Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Malabar Restaurant in Santa Cruz

4.2 (199) 514 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States

Location on the map

Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California, US

Phone: +1 831-201-4438
Site: http://malabar-restaurant.com/

Opening hours

Monday:
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Total reviews rating 4.2

199 Reviews for Malabar Restaurant 2024:

Review №1

2022-12-05 07:22:03

The food is delicious and the service is even better. I’m vegetarian and my friends aren’t we both had so many options to choose from. It was my first time trying Sri Lankan food and I loved it. It’s simple to Indian food but a lot less spicy.

Review №2

2022-08-06 06:20:15

I am not exaggerating when I say that eating at Malabar was life changing. I will never forget the first time I took a bite out of the Gobi Manchurian. I thought I was eating a delicious Indian/Malaysian version of orange chicken but something felt slightly “off”. As I was chewing I realized that what I was eating was not chicken. The only possible explanation to this mystery was that it was potato. But upon closer inspection I found out that the divine, scrumptious object in my mouth was cauliflower! Somehow the edges of the cauliflower were crispy while the inside was soft and chewy. And to top it off, the sauce was heavenly as it had a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and savory. The Gobi Manchurian was without a doubt a 10/10. The group I was part of ordered food family style so I got to try many different dishes. My personal highlights aside from the Gobi Manchurian were the Mango Lassi, Egg Roti, and Kofta India. On top of the delicious food, the service was fantastic! Definitely check out Malabar if you can, you will not regret it!

Review №3

2022-10-22 17:42:39

Couldnt wait to take a pic of the food it looked so good. I had the Yellow Curry w/Snapper and it was amazing. There was an acoustic band playing that was pretty nice. Very nice restaurant, staff, and atmosphere. A bit pricey but the excellent food made it worth it.

Review №4

2022-01-22 15:23:24

The food was amazing. They had so many vegan options. We got the nassi Gorin and peanut boda. Both were incredible! Such an underrated place.

Review №5

2021-03-29 18:05:15

The fusion of sri lankan food. The devil shrimp was good not spicy though, and the msian fried rice was awesome. The masala chai can be improved as we expected strong steamimg tea with more spice flavours, but it was quite subtle. Otherwise loved their potato dosai, Kerala fish. The owners were awesome too.

Review №6

2022-09-09 12:51:33

Dishes were all on the sweeter side. Dal Soup was just Indian Kali dal tadka.

Review №7

2022-08-28 17:36:13

Got the Peanut Boda, Gobi Manchurian, and Vegetable Curry, all were amazing and full of flavor. The service was very good too. Highly recommend and we will be coming back to try many more dishes!

Review №8

2018-12-02 05:15:55

The food here is amaaaaazing. Everything Ive tried from the menu was delicious. I love their variety of vegan options. My favorite was the seven vegetable curry, which was well balanced in flavor and texture.I would give five stars, but the service wasnt great. They had to take our drink orders and food orders twice, and brought us the wrong wine.

Review №9

2019-03-11 06:00:24

Vegetarian menu.. Good, friendly and an almost unique homely-like service... dessert is different every two weeks and is special... food was good...

Review №10

2021-04-01 15:50:44

Got a few appetizers and a rose. Everything was delicious and freshly cooked! Great gem of a place

Review №11

2017-11-17 20:17:39

A Santa Cruz classic. Vegetarian Sri-Lankan/Asian fusion with style. Dont miss the Tempeh Lala, the Salad Rolls, and the various veggie Kofta.

Review №12

2018-04-06 15:20:14

Wednesday night at Malabar. We met at 5pm, opening. Comfortable ambiance. We ate delicious food and stayed a little longer just talking. We didn’t feel rushed. Average price per person, with a beverage was $20. But then again, I had samosa and shared a pear salad. The homemade ice cream was the real treat! All vegan and vegetarian cuisine!

Review №13

2022-12-18 05:05:08

Haven’t been to Malabar since 2020 due to Covid so to be back felt so good. Great service, so very friendly and attentive. Food brought so much life and flavor to each bite. We always bring a new friend with us to dine at Malabar because EVERYONE should sit and enjoy a meal here. Such a great “secret” place of Santa Cruz. Definitely need to give it a try if you haven’t yet.

Review №14

2019-09-21 23:57:50

The ambiance is okFood variety is not that great. Vegetarian you might think there are many options but it didn’t taste great the curry was not well cooked and there was no bread to eat with it.Portion size is also small for the priceService is ok

Review №15

2022-05-09 16:14:31

Excellent food in a beautiful tranquil space. The menu has unique and perfectly prepared dishes that are well thought out and cooked with experience. The calamari was tender and crispy, the fish was fresh and perfectly cooked. We asked for a spicy curry and it was so well done with a slow building spice that was strong but complex and enjoyable without overwhelming the veggies or seafood. Chai was equally excellent. Mango salad may be my new favorite appetizer of the year. I took my Mom here for Mothers Day and it was ideal.

Review №16

2022-11-19 05:55:37

We loved our food so much. The calamari was so tender and flavorful and the devil lanka had such a nice spice profile. The only problem was their blender was broken so I couldnt try the lassi, but the traditional chai was delicious.

Review №17

2022-03-08 01:15:19

This is one of our absolute favorite food places in Santa Cruz. My husband and I go there often and we love the owners as well! Its a husband and wife who own the business. They are incredibly kind and always offer us incredible service. Their food is unlike anything I have ever had in the best way possible! Its incredibly unique, and I always feel like a I am getting comfort food with rich flavors! We have all our foodie friends go there and they love it as well. Some mention it may not be traditional Sri Lankan food, but who cares! Its amazing! The owner also mentioned they are purposely experimental and innovative!Not sure where the bad reviews are coming from! :) Im afraid they must be mistaken lol or quite misunderstood the circumstances!! Seriously I would argue some of the best service in town and kindest people. I truly hope people continue to give Malabar a shot as we want to see our beloved restaurant continue to thrive. 💗

Review №18

2022-03-08 01:09:45

We absolutely love Malabar! Its rich and exciting in flavor and so surprised to find it not at the top of every food list in Santa Cruz. This is truly a hidden gem! Id argue a top 5 for flavor and uniqueneas in Santa Cruz area.Service was absolutely fantastic! They throw in free items often and are very attentive!

Review №19

2021-06-14 15:40:23

Doing a coastal road trip. Ate there with the family. Taste was average. Owners were friendly and helpful in ordering and steering us away from super spicy foods. Wishing for better tasting food and a larger menu selection. Hopefully they can improve on that. We had 2 appetizers, 2 vegetarian entrees, one shrimp entree and another fish entree. For the quality of food I felt it was a bit overpriced but no biggie.

Review №20

2021-12-27 19:16:47

Good food, creepy owner. I had a weird experience here with three female friends. The owner got way too close for comfort when talking with us about the menu, only looked at two of us, and then brought only two of us a complementary drink, completely ignoring my other two friends. So, he managed to be both rude and creepy. One of my friends had been there before on her own and found his behavior strange, but this time all four of us felt uncomfortable with him. We are not going back to this place. The food is good, but if you are female, we recommend going somewhere else.

Review №21

2022-02-09 16:42:14

Granted, the fish curry was really good, but the service spoiled our experience. plus The owners creepy behavior with 3 ladies across the room….hovering over their table, devoting all his attention to them, then indifferent to my husband and I. I feel really bad for the other employee or Employees who are trying to make up for the lack of efficiency..This owner acts like a street vendor. I strongly suggest they hire a professional manager to save this business.

Review №22

2019-03-13 19:13:09

The food was so good I went twice within two weeks. The second time, my friends and I got multiple appetizers, 4 entrees, 4 drinks and two desserts so we could try a bunch of things, and each dish was better than the last. We also really liked the wines/beer. The menu can be overwhelming, because everything sounds so great. If you have trouble picking, ask the server/owner what you should get. He will lead you in the right direction. The food is really excellent, and prices are great

Review №23

2022-02-25 00:18:26

Variety of vegetarian options to choose from. A mix of south and southeast asian cuisines!

Review №24

2022-06-09 06:39:41

Amazing experience! The food was above and beyond what I remembered and I’ve been coming back to Santa Cruz with the craving for this food since I first had it 20 years ago. This is a hidden gem and should have a line out the door! Make sure to get a mango lassi.

Review №25

2022-05-22 23:53:17

Great Sri Lankan food in Santa Cruz! I wanted to show my friends what Sri Lankan food was like so we drove down to Santa Cruz to try Malabar Restaurant. All of the food was very tasty, as was the dessert. The owner was very kind and accommodated us even though we had some special requests. I highly recommend this restaurant!

Review №26

2021-09-30 13:52:08

Malabars flavors and menu options are special and incredible. The menu is vegetarian, and portion sizes are average to small.I lived in Santa Cruz for 9 years and this is my favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz.Expect a slow dining experience, and no frills servers. You wont find an excited, peppy cheerleader as your server here, so dont come in expecting that out of the wait staff.

Review №27

2019-07-27 19:31:35

My first time at this restaurant was one Ill always remember. The service was fast and the head chef even came to offer his advice on the menu. Im sure some people might want to choose exactly what they want to eat, but if you take the chefs recommendations, you wont be disappointed. We did take his reccomendations and I couldnt have been happier. We had a few small plates and three entrees and they were brought out individually, making it feel like each one was a separate course and it allowed you the time to dive into the flavor and experience of each dish. The service almost felt like an omakase. Their non alcoholic drinks were equally impressive. I had a basil coconut shake that was to die for. I was honestly surprised this place wasnt packed out the door with the complexity of flavors they are offering. The spot is a little bit hard to notice from the road, maybe a sign you can see when you drive past would bring more people in, and Im sure once they taste the food they will come back for more, just like I will be soon. Easily in my top 3 restaurants in Santa Cruz

Review №28

2021-04-09 02:06:18

5 stars for the delicious food and the superb service. I was delighted to find that they are not just southeast Asian, but specifically Sri Lankan, which is a sadly rare ethnic cuisine to find, because it is delicious.There was a minor issue with my meal, which I didnt even consider worth bringing up, but the server noticed and replaced my dish. They apologized repeatedly, and covered our entire alcohol tab. If Id known I would have had less wine! They really went above and beyond.Im not sure why they are described as a vegetarian restaurant. We did get vegetarian meals (the Mango & Plaintain Curry, and the Mixed Vegetables in Curry) and they were great, not sad concessions at all. But it looked from their menu like they specialize in seafood.The location on Front St is unfortunate, because they surpass in quality just about every restaurant Ive visited on the more charming Pacific Ave and side streets. It looks like they opened not too long ago, so I hope they do well enough that they can move to a better location.

Review №29

2022-08-28 21:12:12

The food is amazing! Must try this place. Loved the mango salad, egg roti, avocado passion fruit smoothie and Devil Lanka! Will be back to try more items from the really interesting menu.

Review №30

2020-08-01 22:58:52

In August 2011, i bought my sister a Malabar gift card for her birthday. It took her a while to get to Malabar. She had cancer and found it hard to get around. When she finally made it, she invited a friend to join her and told me they had a wonderful time, treated very well and their meals were absolutely delicious at Malabar Kitchen. She passed away the year after. Thank you Malabar Kitchen. Sorry it has taken this long to express my appreciation. I hope everyone buys gift cards in advance to keep this wonderful place with great hospitality going.

Review №31

2019-08-05 22:01:08

Complex and delicious flavor levels. This restaurant has exquisite dishes served by a team of waitstaff. The meals are largely vegetarian with many unique ingredients and flavor combinations. Be prepared to spend a minimum of 90 minutes to order, dine and exit. This NOT a restaurant to experience if you are on a schedule.

Review №32

2019-09-23 01:51:25

Wonderful South Asian meets Malayan food. This all vegetarian restaurant does a range of exotic flavors that will engage adventurous tastes, with enough comforting options for the milder diners to be more than happy. Its family run with uneven timing, so dont try to squeeze it in, but give it some time to relax into

Review №33

2022-12-23 23:52:49

Dear vegetarians: watch out! Except vegetable curry, potato dosa, which you can buy better at the kiosk for $12.50 all your food is fried in a deep fryer that fries chicken, calamari, and fish

Review №34

2013-12-28 04:27:37

Arrived to a odd looking restaurant and were seated quickly. While busy, the restaurant never felt cramped and the tables were spacious and the seating comfortable enough. We were then greeted by entertainingly surly service which provided more than enough entertainment for the evening. The range of food on offer was amazing and the quality even more so. The food arrived rapidly and was devoured even more rapidly as it was mind blowingly tasty. Would say without hesitation that this is the best vegetarian restaurant I have ever been to and likely the best full stop.

Review №35

2021-07-20 08:40:55

I ordered takeout. When I arrived (after the time they told me it would be done), they told me it was almost ready. I inquired again ten minutes later and again was told it was almost ready. After another ten minutes, I was informed that they had lost my order and had not even started cooking it in the first place. I lost over an hour of my evening standing around listening to too-loud pop music from a decade ago, waiting for food that should have been ready before I arrived. They gave me no discount, only offering me a coupon for a specific entree (the cheaper of the two I had ordered) should I ever order takeout again.The food was also subpar compared to other south and southeast Asian restaurants in the area. Needless to say, after an enormous waste of time for an underwhelming meal, I wont be returning.

Review №36

2019-01-19 21:29:49

5-star vegan food! This is probably the best food in the Bay Area. The vibe is super quiet, and I want to say organic because the ambience I believe is meant to focus on the food and the conversation. The owner is really sweet if you can get him talking. I highly recommend their rose pistachio drink. Any food you get will be amazing. Try their ice cream too. His wife makes it.

Review №37

2021-07-12 23:17:59

We travelled all the way from Oakland to try Sri Lankan food which we usually dont find and we were terribly disappointed. The Srilankan Devil did not taste like any dish we had in Sri Lanka. The dish mentioned use of traditional spices like cloves and cardamom and we could not taste any of it. The Kerala Fish Fry was bland and my wife who hails from Kerala was thoroughly disappointed. I am sad that people who have never traveled to the South east Asian countries are going to end up having a wrong understanding of the flavors after eating the food here!! Would not recommend if you are looking for traditional South East Asian food!!

Review №38

2018-07-14 01:13:39

OH MY GOD!!!!! Best vegan restaurant I have ever been to!!! Everything was the best thing I have ever had, especially the raw vegan pine nut ice cream!!!!

Review №39

2019-08-22 02:19:24

This place was amazing!! Wanted to order take out but Raj suggested I eat there instead. I listened and I am so glad I did. I did the tasting menu per his suggestion everything was so great!! Every course was was delicious with all unique flavors. Highly recommend!!

Review №40

2010-09-04 08:01:56

I have no idea how this place can consistently provide such amazing meals! Ive tried so many things on their menu, expecting to find something thats just above average. I havent done it, yet; its always excellent. Ive eaten at fine restaurants all over the planet, and Malabar is definitely in my top five.Also, despite other reviews, Ive never had an issue with the staff. Theyve always been friendly and helpful and timely.Truly the best value _and_ the best meal in Santa Cruz County.

Review №41

2022-02-13 03:18:31

Food is exploding with unique flavors and the service is attentive and really sweet! Good vegetarian options as well. Highly recommend the Singapore noodles and their chai!

Review №42

2018-09-10 03:38:44

I had the best restaurant experience there in a long time. The owner is great and authentic, he brought us more food than we ordered. His wife made one of the best ice creams I have ever tasted. The prices are more than fair. This is a great place I support.

Review №43

2021-12-20 03:01:32

My two friends and I had late lunch here. We ordered veggie roti, Devil thing with chicken and Kerala fish, all of which were really exquisite.Friendly and helpful staff. Highly recommended:).

Review №44

2019-01-26 23:52:03

Fantastic food, this longtime Santa Cruz team has been nailing vegan for decades. Refined calm flavors, perfect tableside manners, excellent for a nice date. You must do the vegan dessert ice cream - mind blown.

Review №45

2019-04-15 07:53:41

We happily discovered Malabar while looking to eat lunch at India Joze and came away so stoked! The feeling was that any food we ate after that would seem boring! Raj was very welcoming and added to the flavorful experience! I came back for dinner with my husband a few days later. He came away with the same great feeling. It is an oasis of flavor inthe sea of ordinary!

Review №46

2021-05-07 14:54:21

Very unusual food! The mango salad was very good. Mangos are OK, but this salad was awesome, sweet then spicy. The garlic snapper was also an unusual texture and flavor, excellent!

Review №47

2022-02-21 01:02:54

We enjoyed our lunch here. The service was very good and the owners were very friendly and helpful. Food was delicious. Heads-up, the prob size of entrees could be quite big

Review №48

2019-05-22 03:33:23

Wow. Ive never had taste combinations like this. Our family shared 4 dishes and a desert and absolutely loved all of them. We were served by the owner, Raj, an endearing character. Modest and chill decor, open ceiling. Family recipes from Sri Lanka. I actually post this with some reservation because I dont really want it to blow up.

Review №49

2018-06-30 03:26:16

I would highly recommend this restaurant! - the service is AMAZING. the food is delicious and not to overpowering, very flavorful and delicious. We have eaten at many well regarded indian restaurants and this one sets the bar. i am so pleased we found this place. And there were many gluten free options.

Review №50

2015-08-02 04:30:42

Food was great. Samosas were quite small, but delicious. Prices were high but worth it.Service was extremely poor, though. Waited ages for our menu, literally five words from our server the entire service. are you ready? Rice? Okay waited even longer for our check.Food 8/10Service 2/10

Review №51

2017-06-20 01:45:55

- Good ambiance- Liked the various options in the menu.- A different take on Indian cuisine. However, I felt the quantity of appetizers was very less.- Service was a bit poor. We had multiple people serving us which added to confusion.

Review №52

2018-02-19 18:34:45

I have been on glaciers that moved faster than this restaurant. The ravings about the quality and flavors of the food had us excited to eat here, but we were very disappointed. The morose staff seemed unconcerned about our experience and the way the plates were plonked down in front of us did not help. We waited so long between our appetizer and entree (30 minutes) that I very nearly grabbed a left-over Samosa from the table next to us. How does wait staff leave a dirty table for 30 minutes while there is a line of waiting customers ten deep? We were very hungry by the time the entrees were trickled out and it only got worse.The Vegetable Korma was drowned in a tepid, flavorless curry followed five minutes later with a bowl of rice tossed down on the table; seemingly as an afterthought. The noodles, which came 10 minutes after the vegetables, were overcooked and lumped into a sticky pile of flabby onion, root veggie and cheese. South Indian/Sri Lankan food is supposed to explode with flavor, spices and some heat. This food was the antithesis of that tradition.We did not finish our entrees. Instead, we achingly removed ourselves from the uncomfortable chairs we had suffered in for the last hour and a half and go off to find some dessert to brighten our mood.

Review №53

2018-05-23 06:01:41

Tuesday night dinner with out of town guest. WOW!The ambience is low key, good mellow lighting, few adornments on the walls, zen-like, painting directly onto the walls. Small tea lights in glass bowls with little live flowers was a sweet touch. Very homey. Lovely waiter who wholeheartedly encouraged us to stay to enjoy the home made ice cream when we said wed love to try it but perhaps to go since we were the last ones there and didnt want to hold them up. You could tell he really cared. The ice cream is home made by the owners wife, who mixes up a fresh batch DAILY! It was chocolate with habanero and even the chocolate piece on top was infused with orange in the best way ive ever had chocolate infused with a flavor, not too sweet, fresh rasberries .... and VEGAN, we were most delighted with our choice. The bananna leaf salad was also very unique, asian pears, mint and some kind of finely chopped nuts ...I lived in India before and am a big fan of dosas, which was the reason we came here. I must say the dosa itself was a bit floppy / limp, as opposed to the the crispy wafer style I enjoy the most. Im not downgrading this place for it, but I wasnt impressed with the presentation of the dosa and the texture. The eggplant / mango spice paste filling in mine was truly unique and tasted out of this world! The little white tray of various chutneys was quite a tastebud treat as well. I couldnt tell you which one I liked the most ... they were all good and the waiter was happy to offer up more of whichever one or ones you ran out of (which is easy to do). The sambar sauce which usually comes with a dosa (spicy tomato based soup) was more like dahl here and there was some spice in it that left a bitter taste on the tongue (both me and my friend agreed and we did not finish that). The drink my friend had was pomegranate and almond milk and not sure what else. I thought it would be too sweet and smoothie like but it was light and refreshing, again nothing was too sweet, perfectly balanced.This place is ORIGINAL, and very local and I highly recommend it. Im new in town and was told I should expect to lower my expectations when it comes to restaurants here in SC. Im happy to say Ive been happily surprised many times in the few short months since moving here. This place is a gem. 2 dosas, one salad, one drink, one desert = $46 + tip

Review №54

2022-02-13 09:20:32

Terrible food for desi audience. Really bland and pricy food.Service and ambiance was all great but seemed totally poised to please the Santa Cruz crowd with western ethnicities who may not prefer the authentic spice.

Review №55

2016-10-10 21:04:48

Sensational. My first dinner at Malabar: I had a psychadelic experience eating their Chang Mai squash raviolis with oyster mushrooms in red curry sauce. I felt tingling sensations flow through my body and a lightness overwhelmed my very being - I couldnt stop laughing, my table was (luckily) amused and laughed along. Since then I have returned about 8 times. Everything about this restaurant is great: I have yet to find a miss on the menu, and Ive brought every visiting friend and family member here and had them choose the meal; the ambiance is refreshing and light, not too formal but elegant and surprisingly intimate and quiet for its location on Front; I have been served by the owner a number of times and I find him to be hilarious along with accommodating and charming. Try the homemade ice cream made with young coconut meat. Treat yourself, enjoy life. Malabar is an expression of the universal truth and reflects the best parts of life on spaceship earth and our shared human experience. 10/10, my favorite restaurant ever.

Review №56

2021-05-30 20:52:19

Ugh dont be fooled with pictures and reviews . Its horrible, JUST HORRIBLE. Who the hell makes dosa sweet and cold ?Dont even get me started with appetizers, its food bathed in oil and microwave.Pay your health insurance before trying their food .I paid almost 30$ for two glasses of water and bagfull vomit

Review №57

2017-04-12 04:41:21

Delicious eats with a flavor palette you might have never tasted before. Great mood, and a great place to share food with loved ones. Try the Persian Nights smoothie and vegan strawberry ice cream w/ lavender chocolate.

Review №58

2014-02-10 03:55:27

The ambiance was great, the food was wonderful as well. We ordered the eggplant dalas and samosas (they were quite small). The persian night drink was amazing. I gave only 3 stars because the waiter was unfriendly and very short with us. My boyfriend is indian and Im white (hispanic) which Im sure is the reason why the waiter dismissed me and didnt smile once... Were from the east bay area where there is actual diversity. Overall, food was good but we wont be returning do to service.

Review №59

2018-12-23 17:57:38

My girlfriend and I left here saying that this might be the best food we have ever had. We had the Gobi Manchurian appetizer that was just loaded with flavor, and the chickpea breading was great with the cauliflower. The sauce was so flavorful! Then was the mixed vegetable dosa, which was so unique and great to try the little sauces that came out with it. When ordering a dosa you also receive a killer coconut soup that feels like there isnt another single nutrient you could cram in there, so rich in every aspect. We also had the Tempeh La La, which were these super tasty, carmelized tempeh chunks with a peanut sauce and veggies. During our dinner, the owner enticed us with the ice cream his wife makes. It seemed to be a special experience for anyone who tried it, and once I realized he wasnt pushing it as a sales guy, but mostly as a my wife makes some killer ice cream, Im so proud and honored to have you try it while you are here we had to get it. He was right though, it was killer, and easily some of the best vegan ice cream you can have. His wife changes the flavor every couple weeks, so explaining what it looks like or tasted like here could be very different depending on when this is read. Whatever time you come here, seriously try the ice cream! Only downfall is we didnt try more items, but we will be back here very soon. Easily some of the best vegan food in Santa Cruz, dont miss out on this gem!

Review №60

2019-02-03 01:04:57

This is one of the best vegetarian restaurants Ive been to. I love eating meat so I was a bit hesitant to try it out, but I was completely blown away. The Vegetable Roti is definitely a must-have - the roti pastry itself is the perfect texture and I could tell that they make it fresh in-house everyday. Another item I really enjoyed was the Roti Paratha - so flaky and flavorful, and perfectly complimented by a tangy and sweet galangal curry sauce.

Review №61

2016-03-03 03:41:10

Literally the worst eating experience I have had. Awkward energy off the bat, the waiter was litterelly like a zombie and never smiled once, plus he walked outside to do God knows what every 5 minutes. They forgot our whole order, and brought us 2 wrong dishes even after that. Plus they were just grumpy about it the whole time. Then a group of customers came in that have eaten there before and the waiter was extremely nice to them?!! Super weird. Not to mention, every dish we had was sub par or just plane disgusting. This is coming from a vegan and a vegetarian, so its not like we arnt used toThe style of food. DO NOT GO HERE.

Review №62

2012-09-26 19:45:15

I am not a vegetarian however my friend who showed me the place is. This is the best not only vegetarian restaurant food Ive had Id say its in my top 3 restaurants for its food that Ive ever been to. I live in Toronto and think about how much I would love this restaurant around the corner from my house. The decor is simple but I wouldnt want it any other way. The servers are all family member young and old and I also think that it is what makes this place so unique and special. My friend had been staying in Santa Cruz for over a week and ate here almost every evening. The server had great food knowledge and reccomendations (Son of the chef) and was absolutely lovely. He knew more about the food than most servers in upscale restaurants. The sauces, textures and dishes were so unique and outstanding... that says a lot coming from a picky meat-a-tarian in a veggetarian restaurant.Outstanding will definately come back on my next trip to California! Well Done!

Review №63

2021-06-21 06:21:05

Food was alright. Service no so much. Had to ask for cutleries. Food was delayed a bit. No napkins in the restroom.Make sure to ask to make it spicy as mine was a little too sweet for my Indian taste buds

Review №64

2021-08-29 03:41:29

The food was overall pretty good. Very tasty. A little overpriced for what you get, but it was still good. I would still recommend trying this restaurant, it has unique flavors.

Review №65

2019-01-04 04:09:00

This is one of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz! For vegans and vegetarians and everyone else, it’s just amazing food. The owner is also incredibly friendly and made our whole experience so homey and wonderful.

Review №66

2017-08-07 02:42:55

Awful experience. The server took over 15 minutes to get to us. Once he did- every time someone at our table ordered he said dont order that, order this instead. The garlic seasonal noodles and veggies were flavorless; noodles were over cooked and the veggies were way undercooked. And we tried to order drinks and he said dont order drinks, were under staffed and dont have time to make them....first and last time here. Awful service.

Review №67

2017-05-18 04:30:04

The Kofte India was super delicious, the pumkin curry was soso.There where 8 guests including us on 3 tables and about 20 empty tables. We waited almost 1 hour for our food. The service was the worst experience in my lifetime. We felt so not welcome at all and the fear of the living dead describes it perfectly.Even if the food is tasty and good, we will never ever set a foot in this location.

Review №68

2020-11-05 21:34:18

OMG! What happened at our beloved Malabar? Just a few days ago, we ordered peanut boda and mango almond curry. It was bad! The peanut boda was soggy and mushy and missed flavor. The mangos in the mango almond curry, usually or favorite dish, were unripe, undercooked, hard to cut and no flavor. The plantain was also undercooked and no flavor. We had to use steak knives to cut both. Then I had a piece of plastic wrap or film in my food.This is so sad. We always loved the Malabar. Did they change the cook?

Review №69

2018-04-28 20:27:15

Tried this place for lunch on a weekend. Awesome food, and the best service ever. The owner was very attentive, and even made various suggestions from the menu (unprompted) that would fit our group. Will definitely come here again.

Review №70

2022-10-27 22:16:30

Delicious! Love the presentation of dishes and taste. Ambiance is relaxed along with a no rush atmosphere. Nice to actually have time to enjoy your friends and dinner.

Review №71

2016-11-17 08:02:45

I have been eating here for years. Wonderful spicy cuisine made by hand for each meal. I just wish they would go back to serving lunch again. Highly recommended for vegetarian delights.

Review №72

2018-04-22 21:10:10

Wow, recent vegan convert. Its great to know therr is somewhere I can go that the food tastes like food! The owner was bery nice and visited our table often. The live music (acoustic ambient) was the perfect compliment to an outstanding meal!

Review №73

2018-03-17 06:51:17

Delicious, innovative, healthy, vegetarian, Asian Indo Fusion fare, in a spacious, zenfully sparse and clean space. Dont forget the dessert. Live music was tastefully selected, and played at an appropriate volume. I would call it a romantic dining experience.

Review №74

2015-01-20 00:58:04

An elegant and creative restaurant, featuring vegetarian and vegan cuisine of Sri Lanka and India (secondarily). The menu features a few traditional, but moreso unique dishes prepared with local ingredients. Drinks are also unique. Coconut roti was really tasty & light. The vegetable dosa was nicely done & light on spice. The khotha roti was like the traditional streetfood I had when I was doing relief work there after the tsunami a decade ago. I loved the caramel & ginger almond shake. Service was fast. It is hard to find creative reasonably priced vegetarian food with flavor & this is one of them.

Review №75

2018-08-03 07:31:36

One of the best dining experiences ever! Amazing food, stellar service (a visit from the chef himself, oh la la) and beautiful decor. I always stop by when in town. Highly recommended!

Review №76

2021-03-21 06:13:56

We were waiting during 40min to be served (time of table preparation ~20min and 20min for the server..), the fact that we were with 2yo hungry boy didn’t help us to be served quicker. Firstly they served our child (very salty soup), then my husband and then me with the wrong dish. I had to ask to replace it and finally I ate alone (my husband finished his plate before mine arrived). The food in general was not exceptional, the salmon was not wild caught as it was written in the menu, rice was too sticky and as I said previously they put too much salt.

Review №77

2022-04-20 16:36:29

Malabar is back and better than ever. The food is even better than before, they serve beer and wine, and the service was great and friendly. We cant wait to go back.

Review №78

2015-10-31 19:08:31

I live in Austin now, but whenever Im in town I never miss an opportunity to eat at Malabar! My personal favorite dish right now is the eggplant dosa. The food is delicious, creative and done with healthy and organic ingredients.

Review №79

2022-03-25 01:38:12

Sat there for 20 mins and no one came to take the order, despite making an advance reservation. Waiter said hes busy. Taste might be good, dont know.

Review №80

2014-12-09 01:28:52

Great place in town that offers a different type of food. Being the only Sri Lankan place I have ever tried, the food really delivers. Quite similar to Indian in some aspects, but not as spicy.Everything is vegetarian here, but it is still tasty. Mango lassi is good and casablanca ravioli are safes.

Review №81

2013-03-28 19:58:01

Wow -- how did I only now find out about this place!?! Its more than a Sri Lankan restaurant -- they dip into many Asian cuisines, but the food is high quality and you wont even realize its all veg. The atmosphere is clean/simple/elegant. Just go early -- they run out of items and they wont apologize.

Review №82

2021-11-09 18:39:00

Everything was delicious. We ordered way too much food (worth it) bc it all sounded so good and it was-- finished it all (with 1 small to-go box) lol.

Review №83

2016-03-06 03:52:23

This is the best restaurant in all of Santa Cruz County. Im use to the diversity and variety of San Francisco dining and thus far after 3 years of santa cruz living there are only 2 places that rank the highest with me. Malabar is one and Sawasdee is the other. The food! The flavor! Forget dharmas for your vegetarian selection, Malabars dishes make you forget about meat even if youre a meat eater.

Review №84

2016-12-25 06:37:43

The best Santa Cruz has to offer. Its got everything from ambience to location, taste to texture. The Malabar offers everything from casual to fine dining experiences with the full feeling satisfaction of a good meal.

Review №85

2018-01-14 07:24:47

Worst restaurant... Pathetic service and pathetic food. First of all, we had to wait for 20 mins to be seated even though tables were empty. Then roughly around 15 mins after being seated someone came to take the order, and the guy was so much rude. Food was completely cold, too much oily... We kept waiting for some items in the order, and were being told they are coming. After loosing our patience, we asked after 40-50 mins and were told they dont have it. Are you seriously kidding me. We ordered dosa, and when asked for more dosa we were told they dont have sambar anymore. Are you kidding me, you just made 1 bowl of sambar 😠. In short, avoid this restaurant.

Review №86

2018-07-01 06:41:02

Except for its name, it has nothing that closely resembles kerala. So all those who crave for Kerala food, please reconsider your choice.Coming to the food. The menu options are pretty limited(in my opinion) and consists mostly of fusion food(Indian food made in European style).Ordered Roti Paratha,Gobi Manchurian and Indian Kofta. Roti Paratha was a mix of Roti + Paratta, sweet and soggy. Gobi Manchurian turned out to be Cauliflower fried and dipped in Chilly Vinegar sauce(Dont know how they call this manchurian). Had to search with a microscope for Kofta to realize it was Indian Kofta curry.The Malabar experience turned out to be a damp squib to me. And to top it all, This is a Vegetarian Restaurant. Whoever named this Restaurant doesnt seem to realize the irony in nomenclature(Malabar and Vegetarian are an oxymoron).

Review №87

2018-05-14 04:04:28

Ive had a lot of good food in my life and this restaurant is truly extrodinary. You forget the place is vegetarian. Totally unassuming and not fancy but the food was awesome. Insanely good deal for the price.

Review №88

2019-07-30 21:08:47

Malabar creates exquisite vegetarian dishes both in taste and presentation. The flavor and rich blend of seasonings is unmatched. The food is is delicious art.

Review №89

2020-01-04 21:58:29

Very nice fine dining version of Authentic Indian cuisine. Really enjoyed very dish and was well coursed. For even the picky eater this is a nice place you must visit.

Review №90

2017-09-17 21:13:22

Great srilankan food.Surprised to see a Srilankan place in Santa Cruz - but it was great. Dishes were all good - i highly recommend the Kotha Roti. And wash it down with a yummy Moroccan Lassi.Decor was nice. Service was good

Review №91

2018-03-16 03:04:26

One of our favorite restaurants. Easily the best vegan and vegetarian food around. Even if youre not vegetarian, I urge you to try it because youre going to love it. They have meat options too.

Review №92

2010-11-17 05:02:16

Outstanding Restaurant. Amazing Fusion of Sri Lankan Food and other cultures. Family Owned. The three brothers that work there are so kind, generous, and committed to making it a peaceful, delicious experience

Review №93

2014-04-11 23:06:29

This is one of my favorite restaurants in town. Tasty, healthy food. Highly recommended. Caution: it can get noisy, so if you want a quiet romantic dinner, maybe not the best.

Review №94

2019-04-25 05:14:03

Excellent food. Good flavor. Must visit.The mint pesto noodles and eggplant dosa were out of the world. Great customer service.

Review №95

2021-08-08 01:21:49

Isn’t too bad for a fusion restaurant. No idea why they named the place ‘malabar’. Has nothing to do with malabar cuisine. Don’t expect Kerala cuisine, not even Indian. If you’re not Indian, go for it.

Review №96

2016-09-24 19:03:07

The fear of walking dead waiter. Its true what other persons describe: food is very good! But the waiter/service is not friendly at all, doesnt talk much and this makes the atmosphere uncomfortable.

Review №97

2018-10-11 23:48:02

The food was delightfully delicious. We have visited on several occasions now and each time the food is great. There is usually something new to try which adds to the excitement

Review №98

2020-08-01 23:03:06

In August 2011, i bought my sister a Malabar gift card for her birthday. It took her a while to get to Malabar. She had cancer and found it hard to get around. When she finally made it, she invited a friend to join her and told me they had a wonderful time, treated very well and their meals were absolutely delicious. She passed away the year after. Thank you Malabar Kitchen for treating her and her guest so well and making delicious dishes. Sorry it has taken this long to express my appreciation. Everyone please buy gift cards in advance from Malabar. Live and respect to the owners and staff.

Review №99

2018-08-27 02:08:15

Excellent vegetarian and vegan restaurant.Love the mood even though a bit eclectic during pick hours. Dont be in a rushDid I say excellent food? Yesss!

Review №100

2022-01-30 03:02:59

Worst service. Horrible taste. They took half hour just for a tea(chai) which was $6 bdw.Horrible taste. (Just boiled water) They were hesitant to give sugar also.

Review №101

2018-05-26 16:19:39

A unique menu. I had the Saffron Curry Ravioli and loved it. Deserves 1 Michelin star for the flavors.

Review №102

2018-03-19 07:36:38

We love the food here, and were not vegetarians.We miss the lunches because you could get a four-item combo, and so many things on the menu are good

Review №103

2018-08-16 20:37:51

Amazing food at a great price! We got 2 appetizers and 2 entrees for only around $30, and it all tasted fantastic! One of the best restaurants in SC for sure!

Review №104

2021-10-12 00:09:04

We went on a whim and were not disappointed. I loved trying new things and the food was very good, fresh and a helpful staff and owner. I am going again soon.

Review №105

2018-01-05 16:37:18

Excellent well thought out fare. Raj is a world class restaurateur in tiny little SC. So lucky to have this guy. If he were in SF hed be world famous by now!

Review №106

2017-03-18 14:34:53

I am rarely wowed at a restaurant. Their service was simple and their food impeccable. Menu is very diverse and all freshly made. Highly highly recommend.

Review №107

2017-06-18 02:13:10

Fantastic food. Fresh, full of spices and bursting with flavor. Everything cooked to order so it takes a bit to get the food. But worth the wait.

Review №108

2018-06-30 03:31:45

This is the best Indian restaurant I’ve ever been to. Not only is the food incredible but the atmosphere and people working there are too. I highly recommend you go to this restaurant if you ever get the chance.

Review №109

2017-05-05 20:52:29

The food was amazing, the service was... almost comically bad. The staff was all very friendly, but seemed very disorganized. Well definitely go again - the food & atmosphere was lovely, and there was live music the night we went

Review №110

2019-04-27 03:55:50

Food tasteful. Ambiance quiet & a LITTLE regal, small portions, prices may seem a little high, depending upon what you are used to. Family owned. Food is AUTHENTIC.

Review №111

2022-09-17 00:44:25

Simply wonderful food. It’s a gem!! Excellent service and atmosphere too.

Review №112

2021-07-11 20:35:47

Most delicious Indian food that I have ever tasted!!! The meals are amazing and the workers here are so nice and helpful

Review №113

2016-04-10 01:14:44

Excellent food, wonderful service, and incredible location. The expansive beverages menu is fantastic too - everything is unique, healthy, and well-priced, with a lovely atmosphere.

Review №114

2019-01-22 04:53:44

The flavours were excellent! Dont expect traditional Indian/Kerala food, but more of Asian fusion.

Review №115

2021-03-12 04:26:31

Rather taken with this veg*n spot, its vibe and decor. Sort of offbeat contemporary Indian cuisine with a some sort of garden to table bent. Want it to have more siblings and cousins in the world!

Review №116

2021-09-06 06:51:39

The food was so good! I had a dish with Mango and plantain in a curry sauce with rice. Very good!

Review №117

2016-06-26 03:17:19

One of the busiest places with one of the slowest services. Two servers for the entire restaurant in a Saturday evening is just outrageous! Got our food in 1and 1/2 hour!!!

Review №118

2019-09-29 03:34:30

We eat here regularly. The flavors are delicate and wonderful. Always have a memorable meal.

Review №119

2021-08-23 05:01:12

Food was delicious. They can do better in the service/experience dept. Staff needs training for better customer experience and efficiency.

Review №120

2017-09-10 05:54:52

Great cuisine, flavorful and wholesome. Kind of slow bringing it out, no forks after food was delivered for quite a while...nice people and talented singers and guitarist.

Review №121

2017-02-05 21:58:22

Service ok, atmosphere dark dining room not very comfortable chairs. Food portion very very small, lacking flavor over priced . Way over priced . I dont recommend this place at all.

Review №122

2021-09-08 03:24:48

Wonderful flavors of exoticism and charm married with a psychedelic dreamscape on your taste buds creating a fusion of flavors sure to brighten your day.

Review №123

2019-07-13 04:00:13

We had planned on sushi (next door) for date night but the owner convinced my wife to try his establishment while she waited for me to arrive we were not disappointed we will definitely return

Review №124

2015-09-07 20:07:00

We were very impressed with the creativity with the flavors. We often speak of it with the kids. Definitely worth a visit, regularly if you are nearby.

Review №125

2021-12-12 04:37:53

Too much oil in all the entrees and appetizers; Slow service; lighting needs to improve -feels too dark for dinner time .

Review №126

2017-08-20 05:55:06

I have been eating there for years and its consistently delicious. The veggies are always fresh and the curries distinctive.

Review №127

2019-06-02 03:52:10

The food is excellent. The service is one of a kind. Dont expect American service and you might imagine this place can be somewhere in the far East.

Review №128

2021-10-28 05:35:06

Super tasty and unusual dishes and flavors. I want to go back and try everything on the menu.

Review №129

2021-08-22 04:24:46

First of all it is not an Indian food. The food tasted ok, not tasty. Food was delivered sooo late. Hostess was very friendly.

Review №130

2019-02-28 15:17:47

I liked what I got, but I didnt find a lot on the menu that appealed to me (an avid omnivore). I got the spicy potato dosa, and that was good.

Review №131

2014-08-22 06:01:23

Great Sri Lankan-style vegetarian food! Nice curries and delicious sugarless lemongrass lime drink.

Review №132

2020-01-16 15:09:47

Delicious all you can eat vegan/gluten free Sri Lankan food. Not much more you could ask for.

Review №133

2017-08-19 03:44:30

Excellent food, nice team. All tasty and super good. We have been there twice and will return!

Review №134

2018-04-30 19:36:40

Food was good! Live music was nice. They need some shades for the evening sun blinded me as I sat facing the door.

Review №135

2017-04-09 02:01:45

Delicious as always! The eggplant dish is incredible and so satisfying. A Santa Cruz favorite!

Review №136

2019-02-04 07:36:14

I am obsessed with this place. I can’t wait to go back and try more dishes. Dessert is amazing. Love love love.

Review №137

2014-03-29 03:43:22

Wonderfully delicious vegetarian Sri Lankan cuisine. Classy and unpretentious setting. Excellent service!

Review №138

2019-04-15 04:28:33

Ive been coming here for years... When it used to be Asian Rose. I was already disappointed with for being bland. The portions were small. Dosa was cold and not crunchy.

Review №139

2019-04-07 06:02:30

Looked at the 4 star reviews by 800 people on Yelp and visited thisDidnt have a good experienceFood was very okayishService was very slowThey forgot to get our orders and instead of apologizing he got angry saying this is not a corporate restaurant its a family run business, it doesnt matter what it is, there should be a way to talk polite when it was their mistake

Review №140

2020-02-18 23:42:40

I have been all around the world. Hands down this is the best food I have came across. How lucky I was to find this place.

Review №141

2019-07-29 01:17:05

Very good vegetarian food. Loved the mango salad, Dosa and pesto noodles.

Review №142

2018-12-31 05:43:47

Horrible food, gobi Manchurian was just tomato ketchup with a lot of vinegar. They were out of most of ration. Very rude owner who was serving this evening.

Review №143

2011-11-30 04:21:21

Best food during our stay in USA. Cant believe this really happened. Outstanding Vegetarian restaurant!

Review №144

2022-06-26 02:13:06

The sweetest staff, the freshest ingredients, the BEST food in Santa Cruz!

Review №145

2016-11-16 03:16:01

Wonderful wonderful flavors: the most delicious meal I have had the pleasure to eat in many years.

Review №146

2019-05-27 02:56:45

I wouldn’t visit even if they were giving food for half their prices. We were served over priced cold dosas with bland masalas.

Review №147

2019-07-04 14:36:52

Everyone always tells me on the service is horrible here. But such a great experience the food was amazing and the staff was super friendly!

Review №148

2016-12-08 03:34:14

Im not even vegetarian, the food was simply delicious and well made, highly recommend for anyone who wants to try something new or a treat for vegetarians

Review №149

2021-03-07 22:31:48

Food was mediocre, Kerala fish fry had no salt at all, was a little disappointed with food and taste, I think

Review №150

2019-07-11 17:54:19

Its owned by a Sri Lankan and they have Roti paratha its look like punjabi plan partha

Review №151

2018-07-25 01:27:38

One of my favorite restaurants. Great, exotic fare with amazing, creative dishes.

Review №152

2017-05-15 01:24:00

Great food. Amazing mango lassi. Food takes a bit of time, but is worth the wait.

Review №153

2021-04-10 02:55:46

This place is so delicious!!! Everyone needs to try their food! It wont disappoint!!! :)

Review №154

2021-09-18 21:17:10

Smelled so good that we had to come in a eat. Was not a disappointment.

Review №155

2021-07-03 04:45:55

One of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz for delicious food with complex flavors!

Review №156

2022-05-21 21:59:10

The food was not at all feasible to eat. Followed by not so good staff.

Review №157

2021-12-17 05:02:09

Amazing service and delicious food (and were LGBT friendly!)

Review №158

2021-04-11 01:11:04

Food and service were great. A little pricey but high quality

Review №159

2022-03-12 23:14:41

Great service. Decent but not spectacular food.

Review №160

2020-01-27 03:09:46

Changing from a 5star rating I had given last year, our latest experience was a lunch buffet and it resulted in all 4 of our group having stomach flu

Review №161

2016-09-19 05:29:27

Fantastic! We entered by mistake and we were astounded by the dishes. Incredibly good! To be tried.

Review №162

2017-03-15 03:47:35

This place is one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz, amazing food and really good drinks

Review №163

2017-12-25 19:33:32

Beautiful place, excellent food. Slow paced, filled with candle light.

Review №164

2017-02-01 02:16:36

Love the food and service, just needs some background music or something. Really great though.

Review №165

2017-02-04 22:15:41

Place has a nice feel.Good is superb. And Im not a vegetarian

Review №166

2021-07-03 17:48:02

Good food! Nice twist on traditional dishes

Review №167

2019-06-17 00:28:49

What wonderful food a truly passionate people.Please go. Youll love it!!

Review №168

2016-11-06 04:30:09

Best Indian veg food in northern California, hands down!

Review №169

2019-02-08 17:39:37

Outstanding location for delicious vegetarian food. Dropped in on Mon I think.

Review №170

2022-05-22 05:19:18

The place wasn’t so good followed by very bad food. Highly not recommended.

Review №171

2017-04-23 08:08:38

Great veg options. Mildly spicy. Romantic ambience.

Review №172

2018-05-07 01:49:20

You can dine and enjoy variety of Shrilankan & Indian food at reasonable cost.

Review №173

2018-02-02 00:47:26

Great food with ingredients sourced from Wednesdays farmers market at a reasonable price

Review №174

2021-10-18 03:45:41

Very tasty food. Not too spicy.

Review №175

2021-07-07 23:52:39

Its great but now it is a sushi place

Review №176

2016-10-06 15:01:55

Its not Indian food.. they cheat in the name of Sri Lankan food

Review №177

2022-06-21 17:06:35

Love the vegan eats here yummmmm

Review №178

2021-05-14 13:29:35

Great vegan options. Good people with a mission

Review №179

2019-03-11 03:11:18

Love the food. My favorites restaurant in Santa Cruz

Review №180

2019-07-11 03:03:11

Awesome! Get a Dosa theyre really yummy.

Review №181

2018-12-24 06:19:47

Very bad experience, SPOILED FOOD was given in TOGO I got for dinner.

Review №182

2013-05-26 03:17:09

Exquisite. Absolutely worth a drive (or two or three) from SF.

Review №183

2012-07-14 20:12:25

Great food. Simple but suitable decor.

Review №184

2018-02-20 01:56:07

Staff doesnt care about seating you. They wont even come over and ask you to wait for the table

Review №185

2019-11-01 08:00:36

It was really good and Im a meat lover

Review №186

2018-02-10 22:56:18

Great food! World class flavors

Review №187

2019-01-08 14:18:13

Amazing food...great date night 👍

Review №188

2017-06-13 18:42:23

Fantastic Food, lovely live background singer, Adama

Review №189

2014-08-22 07:06:37

Horrible service and horrible food! I would never go back!

Review №190

2017-07-30 20:53:08

I have traveled the world and this is my #1 favorite restaurant!!!!

Review №191

2019-07-14 04:01:23

Always good!

Review №192

2018-04-29 23:07:09

One of my favorite vegan restaurants

Review №193

2017-07-02 04:12:12

Its different than usual indian restaurants.. must try.. !!!

Review №194

2020-03-08 21:18:26

Expensive and tasteless buffet, dinner was better

Review №195

2015-07-01 02:26:09

Slow service, broken sauce, and burnt tempeh. A disappointment

Review №196

2017-05-22 17:08:45

Good indian food in a casual environment.

Review №197

2017-09-13 02:59:31

Different thaemae and tadte...worth a try..

Review №198

2021-07-19 17:19:01

Great Food, good service!!!

Review №199

2017-12-03 04:01:23

Fusion food. Not for people looking for Indian pallette.