The 5 Best Kerala Restaurants in Dubai
Experiencing a craving for some delicious South Indian cuisine? Checking out the best Kerala restaurants in Dubai can be a good way to expand your palette, especially when it comes to assorted vegetarian and meat options.
Whether you’re craving a particularly hot biryani or some mouth-watering tandoori fresh off the fire, here’s some of our favorite Kerala restaurants in Dubai. Make sure to drop in for your next lunch or dinner out!
How Much Does it Cost to Eat at a Kerala Restaurant in Dubai?
Kerala-themed dishes are easily available both as a budget dine-in or as a more expensive buffet-style experience. It’ll ultimately depend on which individual dish you decide to add to your order.
Here’s a small table showing how much you might spend on any particular Kerala-style dish here in Dubai:
Choosing the Best Kerala Restaurants in Dubai
When it comes to listing down our favorite Kerala restaurants in Dubai, we’ve chosen our picks based on the following factors:
1. Dhe Puttu Restaurant
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| MENU | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| QUALITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| VARIETY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| COMMUNICATION | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Dedicated to serving up delicious food to diners all over, Dhe Puttu has developed a varied Kerala menu here in Dubai. They take a lot of care to ensure they’re able to follow authentic recipes passed down from generations.
Their spacious dining room is great for accommodating families and large groups, and you’ll often find plenty of diners come dinner time. As such, it can be quite energetic around these times.
In terms of food, you’ll find a lot of traditional favorites here. There’s plenty of choices for curry for example, giving you the chance to savor a nice vegetable butter masala or a heartier red mutton curry.
However, it’s their “puttu” which they’re really known for as a Kerala restaurant in Dubai. Almost all of your traditional flavors are here, from simple white puttu to cholam puttu.
Despite that, they also have their “special” flavors. You also get to take your pick from mutton, egg, beef, vegetable, and even chocolate and mixed fruits in case you want to have it for dessert as well.
Given the number of diners it does deal with though, you should expect some wait times for your food at Dhe Puttu. It’s not the worst waiting time we’ve experienced but you will feel it at times.
Still, if you’re in the mood for puttu or just great Southern Indian cuisine in general, then we definitely recommend visiting Dhe Puttu Restaurant here in Dubai.
Pros
- Puttu selection is excellent
- Wide variety of dishes
Cons
- Dining area is a little loud
- Takes time to send the food out
Customer Reviews
Puttu is my favorite and this place is the best in dubai for that authentic taste
“Puttu is my favorite and this place is the best in dubai for that authentic taste. They serve it hot and fresh. You will find Lots of other dishes in veg and non-vegetarian. Great service, hospitality to remember.” – Nishi Singh Kathak
All the dishes were delicious
“What amazing food. Such varieties of puttu, we ordered kappa puttu with chicken curry and chicken puttu with chicken fry and one chicken biryani. All the dishes were delicious.” – Sanuja Ullas
2. Kozhikode Star Restaurant
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| MENU | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| QUALITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| VARIETY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| COMMUNICATION | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
Initially opened in Deira Dubai back in September 2014, Kozhikode Star Restaurant has steadily grown to become a great destination for Indian, Continental, and Regional cuisines.
The restaurant has a very clean and bright ambiance that we think is very conducive to dining with friends and family, even providing outdoor catering around their area of operation.
We personally found the ambiance to be very nice in this restaurant, with service delivered with a lot of care.
Kozhikode Star Restaurant is well-known for their very good array of seafood and vegetarian dishes. We definitely recommend the Tawa Fry, which you can get with either crab or prawn based on your preferred seafood.
Many customers we’ve spoken to did recommend their “beef ularthiyath” though, attesting to its taste and value. In our experience, this claim does hold up quite well, making it a great first pick when dining here for the first time.
Of course, there’s a few things you’ll want to keep in mind here at Kozhikode Star Restaurant. For one, parking is quite limited so those arriving by car may want to look for nearby parking first.
We also think they could be more proactive at replying to phone inquiries. Some customers reported waiting for around half an hour before receiving a reply.
Still, Kozhikode Star Restaurant has proven itself to be a great Indian-style dining experience. We definitely recommend checking them out when caraving some Kerala dishes in Dubai.
Pros
- Very clean and nice ambiance
- Wide array of Indian dishes available
Cons
- Parking is very limited
- Could be more proactive in responding to inquiries
Customer Reviews
The food is amazing, the place is clean and the costs are like cherry on a cake
“If you are someone who loves north malabari cusine, then this is the place for you. The food is amazing, the place is clean and the costs are like cherry on a cake.” – Presil k k
Very nice hotel with a wide variety of Kerala style dishes
“Very nice hotel with a wide variety of Kerala style dishes. Very tasty food I must admit. All kozhikode style dishes are available. Lot of Keralites visit this restaurant. They have home delivery also.” – Ashish
3. Calicut Notebook Restaurant
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| MENU | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| QUALITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| VARIETY | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| COMMUNICATION | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
With humble beginnings back in 2012, Calicut Notebook Restaurant has opted to focus on good service and great food in order to slowly build up their reputation as a great Kerala restaurant in Dubai.
You get to check out a nice dining area that feels quite premium, with just the right lighting and space. The ambiance is very relaxing, allowing us to really focus on the delicious food served to us.
The food itself is also quite immaculate. You get a nice selection of vegetarian meals to choose from, starting with pineapple uppilittath or spicy raw mango salad.
As for the meat-eaters, you get your share of seafood like che mmeen podi made with dried shrimps powdered with traditional Kerala spices, or Idicha beef, which is inspired from a Catholic recipe made with red chili and curry leaves.
There’s also curry of course and we found them to be very, very delicious too. And for those who travel with their kids in tow, we’re happy to report that they also have fried chicken, crunchy-fried prawns, and even some noodles.
Calicut Notebook Restaurant’s prices are a little pricey though, based on our experience. We think this is something to keep in mind before paying the place a visit.
Additionally, it does take time for them to serve the food. However, we do appreciate that they do provide an accurate estimate of this time; just that the time itself is a lot longer than ones quoted at other places.
Calicut Notebook Restaurant is definitely a great place for Kerala cuisine with a more premium feel. We definitely recommend checking it out.
Pros
- Comfortable and relaxing ambiance
- Curry is very delicious
Cons
- Food is quite pricey
- Takes time to serve orders
Customer Reviews
Wonderful atmosphere and delicious food
“Wonderful atmosphere and delicious food. Chef. Pradeep’s special Udumpinchola beef curry is amazing. You should call restaurant in advance to have this dish in their menu.” – Akhil P
This attention to detail and dedication to customer satisfaction elevates the eating experience even more
“Every mouthful demonstrated the restaurant’s dedication to procuring fresh and authentic ingredients. This attention to detail and dedication to customer satisfaction elevates the eating experience even more.” – Anas Rozario
4. Nalukettu Restaurant
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| MENU | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| QUALITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| VARIETY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| COMMUNICATION | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
Located inside the Dubai Grand Hotel by Fortune, Nalukettu Restaurant is the go-to spot for premium Kerala dining here in Dubai. It’s the dining room to go to whenever you want authentic local taste made with fresh ingredients.
You can easily find the restaurant at the lobby level of the hotel though do note that it only opens around lunchtime at 12:00 PM.
Inside, you get a slightly dim room, with just the right amount of lighting for enjoying the food served. It definitely reminds us of a jazz bar or Italian restaurant at times, though the food served is definitely authentic kerala.
You can start with a smaller plate like pacha manga or sweet corn salad, or perhaps a mixed platter, whether it’s spring rolls, vegetable pakoras, or even a mixed seafood platter with fried prawns, squid, and anchovies.
After that, you get to choose whether to experience their buffet-style dining (which is a bit more expensive), or to order your desired food a la carte.
Do note that some waiters did inform us that opting for a la carte could result in longer wait times for our food compared to the buffet menu. We think it’s important to keep in mind when visiting the place as a group.
They also don’t have a kid’s menu. What this means is that a lot of the food at Nalukettu Restaurant does veer on the spicier side which we think may not be enjoyed by some kids dining there.
Still, if you’re a guest at the Grand Hotel, then we definitely recommend giving Nalukettu a visit. This is definitely one of the best Kerala Restaurants in Dubai to try out for fans of spice and flavor.
Pros
- Excellent selection of spicy food
- Great service
Cons
- Longer wait for ala carte
- No kid’s menu
Customer Reviews
I visited this restaurant on Saturday for the dinner buffet, and I must say that my experience was fantastic
“I visited this restaurant on Saturday for the dinner buffet, and I must say that my experience was fantastic. The restaurant’s specialties, beef chettinad and mutton roast, were the highlight of my dining experience.” – Shyni John
We had Onam Sadya here and had a lovely dining experience
“We had Onam Sadya here and had a lovely dining experience. Very clean, and good food. Special mention for Chef Shaji who greeted us and prepared excellent food.” – Annemarie Moni
5. Calicut Foodies Express
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| MENU | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| QUALITY | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| VARIETY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| COMMUNICATION | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Initially opening its first doors at the Marina Mall in February 2021, Calicut Foodies Express has steadily grown to be one of the best Kerala restaurants in Dubai. They have even opened a second Express outlet at Jumeirah Lakes Towers too.
The restaurant seeks to provide authentic Kerala food cooked just the way it is back home, making it a great place for some nostalgia for visitors from the region.
From here, you can get favorites such as chicken tikka, tandoori chicken, garlic naan, chicken dum biryani, and many more at a spice level that we think works well for everyone.
You even get a nice dining location for you to enjoy your food, with both indoor and outdoor seating available. Despite this, we did find the area to be a little small, which could lead to bigger groups feeling cramped.
Still, Calicut Foodies Express does offer delivery services. It takes a bit of time to prepare and arrive but, we think the taste makes it well worth it.
Some of the dishes served in the restaurant are quite small however. We’ve definitely seen people opt to order two as a result though this will depend on your budget.
Calicut Foodies Express is definitely one of the best places to sample Kerala cuisines in a fast and authentic manner in Dubai. We definitely recommend giving them a try.
Pros
- Pricing is very competitive
- Nice, quiet ambiance
Cons
- Portions for some dishes are a bit small
- Seating area is a bit small
Customer Reviews
It is a great place for friends and families to dine in and bond over some Dum Hyderabadi Biryani and mang more
“The restaurant is located in the Cluster c at JLT which has both indoor and outdoor seating and a menu with some mouthwatering hyderabadi and other indian dishes. It is a great place for friends and families to dine in and bond over some Dum Hyderabadi Biryani and mang more.” – Fathima Abdulla”
I have been here a few times and each time I was surprised with the quality and taste of the food
“One of the most authentic Hyderabadi food I’ve had in a while. The food is cheap and everything is freshly made. I have been here a few times and each time I was surprised with the quality and taste of the food.” – Kamran Rafiq Syed
FAQs about Kerala Restaurants in Dubai
We hope you enjoy your taste of Kerala cuisine here in Dubai! Make sure to check out our other food articles too, such as this list of the best Turkish restaurants in Dubai here!