Kerala food isn’t just a plate of curry with rice. It’s comfort, it’s spice, it’s that one fried snack you can never quite replicate at home. In Abu Dhabi, where Malayalis make up a big part of the city’s heartbeat, you’re never far from a banana leaf or a smoky fish fry. Truth be told, get ready to be spoiled with a list of best Kerala restaurants in Abu Dhabi. Some spots feel like quick pit stops, others lean into grand spreads, but they all pack that unmistakable Malayali punch.
8 Best Kerala Restaurants In Abu Dhabi That Deserve Your Appetite
1. Thalassery Thattukada
Walk into Thalassery Thattukada in Al Khalidiya, and you feel your vibe getting transformed. You can whiff the biryani in the air. Their Thalassery chicken biryani, made with jeerakasala rice, buttery ghee, and enough aroma to make you linger, is the dish everyone talks about. And then comes potthu kaal, a curry with bones so chunky they crack it open for you right there at the table.
Don’t skip the small bites. Neer dosa with buff curry, crispy fried chicken that actually crunches, and a buff fry that clings to your memory. Plenty of places in town try to chase that homely Malabar vibe, but let’s be honest, this one completely nails it.
Where: Opposite Life Pharmacy, Near Big Mart Hypermarket, Al Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi
When: 6 am – 1 am
Cost: AED 60 for two
2. Karikku Restaurant
Over at Karikku, comfort is the king. Their nadan fried chicken with parotta is the kind of dish you eat once and then again crave at 11 pm on a weekday. The chicken’s got crunch, the parotta’s flaky, and the whole thing begs for a sip of cold drink.
Another crowd puller? The Kizhi parotta chicken. Expect a stringy parcel of bread, masala, and meat steamed together till the flavours practically hug. And don’t forget their Onam sadya. Rice, sambar, kaalan, pineapple pachadi, and you get the full festive plate without even boarding a flight to Kerala.
Where: Near Khalidiya Tower, Zayed The First Street, Al Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi
When: 6 am – 12 am
Cost: AED 50 for two
3. Nalla Ruchi Restaurant
Nalla Ruchi has the vibe of a place that knows its strengths. Banana leaves hit the table, curries pour in, and you’re suddenly at home. The King fish curry, tangy and spicy in equal measure, and prawn roast, fragrant and rich, are worth repeat visits. Buff lovers swear by the Varrathiyathu here, a fried dish with coconut slices and curry leaves garnish and deeply satisfying.
And the Erachichor? It’s the kind of meal that makes you want to sit back, sigh heavily, and maybe even order another one that fills you till the brim.
Where: Near Russian Embassy, Al Markaziya, Abu Dhabi
When: 6am – 12midnight
Cost: AED 30 for two
4. Taste of Kerala
As names go, Taste of Kerala doesn’t beat around the bush. And the menu lives up to it. Bowls of nadan mutton soup arrive first, comforting yet fiery. Plates of honey chicken and buff thenga kothu follow, loud, bold, unapologetic. The biryanis are piled high, the gravies rich.
Seafood fans will love the meen mulakittathu, a red fish curry that punches with chilli. Let’s face it, Malayali food isn’t for the spice-shy, and this restaurant leans all the way in.
Where: Near Fresh & More Supermarket, Al Falah Street, Al Dhafrah, Abu Dhabi
When: 6 am to 12 am
Cost: AED 45 for two
5. Nalukettu
For a slightly more polished evening, Nalukettu inside Al Ain Palace Hotel delivers. But don’t mistake polish for bland. Their neychoru (ghee rice) with nadan kozhi curry is comfort dressed up in style. The chemmeen mango curry balances sweet, sour, and rich prawn flavours in a way that’s hard to forget.
Round that off with buff coconut fry or a silky fish molee, and you’ve got a dinner that feels both traditional and slightly elevated. Bring guests here. It’s the “let me show you Kerala food in Abu Dhabi” spot.
Where:Al Ain Palace Hotel, Al Markaziya, Abu Dhabi
When: 12noon – 12midnight
Cost: AED 145 for two
6. Thrissur Thattukada
Thrissur Thattukada isn’t fancy. It’s not meant to be. Instead, it pulls you in with Kerala’s street-side staples, kothu porotta, chopped up with masala, egg, meat, whatever the day demands. Add a plate of steaming puttu, maybe kappa with fish curry, and for dessert? A simple pazhampori (banana fritters) that tastes like an afternoon in Kerala.
And yes, they’ve even got jeeraka kanji, the cumin-tinged porridge that so many Malayalis grew up with. It’s nostalgia in a bowl.
Where: Near Flora Jewellery, Shabiya 11, Mussafah Shabiya, Abu Dhabi
When: 6am – 11:30pm
Cost: AED 40 for two
7. Royal Calicut
Amid the Al Wahda area, Royal Calicut makes no secret of its focus: Kunji Kozhi masala, pothi choru, and if you love meat, you’re in heaven. Each dish is spiced deeply, not surface-level, and packs that signature Kerala spicy level.
Of course, seafood lovers aren’t left out. The Fish Pollichathu is tawa fried to crisp perfection, and the dum parotta layers meat and bread until the whole thing practically melts. Don’t plan a light meal here. You’ll leave full. Very full.
Where: Opposite New Kerala Furniture, Near Baseem Pharmacy, Al Wahda, Abu Dhabi
When: 6 am – 1 am
Cost: AED 55 for two
Also Read: 14 Best Restaurants In Abu Dhabi Serving Authentic Onam Sadhya
8. Idukki Gold
Hidden away in Al Danah, Idukki Gold is the definition of cosy. Meals feel more like visiting a relative than dining out. Buff coconut curry warms the soul, appam with mango fish curry adds tang and sweetness, and they even greet you with a quirky welcome bite where you expect peanuts, chilli, honey, and ginger.
It’s not over-styled, not polished, and that’s the charm you need sometimes. You just want to sit somewhere calm, eat good food, and leave happy. That’s this place.
Where: Near Landmark Trading, Near Phoenix Hospital, Shabiya ME 10, Mussafah Shabiya, Abu Dhabi
When: 7 am – 12midnight
Cost: AED 80 for two
Authentic Malayali Cuisine Served Here!
Abu Dhabi’s food scene is massive, Italian, Japanese, Lebanese, you name it. But Kerala joints bring you nostalgia and the feeling of home away from home. These Kerala Restaurants in Abu Dhabi are anchors for Malayalis missing home, and eye-opening for anyone curious about food that’s layered, spicy, and unashamedly bold.
Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/ Saveurs Secretes from Pexels