First time trying Kavalam Restaurant and their food tastes amazing. We will definitely be back for sure.
Christina P.
This spot is nestled inside Kovalam Indian Groceries, cleverly set apart yet within the store. We opted for Masala Fried Chicken, Fish Fry, Goat Peralan served with Kerala Porotta and Idiyappam, and Chicken Biryani. While the Masala Fried Chicken was flavorful, it seemed to have artificial coloring added, which could be skipped. The Fish Fry was marinated and cooked to perfection. Trying the Goat Peralan was a delightful surprise; the masala was particularly tasty. Goat is partly chewy, it would have been better softer. The Kerala Porotta was a bit greasy. The Chicken Biryani, adorned with dry fruits and nuts, leaned towards a sweeter side, but the accompanying pickle was a highlight. Definitely don't miss the pickle--it's fantastic. Overall, the meal was delicious but a bit oily, with oil seeping onto our plates. It might be worth considering reducing the oil usage. It's self service style, you order and pick it up and take to your table. Also, note that there aren't high chairs for kids at this restaurant.
Nikhil
This spot is nestled inside Kovalam Indian Groceries, cleverly set apart yet within the store. We opted for Masala Fried Chicken, Fish Fry, Goat Peralan served with Kerala Porotta and Idiyappam, and Chicken Biryani. While the Masala Fried Chicken was flavorful, it seemed to have artificial coloring added, which could be skipped. The Fish Fry was marinated and cooked to perfection. Trying the Goat Peralan was a delightful surprise; the masala was particularly tasty. Goat is partly chewy, it would have been better softer. The Kerala Porotta was a bit greasy. The Chicken Biryani, adorned with dry fruits and nuts, leaned towards a sweeter side, but the accompanying pickle was a highlight. Definitely don't miss the pickle—it's fantastic. Overall, the meal was delicious but a bit oily, with oil seeping onto our plates. It might be worth considering reducing the oil usage.It’s self service style, you order and pick it up and take to your table. Also, note that there aren’t high chairs for kids at this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Chicken Peralan
Hannah V.
Being a mallu , it has not been easy to find a restaurant that serves food like home. Kovalam is the only place where my husband and me travel 40 miles to eat Malabar food when we really crave the Kerala touch . In the last year, we have gone many times and not once have the taste disappointed us. The porattas are so fresh and so tasty, they remind us of the food back home at thattukadas. Beef roast is the best. Kudos to the chef for personally making each dish and this kind of service makes us feel so good about eating here. They recently have started limited seating which is great so we dont have to sit in the car and eat (which is what we do when we can't wait to get back home to eat fresh poratta and curry) We recently took our friends from Chennai there and they too loved the dishes there. We tried the Idiyappam too and I was so touched by homely taste. Will definitely be going back there.
Annu thomas
Great food. Some items are pricey, but good quantity. Should try beef fry and fresh poratta. Best that I ever had. Yumm.
samkumar tp
Enjoyed the food
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Roast, Kerala Parotta, Fish
Anu J.
Authentic Kerala dishes. Quality is consistently excellent. A hidden gem. Would highly recommend to anyone who would like to try Malayali dishes.
Priyanka S.
Kovalam has hands down some of the best paratha and koorma that I have tried in my life. When I tell you that this paratha will change your life it is not an exaggeration. The paratha is so incredibly flakey and scrumptious. It has dozens of flakey layers and can be peeled later by layer and dipped into the koorma. Now the koorma is on another level as well, filled with veggies and spicy green curry. I highly highly recommend checking out Kovalam!
Ever Smile
I had plain dosa here and they served two dosa with sambar chutney which is very
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Catherine P.
Came for lunch today. After reviewing a menu at your table you order the food at the cash register and get a number. The cashier was friendly and helpful explaining the different dishes. We ordered fish pakora, masala dosa, goat peralan, and kerala porotta. The ingredients were fresh and each dish was very flavorful. Will definitely be returning. Looking forward to trying other dishes.
Most underrated Indian restaurant in Bay Area. If you want to experience Authentic Kerala Cuisine and Indian groceries, this is your one stop shop. Mr Philip and Bindu do a great job with their quality and quantity of food served to your choice. The beef fry and Kerala Parotta was out of the world. It's a must try.I also had Kovalam cater for my brothers wedding. They did a phenomenal job is making sure we had enough and we didn't have to worry about anything except be ready to enjoy the meal. All the guests loved and enjoyed the food.
Jay K.
I have no idea how this place has high ratings, considering the butter chicken I ordered was literally "grilled" chicken that was most likely pre-packaged from Costco and thrown in their sauce. They didn't have naan, but instead offered us some porotta, which was greasy and sweet. Offering something as if it was similar to naan but the complete opposite was annoying. They also didn't have samosas. Pretty much seemed like whatever they couldn't defrost in time, they were saying they didn't have. If you want pre-cooked meat thrown in sauce, or frozen bread soaked in oil, this is the place for you.
Keerthi J.
Our dine-in at Kovalam was truly fantastic, thanks to Philip's skill in crafting authentic Kerala dishes. We savored idiyappam, chicken chukka, porotta, and beef fry, each bursting with rich, genuine Kerala flavors and top-notch quality. The experience and service were excellent.If you're seeking a taste of real Kerala cuisine, Kovalam Restaurant is a must-visit.Regarding a review below that mentioned the absence of naan, it's important to clarify that Kovalam specializes in authentic Kerala dishes, and comparing porotta to naan is like comparing apples to oranges. That review does not do justice to our beloved staple food (Porotta + beef fry).
Robins A.
If you are looking for the real authentic taste of India, either southern or northern , please do not hesitate to visit this place. you will never regret. KOVALAM Restaurant is an excellent place for dine-in and takeout. The spice mix in the dishes is so unique and delicious in this place. we enjoyed the best Indian food after a long time.
Arathy N.
I ordered Chicken and Shrimp Biriyani today afternoon. The packing was great. But sorry to say that we were really disappointed with the food quality and taste. The rice was not cooked well and was oily too, for both the biriyanis. Overall we are not happy with the experience. sorry.
First time trying Kavalam Restaurant and their food tastes amazing. We will definitely be back for sure.
This spot is nestled inside Kovalam Indian Groceries, cleverly set apart yet within the store. We opted for Masala Fried Chicken, Fish Fry, Goat Peralan served with Kerala Porotta and Idiyappam, and Chicken Biryani. While the Masala Fried Chicken was flavorful, it seemed to have artificial coloring added, which could be skipped. The Fish Fry was marinated and cooked to perfection. Trying the Goat Peralan was a delightful surprise; the masala was particularly tasty. Goat is partly chewy, it would have been better softer. The Kerala Porotta was a bit greasy. The Chicken Biryani, adorned with dry fruits and nuts, leaned towards a sweeter side, but the accompanying pickle was a highlight. Definitely don't miss the pickle--it's fantastic. Overall, the meal was delicious but a bit oily, with oil seeping onto our plates. It might be worth considering reducing the oil usage. It's self service style, you order and pick it up and take to your table. Also, note that there aren't high chairs for kids at this restaurant.
This spot is nestled inside Kovalam Indian Groceries, cleverly set apart yet within the store. We opted for Masala Fried Chicken, Fish Fry, Goat Peralan served with Kerala Porotta and Idiyappam, and Chicken Biryani. While the Masala Fried Chicken was flavorful, it seemed to have artificial coloring added, which could be skipped. The Fish Fry was marinated and cooked to perfection. Trying the Goat Peralan was a delightful surprise; the masala was particularly tasty. Goat is partly chewy, it would have been better softer. The Kerala Porotta was a bit greasy. The Chicken Biryani, adorned with dry fruits and nuts, leaned towards a sweeter side, but the accompanying pickle was a highlight. Definitely don't miss the pickle—it's fantastic. Overall, the meal was delicious but a bit oily, with oil seeping onto our plates. It might be worth considering reducing the oil usage.It’s self service style, you order and pick it up and take to your table. Also, note that there aren’t high chairs for kids at this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Chicken Peralan
Being a mallu , it has not been easy to find a restaurant that serves food like home. Kovalam is the only place where my husband and me travel 40 miles to eat Malabar food when we really crave the Kerala touch . In the last year, we have gone many times and not once have the taste disappointed us. The porattas are so fresh and so tasty, they remind us of the food back home at thattukadas. Beef roast is the best. Kudos to the chef for personally making each dish and this kind of service makes us feel so good about eating here. They recently have started limited seating which is great so we dont have to sit in the car and eat (which is what we do when we can't wait to get back home to eat fresh poratta and curry) We recently took our friends from Chennai there and they too loved the dishes there. We tried the Idiyappam too and I was so touched by homely taste. Will definitely be going back there.
Great food. Some items are pricey, but good quantity. Should try beef fry and fresh poratta. Best that I ever had. Yumm.
Enjoyed the food
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Roast, Kerala Parotta, Fish
Authentic Kerala dishes. Quality is consistently excellent. A hidden gem. Would highly recommend to anyone who would like to try Malayali dishes.
Kovalam has hands down some of the best paratha and koorma that I have tried in my life. When I tell you that this paratha will change your life it is not an exaggeration. The paratha is so incredibly flakey and scrumptious. It has dozens of flakey layers and can be peeled later by layer and dipped into the koorma. Now the koorma is on another level as well, filled with veggies and spicy green curry. I highly highly recommend checking out Kovalam!
I had plain dosa here and they served two dosa with sambar chutney which is very
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came for lunch today. After reviewing a menu at your table you order the food at the cash register and get a number. The cashier was friendly and helpful explaining the different dishes. We ordered fish pakora, masala dosa, goat peralan, and kerala porotta. The ingredients were fresh and each dish was very flavorful. Will definitely be returning. Looking forward to trying other dishes.
Restaurantji Recommends
Most underrated Indian restaurant in Bay Area. If you want to experience Authentic Kerala Cuisine and Indian groceries, this is your one stop shop. Mr Philip and Bindu do a great job with their quality and quantity of food served to your choice. The beef fry and Kerala Parotta was out of the world. It's a must try.I also had Kovalam cater for my brothers wedding. They did a phenomenal job is making sure we had enough and we didn't have to worry about anything except be ready to enjoy the meal. All the guests loved and enjoyed the food.
I have no idea how this place has high ratings, considering the butter chicken I ordered was literally "grilled" chicken that was most likely pre-packaged from Costco and thrown in their sauce. They didn't have naan, but instead offered us some porotta, which was greasy and sweet. Offering something as if it was similar to naan but the complete opposite was annoying. They also didn't have samosas. Pretty much seemed like whatever they couldn't defrost in time, they were saying they didn't have. If you want pre-cooked meat thrown in sauce, or frozen bread soaked in oil, this is the place for you.
Our dine-in at Kovalam was truly fantastic, thanks to Philip's skill in crafting authentic Kerala dishes. We savored idiyappam, chicken chukka, porotta, and beef fry, each bursting with rich, genuine Kerala flavors and top-notch quality. The experience and service were excellent.If you're seeking a taste of real Kerala cuisine, Kovalam Restaurant is a must-visit.Regarding a review below that mentioned the absence of naan, it's important to clarify that Kovalam specializes in authentic Kerala dishes, and comparing porotta to naan is like comparing apples to oranges. That review does not do justice to our beloved staple food (Porotta + beef fry).
If you are looking for the real authentic taste of India, either southern or northern , please do not hesitate to visit this place. you will never regret. KOVALAM Restaurant is an excellent place for dine-in and takeout. The spice mix in the dishes is so unique and delicious in this place. we enjoyed the best Indian food after a long time.
I ordered Chicken and Shrimp Biriyani today afternoon. The packing was great. But sorry to say that we were really disappointed with the food quality and taste. The rice was not cooked well and was oily too, for both the biriyanis. Overall we are not happy with the experience. sorry.