony of spices, every bite is DELICIOUS. From sweet Puttus to aromatic Kizhi Parotta, theres something for every palate. Their warm hospitality ensures a memorable dining experience, with staff eager to share their passion for South Indian flavours. Whether youre vegan, gluten-free, or an adventurous foodie, Cafe Malabar has things for everyone!

This is my second time ordering from Cafe Malabar. I wasnt feeling well and wanted some tasty homemade food. I got rice, buttermilk curry, and fish curry, while my husband got chicken biriyani. It reminded me of a Malayalam phrase, Manasu narenju, meaning my heart felt happy and content. I enjoyed every bite of the food. Thankyou! P.S.( You guys forgot the payasam) but it s okay :)

Wow. I was absolutely blown away by the flavours in this unassuming little gem. Easily the best Indian in Vic and beyond. Can t wait to taste my way through the menu. You can tell the pride and love that goes into each dish with fresh toasted spices, fresh ingredients, perfect seasoning. I m a big fan!

Really nice food.

We ordered food for eidi celebration and I was throughly impressed by their services. We ordered biriyani, it was cooked to perfection, with right amount of seasoning. Also I found the packaging of the food was amazing. Everything was well-organized and secured. It kept the food fresh and intact, I really appreciate the attention to detail in the presentation. I will definitely recommend this place to everyone

Only in Victoria for two days and after reviewing this menu, knew we needed to go. It took a little time to get the food but it was well worth it. Absolutely delicious. Fresh, perfectly spiced, aromatics in each dish were done SO well and great portion sizes for sharing. Get the Parrota and don t look back. Everyone at the table loved it! Highly recommend. Vegetarian options: Wonderful vegetarian dishes Dietary restrictions: Plenty of gluten free options!

Got the fried chicken and the beef, found them both to be too intense with spices. The amount of beef and rice you get for 20 bucks is pretty small as well. The chicken is a good deal for 8 bucks but came with a very tiny amount of dip. Everything was as described, and cooked properly. Just personally didnt find any of it to be enjoyable. I was expecting it to be life changing based off the reviews.

Authentic south indian taste. Loved everything we ordered. Especially, the fried chicken and fish fry is a must try.

Amazing food! It was a really good experience trying out these new dishes, I would recommend to give it try

My husband is South Indian and Cafe Malabar always reminds me of his mom s cooking. Such a cozy, homey, and authentic spot. The staff at Cafe Malabar are incredibly kind, welcoming and joyful. This is place is regular spot for us and we recommend it to all who haven t tried South Indian cuisine.

Café Malabar is truly authentic! Their food takes me straight back to the flavors of Kerala. From the first bite, I could tell their recipes are the real deal. If youre craving genuine South Indian cuisine, this is the place to be. Highly recommend!

Fantastic dinner spot! Would 10/10 recommend if you live in the Victoria area.

the overall experience was okay. Unfortunately, the rice served was cold, which significantly detracted from the enjoyment of the dish. Additionally, the imposition of a preset 18% tip diminishes the overall satisfaction of the meal.

Eating here makes me so happy- it s the flavours we ve been looking for ever since we came back from vacation in Kerala. I ve brought most of my friends and all my family here to eat- and will make sure everyone else gets here soon! (And it was the perfect choice for my birthday dinner. Thank you!!)

Absolutely delicious meal! Ive been following their IG page and wanted to check them out. My husband and I ordered the chicken biryani, Kerala chicken fry and the beef fry. Every dish was on point! If youre looking for an authentic south Indian flavours, this restaurant wont disappoint. As a south Indian, I can vouch for it :) They really know what theyre doing. Shout out to Kiran, the chef and owner. Interesting chats. Well definitely be back soon!

Tastes good but the quantity is very less! One person will need to order two portions of rice.

Tasty but low quantity

Absolutely delighted with the Beef Kappa Biriyani prepared by Chef Kiran at Malabar Cafe! The flavors were exquisite, and the dish showcased culinary expertise. Kudos to Kiran and team for delivering a home away home feel at Victoria.Will definitely be returning for more!

Went there for lunch with my wife and we really enjoyed the food. The goat stew was delicious. We are going back there again, for sure.

Stunning. Beyond delicious. Distinct flavors made with love and care. 7 of us enjoyed an array of dishes and flavors you wont find many places. Front of house and chefs were humble and delightful and everything about the experience was top notch. Some of the best Indian food weve ever had. Just share a bunch of dishes that appeal to you and you cant go wrong. We didnt have a single clunker among the flavors and dishes. Share and share alike.

The best lamb biryani I ve ever tasted. Like all good restaurants menu is selective. Superb.

Authentic south Indian taste. Must try if you want to experience real south indian cuisine, epically chutneys, sambar and filter coffee

Everything is awesome about them. Sana took care of very well. She was so friendly and polite. Chef Karma and Chef Kiran were great and the taste was amazing. Must try them if you are in Victoria and want to satisfy your Authentic south Indian craving.

Greatest experience ., everything was so tasty and fresh. They made everything on spot nothing is frozen.the Chef kiran and Sana were so friendly.

we were in a hurry for the ferry, the owner was kind enough to accept the order even before the store even opened. we got our food ready by 10 am, even thou I ordered after the restuarant hours around 11pm the previous night through google chat from their website. we had fish curry & appam. Appam was soft , the fish was well cooked in the curry. we had hot appam & fish curry in the ferry & it was an experience, felt home. The food has no word to describe the taste & the experience. The owner is nice, kind & friendly. If you are looking for home feel food, this is a must try place.

Had the tasting board and it was incredible! Would highly recommend to anyone! Best meal in the city so far

Go and order the Karala Tasting Board!! It is unreal. The food has heart. Recommend again and again!

INCREDIBLE!! Best meal I ve had in Victoria. 3 people can easily share the Kerala Tasting Board, which was so beautifully presented. We also go the beef parotta which was so so good!

I m a south Indian from Kerala, and i can say this restaurant serves authentic south indian food. Their Kerala Fried chicken is delicious!!! Amazing cook.

Our first time having food from Kerala and it was really delicious! Such rich flavours. The fried chicken was perfect and the standout for sure. Delicious chicken curry as well. Excited to return and try the other dishes! I am really glad we have so many options in the Victoria food scene now from different parts of India. Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian and gluten free options

South Indian cuisine, the KL10 was a nice variety of flavors . The rice was perfect as well as the rest of thevdish wow, great flavor . Only one thing my chicken was a touch underdone . The staff was excellent. Super friendly and very proud of their product . I have been searching for new flavors in Victoria, and I have found it ! I highly recommend you try this ( the chi tea is great too) well done guys keep it up !

you Guys rock I recently moved from Ontario to victoria. Over there we had a lot of Indian options, was really sad after knowing there are only a few places which makes south Indian cuisine. I accidentally came here 2days after christmas, man true flavour and was truly impressed by their authentic South Indian, specifically Kerala, cuisine. The flavors were an exquisite representation of Keralas rich culinary heritage. From the perfectly spiced Beef Roast to the mouthwatering appam and stew, every dish showcased a delightful blend of aromatic spices and fresh ingredients. The ambiance at Malabar Cafe added to the overall experience, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that complemented the flavors of the food. The attentive service and attention to detail further enhanced the dining experience. I highly recommend Malabar Cafe to anyone seeking an authentic taste of Kerala in a welcoming setting. Its a culinary journey that captures the essence of South Indian cuisine, making it a standout!

The food was really authentic, flavourful and amazing. 10/10 Must try Food

Eat Here! The fried chicken is to die for! Great for lunch if youre working in the city or for takeout (uber eats, ect). You can tell there is the care taken when making the food and that the food is made from quality ingredients. They are truly offering a different take on Indian food, while still proving that test you are looking for! Great new place in Vic to try out! 10/10.

First meal I had was Ceylon crab meal. Perfect exact same taste feels like home. Best place so far in Victoria.

The food here is absolutely amazing. Flavorsome and satisfying! We tried the gun powder dosa, vegetable curry with appam and the south Indian rice bowl with fried chicken. Everything was tasty and the portions were good too. Would definitely recommend this place to people looking to eat authentic Kerala food.

Great food. Taste of Malabar here in Victoria. Dum Biryani is a must try in the weekend. Chef Kiran and team are fantastic!

Tried this restaurant during our visit to victoria today after reading google reviews and i should say that all the reviews are true. We ordered aapam, kadala curry, parotta and multi grain puttu. I was first apprehensive about not getting the famous kerala rice puttu but the multi grain puttu was equally too good. Kadala curry, aapam and parotta were divine. If u want an authentic kerala cuisine in victoria pls dine here and savour the food. I have given 4 stars for service instead of 5 as the wait time was a bit long owing to the staff busy with catering to pick up orders.

Best authentic regional Indian cuisine I ve had in the city. So fresh and flavourful that I m excited to try more of their offerings. The owners and staff are extremely friendly kind and welcoming. Awesome work, I highly recommend and will be back

Happened to come across this pop-up and I m really glad I did. After taking a look at the menu I zoned in on the goat stew. The chef took my order and recommended I get the hoppers to go with it - and I m very happy I did. The flavours in the stew were incredible, the meat was very tender, and the hoppers were very fresh and had a really well complimented coconut/fermented flavour. It was outstanding and I ll be going back again very soon.

Kerala style food. Victoria was lacking this. Great specials as well. Vegetarian options: Good vegetarian options are available Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly menu items are available

Was looking for something new and boy I hit the jackpot. Everything was delicious but the kizhi parotta really took the cake. I was previously unfamiliar with this cuisine but I am definitely going to remedy that. Id give 6 stars if I could!

Delicious food, warm service, non-pretentious atmosphere. Prepare yourself for the best south Indian food in BC! I visited from Vancouver and I cannot wait to go back for more!

Had most authentic Kadala Curry, Egg Curry, Puttu and Appam. I will always come here whenever I am in Victoria. Thank you Malabar Cafe team and Chef Kiran!!

I had the biryani, the quantity was good for two and the taste was also good.. we took medium spicy however you can mention your choice while placing the order.. Also had the beef and Paratha which was yummy but id request the chef to put a little less onions the next time.. And the tea was heavenly. Overall worth it if you are craving for south Indian cuisine

The staff is very friendly. We have received one of the best services from the owner herself ( Leslie I think). She is very warm and extremely friendly. Also, the food is very very very delicious. I have been craving for good Kerala food so so long and I am glad that they are able to deliver such an authentic and high quality Kerala food. Chef Kiran is very skilled and very humble.

Great south Indian food. Tastes like we are back at home. So happy to have them here.. Thank you so much to the team...

Wonderful experience. My family ordered chatti choru, kizhi porotta, appam motta curry, KL10 ghee rice and chicken fry. All of them were good but my favorite was chatti choru. I would give 5/5 for food and staff. I even got to talk to the chef, Kiran, very friendly. I will definitely be coming back to Cafe Malabar when I visit Victoria.

My recent lunch at Malabar Cafe left me with a range of mixed emotions, as the restaurant failed to live up to its potential in several aspects. While it had some promising elements, there were noticeable shortcomings that marred the overall dining experience. Upon entering Malabar Cafe, the ambiance appeared welcoming and inviting. However, my initial enthusiasm was dampened when we were served with soiled plates. The sight of these plates raised concerns about the restaurants attention to cleanliness and hygiene. Although the staff was quick to respond and replaced the plates, it left a lingering disappointment. When it came to the food, the beef gravy dish did offer some redemption. The flavorful gravy was rich and comforting, bringing out the best in the dish. However, I was disheartened to find that the beef was overcooked, resulting in meat that was excessively tender and slightly chewy. This compromised the overall texture and taste of the otherwise enjoyable dish. While the neychoru beef dish showed promise with its good flavors, it fell short due to the insufficient portion size. Given the menus pricing, I expected a more satisfying serving, leaving me somewhat unsatisfied with the value offered. The biggest setback was the chicken dish, which surprisingly tasted like fish. This peculiar flavor combination was perplexing and overshadowed any positive aspects of the meal. The kitchens failure to deliver a properly prepared chicken dish raised doubts about their quality control and attention to detail. To add to the disappointments, the coffee served at Malabar Cafe was not up to the mark either. As a coffee lover, I had hoped for a flavorful cup of filter coffee, but it lacked the authentic taste that one would expect. Instead, the brew tasted lackluster and weak, leaving me unsatisfied with the coffee experience. In conclusion, while Malabar Cafe had the potential to offer a memorable dining experience, it fell short in multiple areas. The issues with soiled plates, overcooked beef, the perplexing chicken flavor, and lackluster coffee all contributed to an underwhelming meal. I sincerely hope that Malabar Cafe takes this feedback constructively and works towards addressing these shortcomings. With improvements in food quality, portion sizes, coffee preparation, and service standards, they can elevate the dining experience and regain the trust of their customers. As of now, I would be hesitant to recommend this restaurant to others.

The food was delicious We had Beef Biriyani , Appam & egg curry, KL10 & Kizhi Porotta . All the dishes were delicious and we absolutely loved it

Food

The server was very nice and had great suggestions for us. She recommended the K-10 dish and it was great. Also malabar parotta and appams were perfect. Food

Every bite transports you to Kerala! Absolutely enjoyed our lunch at Malabar Cafe. The crispy flaky parotta, the creamy fish moilee, beef, neichoru and fried chicken were all delicious. The Sharja shake and the Sulaimani ( black tea with spices) were on point! Definitely coming back here on our next Victoria trip.

Absolutely loved my lunch break at Cafe Malabar. The service was so welcoming and they helped me learn about the menu before ordering. The curry I got was delicious and authentic and stunning. Cant WAIT to try more, and so glad to have this kind of food in our city.

Authentic South Indian restaurant with lots of trending options. Was lucky to try 3 of the best items on menu. The best of the lot was KL10 which is a combination of neychoru, fried chicken, chicken gravy and mango pickle. The other two menu items Chicken dum biriyani and kothuporotta( todays special) was equally amazing and delicious. Really liked the food.

This was our 3rd visit to Cafe Malabar, as we have been working our way through the menu. From the 1st visit, the food was terrific (mutton ishtu with hoppers and parotta with beef in banana leaf). Todays kappa with fish alleppey was truly exceptional! The fish currys complex well-balanced flavour profile and its beautiful rich colour made the dish both approachable and seductive and left us feeling very happy. I would be remiss in not mentioning how delicious the date pickle and onion salad were with the beef biriyani, and next time we have a biriyani, we will be ordering more of those condiments. I have ended every meal with a Suleimani tea, which is sweet and tart and perfectly refreshing. We are already planning our next visit, and we are looking forward to discovering more of what Cafe Malabar has to offer.

What an experience it was to dine at the Cafe Malabar! If you would like to explore Indian Cuisine and taste diverse flavors from India this is your place to visit. Nicely curated meals and you can tell the care taken in the preparation of each meal served. I visited the Cafe with my group of friends (10) in total and all of them were raving about the food. A must visit place when in Victoria. Give this place a try and you wont be disappointed. I am hoping they would soon open one in Vancouver too! 10/10

Thanks Chef Kiran and team for a sumptuous lunch. I visited with family last week and had a great time. We ordered kizhi porotta, biriyani, chatti choru etc. Its so hard to pick a winner among them. Cooked to perfection and served hot. Will come back again.

Cafe Malabar in Victoria is a hidden gem that offers amazing south Indian food. The dishes are expertly crafted, with vibrant flavors and perfectly balanced spices. My favourite is the KL10 which comes with a serving of Ghee Rice with Kerala Fried Chicken, Chicken Gravy, Onion Salad, and Pappadam. Served with Garlic Dipping Sauce The Kerela Pepper Beef Roast with Matta Rice which was delicious as well. Whereas the Mutton Ishtu (Goat Stew) was good in taste but the quantity if stew and rice was not enough (Specially the rice). Both the dishes were Gluten Free and the freshed baked egg puff is great as well. It is a must-visit for anyone seeking an exotic food experience in Victoria. Highly recommended!

My experience with Indian food is mainly butter chicken and naan, which i enjoy, but this was something different and special. We tried the taster plate, beef in banana leaves, and the vegetarian rice bowl. so many flavours and textures that came together beautifully. my husband and i both loved it and look forward to trying more dishes soon

The service and food is amazing here, we had the Kizhi parotha and it was absolutely amazing! Bring your friends and family and eat the best Indian food of the island!

Terrible service. We were left waiting for over an hour.

Very Bad service.

Absolutely phenomenal. Victoria is lucky to have this place. I get the chatty choru (vegetarian) each time I come here. Each of the side items can stand on its own. The chutney has the right level of sour and spice. The buttermilk curry (on par with my mom s); there is nothing I would change about it. Ask for your dish to be spicy and hope for whole dry red chillis. And the rice, the centerpiece, can be combined with any of the other side dishes. Check this place out if you can. Victoria new restaurants come and go. I hope this place can stay.

Amazing Onam Sadya! The chefs have magic in their hands. They knocked it out of the park. So much hard work put in every dish! Every dish was authentic! My most fav was palada payasam I am so happy we have something like this in our very own Victoria! Wishing you all the good luck Cafe Malabar!

The last few weeks have been absolute bliss with Cafe Malabar now in town. Appams and stew, Kadala curry, cutlets, puttu, egg mappas, morru curry, an addictive Sharjah shake... and now an Onam Sadhya - We were very honoured to have this special and meaningful meal made for us. A lot of places might only put in so much effort in if there seemed a certain return they might make from it, but the fact that it was made to order for us on a weekend where the restaurant was closed and specifically for the intention of the festival made it significantly more special. It was as though we were being hosted at home by the Cafe Malabar team and it wasnt just a transaction. The team at the front as well have always been so genuinely warm and approachable, truly invoking atithi devo bhava. I never thought Id taste these flavours again and particularly in Victoria, so Im very grateful to have been able to share this experience with my dear friends. If you think you know Indian food, you have to go, this will be like nothing you have tasted yet; run, dont walk! Thank you Chef Kiran and the Cafe Malabar team!

One of the best Indian (Kerala) based cuisine I have had in a very long time. Excellent food. Much recommended. My food recommendation KL10, sunday biryani, dal pakora, Kerala parotha, chicken curry. Sana gave us an excellent service, she also gave us the best recommendation. Loved all the staff also interacted with the chefs. Every thing about this cafe is excellent. Definitely gonna come back.

Chef Kiren and team has provided an amazing food with great taste presentation. Truly authentic South Indian.

Today, my family and I went to Cafe Malabar, and it was fantastic! The food there is incredibly tasty, with lots of yummy spices mixed in. If youre someone who enjoys Indian food and misses the flavors of home, I really suggest visiting this place. You absolutely have to try their delicious fish curry and beef roast with paratha. I also want to give a shoutout to Sana Anwar, who was really friendly and made our time there very cozy. We had a great experience and I cant wait to go back!

The food is amazing with authentic Indian taste. The quantity is very good. But what makes it really special is the love and warmth that is mixed in the delicious food. I would recommend KL10, biryani, parotta, egg puffs, fried chicken and masala chai. I haven t had a satisfying Indian food in a while in Victoria. The hospitality was great and Sana did a great job with her recommendations and explaining the dishes. I will definitely come back again to taste more stuffs. Keep up the good work team!!

The food was stupendous with the fabulous, fresh, authentic flavours of South India! The servings are just the right size and every bite is a burst of flavour! Thank you for bringing South India to Victoria.

Hidden gem. True Naadan food with twist of 5 star touch in everything he makes. Remarkable. Thank u .

Gun powder masala dosa was really great, and service was exceptional.

Amazing food The chefs are wonderful people and their food is delicious. My boyfriend and I miss the choices of South Indian food in Vancouver, so we were excited to find Cafe Malabar. The items I tried were also very new to me and I loved them. We will most definitely be back for more!

Best and closest south indian restaurant in town ! True authentic dishes ! Beef dum- Biriyani was mind blowing ! Rice cooked to perfection, Beef was great quality, flavour was rich and authentic! Will visit again for sure ! Exceptionally good and best ! Thank you again

The Beef biryani was out of this world..Amazing in terms of quality and quantity

Delicious food, and very friendly staff Vegetarian options: My friend had a vegetarian stew that she loved. Food : 5/5 |

Amazing kerala food. Very authentic. By far the best in BC.

Incredible discovery/ best food in Victoria so far !

Everyone needs to try the lb Biryani. This was the best lunch experience Ive ever had for such an amazing price.

Delicious unique food. Hard to come by this unique and delicious type of food in Victoria. You must check it out!

We enjoyed a couple of nice dishes there. The server was very nice and helpful. But we hope they get to a real venue soon: the food court atmosphere in the Market is not ideal.

Even though Im from India, just reading the menu online caught me off guard. Could not grasp anything...like almost never of multiple dishes until today. It explains how vast and multicultural Indian cuisine is, its hard to keep track :D. This restaurant proves Indian cuisine is more than just naan and butter chicken. Trying Keralite cuisine was a delightful experience to say the least. I dont think Ive had such ordinary, rustic dishes - fish curry (Molle) and chicken puttu ,in a restaurant before. It had the Indian countryside vibes, almost felt like notes of nature translated into food. Yes, it is still restaurant food with a few tones of added zest, quite unnecessary, but its what enhances and makes the food tastier. Still, the closest it can get to experiencing authentic Indian food!

Holy moly. This place is off the charts

Tried KL10 and kizhiporotta..The chicken fry on KL10 plate was vere level. Kizhipporota waa also nice..Will definitely come back.Reshmi chechi was soo welcoming.

I had beef biryani 4 months back, and it was amazing. The meat was tender and the biryani was well cooked with perfect spices. I came in yesterday (Sunday) for lunch with the desire for the same biryani. However, what was served yesterday was far from being a biryani. The meat was half cooked. The rice was just added on top not mixed well. So there were plain balls of rice with no spices and the entire biryani was cold. The after taste was bad too. We had to rush to grab some coffee and ice cream to get rid of the after feeling. Definitely my last visit to this place.

Have you ever been let down so bad that you kinda feel depressed? The sheer excitement, the build up, to enjoying a serving of the famous beef biryani, highly recommend by my wife, who had previously tasted the dish at Cafe Malabar, was immense. But sadly, it was just a badly prepared version of what was recommended. A combination of overcooked rice, mushy and unflavored with chunks of tasteless undercooked beef at the midst, served midly warm was potent enough to not only steal us of our taste buds but also make our ride back home, a dull and depressing drive. Fortunately for us, we found a McDonalds on our way home, where we purchased a coffee and a McFlurry, to revive our dead taste buds. To conclude, a complete waste of time to travel to downtown Victoria and money, $18 for the biryani, and $10 for the parking and a bad memory. Not worth it.

I love the ghee rice and chicken fry combo.

Loved loved loved this place! I haven t had more authentic Kerala (South Indian) food here in BC ! Just wow! Interesting fact, apparently the chef is from Tibetan colony in Coorg, Karnataka and his food will make you taste Kerala at every bite ! Amazing! Food

Excellent! Delicious! Awesome! No words of praise are sufficient! This is surely the best authentic Kerala food in Canada. I certainly didn t expect this in Victoria, after being disappointed in Toronto and Vancouver! It really is as tasty as it looks in the photos. The spice level is just right. The flavours come out really well. Top class!

These guys are the real deal! Exceptional food, all smiles and lots of heart throughout. First time here was for the chicken coconut curry and vegetable stew - stunning nuanced flavors - the spices, oh the spices! Instantly transported to a beachy paradise I have yet to actually visit. A breath of fresh air in a city of tuna tataki, yam fries and poké bowls. If youre looking for FLAVOR this is the spot. All of my love to you folks, I am eager for your growth, vouch for all of the well-deserved praise youve had and the applaud the coming wonder your future holds. Thank you

What an incredible experience. Aromatic spices, incredibly deep and rich flavours accented by fresh lush ingredients. The dishes are so thoughtful and made with love. I was blown away by my vegetable curry! The food feels so healthy and nourishing, the smiles of the staff add to the warmth of the harmonious flavours. Everything was served in the most charming little dishes along with a wonderful digestive tea. What an utter joy to experience the food of Kerala here in Victoria. Absolutely delicious and a must-try.

When chefs own and run a restaurant, it reflects in the dining experience. When passionate chefs like Kiran and Karma chose to bring the coastal cuisine of Kerala to the beautifully serene Vancouver Island, the expectations were high and boy, did they deliver! Every single item we could possibly order, was as good as it could possibly get. I hope they grow the presence of their wonderful restaurant to other cities in North America and hopefully even across the world.

The best Biriyani in Victoria

Absolutely delicious food made with good quality ingredients. I am still dreaming about the Kerala fried chicken and fish curry. I wish I lived in Victoria so I could go weekly.

Absolutely loved the food , service was exceptional, customer oriented, You will definitely get the Christmas warmth vibe!!!! Going back soon!!!! Food

The absolute best South Indian in Victoria. I was recommended this place a few weeks ago and have probably ordered it via Uber eats 5 times in the past 2 weeks. Excellent Parotta, Dosa, and the Khizi Parotta and Varutharacha curry are amazing!

Had the best Kerala food ever. We ordered Kerala tasting board and It was the best combo !!!! The presentation, taste and service were 10/10 . I am definitely coming back to try rest of the food in menu !

Lovely food and really friendly staff!

Everything was delicious, our server harsh i was amazing! will be coming back as a regular :)

Authentic Kerala cuisine

One of the best indian restaurants in canada ,though they have a little space to dine in ,food is delicious and authentic Indian style...keep up the great work chefs...