Malabari Kitchen
414 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55454
Malabari Kitchen Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
414 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis, MN, 55454 - Phone (612) 361-6777
- Website https://malabarikitchen.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Jay V.
Enda Guruvayarappa :)- this place is beyond amazing!!! Apart from the fact that it's a hole in the wall, the chefs are magical here- the food tastes heavenly. The chai is authentic and to die for Apetizers are great and I'm waiting for appams and a to go order. I couldn't stop myself from writing reviews while I was waiting If you are in twin cities swing by and check this out- trust me you won't get disappointed
(5)Bandana G.
The food was very flavorful and different from other Indian restaurants. It was delicious. I ordered one of their specialties the Palappam and the server suggested I try it with chicken curry instead of what was listed on the menu. It tasted really good. The palappam are made of fermented rice and taste very different but good (I posted a picture). My friend ordered the Fish curry (they had king fish that day). The curry tasted very different and it was delicious. Definitely suggest trying it. The curries are served with fermented rice (for a lack of better name comparison) bread (please see pic I posted to see what it looks like). This was something I had never tried before and definitely enjoyed it. Their portion is a little small compared to other Indian restaurants. It was the perfect amount but for the Indian restaurant regulars it will look a little small. The server was very helpful giving suggestions and answering questions and very cheerful. It's a small place with just 6 tables but when we were there it got full pretty fast and the service got a little slow. Probably because it looked like a one man show. We saw some people working in the kitchen but it looked like our server was running the show, taking orders at all tables, bringing the food out, working the register, and it looked like he was involved in the cooking too. Felt kind of bad for him as you could see he was doing his best. But I can also see this getting a little frustrating for some people as we had to wait a while to get our bill.
(4)Samreen S.
I rated this restaurant 5 stars regardless of the wait time about 4 months ago.. but I have to drop a star now. First off, I ordered online to pick up and they messed up one entree in the order for which I had to wait another 20 minutes. I ordered meen moily (salmon curry) and they made shrimp curry instead. No such apologies or compensation for messing up. Secondly, their biryani never had any raisins and cashews but suddenly now it does. It didn't taste bad but just not the same as it used to be. Plus, the owners of this restaurant should list out the ingredients, especially if someone has nut allergies or like me, someone who dispises nuts in biryani! Their biryani has also decreased in size.. I remember the tray used to be full. The egg curry used to be thicker too. Their restaurant still seems a bit haphazardly managed. Too bad because the food is still really good. The bathroom situation is also odd. You have to go through the kitchen and down the stairs to get to it. A couple came in, the man went to the bathroom, came back up and the couple left. Not sure if he didn't like what he saw when he passed the kitchen. And I don't think I want to know. :)
(4)Jeff G.
Wow, this was great food. I had the Kozhi curry, which was awesome. I got to try some of the Chicken Biryani, which was equally awesome. I asked for the Kozhi curry extra spicy, and they did not hold back. My mouth is on fire and I am one of these freaks that enjoys his mouth being on fire. the Chicken Biryani had a kick too and we didn't ask for it. That's a plus in my book. As an added bonus, I am STUFFED. Everything got eaten. Even the bread. I honestly couldn't be happier with that meal.
(5)Rhea S.
I say fail. We had a group on and so I understand they were INCREDIBLY busy with the expiration date the weekend we went. We went without a reservation and they told us it would be a 30min wait. They said they would call us when our table was ready. So we went to the hiking store to pick up something. 40 minutes later, they still hadn't called us. We blew it off and went somewhere else. They never called! The next day we made a reservation and tried again to use the group on. We ended up having to jump the car so we were late and the roads were terrible. So once we finally got there we had to share a table with another group. The restaurant is SO small, so it is necessary to share tables. They mostly have large banquet tables. It still took 15 minutes after we sat down at the front table nearest to the kitchen to get our orders taken. The chai was cold and at the bottom of my cup was a few tablespoons of the mix. The appetizer was fried and bland. It took nearly 2 hours for all the food to come. It was ok, but not terrific and doesn't make up for slow service. They are new-ish to the area, but I would not go there again. The dessert was very good though-a carrot medley.
(1)Brianna D.
It's places like this that make me swoon over how awesome Minneapolis and our restaurateurs are. I love visiting NYC and Chicago and great cities with small intimate places that care about what they're serving you versus the scene, and this was just that in the heart of our city. We started with lentil cakes, and moved on to our entrees of mahi mahi and mussel fry - all 3 delightful, filled with flavor, both rather spicy but so delicious it didn't matter and they provided me (mussel dish) with a yogurt blend to take down the heat. The wait for our food wasn't too long and we were there on a Saturday night. All food ordered was gluten free for me, as I'm a Celiac. I didn't have any problems here. The staff was warm and attentive. The atmosphere calm and unpretentious. We will be back. Our favorite Indian food in Minneapolis!
(5)Justin S.
Went here on a whim after the USA vs. Belgium world cup match and got the fish curry. Good god it was delicious, and they're happy to make it spicy for you if you ask. This place is a great little hole in the wall joint and I'm definitely coming back.
(4)Ashley A.
This place was amazing. Small and tucked away just off of riverside drive, it was definitely the highlight of the day. Our server was extremely knowledgable and helpful in recommendations. He was very friendly and more than willing to tell us about where the dish originated from as well as giving some history and personal background and experiences. Both guys that we saw and served were grand; genuine and friendly. And the food was spectacular; hot, delicious authentic and unique. I have every intention of returning! Keep it up!!
(5)Sidharth S.
Amazing!! I am surprised that it took me 2+ months to find this place!! A little piece of my homeland right here in WINTERFELL! The food is authentic, well prepared and full of the awesome flavors of south western tip of India known as Kerala for all of you. I loved the food and also took my American friends who were glad they came and have thanked me a million times. In fact we got them to cater for our school function and everyone was smacking their lips and coming for 3 more servings.. Really good food, the service is still improving as they are an extremely small establishment so lets give the time and encouragement for that. If you are interested to chill relax wait for the awesome food in a really small place that is BYOB go here.. if you were not just looking for that please go elsewhere... :)
(5)Michelle V.
Hallelujah!! Best Indian food we've had since moving to MN from the Bay Area, CA. Just thrilled to find this place. Flavors are well balanced & fresh....just yum!
(4)Brendan T.
Cashew rolls! Wow are those good. Shrimp curry also excellent but sadly two things keep this four star despite the great food. One, portion size and two, hands down the most outrageously slow service regardless of whether take out or dining in.
(4)Soni P.
Pretty good! The beef ularthayithu had all the right spices and plenty of coconut (which could have been a LITTLE fresher, however). I was skeptical that a Mpls restaurant would serve anything like Kerala food, but it's really quite authentic. NB: If your idea of Indian food is "samosa's" (with an apostrophe making them plural) you should probably eat elsewhere.
(4)Danny U.
Pretty good food. Expect to wait a while for your food if it is busy and busy means that there are more than 7 people in the restaurant. It's a hole in the wall type place. I liked the food, but because of the service, I am not sure if much would drive me back to this place. It's unfortunate because it's seems like the food is authentic and pretty good.
(3)Ameena R.
I was so frustrated and really really unhappy when I visited the restaurant yesterday night. I went with two other friends of mine craving for Malabari food. (I am from Kerala, a pure Malabari :) ) I was really surprised to see that none of the food ordered tasted like the Malabari/Kerala food. Being a foodie, I found that Beef Ularthiyathu (Beef fry) was Beef Curry made with Ketchup and a mixture of other spices. I could taste ketchup so clearly you know. Kallummakaaya (clam stir fried) was not cooked well. It tasted so raw that I had to spit it out on to my plate. We ordered the so called Malabari chicken biriyani which was really flavorless and consisted of small one-inch six pieces of chicken breasts not even marinated with the biriyani flavor. Ordered palappam around three sets, half of which came out undone and half of which came really thin. The consistency of the Palappam batter should be thick enough. I could make out that it was made of a watery batter than a pure medium consistency batter. First we ordered only three dishes. We thought other dishes would be good enough and only the first ordered stuffs were not so good. So we gave it another try. Next ones ordered were Egg Curry, and Fish Curry with Chapathis. Omg, I don't know how to say this, Egg Curry was Egg immersed in some veg curry. And Fish Curry was fish immersed in the rest of the veg curry with kokum or tamarind for sure. Chapathis were worse than Tortillas. SO hard and so thick. Ordered Uzhunnu vada which was so small, came out really pathetic. It seemed that it was the ones we get frozen at the indian stores. Gosh! First time I went to this restaurant was almost 8-10 months back. I was so impressed that I always kept it as an option to go to when I crave for my homely Kerala food which I love to the core. But now, I see not even one Malayali/Malabari/Keralite was cooking out there and the food was horrible. Any basic Malayali who goes there would never ever go back. Because its not worth the money. The dishes were sooo less that I can guarantee you that I would get better food in Kerala on the streets which we call Thattu kada. Its such a pity! ALL IN ALL I WOULD SAY THAT THE QUANTITY OF FOOD SERVED TO SATISFY A HUMAN BEING's HUNGER is very very less. One small saucer of curry is $16 without any flavor or taste. I would be glad to be even $100 if the food was tasty enough and the quantity was better. I think the folks should learn from other Indian restaurants around here in Minneapolis. WILL NEVER EVER GO THERE AGAIN - BY A SAD MALABARI
(1)Prabhakar K.
Awesome! I visited this city for couple of days and had no idea abt any restaurant and luckily ran into this one. I tried mini samosa, mini chicken samosa, idi appam with potato stew. All were delicious especially potato stew! Cook "Cody" was awesome and super polite. Must try! :)
(5)David G.
While waiting for the show to begin at the Cedar Cultural Center, I popped over to the Malabari Kitchen next door. The first thing on the menu that caught my attention was the Mahi Mahi in a red curry sauce. When I went to order it the server told me that they did not have Mahi, but use kingfish instead. Since nothing on the menu really appealed to me, I went ahead and ordered it. The owner was the one that served it to me, which I thought was a nice touch. It tasted great, but there was very little fish in it. The side dish, some kind of Indian potatoes, was not bad. I would have given this establishment a better rating but the portions were so small for the price, I kind of felt cheated in a way. If I was some anorexic chick with one of those psychosomatic food allergies (gluten intolerance) I would probably rave about this restaurant. I never did see my server again after I ordered, that is until the check came. I did see her back in the kitchen gossiping and feeding her face. Also if you're going list Mahi Mahi on the menu, then you should have it in stock or have the menus reprinted. I have noticed that their online menu does not list it.
(3)Cailin R.
We got takeout here and while the food was delicious, the portions were incredibly small and they forgot an integral part of the meal. We ended up having to go get more food later (this time from a different place). I don't think I'd go back here, especially since Afro deli is so close and much better.
(2)Sam E.
We almost missed it because the sign out front says "South Asian Kitchen" or something, but thankfully we found our way. It was so cold that we were the only customers in the whole restaurant, and got excellent service from the Amazing Sleeping Hostess, who was somehow able to fall asleep between moments when our table would need attention. She had great recommendations and everything was delicious. I especially enjoyed the lentil donuts and chicken tikka.
(5)K H.
The food tasted okay, but the portions were so tiny. My friend and I ordered fish and we were both served about 1/4 of a fish. I think they are trying to make money off of the groupon. Really, people?
(2)Eva D.
The samosas are tasty. The chicken biryani left a lot to be desired including the chicken it seemed to be missing. Service is okay and the venue is a dive. I typically like dives but think there are better Indian offerings in the twin cities.
(3)Pat H.
I ate here for lunch today and it was excellent! The potato stew with idi appam was full of flavor and well-spiced, and the rest of menu looked just as appetizing. My server (I think he was also the cook?) was very friendly and informative. But I was the only customer -- I hope other folks discover this place soon.
(5)Aruna R.
We've tried almost every other Indian restaurant in Minneapolis and the surrounding metro, and we haven't been impressed. We read about Malabari in the Mpls- St.Paul mag, and I've got to say- this place is a burst of fresh air in a stale, repetitive Indian-food scene. Malabari kitchen brings back authenticity to south Indian cooking, making us recall ancient flavors from back when grandma used a mortar and pestle to grind masalas from scratch. It is run by a motivated couple who both cook and serve, and bring the home-style flavors from their table to this kitchen. Because it's mostly just the two of them, there is a significant wait time for the food, but as their menu claims, the wait is worth it! Also, there's literally just 5 tables because the place is tiny, but ambience is very tasteful. The food is spicy, and even though I'm not a spice fan, I was surprised that I could taste the flavors despite the spiciness ( lots of places don't achieve this.) Do try the chai. We have tried Chai everywhere- EVERYWHERE. And this one is the best, hands down. Skip dessert, get the chai. Love. Try.
(5)Nihal P.
I'm Indian, and have spent my formative years in Bombay. So I know Indian food very well. Malabari Kitchen has authentic Indian food from the southwestern region of India. It plays to its strengths, and sticks to a short, relevant menu. I had Beef Ularthiyathu (Beef Masala) for lunch, and chose a side of yucca mash. The mild taste of the yucca was a perfect counterpart to the hot, spicy and flavorful beef. The meat was tender and fresh. If you are tired of food usually found in Indian restaurants, you should definitely try this place. You will not find palappam or idiappam (rice-based pancakes and noodles) anywhere else in the Twin Cities. The service was friendly, unobtrusive and quick. I was given a small bowl of complimentary payasam (a light dessert with mini-noodles) at the end which was a perfect end to the meal.
(5)Ravi B.
By far the most authentic Indian food restaurant in town. Malabar is the south-western coastal region of India and this is micro-cuisine of the type we don't see in Minneapolis. Not your heavy creamy Punjabi fare. Hope Minneapolitans can appreciate it's complexity and variations.
(5)Jerry M.
Typical Kerala Restaurant. (Kerala is a southern state in India where Malabari Kitchen's menu belongs) My experience: Crab Curry (Njandu Curry) - 3.5/5 ( Very Spicy. Option of Chappathi, Rice etc as side which is free) Chicken Biriyani - 4.5/5 (Very Tasty. But don't expect typical Kerala Biriyani which has mainly Drumsticks and Thighs. This has shredded Chicken pieces.)
(4)Swetha A.
Excellent Mouth Watering Food .. Everything in menu looks different and tasted really good :)
(5)Sairam T.
Traditional Kerala food.Liked especially the pallapam with coconut milk and potato curry.My friends had those with Chicken and egg curry which they felt really yummy.The people who serve the food are really friendly named Biju and Bindhu. Everyone of us did enjoyed the food and it's quality.Really Really Yummy..Hole they maintain the same even if they have a gr8 demand.Keep up the quality and good taste guys! Would definitely recommend for someone who needs to try with some really yummy food.
(5)Pravin R.
We went there few weeks ago, mainly because of the craving I had for the Parippu (Dal ) wada. It was awesome when I had for the first time. To begin with, they ran out of the batter by 6PM on Friday even though the Restaurant was not busy so far. The owner suggested Medu (Uzunnu) Vada with sambhar curry instead of chutney, and charged me extra $ per plate the sambhar alone. I never expected this as other Indian restaurants give you unlimited orders of sambhar and chutney for free. The soft-shell crab curry was disappointing. The crab was so tiny that seemed like a new born. It was not tasty either. The price of $12.99 for that was not justified, if you compare a soft shell crab dish with full size crab for about the same price at the Pennisula Malaysian Restaurant. One of us was a pure vegeterian and could not take anything hot (spicy). All she could order was egg curry and the Maitre promised to make it milder with extra coconut milk. We thought that was a good plan but yet the curry was too hot to eat. Last time we went there the Meen Molly had more than 4 jumbo shrimps. This time it had only 2. That was disappointing. On the positive note, Palappam, the wok shaped crisp pancake, was a novelty and delicious. The chicken curry was still the best. The tea was good. Cashew rolls were good too. Considering the portions size being reduced, I felt this place is bit pricey for the "hole in the wall" ambiance. When we left the place, we realized that our clothes enjoyed the aroma more than we did. ;-p
(2)Paul Z.
Although a whitebread guy myself I was born and raised in Kerala and Tamilnadu, and so think I recognize good South Indian food. My wife and I just had some at the friendly but unpretentious Malabari, which looks and smells like a high-class place in Cochin or Trivandrum. The palappam (a milky sourdough crepe) with potato and meen (fish) curry we had were excellent dishes, and hard to find in the standard US-style Indian restaurant, which serves quite different North Indian dishes. The vada (lentil-flour donut, essentially) also tasted fresh and hot, and the coconut chutney was well above average.
(4)Sundara S.
real nice food... great service!!
(5)Tracy B.
If I could rate the food separately it would have been 4 stars (1 less than 5 because of small portions and having to choose between rice or naan instead of having naan on the side) as the food was very tasty, unfortunately I am rating based on if I would suggest this as a restaurant, and that answer is no, at least not now. My family's experience involved having a reservation, yet waiting 20 min to order, 50 min until the teas were brought out, and an hour and a half before food came out. All of this coupled by extremely frigid temperatures because the space is small with no entryway so everytime the door opened a cold draft followed. Everyone sitting down to eat were still wearing their winter jackets, hats, scarves, etc. and at one point we could see our breath. The long waiting time was said to happen because a "living social" coupon expired that night. However, knowing this, they did not compensate with staff and had only one hostess, one waitress, one cook, and one dishwasher. I think this place has potential but seems to have opened before the bugs were worked out. Some suggestions to the establishment: 1) entryway/energy efficiency/or at least find a way to keep the place warm with heaters 2) overstaff when you know it's going to be extremely busy 3) train the waitstaff better. I've worked in restaurants as a server for over five years and the mistakes made were very basic and could be fixed with initial training: (ie. number the tables, number the tickets according to the tables, and have the waitresses write down orders. there's no shame in forgetting especially when it's busy, which is why writing orders is helpful. It literally took 10 minutes once at the register to pay as she couldn't figure out which table I was and assumed I was a "living social" customer when I was not which slowed it down further. 4) when overwhelmed and not providing adequate service to the customers already there, don't just keep taking more customers, go into contingency mode: call in more help as needed, and/or turn walk in service away with a coupon and apology if necessary.
(1)M K.
My order was completely wrong. The food was extremely oily / greasy!
(1)Gina A.
We went to this restaurant on a Saturday night and were very excited to try some delicious Indian food and to get out of our hot apartment. Unfortunately their air conditioning was not working so we received no respite. We also were very hungry as we hadn't eaten that much as we had been busy cleaning in the heat all day. We ordered some samosas to start with and a couple of lassis. It took about 30 min for the samosas and they were gone in about two seconds. But they were good. It took another 30 min for our main entrees. I ordered their specialty chicken curry- it was very watery and lacking the depth in spice and flavor I expect from Indian food. My husband ordered the mussels- which were extremely good. We finally received our lassis after every table after us received theirs. I think they forgot. All in all it was a hot, sticky, night there and a long wait for our food. Maybe we came on a wrong night, and everyone that worked there seemed very pleasant but I doubt we will be back.
(3)Kara S.
Wow! I am hosting a couple from India in a couple of weeks and am completely ignorant of Indian cuisine...with the exception of a curry my mother attempted when I was young. THAT left me with a distaste for anything resembling Indian curry. My friends from India are traveling with a bunch of Swedish Minnesotans who think that ketchup is spicy. They are in desperate need of good spicy food! As I am up for pretty much any kind of cooking, I started to research Indian restaurants so I could understand the taste profile a bit better. After reading lots of reviews for different restaurants, I chose Malabari Kitchen. The owner was very kind and helpful, offering suggestions and tips on how to eat the appams as well as helping us choose a couple different items. I am now a HUGE fan of Malabari Indian cuisine! We chose the Palappam with Potato Stew and also* Kozhi Curry (Traditional Spicy Malabari Chicken curry). Lovely complex sauces, a side veggie that was heavenly, nann that was out of this world, and tender chicken. All covered in a velvety curry sauce that wasn't heavy. I usually suffer a little from eating out because of the heavy oil laden sauces. This time I felt healthy! Based on the reviews about this place, we ordered the chai tea and were instantly hooked. After lunch, the owner brought out a little cup of dessert. Fantastic! The cardamom dessert was fresh and tasty! We will be back, next time with friends. oh...and we made a beeline for the nearest Indian grocery-simply because I MUST have more of this wonderful cuisine and we live too far away to be regulars here.
(5)Aishwarya S.
The most delicious and authentic Kerala food in the Twin Cities!!!And a huge relief from regular North Indian greasy fare which is the only form of Indian food I have so far tasted in town. I can personally vouch for the authenticity since I'm from the same state and city that Biju (the owner) is from, back in India. I would highly recommend the tapioca and fish curry combo. Finger-licking good! Yum!
(5)Angela A.
Yesterday was my second visit to Malabari Kitchen, and I was just as pleased the first time as the second. This is exactly the tiny, cozy, hidden-gem kind of place I love to have in my arsenal for fun places to go -- especially since I follow a gluten free diet and the bulk of the items here are GF!!! WOO-HOOOO. Seriously, it's the best thing ever. For lunch we ordered a chicken Biriani, which was enough to take home and enjoy for dinner. The spices were sublime -- subtle but so flavorful. We also ordered an egg curry with a type of fermented rice pancake. The curry was just the right amount of kick, and the pancakes were something I'd never tried before -- slightly sweet, a bit doughy, the perfect complement to the curry. We started the meal with an app, a kind of fried spinach dumpling (?) with 2 delicious dipping sauces. I drank the house chai, which was sweet and milky and perfect for a cold January day. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant! If you're concerned about the poor reviews here, go during lunch! We were the only people in the restaurant and everything we ordered was personally suggested by the manager/owner. A great example of the beautiful diversity of Mpls eating establishments!
(5)Dave K.
We had visited there last winter. Severely disappointed. Waited forever for that part of the order that we actually got. What arrived at our table tasted okay but small, small portions. Frustratingly they were much more focused on their takeout and delivery customers it seemed. They got their food fast while we waited and waited and waited. Plus it was freezing in there. I don't like giving anyone a bad review but this place merits one.
(1)Faith T.
I came on an early weekday evening & it was fairly quiet. Ambience & decor are nice for the location (Riverside area), and it was a nice, casual meal. Service is very friendly & though it's not the fastest, they give good recommendations. Very authentic & delicious Indian cuisine! I had the chicken biryani & liked it a lot. The portions are a good size. If you don't eat a ton (like me), you'll have plenty leftover! Half an entree was enough to fill me up. Also, try the chai! It's sweet, but full of spice - if you like that. They give 10% student discounts!! And they also do catering etc. I will definitely be coming back here, often.
(5)Nitin M.
This by far is the most authentic Indian coastal food that one could possibly find in minneapolis area. The food is great, the owner Biju and chef Arun are gem of people who treat their customers well. My family enjoyed their hospitality at last night dinner and we will go their again. Great to see this small joint and hope they do good business in this location.
(5)Jagadheshwar B.
Best biryani in town , ever!!! We ordered mirchi bajji and fried plantains as appetizers and they were good too. Some of my friends ordered fish fry and they loved it. Also, the portions are huge. This place is totally worth a visit. Also, the owner of the restaurant was very kind and is originally from kerala. He was explaining the way they make their biryanis without added colors and Msg etc. He mentioned to us that this was a 4 generation old recipe that they follow and they make their own masala for biryani. Overall, I enjoyed my dinner here.
(5)Rowena N.
During lunch break AfroDeli was bustling and line was out the door, so I decide to venture off down the block to see what other restaurants to try out. Saw this on Yelp and decide to check it out. Unlike some of the reviews here, I had the most positive experience here with service. The owner was quick to seat us and offer us water/menu. He provided us recommendations and even told us brief history as to how the dishes from this Malabar region are unique and may be different from the indian food I had before. He was right. Being an indecisive person, the 50/50 sandwich was up my alley as it is a mixture of both mushroom sauté and marinated chicken. It came with two chutneys (one sweet and another mint and hint of heat) and this was GOOD. As in I inappropriately start picking then eating mouthful of sandwich although my company did not get his meal yet (sorry!). Savory doughnuts were also delicious. I did not read reviews that noted they are savory and not sweet. But regardless they were like mini flavor bombs. They are actually quite 'mini'. As in i could put it on my finger as a ring. They also came with a tiny sample cup size chutney. So, this is more like a sampler. Beef Ularthiyathu. It came with some sort of spiced soup and option of rice or yucca mash. We decide to try the mash instead. Texture like mashed potatoes with a few stringy fibers from the root, but nevertheless delicious. Beef was pretty substantial with chunks of ginger. Heat bomb. Mango lassi - likely sweetened, milky, and tastes like fresh mango. Definitely would get this again. SO far, I would say this is the best version I had in the city. Overall, awesome experience. From what I observed, the owner served tables very quickly. He was very helpful and offered to provide brief historical summary of the area, telling us about how mosque/churches are older there than vatican and such. Will definitely be back. P.S. Get the yelp deal for $5 off.
(5)Prachi Z.
This place deserves Five stars for the best, freshest, most authentic Keralite cuisine. It also deserves 1 star because the owner is also the chef and server, slowing things down considerably. But the food send you to a place in heaven after which you do not want to complain about things like a 90 min wait :) Had the biryani and fish trio (cassava with two types of fish) -- both were great!
(3)Divya M.
We came in 30 minutes after he was closed but the owner still welcomed us seeing we were starving and prepared the best vegetable Biryani I have eaten in a long time! The owner was super friendly and very kind. Food was as tasty as a home cooked delicious meal! I would recommend this place to everyone in the area!
(5)David R.
My overall score for Malabari Kitchen is 3.5 stars. I would give the food, which was refreshingly light and aromatic, 4 stars. However, Malabari loses a point on service and environment. The staff was not visible when I arrived, and the dining room smelled of cooking oil - as if the kitchen were not properly ventilated. 15 minutes after I ordered a different staff person asked if I had been helped. Had they forgotten my order? That said, the food tasted and FELT good - a welcome change from the heavy North Indian fare at other Twin Cities Indian restaurants. I'll go back for the food, but the service would have to improve for me to visit on a regular basis.
(3)Nahila A.
What a gem! I've been here a couple of times and can't get enough of their food. At first glance, the serving size for some of the dishes is a little disappointing, but you have to know that this isn't just any Indian restaurant. Malabari food is a specialty food and is a type of food and flavor you can't just find at any Indian restaurant. The cooking style and flavors are truly unique. I have a friend who grew up in Malabar/Kerala and said this food is pretty much like the food from back home, so you are truly paying for good cooking and a good experience. The owner is really nice and is the one who took our order. We ordered the chicken biriyani, onion fritters (ulli pakoda), and the Beef Ularthiyathu (which is stir fried beef with spices in a very light gravy) with a porotta and chapati. To top it off, we had their creamy, frothy spiced chai. It is one of the best chais I've ever had, and I think of it everyday #obsession On a previous visit, I've had their koon (mushroom) theyal curry and uzunnu vada (savory donuts),which were very good. The food hear is flavorful and some dishes are very spicy. I know everyone has different preferences for flavor and spice, so make sure you communicate this with the staff because they make everything to order. Everything I had was good, so try to go with friend and try to get a couple of dishes to try. The biriyani is a must as it is made and served in the traditional way. If you want something from the region that is not on the menu, like the porotta among other things, call ahead of time and talk to them, they may be able to make it. Easily reachable by bus (22, 2, 16, 7, etc.) and light rail. The place is pretty small, so don't go with a big group. I love the place and plan to go back, but think the owner needs to change some things to draw more business and improve the place. I think the owner should get rid of the "Southeast Asia" sign from the previous restaurant because it is misleading and a little sad. He should also change up the tables and seating in the restaurant to make the layout more comfortable and open (maybe get rid of those big tables and get a few smaller ones). And one last thing, he should try to stay open late on some days to draw the late night crowds who study, go to the bars, attend shows, etc. I know I'd go here more if it was open later. What a long review, so if you don't want to read it all, just know everything here is a good and know it is really worth going to since it's a unique regional specialty and you won't find this anywhere else :).
(5)Sarah H.
Man, I need to check out the Cedar Ave area more often for the eats. Malabari Kitchen features Southern Indian cuisine and the owner is extremely friendly. He is full of information about the region, how Southern Indian cuisine differs from Northern Indian cuisine, how the region changed since he was a child, etc etc. We tried the 50/50 sandwich, which is made of mushrooms and chicken. The sandwich was a decent size, especially for the low price tag of $5.99! The two dipping sauces were fantastic. The brown sauce is spicy and the green sauce is really fresh tasting. We also tried the mini samosas. When they say mini, they really are mini, but full of flavor. The fried plantains have a nice crisp crust, made from chickpea flour. I believe everything here is battered in chickpea flour, making the items gluten-free. The crust was FANTASTIC. Mmmm. My only complaint is that the service was a bit slow, especially since there was only one other table full when we arrived and only one table when we left. All and all, it's been a great experience.
(4)Ed G.
Service was good, but slow. I thought the decor was a bit too simple - hard chairs, not much decoration, etc. We ordered the fish, which came out very dry. I would have put up with it, but at $50 for two people, I thought it was a bit pricey. I'm not that picky, but when all you get to drink is water - well that does not help. This can best be described as an Indian "hole in the wall". Oh yes - if you like Samosas, theirs are good, but are about the size of a "cheerio".
(2)Subhajit M.
Awesome food. If you want real Kerala food and appam, this is the place. I was pleasantly surprised on the authenticity. Over the last 20 years in USA, this is probably the best food I had along with super friendly service. The price is very reasonable and a very casual place with friendly smile. I would recommend this to everyone, being a good cook and have a feel of good cooking, I am blown away by the menu, this is very different from the typical so called indian restaurants which serve creamy and yogurt based creamy entrees which are not really indian food, try the fish pakora as appetizer and soft shell crab
(5)Grahame B.
Great little Indian restaurant that you might miss because it's so small. And if you do miss it, it'll be your loss. My girlfriend and I got lunch there recently because we had a Groupon. We walked in, and the guy working there was really nice and welcoming. He took our order and invited us to sit at a table while he started preparing the food. He also brought us some water, which we didn't expect. Shortly before the food arrived he warned us that because it was takeout, the bread might be a little soggy. The fact that he even thought to warn us of that made me think, "This guy cares. And that's awesome." So we got home, and treated ourselves to some amazing chicken and mushroom pita sandwiches. It was really great food, and I'll absolutely give them my money again and again.
(4)Ann Marie G.
Tiny samosas were delicious it was my first time having the lentil doughnuts with coconut sauce. They're really good at helping pick your food. The mango drink was super refreshing. The service was speedy and we had a party of six. Parking was easy street parking.
(4)Barath K.
This place had very good authentic Indian food in the tradition of Kerala.
(5)Teresa P.
This is not your typical Indian cuisine. It's specialties from the Malabar region of India, which is coastal. The man who served us (I think it may have been the owner) was very informative and friendly. He gave me the suggestion to have the Meen Moily with Palappam, and it was spectacular. I've never had a coconut-based curry like this-- there were bits of ginger and peppercorns that give it extra pops of flavor. We also had the goat Biriyani, which was equally delicious. If I lived in Minneapolis, I would most definitely be a regular here. What a gem.
(5)Sharon C.
Due to having a groupon my friend and I stopped by .... impressive look and cleanliness .. very friendly staff .... upon learning we were late to a class we did take-out. Three hours later we warmed it up and ate it. IT WAS DELICIOUS. Just like Grahame B on 2/25 ... we thoroughly enjoyed the Chicken and mushroom pita sandwiches ! AND - I enjoyed putting the sauce on my dinner tonight ! Right next to Cedar Cultural Center ... stop by and enjoy this great little place before your next concert !
(5)Whitney G.
I have to say, this is the best Chicken Tikka Masala I've had, hands down. Our waitress was incredibly sweet and attentive. Simply because of the limited amount of space, it does get chilly when the door opens and closes. The samosas were a little smaller than we expected when they came out, but the size of the entrees more than compensated for that. **Please note, they are not open on Mondays, and I would double check their hours before heading in. LivingSocial/Crowd Cut/Groupon doesn't tell you this.**
(4)Michael L.
I love this place. Every time I'm in the twin cities I eat here. Glad I found it on here on yelp and tried it out! Pros: Delicious food! Egg curry, chicken tikka masala, biriyani, spinach pakodas. It's all awesome. Great service! Everytime I've been there the server has been the soft spoken, incredibly nice, and informative server (owner?). I really like the location and interior. I really like small mom and pop places. Cons: They do not have a Oklahoma city branch. Unless you know something I don't know. (please tell me!) I've had a great experience here every time. Highly recommended.
(5)Michelle G.
Really bad. I mean have you been to an Indian restaurant before? This food was so bad. My mushroom curry was flavorless. My boyfriend's had some beef dish and he really liked it. The onion fritters are TASTELESS. And I've never ever ever been to an Indian restaurant where the naan was not homemade. Omggg so disappointing. And yea the service is absolutely awful but I could get past that. I heard the couple behind me say"I mean, it's just FLAVORLESS!" Do.not.go.here .
(2)John C.
Been back a few more times, and they've everything I had ever complained about Malabari has been fixed. Recently had the Goat Biriyani, which was very good, but a bit more bone for my spoiled American tastes. Most of the world eats dishes where the meat is attached to bone and fat, where they eat the fat and spit out the bone, but while I like to think of myself as sophisticated, bone I just don't have a stomach for. The Fried Fish sticks appetizer was excellent. One of the best things about this place are the succulent sides and sauces served along with the dishes, very robust.
(5)Janet E.
Absolutely delicious - local south Indian home cooking - incredible flavors you will not get in a typical Indian restaurant. Absolutely recommend!
(4)Kiran T.
Best in town for Biriyani lovers.
(5)Krish M.
I can't believe that I have been preferring some of the other mediocre Indian restaurants over this gem of a place. We got the chilli pakora for starters and they were really fresh and amazing. Spicy, but delicious. We also got the palappam with potato curry, Paruppu(Lentil) curry and the vegetable biryani. Portions were generous and everything tasted really fresh and amazing. They were short staffed and the service was a bit slow, but the food makes up for it. Since they make everything fresh, food does come out slow.. We ended our meal with a chai, which was over the top. Truly an amazing dining experience. The place is small, so don't go with a big group.. I can't wait to go back...
(5)Carolyn B.
Just went to the Malabari kitchen last night - what a find! It's a small restaurant with great servers (owner? ).The smells were fragrant and the food was delicious!!! I had the chicken and mushroom sandwich and it was wonderful. A good healthy portion and very tasty for only $5.99! And I've never had plantains like this - and I think it's my favorite.
(5)Charlie B.
Anyone who tries to convince you this place is good is not looking out for your best interest. SLOW waiter, water in a Dixie cup, no samosa's. I tried the chicken curry and some spicy beef thing, backed by naan, rice, and a mango lassie. It's a small business so I really wanted to give it a good review, however I cannot lie. I have nothing funny or crass to say, it just sucked.
(1)Joel R.
We had a great time at this little hole in the wall. They have a fermented coconut rice flour flat bread that you really should try - I'd never had anything like it. Similar to injeera but more subtle and less chewy. Fantastic. Great waiter from Malabar who loved talking to us about his home and culture.
(4)Narasimha R.
I was visiting Minneapolis and looking for a good South Indian restaurant and found it on Yelp. This is a really genuine Kerala style restaurant. I had the Idi appam: very fresh and genuine. The owner was very helpful and went out of the way to create a special appetizer platter for me. He also made a very genuine "thair sadam" on my request. Plus I was able to use my Yelp discount as well. I would go again.
(4)Michael B.
Just passing by looked appealing from the outside so dropped in for lunch. I'd forgotten how great south Indian food is and this place really does it well. I had the Palappam with egg curry and my friends had buriyanis. The server was great, explaining the spices used and the history of the region's food. We all enjoyed it and will be back!!
(5)Thuy N.
I totally understand this is a relatively new restaurant and still has a lot to work on. Service was slow, because there is only one chef in the kitchen who cooks everything from scratch, and one server. However, they were all super nice and polite so that made up for it. And thinking about Indian food, I feel like I need to enjoy it in a slow, relaxing ambience so I didn't mind that so much, even though watching people who came in after you finish their dinner before getting your food wasn't reasonable. The food's flavor was really good, however, it was a shame that it was cold when it came out. I ordered the samosas, and caribean sea special, which included fried fish, fish curry and Indian fried bread. The only thing that was hot was the fried fish and the bread, which came after I have finished half of my meal. Enjoyed my visit for the most part, and really hope this review would find the owner. He cooks good food, just needs to work on manage the place better.
(3)Rachel F.
service is slow but food is worth it. Seriously, don't go if you're in a hurry. Menu is kinda limited, but it's a really small place so that's expected. I've had/tried a few of the dishes and each has been great. Yuca side is really, really good (not fried!). they have a livingsocial going on too, fyi
(4)Matt R.
Great food, great service (very informative, thanks!) Biriyani was light and delicious. Can't wait to go again.
(5)Arun R.
Being from Kerala , India, I would like to let others know that this is one of the most authentic Kerala food that you will get in Minneapolis. For those who want to try Kerala food, try "Palappam and Potato Stew" for Vegetarians. Try "Palappam and chicken curry or Palappam and beef ulathiyathu" for non-vegetarians. It is a small, not so fancy place and low on staff as well. However you get really good food. I recommend this place.!!
(4)S W.
The good: freshness and quality. You simply can't get better more "made just for you" excellence in South Indian food in town. The vada and accompanying chutney are superior, the main dishes are not generic. You even get your yellow cabbage side, just like any Indian Restaurant anywhere outside of MN I've ever been, so if you miss that, you're in for a treat. As mentioned, I don't think you can purchase a better piece of down-home legitimately fantastic regional Indian food since the tiny Hyderabadi place that was completely doomed in NE closed. The bad: I'm not sure the best-of factor will actually have me choosing this place often. If you're like me, (spoiled at the buffet troughs like the next American) you may appreciate what you have, but when you're eating great vada think "wow, I wish I had a giant dosa fanning out like it's ready for takeoff from my plate right now." I also feel like I should have requested a lot of hot, something that my mushroom curry would have stood up to. Come on, do we really have to make "Blaine" the default setting on everything? We're in Cedar Riverside, last I looked! I'm depressed. Also, the apps are in line with small plate midrange dining versus what you might be expecting - watch that price for serving size factor. I hate to admit this, but the good-enough of Surabhi actually worked better for me than the 'better than everything else" of Malabari Kitchen. 4.99 for two vada is a little rich for my blood. What's happening to me, too much time on Yelp? The not-ugly: Cute and clean inside. AC. Actually decorated. Cool menus. Definitely above par to the usual down-home excellence of a family run "this is my beautiful obscure cuisine" ambience.
(4)Virginie N.
Went here for the first time earlier this week for dinner. The owner of the store was very informative when we asked him but we should order because of her first I'm sure you could tell he was really passionate about his food and country . We ordered two chai tea lentil curry and one of those rice dishes account number and called . Overall the food was really good and it was a steal or wholemeal was I think two under $25
(5)Sathya K.
Went to Malabari after getting the living social vouchers for an appetizer, two sandwiches, and two drinks. Was very excited to try the dishes, but it as one disaster after another. We sat around and waited for most of two hours. The appitizer came 40 minutes into out wait, and the sandwiches arrived and hour and a half into out wait, and they forgot that we also ordered chai. At the end of the three hours we were irate that the mostly Indian tables got all the attention, while we were sitting around watching. Please don't go to this restaurant, even the customers who got takeout were waiting for an hour before their food came out. If you do decide to take the risk and go, make sure it is on a weekday, when we were told the service was better. Most other restaurants at least comp you another appetizer, or a drink during especially long waits. Not only were we not offered any such thing, they brought out our piping hot chai minutes before we just left because the wait was getting ridiculous. Ideally they would have brought it out during the wait to make it a little more enjoyable. The chai was good, but even good food is not worth a three hour wait. Service aside the food wasn't exceptional, but it wasn't bad either.
(1)Erin L.
I'll be back. Clean, comfortable atmosphere in the heart of Cedar Riverside. This is a great spot to visit before you catch a show at The Cedar or during your lunch break at the U. The Chef (owner?) visited our table to explain his award-winning dishes and offer recommendations. He was proud, welcoming, and knowledgeable. I ordered the mini samosas and Pallapam with egg curry. I didn't love the mini samosas... not as much as full-sized samosas anyways. The Pallapam was good, but not great. It was the spicier of the 2 options (potato stew or egg curry), and it wasn't nearly spiced enough for me (and I'm not a spicy-flavor fiend). All in all, I was very happy, the food was good enough that I'll go back, but I will try something different for sure.
(4)Abdullah B.
Nice Indian food. Everything that we ordered was cooked just right. I will come back the next time we are in the city.
(4)Jennifer S.
Want to bring along your own bottle of wine? Make sure to call this place first because they employ some "minors". We were allowed to open our bottle this time and they made sure the "minor" did not provide us with any service. While wine glasses were brought to us, they were dirty and we asked for different glasses. The next pair brought to us were also dirty. After we pointed this out, the host removed all the glasses and then returned a pair to us, freshly washed. We ordered a few items off their daily specials menu and enjoyed it all. We had some leftovers and were provided with plastic containers to bring home the remainders. We each ordered a mango lassi and I found it a bit too sweet - tasted like it could have been from a "mix". I've had better elsewhere.
(3)David R.
My overall score for Malabari Kitchen is 3.5 stars. I would give the food, which was refreshingly light and aromatic, 4 stars. However, Malabari loses a point on service and environment. The staff was not visible when I arrived, and the dining room smelled of cooking oil - as if the kitchen were not properly ventilated. 15 minutes after I ordered a different staff person asked if I had been helped. Had they forgotten my order? That said, the food tasted and FELT good - a welcome change from the heavy North Indian fare at other Twin Cities Indian restaurants. I'll go back for the food, but the service would have to improve for me to visit on a regular basis.
(3)Ed G.
Service was good, but slow. I thought the decor was a bit too simple - hard chairs, not much decoration, etc. We ordered the fish, which came out very dry. I would have put up with it, but at $50 for two people, I thought it was a bit pricey. I'm not that picky, but when all you get to drink is water - well that does not help. This can best be described as an Indian "hole in the wall". Oh yes - if you like Samosas, theirs are good, but are about the size of a "cheerio".
(2)Subhajit M.
Awesome food. If you want real Kerala food and appam, this is the place. I was pleasantly surprised on the authenticity. Over the last 20 years in USA, this is probably the best food I had along with super friendly service. The price is very reasonable and a very casual place with friendly smile. I would recommend this to everyone, being a good cook and have a feel of good cooking, I am blown away by the menu, this is very different from the typical so called indian restaurants which serve creamy and yogurt based creamy entrees which are not really indian food, try the fish pakora as appetizer and soft shell crab
(5)Rowena N.
During lunch break AfroDeli was bustling and line was out the door, so I decide to venture off down the block to see what other restaurants to try out. Saw this on Yelp and decide to check it out. Unlike some of the reviews here, I had the most positive experience here with service. The owner was quick to seat us and offer us water/menu. He provided us recommendations and even told us brief history as to how the dishes from this Malabar region are unique and may be different from the indian food I had before. He was right. Being an indecisive person, the 50/50 sandwich was up my alley as it is a mixture of both mushroom sauté and marinated chicken. It came with two chutneys (one sweet and another mint and hint of heat) and this was GOOD. As in I inappropriately start picking then eating mouthful of sandwich although my company did not get his meal yet (sorry!). Savory doughnuts were also delicious. I did not read reviews that noted they are savory and not sweet. But regardless they were like mini flavor bombs. They are actually quite 'mini'. As in i could put it on my finger as a ring. They also came with a tiny sample cup size chutney. So, this is more like a sampler. Beef Ularthiyathu. It came with some sort of spiced soup and option of rice or yucca mash. We decide to try the mash instead. Texture like mashed potatoes with a few stringy fibers from the root, but nevertheless delicious. Beef was pretty substantial with chunks of ginger. Heat bomb. Mango lassi - likely sweetened, milky, and tastes like fresh mango. Definitely would get this again. SO far, I would say this is the best version I had in the city. Overall, awesome experience. From what I observed, the owner served tables very quickly. He was very helpful and offered to provide brief historical summary of the area, telling us about how mosque/churches are older there than vatican and such. Will definitely be back. P.S. Get the yelp deal for $5 off.
(5)Prachi Z.
This place deserves Five stars for the best, freshest, most authentic Keralite cuisine. It also deserves 1 star because the owner is also the chef and server, slowing things down considerably. But the food send you to a place in heaven after which you do not want to complain about things like a 90 min wait :) Had the biryani and fish trio (cassava with two types of fish) -- both were great!
(3)Divya M.
We came in 30 minutes after he was closed but the owner still welcomed us seeing we were starving and prepared the best vegetable Biryani I have eaten in a long time! The owner was super friendly and very kind. Food was as tasty as a home cooked delicious meal! I would recommend this place to everyone in the area!
(5)Jagadheshwar B.
Best biryani in town , ever!!! We ordered mirchi bajji and fried plantains as appetizers and they were good too. Some of my friends ordered fish fry and they loved it. Also, the portions are huge. This place is totally worth a visit. Also, the owner of the restaurant was very kind and is originally from kerala. He was explaining the way they make their biryanis without added colors and Msg etc. He mentioned to us that this was a 4 generation old recipe that they follow and they make their own masala for biryani. Overall, I enjoyed my dinner here.
(5)Faith T.
I came on an early weekday evening & it was fairly quiet. Ambience & decor are nice for the location (Riverside area), and it was a nice, casual meal. Service is very friendly & though it's not the fastest, they give good recommendations. Very authentic & delicious Indian cuisine! I had the chicken biryani & liked it a lot. The portions are a good size. If you don't eat a ton (like me), you'll have plenty leftover! Half an entree was enough to fill me up. Also, try the chai! It's sweet, but full of spice - if you like that. They give 10% student discounts!! And they also do catering etc. I will definitely be coming back here, often.
(5)Ann Marie G.
Tiny samosas were delicious it was my first time having the lentil doughnuts with coconut sauce. They're really good at helping pick your food. The mango drink was super refreshing. The service was speedy and we had a party of six. Parking was easy street parking.
(4)Nahila A.
What a gem! I've been here a couple of times and can't get enough of their food. At first glance, the serving size for some of the dishes is a little disappointing, but you have to know that this isn't just any Indian restaurant. Malabari food is a specialty food and is a type of food and flavor you can't just find at any Indian restaurant. The cooking style and flavors are truly unique. I have a friend who grew up in Malabar/Kerala and said this food is pretty much like the food from back home, so you are truly paying for good cooking and a good experience. The owner is really nice and is the one who took our order. We ordered the chicken biriyani, onion fritters (ulli pakoda), and the Beef Ularthiyathu (which is stir fried beef with spices in a very light gravy) with a porotta and chapati. To top it off, we had their creamy, frothy spiced chai. It is one of the best chais I've ever had, and I think of it everyday #obsession On a previous visit, I've had their koon (mushroom) theyal curry and uzunnu vada (savory donuts),which were very good. The food hear is flavorful and some dishes are very spicy. I know everyone has different preferences for flavor and spice, so make sure you communicate this with the staff because they make everything to order. Everything I had was good, so try to go with friend and try to get a couple of dishes to try. The biriyani is a must as it is made and served in the traditional way. If you want something from the region that is not on the menu, like the porotta among other things, call ahead of time and talk to them, they may be able to make it. Easily reachable by bus (22, 2, 16, 7, etc.) and light rail. The place is pretty small, so don't go with a big group. I love the place and plan to go back, but think the owner needs to change some things to draw more business and improve the place. I think the owner should get rid of the "Southeast Asia" sign from the previous restaurant because it is misleading and a little sad. He should also change up the tables and seating in the restaurant to make the layout more comfortable and open (maybe get rid of those big tables and get a few smaller ones). And one last thing, he should try to stay open late on some days to draw the late night crowds who study, go to the bars, attend shows, etc. I know I'd go here more if it was open later. What a long review, so if you don't want to read it all, just know everything here is a good and know it is really worth going to since it's a unique regional specialty and you won't find this anywhere else :).
(5)Sarah H.
Man, I need to check out the Cedar Ave area more often for the eats. Malabari Kitchen features Southern Indian cuisine and the owner is extremely friendly. He is full of information about the region, how Southern Indian cuisine differs from Northern Indian cuisine, how the region changed since he was a child, etc etc. We tried the 50/50 sandwich, which is made of mushrooms and chicken. The sandwich was a decent size, especially for the low price tag of $5.99! The two dipping sauces were fantastic. The brown sauce is spicy and the green sauce is really fresh tasting. We also tried the mini samosas. When they say mini, they really are mini, but full of flavor. The fried plantains have a nice crisp crust, made from chickpea flour. I believe everything here is battered in chickpea flour, making the items gluten-free. The crust was FANTASTIC. Mmmm. My only complaint is that the service was a bit slow, especially since there was only one other table full when we arrived and only one table when we left. All and all, it's been a great experience.
(4)Grahame B.
Great little Indian restaurant that you might miss because it's so small. And if you do miss it, it'll be your loss. My girlfriend and I got lunch there recently because we had a Groupon. We walked in, and the guy working there was really nice and welcoming. He took our order and invited us to sit at a table while he started preparing the food. He also brought us some water, which we didn't expect. Shortly before the food arrived he warned us that because it was takeout, the bread might be a little soggy. The fact that he even thought to warn us of that made me think, "This guy cares. And that's awesome." So we got home, and treated ourselves to some amazing chicken and mushroom pita sandwiches. It was really great food, and I'll absolutely give them my money again and again.
(4)Nitin M.
This by far is the most authentic Indian coastal food that one could possibly find in minneapolis area. The food is great, the owner Biju and chef Arun are gem of people who treat their customers well. My family enjoyed their hospitality at last night dinner and we will go their again. Great to see this small joint and hope they do good business in this location.
(5)Janet E.
Absolutely delicious - local south Indian home cooking - incredible flavors you will not get in a typical Indian restaurant. Absolutely recommend!
(4)Kiran T.
Best in town for Biriyani lovers.
(5)Carolyn B.
Just went to the Malabari kitchen last night - what a find! It's a small restaurant with great servers (owner? ).The smells were fragrant and the food was delicious!!! I had the chicken and mushroom sandwich and it was wonderful. A good healthy portion and very tasty for only $5.99! And I've never had plantains like this - and I think it's my favorite.
(5)Danny U.
Pretty good food. Expect to wait a while for your food if it is busy and busy means that there are more than 7 people in the restaurant. It's a hole in the wall type place. I liked the food, but because of the service, I am not sure if much would drive me back to this place. It's unfortunate because it's seems like the food is authentic and pretty good.
(3)Soni P.
Pretty good! The beef ularthayithu had all the right spices and plenty of coconut (which could have been a LITTLE fresher, however). I was skeptical that a Mpls restaurant would serve anything like Kerala food, but it's really quite authentic. NB: If your idea of Indian food is "samosa's" (with an apostrophe making them plural) you should probably eat elsewhere.
(4)David G.
While waiting for the show to begin at the Cedar Cultural Center, I popped over to the Malabari Kitchen next door. The first thing on the menu that caught my attention was the Mahi Mahi in a red curry sauce. When I went to order it the server told me that they did not have Mahi, but use kingfish instead. Since nothing on the menu really appealed to me, I went ahead and ordered it. The owner was the one that served it to me, which I thought was a nice touch. It tasted great, but there was very little fish in it. The side dish, some kind of Indian potatoes, was not bad. I would have given this establishment a better rating but the portions were so small for the price, I kind of felt cheated in a way. If I was some anorexic chick with one of those psychosomatic food allergies (gluten intolerance) I would probably rave about this restaurant. I never did see my server again after I ordered, that is until the check came. I did see her back in the kitchen gossiping and feeding her face. Also if you're going list Mahi Mahi on the menu, then you should have it in stock or have the menus reprinted. I have noticed that their online menu does not list it.
(3)Cailin R.
We got takeout here and while the food was delicious, the portions were incredibly small and they forgot an integral part of the meal. We ended up having to go get more food later (this time from a different place). I don't think I'd go back here, especially since Afro deli is so close and much better.
(2)Sam E.
We almost missed it because the sign out front says "South Asian Kitchen" or something, but thankfully we found our way. It was so cold that we were the only customers in the whole restaurant, and got excellent service from the Amazing Sleeping Hostess, who was somehow able to fall asleep between moments when our table would need attention. She had great recommendations and everything was delicious. I especially enjoyed the lentil donuts and chicken tikka.
(5)Krish M.
I can't believe that I have been preferring some of the other mediocre Indian restaurants over this gem of a place. We got the chilli pakora for starters and they were really fresh and amazing. Spicy, but delicious. We also got the palappam with potato curry, Paruppu(Lentil) curry and the vegetable biryani. Portions were generous and everything tasted really fresh and amazing. They were short staffed and the service was a bit slow, but the food makes up for it. Since they make everything fresh, food does come out slow.. We ended our meal with a chai, which was over the top. Truly an amazing dining experience. The place is small, so don't go with a big group.. I can't wait to go back...
(5)Joel R.
We had a great time at this little hole in the wall. They have a fermented coconut rice flour flat bread that you really should try - I'd never had anything like it. Similar to injeera but more subtle and less chewy. Fantastic. Great waiter from Malabar who loved talking to us about his home and culture.
(4)Charlie B.
Anyone who tries to convince you this place is good is not looking out for your best interest. SLOW waiter, water in a Dixie cup, no samosa's. I tried the chicken curry and some spicy beef thing, backed by naan, rice, and a mango lassie. It's a small business so I really wanted to give it a good review, however I cannot lie. I have nothing funny or crass to say, it just sucked.
(1)Barath K.
This place had very good authentic Indian food in the tradition of Kerala.
(5)Narasimha R.
I was visiting Minneapolis and looking for a good South Indian restaurant and found it on Yelp. This is a really genuine Kerala style restaurant. I had the Idi appam: very fresh and genuine. The owner was very helpful and went out of the way to create a special appetizer platter for me. He also made a very genuine "thair sadam" on my request. Plus I was able to use my Yelp discount as well. I would go again.
(4)Michael B.
Just passing by looked appealing from the outside so dropped in for lunch. I'd forgotten how great south Indian food is and this place really does it well. I had the Palappam with egg curry and my friends had buriyanis. The server was great, explaining the spices used and the history of the region's food. We all enjoyed it and will be back!!
(5)Whitney G.
I have to say, this is the best Chicken Tikka Masala I've had, hands down. Our waitress was incredibly sweet and attentive. Simply because of the limited amount of space, it does get chilly when the door opens and closes. The samosas were a little smaller than we expected when they came out, but the size of the entrees more than compensated for that. **Please note, they are not open on Mondays, and I would double check their hours before heading in. LivingSocial/Crowd Cut/Groupon doesn't tell you this.**
(4)Rachel F.
service is slow but food is worth it. Seriously, don't go if you're in a hurry. Menu is kinda limited, but it's a really small place so that's expected. I've had/tried a few of the dishes and each has been great. Yuca side is really, really good (not fried!). they have a livingsocial going on too, fyi
(4)Matt R.
Great food, great service (very informative, thanks!) Biriyani was light and delicious. Can't wait to go again.
(5)Thuy N.
I totally understand this is a relatively new restaurant and still has a lot to work on. Service was slow, because there is only one chef in the kitchen who cooks everything from scratch, and one server. However, they were all super nice and polite so that made up for it. And thinking about Indian food, I feel like I need to enjoy it in a slow, relaxing ambience so I didn't mind that so much, even though watching people who came in after you finish their dinner before getting your food wasn't reasonable. The food's flavor was really good, however, it was a shame that it was cold when it came out. I ordered the samosas, and caribean sea special, which included fried fish, fish curry and Indian fried bread. The only thing that was hot was the fried fish and the bread, which came after I have finished half of my meal. Enjoyed my visit for the most part, and really hope this review would find the owner. He cooks good food, just needs to work on manage the place better.
(3)Arun R.
Being from Kerala , India, I would like to let others know that this is one of the most authentic Kerala food that you will get in Minneapolis. For those who want to try Kerala food, try "Palappam and Potato Stew" for Vegetarians. Try "Palappam and chicken curry or Palappam and beef ulathiyathu" for non-vegetarians. It is a small, not so fancy place and low on staff as well. However you get really good food. I recommend this place.!!
(4)Teresa P.
This is not your typical Indian cuisine. It's specialties from the Malabar region of India, which is coastal. The man who served us (I think it may have been the owner) was very informative and friendly. He gave me the suggestion to have the Meen Moily with Palappam, and it was spectacular. I've never had a coconut-based curry like this-- there were bits of ginger and peppercorns that give it extra pops of flavor. We also had the goat Biriyani, which was equally delicious. If I lived in Minneapolis, I would most definitely be a regular here. What a gem.
(5)Michael L.
I love this place. Every time I'm in the twin cities I eat here. Glad I found it on here on yelp and tried it out! Pros: Delicious food! Egg curry, chicken tikka masala, biriyani, spinach pakodas. It's all awesome. Great service! Everytime I've been there the server has been the soft spoken, incredibly nice, and informative server (owner?). I really like the location and interior. I really like small mom and pop places. Cons: They do not have a Oklahoma city branch. Unless you know something I don't know. (please tell me!) I've had a great experience here every time. Highly recommended.
(5)Michelle G.
Really bad. I mean have you been to an Indian restaurant before? This food was so bad. My mushroom curry was flavorless. My boyfriend's had some beef dish and he really liked it. The onion fritters are TASTELESS. And I've never ever ever been to an Indian restaurant where the naan was not homemade. Omggg so disappointing. And yea the service is absolutely awful but I could get past that. I heard the couple behind me say"I mean, it's just FLAVORLESS!" Do.not.go.here .
(2)John C.
Been back a few more times, and they've everything I had ever complained about Malabari has been fixed. Recently had the Goat Biriyani, which was very good, but a bit more bone for my spoiled American tastes. Most of the world eats dishes where the meat is attached to bone and fat, where they eat the fat and spit out the bone, but while I like to think of myself as sophisticated, bone I just don't have a stomach for. The Fried Fish sticks appetizer was excellent. One of the best things about this place are the succulent sides and sauces served along with the dishes, very robust.
(5)Abdullah B.
Nice Indian food. Everything that we ordered was cooked just right. I will come back the next time we are in the city.
(4)Jay V.
Enda Guruvayarappa :)- this place is beyond amazing!!! Apart from the fact that it's a hole in the wall, the chefs are magical here- the food tastes heavenly. The chai is authentic and to die for Apetizers are great and I'm waiting for appams and a to go order. I couldn't stop myself from writing reviews while I was waiting If you are in twin cities swing by and check this out- trust me you won't get disappointed
(5)Jennifer S.
Want to bring along your own bottle of wine? Make sure to call this place first because they employ some "minors". We were allowed to open our bottle this time and they made sure the "minor" did not provide us with any service. While wine glasses were brought to us, they were dirty and we asked for different glasses. The next pair brought to us were also dirty. After we pointed this out, the host removed all the glasses and then returned a pair to us, freshly washed. We ordered a few items off their daily specials menu and enjoyed it all. We had some leftovers and were provided with plastic containers to bring home the remainders. We each ordered a mango lassi and I found it a bit too sweet - tasted like it could have been from a "mix". I've had better elsewhere.
(3)Rhea S.
I say fail. We had a group on and so I understand they were INCREDIBLY busy with the expiration date the weekend we went. We went without a reservation and they told us it would be a 30min wait. They said they would call us when our table was ready. So we went to the hiking store to pick up something. 40 minutes later, they still hadn't called us. We blew it off and went somewhere else. They never called! The next day we made a reservation and tried again to use the group on. We ended up having to jump the car so we were late and the roads were terrible. So once we finally got there we had to share a table with another group. The restaurant is SO small, so it is necessary to share tables. They mostly have large banquet tables. It still took 15 minutes after we sat down at the front table nearest to the kitchen to get our orders taken. The chai was cold and at the bottom of my cup was a few tablespoons of the mix. The appetizer was fried and bland. It took nearly 2 hours for all the food to come. It was ok, but not terrific and doesn't make up for slow service. They are new-ish to the area, but I would not go there again. The dessert was very good though-a carrot medley.
(1)Brianna D.
It's places like this that make me swoon over how awesome Minneapolis and our restaurateurs are. I love visiting NYC and Chicago and great cities with small intimate places that care about what they're serving you versus the scene, and this was just that in the heart of our city. We started with lentil cakes, and moved on to our entrees of mahi mahi and mussel fry - all 3 delightful, filled with flavor, both rather spicy but so delicious it didn't matter and they provided me (mussel dish) with a yogurt blend to take down the heat. The wait for our food wasn't too long and we were there on a Saturday night. All food ordered was gluten free for me, as I'm a Celiac. I didn't have any problems here. The staff was warm and attentive. The atmosphere calm and unpretentious. We will be back. Our favorite Indian food in Minneapolis!
(5)Angela A.
Yesterday was my second visit to Malabari Kitchen, and I was just as pleased the first time as the second. This is exactly the tiny, cozy, hidden-gem kind of place I love to have in my arsenal for fun places to go -- especially since I follow a gluten free diet and the bulk of the items here are GF!!! WOO-HOOOO. Seriously, it's the best thing ever. For lunch we ordered a chicken Biriani, which was enough to take home and enjoy for dinner. The spices were sublime -- subtle but so flavorful. We also ordered an egg curry with a type of fermented rice pancake. The curry was just the right amount of kick, and the pancakes were something I'd never tried before -- slightly sweet, a bit doughy, the perfect complement to the curry. We started the meal with an app, a kind of fried spinach dumpling (?) with 2 delicious dipping sauces. I drank the house chai, which was sweet and milky and perfect for a cold January day. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant! If you're concerned about the poor reviews here, go during lunch! We were the only people in the restaurant and everything we ordered was personally suggested by the manager/owner. A great example of the beautiful diversity of Mpls eating establishments!
(5)Dave K.
We had visited there last winter. Severely disappointed. Waited forever for that part of the order that we actually got. What arrived at our table tasted okay but small, small portions. Frustratingly they were much more focused on their takeout and delivery customers it seemed. They got their food fast while we waited and waited and waited. Plus it was freezing in there. I don't like giving anyone a bad review but this place merits one.
(1)Sharon C.
Due to having a groupon my friend and I stopped by .... impressive look and cleanliness .. very friendly staff .... upon learning we were late to a class we did take-out. Three hours later we warmed it up and ate it. IT WAS DELICIOUS. Just like Grahame B on 2/25 ... we thoroughly enjoyed the Chicken and mushroom pita sandwiches ! AND - I enjoyed putting the sauce on my dinner tonight ! Right next to Cedar Cultural Center ... stop by and enjoy this great little place before your next concert !
(5)Bandana G.
The food was very flavorful and different from other Indian restaurants. It was delicious. I ordered one of their specialties the Palappam and the server suggested I try it with chicken curry instead of what was listed on the menu. It tasted really good. The palappam are made of fermented rice and taste very different but good (I posted a picture). My friend ordered the Fish curry (they had king fish that day). The curry tasted very different and it was delicious. Definitely suggest trying it. The curries are served with fermented rice (for a lack of better name comparison) bread (please see pic I posted to see what it looks like). This was something I had never tried before and definitely enjoyed it. Their portion is a little small compared to other Indian restaurants. It was the perfect amount but for the Indian restaurant regulars it will look a little small. The server was very helpful giving suggestions and answering questions and very cheerful. It's a small place with just 6 tables but when we were there it got full pretty fast and the service got a little slow. Probably because it looked like a one man show. We saw some people working in the kitchen but it looked like our server was running the show, taking orders at all tables, bringing the food out, working the register, and it looked like he was involved in the cooking too. Felt kind of bad for him as you could see he was doing his best. But I can also see this getting a little frustrating for some people as we had to wait a while to get our bill.
(4)Samreen S.
I rated this restaurant 5 stars regardless of the wait time about 4 months ago.. but I have to drop a star now. First off, I ordered online to pick up and they messed up one entree in the order for which I had to wait another 20 minutes. I ordered meen moily (salmon curry) and they made shrimp curry instead. No such apologies or compensation for messing up. Secondly, their biryani never had any raisins and cashews but suddenly now it does. It didn't taste bad but just not the same as it used to be. Plus, the owners of this restaurant should list out the ingredients, especially if someone has nut allergies or like me, someone who dispises nuts in biryani! Their biryani has also decreased in size.. I remember the tray used to be full. The egg curry used to be thicker too. Their restaurant still seems a bit haphazardly managed. Too bad because the food is still really good. The bathroom situation is also odd. You have to go through the kitchen and down the stairs to get to it. A couple came in, the man went to the bathroom, came back up and the couple left. Not sure if he didn't like what he saw when he passed the kitchen. And I don't think I want to know. :)
(4)Jeff G.
Wow, this was great food. I had the Kozhi curry, which was awesome. I got to try some of the Chicken Biryani, which was equally awesome. I asked for the Kozhi curry extra spicy, and they did not hold back. My mouth is on fire and I am one of these freaks that enjoys his mouth being on fire. the Chicken Biryani had a kick too and we didn't ask for it. That's a plus in my book. As an added bonus, I am STUFFED. Everything got eaten. Even the bread. I honestly couldn't be happier with that meal.
(5)Sathya K.
Went to Malabari after getting the living social vouchers for an appetizer, two sandwiches, and two drinks. Was very excited to try the dishes, but it as one disaster after another. We sat around and waited for most of two hours. The appitizer came 40 minutes into out wait, and the sandwiches arrived and hour and a half into out wait, and they forgot that we also ordered chai. At the end of the three hours we were irate that the mostly Indian tables got all the attention, while we were sitting around watching. Please don't go to this restaurant, even the customers who got takeout were waiting for an hour before their food came out. If you do decide to take the risk and go, make sure it is on a weekday, when we were told the service was better. Most other restaurants at least comp you another appetizer, or a drink during especially long waits. Not only were we not offered any such thing, they brought out our piping hot chai minutes before we just left because the wait was getting ridiculous. Ideally they would have brought it out during the wait to make it a little more enjoyable. The chai was good, but even good food is not worth a three hour wait. Service aside the food wasn't exceptional, but it wasn't bad either.
(1)Justin S.
Went here on a whim after the USA vs. Belgium world cup match and got the fish curry. Good god it was delicious, and they're happy to make it spicy for you if you ask. This place is a great little hole in the wall joint and I'm definitely coming back.
(4)Virginie N.
Went here for the first time earlier this week for dinner. The owner of the store was very informative when we asked him but we should order because of her first I'm sure you could tell he was really passionate about his food and country . We ordered two chai tea lentil curry and one of those rice dishes account number and called . Overall the food was really good and it was a steal or wholemeal was I think two under $25
(5)Erin L.
I'll be back. Clean, comfortable atmosphere in the heart of Cedar Riverside. This is a great spot to visit before you catch a show at The Cedar or during your lunch break at the U. The Chef (owner?) visited our table to explain his award-winning dishes and offer recommendations. He was proud, welcoming, and knowledgeable. I ordered the mini samosas and Pallapam with egg curry. I didn't love the mini samosas... not as much as full-sized samosas anyways. The Pallapam was good, but not great. It was the spicier of the 2 options (potato stew or egg curry), and it wasn't nearly spiced enough for me (and I'm not a spicy-flavor fiend). All in all, I was very happy, the food was good enough that I'll go back, but I will try something different for sure.
(4)Jerry M.
Typical Kerala Restaurant. (Kerala is a southern state in India where Malabari Kitchen's menu belongs) My experience: Crab Curry (Njandu Curry) - 3.5/5 ( Very Spicy. Option of Chappathi, Rice etc as side which is free) Chicken Biriyani - 4.5/5 (Very Tasty. But don't expect typical Kerala Biriyani which has mainly Drumsticks and Thighs. This has shredded Chicken pieces.)
(4)Swetha A.
Excellent Mouth Watering Food .. Everything in menu looks different and tasted really good :)
(5)Sairam T.
Traditional Kerala food.Liked especially the pallapam with coconut milk and potato curry.My friends had those with Chicken and egg curry which they felt really yummy.The people who serve the food are really friendly named Biju and Bindhu. Everyone of us did enjoyed the food and it's quality.Really Really Yummy..Hole they maintain the same even if they have a gr8 demand.Keep up the quality and good taste guys! Would definitely recommend for someone who needs to try with some really yummy food.
(5)Pat H.
I ate here for lunch today and it was excellent! The potato stew with idi appam was full of flavor and well-spiced, and the rest of menu looked just as appetizing. My server (I think he was also the cook?) was very friendly and informative. But I was the only customer -- I hope other folks discover this place soon.
(5)Tracy B.
If I could rate the food separately it would have been 4 stars (1 less than 5 because of small portions and having to choose between rice or naan instead of having naan on the side) as the food was very tasty, unfortunately I am rating based on if I would suggest this as a restaurant, and that answer is no, at least not now. My family's experience involved having a reservation, yet waiting 20 min to order, 50 min until the teas were brought out, and an hour and a half before food came out. All of this coupled by extremely frigid temperatures because the space is small with no entryway so everytime the door opened a cold draft followed. Everyone sitting down to eat were still wearing their winter jackets, hats, scarves, etc. and at one point we could see our breath. The long waiting time was said to happen because a "living social" coupon expired that night. However, knowing this, they did not compensate with staff and had only one hostess, one waitress, one cook, and one dishwasher. I think this place has potential but seems to have opened before the bugs were worked out. Some suggestions to the establishment: 1) entryway/energy efficiency/or at least find a way to keep the place warm with heaters 2) overstaff when you know it's going to be extremely busy 3) train the waitstaff better. I've worked in restaurants as a server for over five years and the mistakes made were very basic and could be fixed with initial training: (ie. number the tables, number the tickets according to the tables, and have the waitresses write down orders. there's no shame in forgetting especially when it's busy, which is why writing orders is helpful. It literally took 10 minutes once at the register to pay as she couldn't figure out which table I was and assumed I was a "living social" customer when I was not which slowed it down further. 4) when overwhelmed and not providing adequate service to the customers already there, don't just keep taking more customers, go into contingency mode: call in more help as needed, and/or turn walk in service away with a coupon and apology if necessary.
(1)M K.
My order was completely wrong. The food was extremely oily / greasy!
(1)Gina A.
We went to this restaurant on a Saturday night and were very excited to try some delicious Indian food and to get out of our hot apartment. Unfortunately their air conditioning was not working so we received no respite. We also were very hungry as we hadn't eaten that much as we had been busy cleaning in the heat all day. We ordered some samosas to start with and a couple of lassis. It took about 30 min for the samosas and they were gone in about two seconds. But they were good. It took another 30 min for our main entrees. I ordered their specialty chicken curry- it was very watery and lacking the depth in spice and flavor I expect from Indian food. My husband ordered the mussels- which were extremely good. We finally received our lassis after every table after us received theirs. I think they forgot. All in all it was a hot, sticky, night there and a long wait for our food. Maybe we came on a wrong night, and everyone that worked there seemed very pleasant but I doubt we will be back.
(3)Kara S.
Wow! I am hosting a couple from India in a couple of weeks and am completely ignorant of Indian cuisine...with the exception of a curry my mother attempted when I was young. THAT left me with a distaste for anything resembling Indian curry. My friends from India are traveling with a bunch of Swedish Minnesotans who think that ketchup is spicy. They are in desperate need of good spicy food! As I am up for pretty much any kind of cooking, I started to research Indian restaurants so I could understand the taste profile a bit better. After reading lots of reviews for different restaurants, I chose Malabari Kitchen. The owner was very kind and helpful, offering suggestions and tips on how to eat the appams as well as helping us choose a couple different items. I am now a HUGE fan of Malabari Indian cuisine! We chose the Palappam with Potato Stew and also* Kozhi Curry (Traditional Spicy Malabari Chicken curry). Lovely complex sauces, a side veggie that was heavenly, nann that was out of this world, and tender chicken. All covered in a velvety curry sauce that wasn't heavy. I usually suffer a little from eating out because of the heavy oil laden sauces. This time I felt healthy! Based on the reviews about this place, we ordered the chai tea and were instantly hooked. After lunch, the owner brought out a little cup of dessert. Fantastic! The cardamom dessert was fresh and tasty! We will be back, next time with friends. oh...and we made a beeline for the nearest Indian grocery-simply because I MUST have more of this wonderful cuisine and we live too far away to be regulars here.
(5)Aishwarya S.
The most delicious and authentic Kerala food in the Twin Cities!!!And a huge relief from regular North Indian greasy fare which is the only form of Indian food I have so far tasted in town. I can personally vouch for the authenticity since I'm from the same state and city that Biju (the owner) is from, back in India. I would highly recommend the tapioca and fish curry combo. Finger-licking good! Yum!
(5)Brendan T.
Cashew rolls! Wow are those good. Shrimp curry also excellent but sadly two things keep this four star despite the great food. One, portion size and two, hands down the most outrageously slow service regardless of whether take out or dining in.
(4)S W.
The good: freshness and quality. You simply can't get better more "made just for you" excellence in South Indian food in town. The vada and accompanying chutney are superior, the main dishes are not generic. You even get your yellow cabbage side, just like any Indian Restaurant anywhere outside of MN I've ever been, so if you miss that, you're in for a treat. As mentioned, I don't think you can purchase a better piece of down-home legitimately fantastic regional Indian food since the tiny Hyderabadi place that was completely doomed in NE closed. The bad: I'm not sure the best-of factor will actually have me choosing this place often. If you're like me, (spoiled at the buffet troughs like the next American) you may appreciate what you have, but when you're eating great vada think "wow, I wish I had a giant dosa fanning out like it's ready for takeoff from my plate right now." I also feel like I should have requested a lot of hot, something that my mushroom curry would have stood up to. Come on, do we really have to make "Blaine" the default setting on everything? We're in Cedar Riverside, last I looked! I'm depressed. Also, the apps are in line with small plate midrange dining versus what you might be expecting - watch that price for serving size factor. I hate to admit this, but the good-enough of Surabhi actually worked better for me than the 'better than everything else" of Malabari Kitchen. 4.99 for two vada is a little rich for my blood. What's happening to me, too much time on Yelp? The not-ugly: Cute and clean inside. AC. Actually decorated. Cool menus. Definitely above par to the usual down-home excellence of a family run "this is my beautiful obscure cuisine" ambience.
(4)Ashley A.
This place was amazing. Small and tucked away just off of riverside drive, it was definitely the highlight of the day. Our server was extremely knowledgable and helpful in recommendations. He was very friendly and more than willing to tell us about where the dish originated from as well as giving some history and personal background and experiences. Both guys that we saw and served were grand; genuine and friendly. And the food was spectacular; hot, delicious authentic and unique. I have every intention of returning! Keep it up!!
(5)Sidharth S.
Amazing!! I am surprised that it took me 2+ months to find this place!! A little piece of my homeland right here in WINTERFELL! The food is authentic, well prepared and full of the awesome flavors of south western tip of India known as Kerala for all of you. I loved the food and also took my American friends who were glad they came and have thanked me a million times. In fact we got them to cater for our school function and everyone was smacking their lips and coming for 3 more servings.. Really good food, the service is still improving as they are an extremely small establishment so lets give the time and encouragement for that. If you are interested to chill relax wait for the awesome food in a really small place that is BYOB go here.. if you were not just looking for that please go elsewhere... :)
(5)Michelle V.
Hallelujah!! Best Indian food we've had since moving to MN from the Bay Area, CA. Just thrilled to find this place. Flavors are well balanced & fresh....just yum!
(4)Ameena R.
I was so frustrated and really really unhappy when I visited the restaurant yesterday night. I went with two other friends of mine craving for Malabari food. (I am from Kerala, a pure Malabari :) ) I was really surprised to see that none of the food ordered tasted like the Malabari/Kerala food. Being a foodie, I found that Beef Ularthiyathu (Beef fry) was Beef Curry made with Ketchup and a mixture of other spices. I could taste ketchup so clearly you know. Kallummakaaya (clam stir fried) was not cooked well. It tasted so raw that I had to spit it out on to my plate. We ordered the so called Malabari chicken biriyani which was really flavorless and consisted of small one-inch six pieces of chicken breasts not even marinated with the biriyani flavor. Ordered palappam around three sets, half of which came out undone and half of which came really thin. The consistency of the Palappam batter should be thick enough. I could make out that it was made of a watery batter than a pure medium consistency batter. First we ordered only three dishes. We thought other dishes would be good enough and only the first ordered stuffs were not so good. So we gave it another try. Next ones ordered were Egg Curry, and Fish Curry with Chapathis. Omg, I don't know how to say this, Egg Curry was Egg immersed in some veg curry. And Fish Curry was fish immersed in the rest of the veg curry with kokum or tamarind for sure. Chapathis were worse than Tortillas. SO hard and so thick. Ordered Uzhunnu vada which was so small, came out really pathetic. It seemed that it was the ones we get frozen at the indian stores. Gosh! First time I went to this restaurant was almost 8-10 months back. I was so impressed that I always kept it as an option to go to when I crave for my homely Kerala food which I love to the core. But now, I see not even one Malayali/Malabari/Keralite was cooking out there and the food was horrible. Any basic Malayali who goes there would never ever go back. Because its not worth the money. The dishes were sooo less that I can guarantee you that I would get better food in Kerala on the streets which we call Thattu kada. Its such a pity! ALL IN ALL I WOULD SAY THAT THE QUANTITY OF FOOD SERVED TO SATISFY A HUMAN BEING's HUNGER is very very less. One small saucer of curry is $16 without any flavor or taste. I would be glad to be even $100 if the food was tasty enough and the quantity was better. I think the folks should learn from other Indian restaurants around here in Minneapolis. WILL NEVER EVER GO THERE AGAIN - BY A SAD MALABARI
(1)Prabhakar K.
Awesome! I visited this city for couple of days and had no idea abt any restaurant and luckily ran into this one. I tried mini samosa, mini chicken samosa, idi appam with potato stew. All were delicious especially potato stew! Cook "Cody" was awesome and super polite. Must try! :)
(5)K H.
The food tasted okay, but the portions were so tiny. My friend and I ordered fish and we were both served about 1/4 of a fish. I think they are trying to make money off of the groupon. Really, people?
(2)Eva D.
The samosas are tasty. The chicken biryani left a lot to be desired including the chicken it seemed to be missing. Service is okay and the venue is a dive. I typically like dives but think there are better Indian offerings in the twin cities.
(3)Pravin R.
We went there few weeks ago, mainly because of the craving I had for the Parippu (Dal ) wada. It was awesome when I had for the first time. To begin with, they ran out of the batter by 6PM on Friday even though the Restaurant was not busy so far. The owner suggested Medu (Uzunnu) Vada with sambhar curry instead of chutney, and charged me extra $ per plate the sambhar alone. I never expected this as other Indian restaurants give you unlimited orders of sambhar and chutney for free. The soft-shell crab curry was disappointing. The crab was so tiny that seemed like a new born. It was not tasty either. The price of $12.99 for that was not justified, if you compare a soft shell crab dish with full size crab for about the same price at the Pennisula Malaysian Restaurant. One of us was a pure vegeterian and could not take anything hot (spicy). All she could order was egg curry and the Maitre promised to make it milder with extra coconut milk. We thought that was a good plan but yet the curry was too hot to eat. Last time we went there the Meen Molly had more than 4 jumbo shrimps. This time it had only 2. That was disappointing. On the positive note, Palappam, the wok shaped crisp pancake, was a novelty and delicious. The chicken curry was still the best. The tea was good. Cashew rolls were good too. Considering the portions size being reduced, I felt this place is bit pricey for the "hole in the wall" ambiance. When we left the place, we realized that our clothes enjoyed the aroma more than we did. ;-p
(2)Paul Z.
Although a whitebread guy myself I was born and raised in Kerala and Tamilnadu, and so think I recognize good South Indian food. My wife and I just had some at the friendly but unpretentious Malabari, which looks and smells like a high-class place in Cochin or Trivandrum. The palappam (a milky sourdough crepe) with potato and meen (fish) curry we had were excellent dishes, and hard to find in the standard US-style Indian restaurant, which serves quite different North Indian dishes. The vada (lentil-flour donut, essentially) also tasted fresh and hot, and the coconut chutney was well above average.
(4)Sundara S.
real nice food... great service!!
(5)Aruna R.
We've tried almost every other Indian restaurant in Minneapolis and the surrounding metro, and we haven't been impressed. We read about Malabari in the Mpls- St.Paul mag, and I've got to say- this place is a burst of fresh air in a stale, repetitive Indian-food scene. Malabari kitchen brings back authenticity to south Indian cooking, making us recall ancient flavors from back when grandma used a mortar and pestle to grind masalas from scratch. It is run by a motivated couple who both cook and serve, and bring the home-style flavors from their table to this kitchen. Because it's mostly just the two of them, there is a significant wait time for the food, but as their menu claims, the wait is worth it! Also, there's literally just 5 tables because the place is tiny, but ambience is very tasteful. The food is spicy, and even though I'm not a spice fan, I was surprised that I could taste the flavors despite the spiciness ( lots of places don't achieve this.) Do try the chai. We have tried Chai everywhere- EVERYWHERE. And this one is the best, hands down. Skip dessert, get the chai. Love. Try.
(5)Nihal P.
I'm Indian, and have spent my formative years in Bombay. So I know Indian food very well. Malabari Kitchen has authentic Indian food from the southwestern region of India. It plays to its strengths, and sticks to a short, relevant menu. I had Beef Ularthiyathu (Beef Masala) for lunch, and chose a side of yucca mash. The mild taste of the yucca was a perfect counterpart to the hot, spicy and flavorful beef. The meat was tender and fresh. If you are tired of food usually found in Indian restaurants, you should definitely try this place. You will not find palappam or idiappam (rice-based pancakes and noodles) anywhere else in the Twin Cities. The service was friendly, unobtrusive and quick. I was given a small bowl of complimentary payasam (a light dessert with mini-noodles) at the end which was a perfect end to the meal.
(5)Ravi B.
By far the most authentic Indian food restaurant in town. Malabar is the south-western coastal region of India and this is micro-cuisine of the type we don't see in Minneapolis. Not your heavy creamy Punjabi fare. Hope Minneapolitans can appreciate it's complexity and variations.
(5)