Thalassery Sree Narayana Restaurant — Restaurant in Dubai

During my recent trip to Dubai, I had the pleasure of dining at Thalasserry Sri Narayana Restaurant in Karama, a gem for anyone craving authentic Kerala cuisine. It was a holiday and peak hours, so the place was bustling with eager patrons, and we had to wait a while for a seat. However, the swift and attentive service more than made up for the short wait.

We opted for the traditional Kerala Sadya, enhanced with a variety of side dishes, including fish fries and beef roast. The meal was beautifully presented on a banana leaf, in true Kerala tradition, adding an earthy and authentic touch to the experience. The standout dishes were the Manthal (Pomfret) fry and the prawn fry, both of which were cooked to perfection, with flavors that transported us straight to the coastal backwaters of Kerala. The squid, while tasty, was a tad rubbery and could have benefited from a bit more tenderness.

One of the highlights was the inclusion of Semiya Payasam, a sweet, creamy delicacy that provided a delightful conclusion to the meal. The restaurant’s policy of unlimited rice, served with sambhar and fish curry upon request, mirrors the generous hospitality Kerala is known for. It is rare to find a place outside of India that captures the spirit and authenticity of Kerala's cuisine so faithfully.

For those who are passionate about Sadya and traditional Kerala flavors, I highly recommend Thalasserry Sri Narayana Restaurant. It’s a culinary journey that satisfies not only the palate but also the soul, providing a taste of home...

I visited the restaurant around 2 PM for lunch, hoping for a satisfying meal, especially since I was very hungry. Unfortunately, the experience was quite disappointing in both flavour and service.

I ordered the meals along with meen mutta (fish egg) fry, kalumakkaya (mussels), and ayala (mackerel). The rice was undercooked, and even the neighbouring table seemed to notice the same. The sambar and prawns curry were bland and lacked the expected flavour. The side dishes didn’t stand out either—they felt uninspired and poorly seasoned.

The kalumakkaya fry was a major letdown—possibly the most underwhelming version I’ve had. The meen mutta was slightly better but still far from satisfying. Honestly, despite being so hungry, I didn’t feel like eating much, as the flavours were just not there.

The only saving grace was the ayala (mackerel) fry—it was well-cooked, nicely spiced, and had good flavour that actually stood out from the rest of the meal.

In addition to the food, the service needs drastic improvement. The staff didn’t seem attentive, and the overall dining experience lacked warmth.

This visit, unfortunately, didn’t live up to expectations. There’s a lot of room for improvement in both food quality and customer service.

NB: This review is based on my personal experience—your taste and experience may vary, so give it a try and decide...

This restaurant is one of the newest addition to the ‘already crowded’ Karama Mallu restaurant scene. Had been here for lunch and the hot meals served on a banana leaf are a homely treat as such. A variety of mouth watering fried fish, served directly from the Tawa to the table, are the highlight of this place. The chefs are mostly women (as I could see through the glass window) who are brought in to Dubai directly from their own restaurant (in the same name) back in Thalasery, Kerala. Tried King fish fry, prawns tawa fry, Green mussels (Kallumakkaya) fry along with the meals. Since i was a bit late for lunch, the squid fry and few other specialities were over. All dishes were so very homely and delicious. I would urge the owners to keep up this nostalgic taste as they move forward. One more suggestion is to have uniforms for the staff. Also bought chicken dum biriyani for kids and tasted that as well. Biriyani is also delicious. This restaurant had their soft opening in May 2022 and the official opening is expected this month. Everything is a tad bit spicy though, so I'd suggest mentioning your spice tolerance to the staff as you order. The ambience is nice and simple. On top of all, the prices are very much affordable compared to the quality and quantity of the...