Tender Coconut - South Indian Fine Dining Restaurant — Restaurant in Calgary

Loved the food and you should try it! Went to this restaurant to try authentic South Indian / Kerala food and it delivered so well! Don’t be afraid of spice, the dishes or atmosphere as it’s very easy and delicious. We tried a few dishes from mild to spicy and they definitely have heat if that’s what you want but are mild and savoury if you need. The flavours are amazing and for my first time trying authentic Kerala dishes, I can’t believe I haven’t been here sooner. The Calamari with Green Peppercorns is a little spice rough for myself but really delicious and cooked so well. (Pachakurumulaku Koonthal) The curry dishes are so savoury however you will want lots of Malabar Parotta (Naan like) to help absorb and clean up your plate. We started with a mild curry that was so tasty and great for those who have low heat tolerance but want full flavour. The coconut is not overpowering and you should consider this dish when the spice is too much. The chicken on the bone was nice and delicious and it’s a great starter curry. (Ilaneer Kozhi Curry) The next dish was a medium level heat curry, (Achayans Beef Curry) that I could seriously eat by the gallon. The heat is just right but could be the max for some people however the beef and potatoes are so savoury and soft, it really is a treat to eat. I personally devoured this dish with lots of Parotta. The last dish was VERY spicy for myself (just right for a native Indian) but had mind blowing flavours to be honest. I did sip a bit of water to manage the heat but really think everyone should try this if you can manage it. The Kizhi Konju starts by coming in foil that you must unwrap to reveal the Banana Leaf. Once you peel this back, you are left with the most flavourful dish with prawns that you will say wow to. Definitely recommend Parotta for every item and don’t be afraid to order mild, the dishes are really amazing and authentic. We ordered a Puttu that was great to manage heat and mop up the curry’s but was not something I enjoyed personally, I would stick to the Parotta. I would recommend you order 2 dishes plus an appetizer for 2 people on a date and don’t be afraid to order more to take it home. We will definitely be back, very soon!

Update: Attended their Onam festival event and could not express how amazing it was. They serve the sadhya on a real banana leaf and they give you the full experience with amazing tastes! We could not attend the usual places and relied on them for the experience this year and definitely will be back next year. I would rate the Sadhya 10/10 and can't wait for it...

I recently visited with high expectations based on its glowing reviews and enticing menu descriptions, hoping to experience authentic South Indian cuisine. Unfortunately, my experience was nothing short of disappointing.

To start with, I ordered the Thalassery Chicken Dum Biryani, anticipating a fragrant and flavorful dish. However, what I received was a poor imitation that failed to meet even the basic standards of this traditional dish. The biryani was drenched in an overwhelming amount of gravy, with half-cooked chicken pieces that were far from appetizing. True Thalassery Dum Biryani should have the chicken and rice cooked together to infuse the flavors, but here, it seemed everything was mixed haphazardly and separately. If you don’t know how to prepare a proper biryani, it’s better to remove it from the menu than to serve something so lacking in authenticity.

Next, I tried the Beef Masala, another supposed highlight of the menu. This dish tasted like a poorly executed butter chicken masala, with no hint of the rich, complex flavors that good beef masala should offer. The ingredients tasted as if they came straight from instant packets, leaving no trace of authenticity. Moreover, the beef pieces were enormous, similar to the chunks found in the biryani, making the dish difficult to enjoy.

To top it all off, the Porotta served alongside was a frozen one, far from the fresh, flaky delight one would expect in a restaurant claiming to serve authentic South Indian dishes. The entire meal felt like a collection of mismatched, uninspired dishes, lacking the care and skill that one hopes for in such a cuisine.

Overall, my experience here was incredibly disappointing. The restaurant promises authentic South Indian dishes but fails to deliver on every front. I expected much more, especially after reading the seemingly promising Google reviews and the appealing descriptions on the menu.

If you cannot serve dishes properly, it's best to stick to what you can do well. Authenticity is not just a buzzword; it's a commitment to quality and tradition that this establishment...

Disappointing Experience – Overrated & Not Worth the Price

I visited Tender Coconut on January 23rd and had a very disappointing experience. We ordered Kothu Porotta, Beef Biryani, and Sharjah Shake. Unfortunately, nothing lived up to the hype.

Kothu Porotta– I barely had two spoons. It was really bad and completely overrated. Beef Biryani – Below average and lacked flavor. Definitely not the authentic Kerala taste I was expecting. Sharjah Shake – It tasted like milk mixed with water—not even close to how it should be.

There are much better Kerala restaurants nearby that serve authentic food at better prices. Coming from BC, I always look for good Kerala food when I travel to Calgary, but this place was a complete waste of money.

If you're looking for authentic and delicious Kerala cuisine in Calgary, I highly recommend Ginger Garlic Restaurant and Resam Restaurant—both are miles better in taste and quality.

Also, after asking around, I found out that Tender Coconut is highly overrated because they ask people they know to leave 5-star reviews, which explains the misleading ratings. Definitely not going back.

Rating: ⭐️ 1/5 Edited: I’m shocked by your dishonest and defensive response. I visited your restaurant on January 23rd before flying to Toronto and returned to BC on January 28th, stopping at Resam along the way. I review almost every restaurant I visit, and I even posted about my visit to your place on my social media—so don’t try to claim I wasn’t there.

Also, you falsely accused me of reviewing Ginger Garlic on the same day. That’s a complete lie—I visited Ginger Garlic in 2024 and simply love their food. Instead of accepting feedback, you choose to deny and deflect.

The fact is, my experience at your restaurant was bad. The Kothu Porotta was terrible, the Biryani was below average, and the Sharjah Shake tasted like milk water with no sugar—certainly not the “frozen milk” flavor you claim. Just admit that the food wasn’t good that day instead of gaslighting customers.

Your response alone proves how unprofessional your business is....