Kerala flavours
Reviewers describe the food as authentic Kerala cuisine, with fresh, richly spiced dishes and traditional meals such as Sadya.
Malabar Thaza Restaurant
Al Warqa
Malabar Thaza is a Kerala-focused restaurant in Al Warqa serving dine-in, takeaway and delivery meals. Reviews make the chicken grill and Malabar biryani especially worth noting, alongside breakfast and traditional dishes such as puttu with beef curry.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
216 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Grilled chicken
The chicken grill is a repeated favourite, with one reviewer calling the shawaya among the best they have tried.
Generous portions
Some diners specifically praise the generous portions and describe the meals as good value for money.
Breakfast options
Breakfast gets strong feedback, including affordable puttu, beef curry, vadas and other Kerala-style morning dishes.
Family seating
The restaurant has a family room, and reviewers also mention comfortable indoor and outdoor seating.
Parking
Several reviews mention available or ample parking, which adds convenience for dine-in visits.
Tea stop
Tea and snacks are a practical reason to drop in, with one reviewer visiting regularly for fresh tea.
What to Eat at Malabar Thaza 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 Malabar Thaza 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 Malabar Thaza 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 1
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Malabar biriyani Net +2
“This place serves good malabar biriyani, best in Warqa I must say.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“This place serves good malabar biriyani, best in Warqa I must say.”January 2026
“Their Malabar biryani is also on par with the best in Dubai.”February 2026
Honorable mentions (21)
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Barbecue chicken Net +1
“Excellent food, and very attentive staff. Our favourite is the barbecue chicken. Their chicken biryani, kadai paneer as well as was prawn tawa fry awesome.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Excellent food, and very attentive staff. Our favourite is the barbecue chicken. Their chicken biryani, kadai paneer as well as was prawn tawa fry awesome.”January 2026
-
Beef biriyani Net +1
“Malabar Thaza serves best Beef Biriyani in Al Warqa. Service is really nice. Recommend to experience.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Malabar Thaza serves best Beef Biriyani in Al Warqa. Service is really nice. Recommend to experience.”March 2026
-
Beef curry Net +1
“If you’re coming here, try the morning puttu and beef curry — so good! Plus, the service makes you feel truly welcomed.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“If you’re coming here, try the morning puttu and beef curry — so good! Plus, the service makes you feel truly welcomed.”February 2026
-
Chicken biryani Net +1
“Excellent food, and very attentive staff. Our favourite is the barbecue chicken. Their chicken biryani, kadai paneer as well as was prawn tawa fry awesome.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Excellent food, and very attentive staff. Our favourite is the barbecue chicken. Their chicken biryani, kadai paneer as well as was prawn tawa fry awesome.”January 2026
-
Chicken grill Net +1
“We’ve tried their chicken grill, porotta, and chilli gobi, and every dish has been absolutely amazing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We’ve tried their chicken grill, porotta, and chilli gobi, and every dish has been absolutely amazing.”March 2026
-
Chilli gobi Net +1
“We’ve tried their chicken grill, porotta, and chilli gobi, and every dish has been absolutely amazing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We’ve tried their chicken grill, porotta, and chilli gobi, and every dish has been absolutely amazing.”March 2026
-
Coin porotta Net +1
“The coin porotta is another item you should try.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The coin porotta is another item you should try.”March 2026
-
Kadai paneer Net +1
“Excellent food, and very attentive staff. Our favourite is the barbecue chicken. Their chicken biryani, kadai paneer as well as was prawn tawa fry awesome.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Excellent food, and very attentive staff. Our favourite is the barbecue chicken. Their chicken biryani, kadai paneer as well as was prawn tawa fry awesome.”January 2026
-
Kanthari thava fish fry Net +1
“I tried the Malabar Fish Pollichathu, Kanthari Thava Fish Fry, and Meals at Malabar Thaza Baraka, and it was a really good experience. The fish dishes were full of flavor — the Pollichathu was rich and well-spiced, while the Kanthari Thava Fry had the perfect balance of heat and taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I tried the Malabar Fish Pollichathu, Kanthari Thava Fish Fry, and Meals at Malabar Thaza Baraka, and it was a really good experience. The fish dishes were full of flavor — the Pollichathu was rich and well-spiced, while the Kanthari Thava Fry had the perfect balance of heat and taste.”September 2025
-
Kerala meal Net +1
“We had a really good Kerala meal at Malabar Thaza Restaurant. The food was tasty, fresh, and full of authentic flavors. Everything we ordered was well prepared and enjoyable.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had a really good Kerala meal at Malabar Thaza Restaurant. The food was tasty, fresh, and full of authentic flavors. Everything we ordered was well prepared and enjoyable.”December 2025
-
Kerala sadya Net +1
“I recently had a Kerala Sadya at Malabar Tazha, and it was an absolutely amazing experience. The authentic South Indian flavors were spot on, with every dish in the Sadya thoughtfully prepared and perfectly balanced.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I recently had a Kerala Sadya at Malabar Tazha, and it was an absolutely amazing experience. The authentic South Indian flavors were spot on, with every dish in the Sadya thoughtfully prepared and perfectly balanced.”April 2026
-
Malabar fish pollichathu Net +1
“I tried the Malabar Fish Pollichathu, Kanthari Thava Fish Fry, and Meals at Malabar Thaza Baraka, and it was a really good experience. The fish dishes were full of flavor — the Pollichathu was rich and well-spiced, while the Kanthari Thava Fry had the perfect balance of heat and taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I tried the Malabar Fish Pollichathu, Kanthari Thava Fish Fry, and Meals at Malabar Thaza Baraka, and it was a really good experience. The fish dishes were full of flavor — the Pollichathu was rich and well-spiced, while the Kanthari Thava Fry had the perfect balance of heat and taste.”September 2025
-
Morning puttu Net +1
“If you’re coming here, try the morning puttu and beef curry — so good! Plus, the service makes you feel truly welcomed.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“If you’re coming here, try the morning puttu and beef curry — so good! Plus, the service makes you feel truly welcomed.”February 2026
-
Naadan chicken curry Net +1
“Tried few of their curries like fish mango curry, naadan chicken curry all good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tried few of their curries like fish mango curry, naadan chicken curry all good.”January 2026
-
Nadan chaya Net +1
“Perfect - nadan Chaya and snacks.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Perfect - nadan Chaya and snacks.”February 2026
-
Porotta Net +1
“We’ve tried their chicken grill, porotta, and chilli gobi, and every dish has been absolutely amazing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We’ve tried their chicken grill, porotta, and chilli gobi, and every dish has been absolutely amazing.”March 2026
-
Prawn tawa fry Net +1
“Excellent food, and very attentive staff. Our favourite is the barbecue chicken. Their chicken biryani, kadai paneer as well as was prawn tawa fry awesome.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Excellent food, and very attentive staff. Our favourite is the barbecue chicken. Their chicken biryani, kadai paneer as well as was prawn tawa fry awesome.”January 2026
-
Shawaya (grilled chicken) Net +1
“One of the best shawaya (grilled chicken) I’ve ever had. I also liked the soup that comes with it.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“One of the best shawaya (grilled chicken) I’ve ever had. I also liked the soup that comes with it.”February 2026
-
Special grill chicken Net +1
“Also their special grill chicken is good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Also their special grill chicken is good.”January 2026
-
Special thaza chain chicken Net +1
“The special Thaza chain chicken was very delicious – definitely a must-try!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The special Thaza chain chicken was very delicious – definitely a must-try!”March 2026
-
Fish mango curry Net 0
Mixed feedback
“Tried few of their curries like fish mango curry, naadan chicken curry all good.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Tried few of their curries like fish mango curry, naadan chicken curry all good.”January 2026
What to Avoid (6)
Food 6
-
Chicken peratt Net −1
“We ordered a chicken peratt, (As a parcel order) they gave only rice without single chicken piece,. 👎 👎👎”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We ordered a chicken peratt, (As a parcel order) they gave only rice without single chicken piece,. 👎 👎👎”May 2026
-
Egg puff Net −1
“The last time I bought an egg puff for an evening snack, it was spoiled.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The last time I bought an egg puff for an evening snack, it was spoiled.”June 2026
-
Fried rice Net −1
“Friend ordered fried rice. Worst fried rice I've ate in my entire life!!!! Least recommended”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Friend ordered fried rice. Worst fried rice I've ate in my entire life!!!! Least recommended”July 2026
-
Grilled chicken Net −1
“Grilled chicken was not coated evenly and not had much flavour.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Grilled chicken was not coated evenly and not had much flavour.”January 2026
-
Masala dosa Net −1
“Today morning I ordered Masala Dosa and Uttapam. Both were very spicy and didn’t taste good at all.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Today morning I ordered Masala Dosa and Uttapam. Both were very spicy and didn’t taste good at all.”June 2026
-
Uttapam Net −1
“Today morning I ordered Masala Dosa and Uttapam. Both were very spicy and didn’t taste good at all.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Today morning I ordered Masala Dosa and Uttapam. Both were very spicy and didn’t taste good at all.”June 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Try breakfast. For a morning visit, consider puttu with beef curry; reviewers also highlight the affordable breakfast selection.
Order grill. The chicken grill or shawaya is one of the clearest review-backed picks, and it comes with soup according to one diner.
Allow time. Build in extra time for dine-in orders, as one review reports a half-hour wait for grilled chicken and parotta.
Check delivery. If ordering delivery, confirm the bag contains every item before the driver leaves because incomplete orders were reported.
Use parking. For dine-in, check the available parking; multiple reviews describe it as nearby or ample.
Choose seating. Families can ask about the family room, while tea visitors can use the indoor or outdoor seating mentioned in reviews.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Zabeel building ,Street 4
Al Warqa - Al Warqa 1, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Tue | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Wed | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Thu | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Fri | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Sat | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Sun | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Delivery delays
Delivery complaints include waits of around 55 minutes, two hours, or 1.5 hours even for nearby customers.
Missing items
Some takeaway and delivery orders arrived incomplete, including a chicken preparation supplied without any chicken piece.
Food consistency
Recent reviews report raw masala, poor fried rice, stale food, and an egg puff that appeared spoiled.
Long waits
Dine-in preparation can also take time: one customer waited about 30 minutes for grilled chicken and parotta.
Spicy dishes
A reviewer found both the masala dosa and uttapam excessively spicy and disappointing.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Malabar Thaza is a Kerala-style restaurant in Al Warqa where the strongest review-backed choices include chicken grill, Malabar biryani, Kerala Sadya and morning puttu with beef curry. Diners also mention parotta, vadas, fish dishes and tea with snacks, so it works for a full meal or a lighter stop. The dine-in experience is generally described as comfortable and welcoming.
Reviews mention a family room, indoor and outdoor air-conditioned seating, a quieter atmosphere away from busy traffic, and ample or nearby parking. That makes it a practical option for family meals, though preparation is not always quick: one customer waited about 30 minutes for grilled chicken and parotta. Delivery is the main caution.
Customers reported waits ranging from roughly 55 minutes to two hours, along with incomplete orders, including rice delivered without the chicken from a chicken peratt order. Food quality also appears uneven across recent reviews: while many diners found dishes fresh and flavorful, others reported raw masala, poor fried rice, stale food and an egg puff they considered spoiled. For a first visit, dine-in may be the safer way to sample the grill or breakfast, and it is worth checking takeaway contents before leaving.
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