Koottaan Curry Club - Kerala Restaurant — Restaurant in Wales

Hands down THE BEST authentic Kerala restaurant in Cardiff!!! I recently had the pleasure of dining at Koottaan Kerala Curry Club, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish!!

To start with, the ambience was inviting and cosy, with a decent dining area. The decor was amazing and gave a good Kerala vibe. The dining area has a different section for larger groups too! The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, making us feel welcomed!

Coming to the food - outstanding!!! Each dish is a work of art and reminisces us of the flavours and taste we used to get back home in Kerala. The presentation and plating were also top-notch and aesthetic.

The menu has a lot of options for all kind of flavour palettes, with each item in the menu being given a cheeky description.

In the 3 visits so far - we have tried almost all signature dishes on the menu - and I'd give 10/10 recommendations for each one of these.

My favourites, in that order are as follows:

Chatti choru (Rice with a wide array of sides/ curries served in a traditional clay pot) - was so yummy, so delish from the first bite and gave homely feels - especially the omelette that has onions and chillies, and the coconut chutney. Worth every penny. Has a good quantity that can be easily shared by 2, although I doubt if anyone would like to share it once they taste it. Just like joey, I didn't share my food :p (~ £12)

Kizhi Porotta with chicken/ beef (Main) - Well, you can hook any Keralalites with Porotta & Beef. For those who don't know, Porotta is a flaky bread - an emotion for the Malayalis. The kizhi porotta here is so tasty, rich and filling!! It's second in my list only because Chatti Choru exceeded all my expectations (~£12)

Paal Kappa with Beef (Main) - with the taste of coconut milk highlighted, it gives an out of the world taste! I am not a big fan of Kappa (Tapioca) and hence didn't try it much in my first visit (hence #3 on my list), but absolutely loved it when I tried it the next two times. (~£12)

Beef dry fry (starter) - A perfect starter of crispy spicy beef. Tried it as a standalone dish, a starter, opposed to having it as a side with porotta (which is normally how Keralites have it)(~£7.5)

Beef Irachi Choru (Main) - another delightful dish with rice and beef! So aromatic, flavourful and satisfying - justifying it's description in the menu! (~£ 11)

Snacks

Pazham Pori with Beef fusion - an emotion of keralites. Perfectly ripe banana/ plantain for pazham pori (banana fritters) and perfect quantity of tasty beef! (~£12)

Chai & Kadu platter - Lip-smacking cup of Kerala tea with a platter of Kerala snacks - Banana Fritters (pazhampori), Uzhunnu/ Medu vada, Bonda! All served so hot and yummy!

Drinks Coconut with Bacardi (Cocktail) Whisky with Raspberry (Cocktail) Mango Splash (Mocktail)

All cocktails and mocktails are given fancy names from Kerala popular culture.

Every dish we tried here were amazing, and it got better everytime we visited - as they kept improvising it based on customers’ feedbacks!!

The location is the cafe is so accessible, at Macintosh place, a stone’s throw away from Cardiff university student’s union building.

Kudos to the staff and the chefs for enriching our experience every single time!

My ratings Food Quality ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Food Quantity ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plate Presentation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Food Menu options - Non Veg ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Food Menu options - Veg ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Service ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Decor ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (they could add more Kerala stuffs) Ambiance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Value for money ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My verdict: Didn’t have a single negative experience in the first three visits, hence a 5/5 in all elements. Although this place is located right in the middle of the student halls and places of interests of students, the price range of items here doesn’t give a feeling it’s necessarily a place for students to hangout as much. However, anyone who loves spending for good food wouldn’t mind spending some extra quids here, given the experience. Tops my list of the best Kerala hotels in Cardiff. 10/10...

Stepping into Koottaan for their new breakfast menu was a delightful experience that I am eager to share. The highlight of my visit was the classic South Indian breakfast trio: Open benne dosa, Idly Vada with Chutney and Sambar, and a Boost drink. First, the Open benne dosa: it was perfect. The dosa was perfectly crispy on the outside, encasing a savory, well-spiced potato filling. Every bite was a perfect blend of textures and flavours.The Idly Vada was an absolute standout. The idlies were soft, fluffy, and melted in the mouth, but it was the vada that stole the show. Incredibly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, it was a testament to the chef’s expertise in achieving such perfect balance. The accompanying chutneys – coconut and tomato – were fresh, vibrant, and paired wonderfully with the idly and vada. The sambar was rich, aromatic, and full of hearty vegetables, adding a comforting warmth to the meal. To complement this delectable feast, I enjoyed a traditional Boost drink. The creamy blend of milk and Boost powder was a nostalgic throwback, providing a sweet and energizing start to the day. Koottaan's friendly staff added to the overall positive experience with their warm and attentive service. Their welcoming nature made the meal even more enjoyable, reflecting the restaurant's commitment to excellent customer service. In summary, Koottaan’s new breakfast menu is a must-try. The team has crafted a delightful breakfast experience that is both comforting and exciting. Highly recommended for anyone looking to start their day with a delicious South...

Simply smiling and taking orders won't guarantee customer satisfaction.

During my recent visit to Cardiff last weekend, I searched online for a restaurant offering Indian Kerala Cuisine and stumbled upon this one. As anticipated, the dishes were exorbitantly priced for this category of restaurant.

Based on recommendations from my sister and brother-in-law, we opted for the "Chattichore" and "Kizi Porotta," which turned out to be regrettable choices.

Regarding the 'Kizi Porotta':

The porotta seemed far from freshly made; it had the taste and texture of a frozen one. The beef had an unpleasant sourness, making me question its freshness. The Chicken 65 was disappointingly laden with bones. On a positive note, the gravy, banana leaf, and omelette were satisfactory. As for the 'Chattichore': The Papadam, chatti, and rice were acceptable. However, the Sardine Fry consisted of fish pieces no larger than a AAAA battery. When my sister raised her dissatisfaction, the response, delivered with a smile, was, "I'm not in the business of fish farming." This retort felt insulting. It's imperative for them to understand that we are paying for this food, not receiving it as charity. To elaborate further on the tasteless food would be a waste of my time.

I hope this review prompts some improvements...