Kerala flavours
Reviews repeatedly describe rustic, homely Kerala food, including kanji sets with sides such as kadala, payar and coconut chutney.
Al Musalla Restaurant
Al Karama
Al Musalla Restaurant is a South Indian restaurant in Al Karama with a long-running Kerala-style menu of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Reviews make it especially appealing for homely meals, Kerala snacks such as unniappam, and affordable staples including kanji and biryani.
Reputation Score
4.1
★★★★☆
332 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Budget meals
Customers consistently find the food pocket-friendly, with one review reporting a lunch combo at AED 8.
Fish fry
Mathi fry, kunji mathi fry and sole fish fry receive particularly strong praise, with one customer calling the mathi fry the best in Dubai.
Kanji set
The Kerala-style kanji set is a standout: reviewers mention coconut chutney, pickles, pappadam and attentive refills of kanji or kadala.
Tea snacks
Fresh milk tea, Kerala tea and snacks are recurring favourites, especially unniappam and ella-appam.
Biryani
The chicken and beef biryanis were delivered promptly and well packaged; the reviewer especially liked the tender beef pieces.
Long-running
The restaurant has been serving customers since 1986, and one reviewer says they have memories of eating here since 2004.
What to Eat at Al Musalla Restaurant How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Al Musalla Restaurant, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Al Musalla Restaurant, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 3
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Poratta Net +3
“We had Poratta along with Pepper Chicken, very mild masala. Feels like eating food from 🏡. Thats is the best part of this place.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had Poratta along with Pepper Chicken, very mild masala. Feels like eating food from 🏡. Thats is the best part of this place.”April 2024
“Hidden gem! 🍴 Limited menu, but quality food at super affordable prices. 39+ years of experience shows! 😊 Must-try: Kallappam, beef liver fry, Porrotta, and chicken pepper dry fry 🤤”January 2026
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Unni appam Net +3
“Try their Unniappam / Ella-Appam too...”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Try their Unniappam / Ella-Appam too...”July 2024
“Amazing Unni appam and Ella Adam..”October 2020
-
Ella adam Net +2
“Amazing Unni appam and Ella Adam..”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Amazing Unni appam and Ella Adam..”October 2020
“Try their Unniappam / Ella-Appam too...”July 2024
Honorable mentions (18)
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Beef biryani Net +1
“I ordered both the Chicken Biryani and the Beef Biryani; each offered excellent flavor and freshness. The Beef Biryani, in particular, stood out as one of the best in the area. The inclusion of small, tender beef pieces enhanced the overall taste and made the dish especially memorable.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered both the Chicken Biryani and the Beef Biryani; each offered excellent flavor and freshness. The Beef Biryani, in particular, stood out as one of the best in the area. The inclusion of small, tender beef pieces enhanced the overall taste and made the dish especially memorable.”August 2025
-
Beef liver fry Net +1
“Hidden gem! 🍴 Limited menu, but quality food at super affordable prices. 39+ years of experience shows! 😊 Must-try: Kallappam, beef liver fry, Porrotta, and chicken pepper dry fry 🤤”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Hidden gem! 🍴 Limited menu, but quality food at super affordable prices. 39+ years of experience shows! 😊 Must-try: Kallappam, beef liver fry, Porrotta, and chicken pepper dry fry 🤤”January 2026
-
Chicken biryani Net +1
“I ordered both the Chicken Biryani and the Beef Biryani; each offered excellent flavor and freshness.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered both the Chicken Biryani and the Beef Biryani; each offered excellent flavor and freshness.”August 2025
-
Chicken pepper dry fry Net +1
“Hidden gem! 🍴 Limited menu, but quality food at super affordable prices. 39+ years of experience shows! 😊 Must-try: Kallappam, beef liver fry, Porrotta, and chicken pepper dry fry 🤤”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Hidden gem! 🍴 Limited menu, but quality food at super affordable prices. 39+ years of experience shows! 😊 Must-try: Kallappam, beef liver fry, Porrotta, and chicken pepper dry fry 🤤”January 2026
-
Kadala Net +1
“The combos are awesome Kadala or Payar or Mudira with Tenga Chamanthi and Achhar + Pappadam.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The combos are awesome Kadala or Payar or Mudira with Tenga Chamanthi and Achhar + Pappadam.”August 2025
-
Kallapam Net +1
“Hidden gem! 🍴 Limited menu, but quality food at super affordable prices. 39+ years of experience shows! 😊 Must-try: Kallappam, beef liver fry, Porrotta, and chicken pepper dry fry 🤤”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Hidden gem! 🍴 Limited menu, but quality food at super affordable prices. 39+ years of experience shows! 😊 Must-try: Kallappam, beef liver fry, Porrotta, and chicken pepper dry fry 🤤”January 2026
-
Kanji Net +1
“The taste is so rustic and takes you back to Kerala. Im from Mumbai and I can taste Kanji only at my mom's place and I had this Kanji after almost 3 years.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The taste is so rustic and takes you back to Kerala. Im from Mumbai and I can taste Kanji only at my mom's place and I had this Kanji after almost 3 years.”August 2025
-
Kerala fish curry meals Net +1
“Kerala Fish Curry Meals - So Yummy with a good set of dishes.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Kerala Fish Curry Meals - So Yummy with a good set of dishes.”July 2025
-
Kunji mathi fry Net +1
“Kunji Mathi Fry ( Sardines) - WoW”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Kunji Mathi Fry ( Sardines) - WoW”July 2025
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Lunch combo Net +1
“Really inexpensive and good food. Lunch combo is Aed 8 and yet food is really nice. Biryani is nice and mota set is really good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Really inexpensive and good food. Lunch combo is Aed 8 and yet food is really nice. Biryani is nice and mota set is really good.”December 2022
-
Mathi fry Net +1
“Had the best mathi fry from Al Musalla. The best in Dubai i would say! Do check em out. You wont go anywhere else. Very reasonable pricing and taste wise - top notch.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had the best mathi fry from Al Musalla. The best in Dubai i would say! Do check em out. You wont go anywhere else. Very reasonable pricing and taste wise - top notch.”July 2026
-
Mota set Net +1
“Really inexpensive and good food. Lunch combo is Aed 8 and yet food is really nice. Biryani is nice and mota set is really good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Really inexpensive and good food. Lunch combo is Aed 8 and yet food is really nice. Biryani is nice and mota set is really good.”December 2022
-
Mudira Net +1
“The combos are awesome Kadala or Payar or Mudira with Tenga Chamanthi and Achhar + Pappadam.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The combos are awesome Kadala or Payar or Mudira with Tenga Chamanthi and Achhar + Pappadam.”August 2025
-
Payar Net +1
“The combos are awesome Kadala or Payar or Mudira with Tenga Chamanthi and Achhar + Pappadam.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The combos are awesome Kadala or Payar or Mudira with Tenga Chamanthi and Achhar + Pappadam.”August 2025
-
Pepper chicken Net +1
“We had Poratta along with Pepper Chicken, very mild masala. Feels like eating food from 🏡. Thats is the best part of this place.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had Poratta along with Pepper Chicken, very mild masala. Feels like eating food from 🏡. Thats is the best part of this place.”April 2024
-
Pothi choru Net +1
“Amazing South Indian food at very affordable price.. good place to try out meals n pothi choru for any South Indian ...”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Amazing South Indian food at very affordable price.. good place to try out meals n pothi choru for any South Indian ...”January 2019
-
Ulli vada Net +1
“If need "Ulli vada" that you get from Kerala.. The authentic one.. Come here.. . This hidden spot is the exact replica of the ulli vada that we get from Kerala.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“If need "Ulli vada" that you get from Kerala.. The authentic one.. Come here.. . This hidden spot is the exact replica of the ulli vada that we get from Kerala.”April 2026
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Paratha with beef Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“I tried paratha with beef. Food was okay an Pocket friendly”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 1
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Fresh milk tea Net +2
“Unniyappam is unparallel, should try their Fresh Milk tea one of the best tea available in Karama. - A hidden gem.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Unniyappam is unparallel, should try their Fresh Milk tea one of the best tea available in Karama. - A hidden gem.”July 2019
“Good south Indian food. Good fresh milk tea,coffee and snacks. Clean and tidy. Good staff and owners”January 2019
Honorable mentions (5)
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Chai Net +1
“Guys and gals please do come here to have awmse chai and snacks ...”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Guys and gals please do come here to have awmse chai and snacks ...”October 2020
-
Coffee Net +1
“Good south Indian food. Good fresh milk tea,coffee and snacks. Clean and tidy. Good staff and owners”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Good south Indian food. Good fresh milk tea,coffee and snacks. Clean and tidy. Good staff and owners”January 2019
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Fresh tea Net +1
“Simple Restaurant. Lots of food is available with affordable rate . Their fresh tea which comes for aed 2 is good to try. Staff is always courteous”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Simple Restaurant. Lots of food is available with affordable rate . Their fresh tea which comes for aed 2 is good to try. Staff is always courteous”February 2022
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Kerala tea Net +1
“Traditional kerala dishes only especially non veg, pocket friendly and quality/tasty food. Kerala tea and snacks are the highlights.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Traditional kerala dishes only especially non veg, pocket friendly and quality/tasty food. Kerala tea and snacks are the highlights.”June 2021
-
Naadan chai Net +1
“Naadan Chai / Coffee with Snacks is the best...”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Naadan Chai / Coffee with Snacks is the best...”July 2024
Tips for a Better Visit
Try kanji. Ask for the Kerala-style kanji set, with options such as kadala, payar or mudira plus chutney, pickle and pappadam.
Order snacks. For a Kerala snack stop, look for unniappam and ella-appam alongside fresh tea or coffee.
Choose fish. If fish is your priority, try mathi fry or sole fish fry; both are singled out in separate reviews.
Check orders. Confirm takeaway or delivery contents before leaving or accepting the order, since reviewers report substitutions and missing curry.
Bring cash. Cash may be the safer payment choice: one review reports a card-machine surcharge on a small bill, while another says home delivery had no card option.
Keep visits short. The dining room may ask finished groups to move on during busy periods, so avoid lingering after the meal if it is crowded.
Plan the visit
Practical details
10D St
Al Karama, Dubai
| Mon | 6:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Tue | 6:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Wed | 6:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Thu | 6:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Fri | 6:30 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Sat | 6:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Sun | 6:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
Common Concerns
Service issues
Several reviews report rude or dismissive service, including a delivery caller who yelled at a customer asking about available options.
Order errors
Takeaway and delivery orders have sometimes been wrong or incomplete, including a chicken roast order replaced with chicken in egg gravy.
Packaging concerns
One takeaway review describes snacks placed together in one packet and food falling onto a dirty tray before being repacked.
Card surcharge
A customer reported being charged an extra 25 fils for using a card on a bill below 5 AED.
Table pressure
A group of ten said the cashier asked them to leave while they were still drinking tea after their meal.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
aed 2
fresh tea
“Their fresh tea which comes for aed 2 is good to try”Google review · February 2022
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Al Musalla is a straightforward South Indian restaurant in Al Karama that leans strongly towards Kerala-style comfort food. It is worth considering for an inexpensive, everyday meal rather than a polished dining-out occasion. Customers come for Kerala fish curry meals, kanji sets, porotta and chicken fry, with beef biryani and mathi fry receiving especially specific praise.
The kanji is one of the more distinctive choices. A reviewer describes rustic kanji served with kadala, payar or mudira, coconut chutney, pickle and pappadam, with staff checking whether more kanji or kadala is needed. Snacks are another reason to stop by: unniappam, ella-appam and fresh milk tea are repeatedly mentioned, and a fresh tea was reported at AED 2.
The lunch combo was reported at AED 8, so this is firmly budget territory. Expect a simple restaurant and normal ambience, with some reviews calling the food homely, clean and satisfying. Service is less consistent.
Customers have reported rude delivery or phone interactions, wrong takeaway items, insufficient curry and poor snack packaging. Check your order before leaving, and consider cash for delivery or small bills because card-payment limitations and a reported 25-fils surcharge have caused frustration.