Malabar Express Restaurant

Name: Malabar Express Restaurant
Address: Opposite General Post Office - near Baby Shop, Al Karama, Dubai, AE
Telephone: +97143584004

Al Karama

South Indian restaurant Closed 04 358 4004

Malabar Express Restaurant is a South Indian restaurant in Al Karama specialising in authentic Kerala cooking. It is known for seafood such as fish kanthari tawa and for its upstairs train-compartment seating, which gives a family meal an unusual setting.

Reputation Score

4.1

★★★★☆

2,301 ratings

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The Good Stuff

Showing 2 of 7

Kerala flavours

Reviews consistently point to homely Kerala cooking, including fish curry, avial, kappa mutton and coconut-based curries.

Train seating

The spacious first-floor dining area is designed like a train compartment and is a standout part of the visit, especially for children.

Let's go!

What to Eat at Malabar Express Restaurant

Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Malabar Express 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 6

Porotta Net +2

“Porotta and Appam were soft, fresh, and perfectly made — definitely worth trying.”
Bamboo biryani Net +2

“Excellent food. We tried their biryani and full meals during dubai food festival, don’t miss their bamboo biryani too! Amazing service and quality food. Your taste buds will never forget their biryani.”
Coco chicken Net +2

“One of their go to and must try dishes is the coco chicken.”
Fish curry Net +2

“From the rich and creamy sambar and fish curry to the perfectly cooked mota rice is a delightful.”
Mutton biriyani Net +2

“Chicken and mutton biriyani - mutton tasted good”
Sambar Net +2

“The food was absolutely delicious — fresh, flavorful, and served hot. The dosas were perfectly crispy, the chutneys tasted authentic, and the sambar was rich and comforting.”

Honorable mentions (33)

Avial Net +1

“We dug into a meal featuring the green‑pepper tawa fish fry, which was absolutely delicious, and the sides—especially the meen curry, kappa mutton, and avial—were outstanding. The tawa fish fry was truly unforgettable, packed with flavor.”
Beef varattiyathu Net +1

“We ordered the fish polichathu, fish tawa fry, kunju kozhi porichathu, parotta, beef varattiyathu, mutton biryani and fish biryani. All the dishes were amazing. Especially the parotta.”
Butter soft appam Net +1

“Food is excellent too; try their fish and crab, with butter soft appam. Their crab 🦀 curry is very well done.”
Chappati Net +1

“We ordered coco chicken and chicken nirachathu (waiters choice as he was insisting ) along with wheat porota and Chappati which was only available to the late show up. Really loved the coco chicken and breads but chicken nirachathu wasn't good.”
Chatti chor Net +1

“Bamboo Biryani and Chatti Chor at Malabar Express were absolutely delicious and rich in authentic flavors. The bamboo-cooked biryani had perfectly balanced spices and a wonderful aroma. Chatti Chor felt comforting and traditional, with a true homestyle taste.”
Chicken mango curry Net +1

“Food was really good and ambience was great. Loved there chicken mango curry. Difficult to find parking.”
Crab Net +1

“Food is excellent too; try their fish and crab, with butter soft appam. Their crab 🦀 curry is very well done.”
Dragon chicken special Net +1

“at least once in a month we visit fir their Dragon chicken special and other authentic perlite dish varieties. Superb service better experience always at first floor.”
Egg roast Net +1

“We are first time but appam and egg roast for breakfast was very good , the egg roast was spicy like homely food which is not found in uae even if we say make it spicy they don't make it spicy, breakfast which we had is good”
Falooda Net +1

“To top it all off, the amazing desert neypayasam with ice-cream, and falooda are to die for....”
Fish biryani Net +1

“We ordered the fish polichathu, fish tawa fry, kunju kozhi porichathu, parotta, beef varattiyathu, mutton biryani and fish biryani. All the dishes were amazing. Especially the parotta.”
Fish kanthari tawa Net +1

“Highly recommend for their amazing dishes, especially the fish kanthari Tawa- it's a game-changer! I became the fan of fish kanthari Tawa.”
Fish polichathu Net +1

“We ordered the fish polichathu, fish tawa fry, kunju kozhi porichathu, parotta, beef varattiyathu, mutton biryani and fish biryani. All the dishes were amazing. Especially the parotta.”
Fish tawa fry Net +1

“We ordered the fish polichathu, fish tawa fry, kunju kozhi porichathu, parotta, beef varattiyathu, mutton biryani and fish biryani. All the dishes were amazing. Especially the parotta.”
Kanthari tawa Net +1

“The Kanthari Tawa, Mutton Varatiyathu and Paratta were good but the Mutton Malabar Dum biriyani was just ok with loads of chunky mutton.”
Kappa Net +1

“But here kappa was a bit watery as if some masala was added and a lil bit spicy too. We don't need any side dish to have with kappa. Kappa alone has its own flavour which made it stand out from rest of the dishes.”
Kappa mutton Net +1

“We dug into a meal featuring the green‑pepper tawa fish fry, which was absolutely delicious, and the sides—especially the meen curry, kappa mutton, and avial—were outstanding. The tawa fish fry was truly unforgettable, packed with flavor.”
Kerala mota set Net +1

“I had a fabulous experience at Malabar Express while dining in. However, when I decided to order instead, the veg meal was perfect with generous portions. It included Mota rice, 2 curries, 2 sabjis, Paysum, pickle, Dry chutney, Beetroot yogurt salad & Papadam. The only disappointment was the uncooked masala in the king fish I ordered. If you enjoy Kerala mota set, it's definitely a must-visit place.”
Kerala sadhya Net +1

“The Kerala Sadhya and fish curry were simply outstanding — the best I’ve ever had!”
Kunju kozhi porichathu Net +1

“We ordered the fish polichathu, fish tawa fry, kunju kozhi porichathu, parotta, beef varattiyathu, mutton biryani and fish biryani. All the dishes were amazing. Especially the parotta.”
Meen curry Net +1

“We dug into a meal featuring the green‑pepper tawa fish fry, which was absolutely delicious, and the sides—especially the meen curry, kappa mutton, and avial—were outstanding. The tawa fish fry was truly unforgettable, packed with flavor.”
Mutton varatiyathu Net +1

“The Kanthari Tawa, Mutton Varatiyathu and Paratta were good but the Mutton Malabar Dum biriyani was just ok with loads of chunky mutton.”
Neypayasam with ice-cream Net +1

“To top it all off, the amazing desert neypayasam with ice-cream, and falooda are to die for....”
Omlete Net +1

“We ordered Kerala meels, and the food is ok, and we ordered Aila fry and kilimeen fry, Omlete, Kilimeen is the waist of money Aila fry is ok Omlete is tasty very nice l love it kappa chicken is also okay, pickle is also tasty”
Steamed fish Net +1

“The steamed fish, in particular, was well-prepared and is a must-try item.”
Vatta vattichathu Net +1

“We ordered Vatta vattichathu and the taste was supreme and authentic, thanks to the waiter for suggesting it.”
Veg meal Net +1

“I had a fabulous experience at Malabar Express while dining in. However, when I decided to order instead, the veg meal was perfect with generous portions. It included Mota rice, 2 curries, 2 sabjis, Paysum, pickle, Dry chutney, Beetroot yogurt salad & Papadam. The only disappointment was the uncooked masala in the king fish I ordered. If you enjoy Kerala mota set, it's definitely a must-visit place.”
Wheat porota Net +1

“We ordered coco chicken and chicken nirachathu (waiters choice as he was insisting ) along with wheat porota and Chappati which was only available to the late show up. Really loved the coco chicken and breads but chicken nirachathu wasn't good.”
Aila fry Net 0

Only neutral feedback

“We ordered Kerala meels, and the food is ok, and we ordered Aila fry and kilimeen fry, Omlete, Kilimeen is the waist of money Aila fry is ok Omlete is tasty very nice l love it kappa chicken is also okay, pickle is also tasty”
Chicken chilli Net 0

Only neutral feedback

“Chicken chilli - Was just about average taste”
Fish meal Net 0

Only neutral feedback

“Went with friends for fish meal and food is tasty this time and hot. Fish little higher price but good. Meal options were good but all items were cold. Due to coldness taste was not that great”
Hamour fish tawa Net 0

Only neutral feedback

“Hamour fish tawa - Not the regular tawa fry, this one is very creamy. Just about okay”
Kappa chicken Net 0

Only neutral feedback

“We ordered Kerala meels, and the food is ok, and we ordered Aila fry and kilimeen fry, Omlete, Kilimeen is the waist of money Aila fry is ok Omlete is tasty very nice l love it kappa chicken is also okay, pickle is also tasty”

Drinks 2

Coconut juice Net +1

“Juice - chikku shake, lemon mint, coconut grape. Coconut juice tasted good”
Puri bhaji combo with tea Net +1

“Great experience with the food as here for the first time . All the 5 items ordered came in no time , freshly prepared and served super hot . The service was good and staff was friendly . Quiet reasonable with prices Puri bhaji combo with tea costs AED 10/-”

What to Avoid (7)

Food 7

Chicken curry Net −1

“The food quality has clearly dropped. The chicken curry tasted old, like it had been prepared the previous day. Earlier the food used to be good, but now it feels like they are serving leftovers.”
Chicken nirachathu Net −1

“We ordered coco chicken and chicken nirachathu (waiters choice as he was insisting ) along with wheat porota and Chappati which was only available to the late show up. Really loved the coco chicken and breads but chicken nirachathu wasn't good.”
Kilimeen fry Net −1

“We ordered Kerala meels, and the food is ok, and we ordered Aila fry and kilimeen fry, Omlete, Kilimeen is the waist of money Aila fry is ok Omlete is tasty very nice l love it kappa chicken is also okay, pickle is also tasty”
King fish Net −1

“I had a fabulous experience at Malabar Express while dining in. However, when I decided to order instead, the veg meal was perfect with generous portions. It included Mota rice, 2 curries, 2 sabjis, Paysum, pickle, Dry chutney, Beetroot yogurt salad & Papadam. The only disappointment was the uncooked masala in the king fish I ordered. If you enjoy Kerala mota set, it's definitely a must-visit place.”
Mutton malabar dum biriyani Net −1

“The Kanthari Tawa, Mutton Varatiyathu and Paratta were good but the Mutton Malabar Dum biriyani was just ok with loads of chunky mutton.”
Shrimp dry fry Net −1

“The food we ordered were: shrimp dry fry, beef dry fry, 4 pieces of paratha, and husband had the mota rice set meal. The shrimp size changed as I remember it would a bit bigger, but for that time, don’t know but it seemed that they cut costs and the shrimps were smaller.”
Sulaimani Net −1

“Went on a Sunday late afternoon. You will find less occupied people with plenty of service boys roaming too fast good for nothing. Ordered Biriyani and came after ages, ordered a sulaimani along with that but got bitter taste black tea. Don’t expect something from here. Service is pathetic!”

Tips for a Better Visit

Showing 2 of 6

Choose upstairs. Ask for the first-floor train seating if the themed setting is part of your plan; multiple reviews describe it as the most memorable area.

Try breakfast. For a lower-cost morning meal, consider the reported puri bhaji or masala dosa combo with tea at AED 10/- each.

Plan the visit

Practical details

Opposite General Post Office - near Baby Shop

Al Karama, Dubai

04 358 4004

Mon	8:00 AM – 12:30 AM
Tue	8:00 AM – 12:30 AM
Wed	8:00 AM – 12:30 AM
Thu	8:00 AM – 12:30 AM
Fri	8:00 AM – 12:30 AM
Sat	8:00 AM – 12:30 AM
Sun	8:00 AM – 12:30 AM

Get directions

Common Concerns

Showing 2 of 5

Service delays

Some visits involved long waits, including a chai that was cancelled after nearly 15 minutes and delayed parathas.

Inconsistent quality

Food quality is not uniform: one regular described the chicken curry as tasting old, while another family disliked an entire meal.

Customer-reported prices

These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.

AED 10/-

Puri bhaji combo with tea

“Puri bhaji combo with tea costs AED 10/-”

Google review · March 2025

AED 10/-

Masala dosa combo with tea

“Puri bhaji combo with tea costs AED 10/-”

Google review · March 2025

AED 34

rice and chicken curry

“I ordered rice and chicken curry (AED 34) and also asked for a chai”

Google review · March 2026

DXB
LOCAL

The Bottom Line

Malabar Express is a Kerala-focused South Indian restaurant in Al Karama, with a choice between regular dining and a distinctive first-floor train-compartment setting. The menu gives you plenty to explore: fish kanthari tawa, bamboo biryani, Kerala Sadhya and soft appam all receive specific praise in customer reviews. Seafood is a major draw.

Reviewers mention green-pepper tawa fish fry, crab curry, steamed fish and coconut-based fish curries, while Chatti Chor and kappa are good picks for more traditional, homestyle flavours. Breakfast is another strong angle, with crispy dosas, authentic chutneys, rich sambar and spicy egg roast singled out. The spacious layout suits families, and a reviewer appreciated the prompt baby-chair service during a birthday meal.

Staff are often described as friendly and helpful, including when explaining Kerala dishes to first-time diners. Reported breakfast combos include puri bhaji with tea and masala dosa with tea at AED 10/- each. There are some qualifications.

Fish portions have been called small for their prices, one lunch meal felt limited, and a few weekend or late-afternoon visits suffered from slow service. Parking can also be difficult, so allow extra time when visiting during busy periods.