Awaafi Indian Arabic Cuisine — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

I recently chose Awaafi for our Christmas dinner since it serves authentic Kerala cuisine. It was a special reunion for me and my friends, as we were meeting after a year, traveling from Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. Awaafi seemed like the perfect midpoint for all of us to gather, and we were excited to try their food because it was Kerala cuisine 😆.

The food was absolutely amazing—authentic, flavorful, and generous in portion sizes (we even had to pack some to take home!). The ambiance was warm and welcoming, but the restaurant could definitely benefit from expanding as it’s a popular spot, and more seating would be great to accommodate the demand. We were so impressed that we even convinced a family we knew to join us the same evening 😆!

However, there are areas for improvement, particularly with customer service and communication. I had reserved a table for December 21st at 7 PM, but a week prior, I called to change the timing to 6 PM. Despite this, I received multiple calls to confirm the reservation—one on the day before, another while I was traveling to Edinburgh, and yet another on December 27th asking about the same booking. This level of follow-up became a bit excessive and confusing.

That said, the fantastic food and overall experience overshadowed these hiccups. I’ll definitely be back for the great Kerala cuisine but I'm damn sure I'm not gonna make a reservation next time to avoid the calls 🤙!

These were the dishes we ordered and you should definitely try them. xx

Starters: Lamb chops Pazhampori Uzhunu vada

Mains: Beef biriyani Kerala ghee rice and beef combo Kerala ghee rice prawn roast combo Porotta Kerala ghee rice chicken combo Managala choru Idiyapam...

Small place not a lot of covers very simple decor dont expect a fancy restaurant however do these things matter I been to restaurants that have spent hundreds and thousands but cant put a simple curry together think its quite new open so they service is still a bit slow for example if a table orders 4/5 drinks maybe a good idea to bring them together and 1 more waitress or waiter wouldn’t do any harm that’s the only reason I would take 1 star off.

The food for what we ordered was well made chilli sauce was tasty however others were a bit plain. I would suggest looking over the menu online before you go as it will go will help decide what to order and if you have children what’s good for the children. It’s quite a lot of menu options which can be a good and bad thing. I quite like the big menu however I really think it could be simplified do we really need 4/5 different types of rice especially when you do a really good biryani as for the curries I have to say it was probably one of the best curries I have had the mix of spices and flavours were delicious and the aftertaste was perfect its very rarely I will give a curry 10/10.

I think we ordered a few things we probably didn’t need due to not understanding the menu this could be down to us fasting also the fasting platter could be made better maybe give customers a few options (read the menu before you go)....

A Symphony of Flavors: Authentic Kerala Cuisine at Its Finest!

Rating: 5/5 stars

I had the pleasure of indulging in the rich and diverse flavors of Kerala cuisine, and I must say, it was a truly transcendent experience! Each dish was expertly crafted to showcase the perfect balance of spices, textures, and aromas that define this incredible culinary tradition.

Standout Dishes:

Chicken Biriyani: A flavorful and aromatic rice dish cooked to perfection, with tender chicken pieces, fragrant spices, and a hint of cardamom and cinnamon. Kanthari Mandi: A spicy and tangy curry made with succulent chicken pieces cooked in a flavorful broth infused with the unique flavor of kanthari chillies, leaving a lasting impression on the palate.

Service:

The service was attentive, knowledgeable, and passionate about the cuisine. Our server took the time to explain the intricacies of each dish and made excellent recommendations.

Ambiance:

The restaurant's cozy and intimate atmosphere, complete with traditional Kerala decor, added to the overall dining experience.

Value:

The prices were very reasonable, especially considering the generous portion sizes and exceptional quality of the ingredients.

In short, this Kerala restaurant is an absolute must-visit for anyone looking to experience the authentic flavors and...