Vanas Mangalore - Authentic Coastal Cusine — Restaurant in Karnataka

I made the unfortunate decision to visit a place called "Vanas" for what I thought would be a nostalgic indulgence in their old Mangalorean fish dishes. What I walked into was an absolute nightmare, a circus of noise with people practically shouting at each other across tables. The atmosphere? Horrendous. A disgusting blend of arrogance, like they were doing me a favor by letting me eat there.

As someone on a keto diet, my options were non-existent in this carb-infested excuse for a restaurant. It's essentially a rice-and-curry factory with zero regard for customer preferences. The attitude of the owner oozes "I couldn't care less," and that trickles down to every single person working there, even the ones just cleaning tables.

All I wanted was something simple—a salad or a vegetable curry, paired with two types of Tawa fried fish. No salad? Fine. I asked for raita, because at least it had some cucumbers. But when I requested three portions (which I made clear I’d pay for), the smug server, Ganesh, flat-out refused. Like I was asking for a favor instead of paying money. The audacity.

The food itself was a travesty. They drown the seafood in so much spice and God knows what cheap oil that you can't taste the fish anymore. It's like they’re actively trying to ruin it.

As if the food wasn't bad enough, Ganesh’s attitude was outright disgusting. He treated me with such disdain that I lost my appetite halfway through. After suffering through the meal, I went to the wash area, only to bump into the ex-station manager for Mangalore from the glory days of Jet Airways. We’d crossed paths numerous times when I was a Platinum member of Jet. To see her associated with this cesspool of a restaurant? Absolutely heart-wrenching. Vanas...

Vanas offers a truly authentic South Indian coastal culinary experience that transports you straight to the seaside villages of the region. Their signature thali, laden with an array of vibrant and flavorful dishes, is a must-try for anyone looking to dive deep into the coastal cuisine.

The thali at Vanas is a visual and gastronomic delight, with each dish meticulously prepared to showcase the rich and diverse flavors of South India. The fish curry is the highlight, with tender pieces of fish enveloped in a tangy, spicy gravy that is both comforting and invigorating. The use of fresh ingredients, especially the coconut and tamarind, shines through in every bite.

The fried fish, served as a side, is another standout. Crispy and perfectly seasoned, it adds a delightful crunch to the meal. The shellfish curry is equally impressive, offering a complex depth of flavor that pairs beautifully with the steamed rice.

Vanas doesn’t just excel in its seafood offerings; the accompanying dishes, such as the rasam and the coconut-based vegetable curry, are equally noteworthy. They provide a refreshing balance to the richer seafood dishes, making the meal well-rounded and satisfying.

In addition to the main course, the thali also includes a cooling cucumber salad and a sweet, creamy payasam, which serves as the perfect conclusion to this hearty meal.

Overall, Vanas is a gem for lovers of South Indian coastal cuisine. The attention to detail, the quality of ingredients, and the authenticity of flavors make it a standout dining destination. Whether you're a fan of seafood or simply looking to explore new culinary horizons, Vanas promises a memorable...

The restaurant is hard to miss as it is located opposite to Naturals ice cream Kadri. Parking shouldn't be a problem as they have private spot with good amount of space to park two wheelers and cars. Looking at the parking spot, one would imagine the restaurant to be huge, but it's not and it's not a bad thing. It has enough capacity to serve 30 to 40 customers at a time. The ambience is decent which defines the classic fish joint with soft music playing at the back. Coming to food review, this place is very specific to Mangalore cuisine. You will find all the variety of fish rawa/tawa/masala fry which can be accommodated with vanas ( fish meals). Ordered - Fish meals, chicken ghee roast and chicken Sukka. The meals was unlimited however the first serving was right proportion. It did come with chatney , sendige, pickle, fish curry, veg curry and of course boiled rice. You do have an option to select between boiled or raw rice. Every item in the meal was perfect. Chicken Sukka, absolutely loved it. It was well cooked and had the classic Sukka flavour we all crave for. Chicken ghee roast has zero complaints , again the chicken was moist, juicy and tender with authentic ghee roast flavour. All the dishes had the perfect balance of spice . This should not be a problem to 90% of the customers, but the place lost a star because of the power outage. They do have a generator which needs to be manually started. During an outage, you will endup being in a pitch dark place for a couple of mins ,untill they turn it on. Would definitely wist this place again and will also recommend others who want the taste of authentic...