Malabar Kitchen - Dallas — Restaurant in Richardson

A Culinary Catch-22 Okay, Malabar Kitchen on Coit Road is a special kind of torture. I'm not going to lie, the food, once it finally arrived, was actually pretty good. But here's the kicker: getting to that good food is an exercise in mental fortitude that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I placed my order and then settled in for what I thought would be a reasonable wait. Two hours. Yes, you read that right. TWO. HOURS. That's how long I stood there, watching a chaotic ballet of inefficiency unfold. The "staff" (and I use that term loosely, because it seemed like there was one poor soul trying to do the job of ten) was clearly overwhelmed. The front desk was a war zone, with a constant stream of increasingly agitated customers demanding updates on their non-existent food. The poor girl at the front desk looked like a deer in headlights. It's clear she's had zero training on how to manage customer expectations or, you know, actually communicate anything useful about wait times. Every question was met with a shrug and a vague "it'll be ready soon," which, after two hours, started to sound like a cruel joke. There was absolutely no system, no communication, just a whole lot of bewildered faces and growling stomachs. To add insult to injury, I grabbed a couple of bottled Fantas and Sprites to try and quench my growing thirst of despair, only to discover they don't have a bottle opener. Seriously? A restaurant with no way to open a bottled drink? I had to return them, adding another layer of absurdity to an already farcical experience. The Verdict So, while my taste buds were eventually satisfied, my patience was absolutely annihilated. If you're willing to endure a horrendous wait, battle through a lack of communication, and potentially open your own drinks, then by all means, go to Malabar Kitchen. But honestly, for a restaurant that's clearly understaffed and struggling to keep up, the good food almost isn't worth the sheer...

Pretty disappointing experience. We were excited to try but the food was just okay. The mutton curry felt more like just a gravy and had lots of bones. The fish looked delicious but really had no seasoning to it, very bland and dry. The butter chicken was decent. The chicken puff didn’t have a lot of filling. The best thing was the porotta. They didn’t have any naan which was sad. But I was kind of annoyed of the fact that they have a combo that says “butter chicken+porotta+basmati rice” but when I tried to order that they said they don’t have that combo. Like what?! You literally have it listed on your menu! But they made me buy everything separately. So you have all the items to make the combo but forcing me to buy them individually? Yeah, that doesn’t make sense. I felt like they did that to make me spend more money which I don’t appreciate at all. There’s too many good Indian places than to come back here.

6/18/25 Response to owner. Your staff did not say the portion would not be enough. She literally said that you don’t have that combo. If she had said that the combo was not enough food I would have explained that we don’t need that much as it was me and my girlfriend. Even when she said you don’t have that combo I asked “you don’t have the combo?” To clarify. She simply said “we don’t have the combo”. I even clarified “oh I have to buy it all separate?” And she said “yes”. Instead of taking accountability you try to make the customer look like the wrong one. Please don’t lie. - 1 star now for false information and trying to lie to...

Absolutely Delicious! A Hidden Gem for Authentic Malabar Cuisine

Malabar Kitchen Food is a true culinary delight! From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with warm hospitality and the rich aroma of authentic Kerala spices. The menu is packed with flavorful dishes that truly capture the essence of Malabar cuisine — from perfectly spiced biryanis and flaky parottas to mouthwatering seafood and traditional curries.

I especially loved the Malabar Chicken Curry — the blend of spices was spot-on, and it had that homestyle touch you rarely find in restaurants. The appams were soft and fresh, and every dish we tried had a rich, comforting flavor that brought back memories of home-cooked meals.

The portions are generous, prices are fair, and everything tastes fresh and homemade. Whether you’re new to Kerala food or a long-time fan, Malabar Kitchen Food is a must-try. Highly recommend for anyone craving bold flavors and an authentic South Indian...