Bombay Restaurant — Restaurant in Kerala

Bombay Restaurant is located on Silk Street, near Calicut South Beach, Kozhikode. It’s a well-known local institution, operating for many years and frequently recommended for both locals and visitors.

It opens early (around 5 AM) and stays open until about 11 PM, making it accessible for breakfast, lunch, evening snacks, and dinner.

Ambience & Service

What works well:

The ambience is often described as “nostalgic” or “old-school” — not highly fancy, but cozy and familiar.

Staff are generally praised for being attentive and friendly.

The décor and lighting in their “Bakery / Restaurant & Bakery” branch are said to be warm and pleasant.

Caveats / criticisms:

Some reviews mention hygiene issues. In one extreme negative review, a customer reported finding a cockroach in their dish.

Others note inconsistency: sometimes portions are generous, other times certain items (e.g. Gobi 65) are sparse.

Because the place is popular, it can get crowded, especially during peak times, which may affect promptness of service.

Food & Menu

Highlights:

The biryani (especially Mutton biryani) is a signature item. Many customers praise the quality of rice and meat, and the taste.

Malabar snacks like kallummakaya (mussels), mutton cutlet, and other local specialities are often recommended.

They offer a broad menu: North Indian, Chinese, Kerala cuisine, seafood, and bakery items.

Presentation sometimes includes serving biryani on a banana leaf, which adds to the local sensory appeal.

Drawbacks:

Some dishes are reported to be underwhelming in flavor or portion compared to expectations.

In some instances, side items or accompaniments might be missing or minimal.

Because the menu is wide, consistency may vary across different cuisines (Chinese, North Indian, Kerala) and between visits.

Value for Money

Many diners feel that Bombay Restaurant provides good value for money, especially considering location, variety, and overall experience. The average cost is modest for a full meal.

However, when portions are smaller or quality less than expected, some customers feel the cost is less justified.

Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Bombay Restaurant is a solid choice if you want to experience local Kozhikode / Malabar flavors in a relaxed, familiar setting. It’s particularly good for biryani lovers and snack seekers who want tried-and-tested local items. The staff, early-to-late timing, and location are definite advantages.

That said, it’s not perfect. For the best experience:

Try to visit during less busy hours to avoid delays.

Go for their specialties (biryani, local snacks) rather than expecting top-quality for everything on the menu.

Be a little cautious—especially if you’re hygiene-sensitive—and observe food & service quality...

This hotel specializes in traditional Malabar cuisines of Kerala. Malabar snacks items, Dum Biriyani and Kozhi Porichathu are few of the most popular dishes here. You can get almost 20 different varieties of snacks here every day. This place can be reached from the Corporation office in Silk Street. Parking area is available near the hotel.

When this restaurant was started way back in 1949 it was a popular custom then to name the hotels after the names of places that were famous at that time. Kunjahammad, the founder of this hotel followed suit and named his new venture-Bombay Restaurant. And after more than 60 years, this hotel has achieved a prominent position in restaurant business in Calicut city.

Malabar snacks are the hot selling items at this restaurant located near the beach. This place can be reached from the Corporation office in Silk Street. Parking area is available near the hotel.

You can get almost 20 different varieties of snacks here every day. ‘Mutton Cutlet’ is a dish much in demand among its patrons. The mutton kheema is dipped in an egg batter and fried to make this crispy cutlet. ‘Elanchi’ is another special Malabar snack item. The yellow coating of the dish is called ‘elanchi’ which is filled with juicy banana, coconut and sugar mix. Evening 4 pm to 8 pm is the best time to munch on the delicacies here when all the items served are available.

‘Kozhi Porichathu’ is a must-try main course dish from this place. A full chicken is marinated with Malabar special masalas and dunk fried in oil.  Attractive menu during the lunch is the ‘Dum Biriyani’ served with pickle, salad and chammandhi. Mutton, fish and chicken are the varieties of biriyani available here.

This restaurant has two dining areas- a normal one on the ground floor while an air-conditioned area and a family dining space on the first floor.  The hotel receives more regular customers than tourists and it is considered as a merit for their customer relations. Close proximity to the beach and superb food make Bombay Restauranta beloved...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Bombay Restaurant, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The ambiance is inviting, with a cozy and vibrant atmosphere that sets the perfect mood for a delightful meal.

Biryani: The star of the menu is undoubtedly the biryani. I tried the Chicken Biryani, and it was a culinary masterpiece. The rice was perfectly cooked, each grain separate and infused with rich spices. The chicken was tender, flavorful, and generously portioned. The aromatic spices used were perfectly balanced, making every bite a burst of flavors. It was served with a side of cooling raita, chutney which complemented biryani wonderfully.

Tandoori: The Tandoori is equally impressive. I sampled the Tandoori Chicken, and it was spectacular. The chicken was marinated to perfection, with the right amount of spice and tanginess. It had a delicious smoky flavor and was incredibly juicy and tender. The portion size was generous, making it great value for money.

Service: The service was good. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They were more than willing to make recommendations and ensured that our dining experience was enjoyable.

Overall: Bombay Biryani is a must-visit for anyone who loves Indian cuisine. The quality of the food, combined with excellent service and a warm atmosphere, makes it a standout restaurant. I highly recommend trying both the biryani and tandoori dishes – you won't be...