Karthik's Kitchen — Restaurant in Goa

We discovered Karthik’s Kitchen in Candolim during our recent trip to Goa, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of our holiday.

Location & Ambience The restaurant is just a short walk from Candolim beach. At first glance, it looks simple – plain tables and chairs, cartoonish wall paintings of Goan life, and some fun neon lighting. Nothing fancy or overdone. But that’s exactly what makes it charming. The kind of place where you step in with modest expectations, only to be completely blown away by what comes to your table.

The Food This is where Karthik’s Kitchen shines. The food is not just good, it’s the kind of food that makes you want to return the very next day. The portions are generous, prices very reasonable, and they even adjust spice levels to suit your taste. We ended up eating here four times in three days, which really says it all.

Some highlights from our meals:

Rawa Fry King Fish – Crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked inside. Easily one of the best we’ve had in Goa.

Butter Chicken – Creamy, flavorful, and absolutely comforting. Paired perfectly with their soft Butter Cheese Garlic Naan, which deserves special mention – cheesy, garlicky, buttery heaven in every bite.

Prawns Masala – Bursting with flavor, with prawns cooked just right. Rich and satisfying, without being overpowering.

Golden Fried Prawns – Crunchy, golden perfection. Great as a starter.

Fish & Prawns Thalis – A great Goan meal experience. Every item tasted fresh and authentic.

Prawns Biryani, Tawa Fry Fish, Dal Tadka – Each one showed their range in cooking.

Not a single dish disappointed us. Everything felt homely yet restaurant-quality.

The People Karthik, the owner and chef, is truly the heart of this place. Humble, polite, and an amazing cook, he personally puts a lot of effort into the food. The staff, mostly young guys, were attentive and courteous, always making sure we had everything we needed. It felt less like a restaurant visit and more like being taken care of by friends.

Overall Karthik’s Kitchen is one of those rare finds where simplicity meets outstanding food. It’s not just a place to eat; it’s a place you’ll want to return to, meal after meal. If you’re in Goa, this is a must-visit restaurant. Don’t let the modest setting fool you – you’ll walk out with a happy stomach and an even...

If you want just vibe, crowd and show-off, go to Tomatao Beach, Vadoo or Fisherman’s Cove… but if you truly want taste, quality, and real value, then without a second thought – go to Karthik’s Kitchen.

I went with my wife (she’s pure veg, I’m a seafood lover) and honestly, both of us came out happy – and that’s rare!

🐟 Seafood: Between 12–3 pm, don’t miss the Goan Fish Thali or Prawn Thali – curries are perfectly spiced, not sweet, not bland – just balanced and addictive. Calamari Tawa Fry = spicy, tangy, and local masala punch.

Veg: Chilli Potato here is on another level – crispy, full of flavor, my wife loved it.

Price? Around ₹450–650 for a thali – but the quality, quantity, and taste you get = total paisa vasool. Total bill aaya tha : 1320 jisme 1 Prawn Thali, 1 chilli potato, 2 coldrinks, 1 calamari Tawa Fry, 1 ice cream , 1 water bottle.

I loved it so much that I went back again in the evening! Tandoor items are available only then – tried the Aloo Paratha (don’t compare with Delhi style – this is their own magic) and trust me, just ₹60 for such taste is unbeatable. Also had King Fish Fry – crispy outside, juicy inside, loaded with masala – simply wow.

Note: ek cheez hoti hai na itna kuch kha liya ek dum se over masala over spicy to pet kharab hona banta par aisa kuch nahi hua koi jalan nahi or nahi badhazmi thats called quality they are maintaining, Eno ka sahara to liya nahi par shaam ko dubara dastak dene zarur chala gaya.

Goa aao to Karthik kicthen jao, Tummy khush acha khaana khake , phir Pocket khush itu sa bill dekh ke its rare combination!

Ab kuch log zada dimag lagayenge same meri tarah jaane se pehle i also thought taste hoga nahi hoga kaisa hoga budget friendly sa hai kahi food to up & down to nahi hoga, Guys open kitchen hai sab saamne dikhega or koi smell nahi hai kissi bhi item me chahe wo fish ho ya prawn must go ! taste you love it & sure...

Karthik's kitchen's food made us wanting for more every time we visited this place. Be it the lunch or the Dinner time of our 1 week trip to Goa, the food was always on point mouth-watering and absolutely delicious that made me write this review thinking of my Goa trip, sitting here in Delhi.

The food was soo good to be true, the ambience was positive and the hospitality of Karthik Sir was very welcoming and courteous.

The Dinner for 8 people costs us around 2k.

Be it the Chilli chicken, Chicken 65, Butter Chicken, Fried rice, Veg noodles, Tandoori Chicken, Butter Naan, Paneer butter masala, Dal Tadka, Chicken Masala, Chilly Potato, you name it! Everything displayed on their food menu is too delicious to resist. The Butter chicken and the Butter naan was the best I had till date.

The staff was always ready to help, the premises was clean, the atmosphere was lovely, and the food was just both delicious and beautifully presented.

I believe the inner lane location of the restaurant be no hurdle to the kitchen's rising. Highly recommend Karthik's Kitchen to everyone.

Keep Shining! Keep up the good work! Here's to the next time, for...