Kanyakumari

One of the best Indian restaurants in NYC with food and service that’s simply exceptional. The Vada Pav is divine as they make their bread that’s just fluffy and fresh. The goat biryani and Fish curry are full of flavor and have a nice spicy flavor. Special shout out to Sunny who’s simply an incredible guy and made our meal special.

Kanyakumari Indian Restaurant was a really great experience. The food was very flavorful across the board, and you can tell the menu is well thought out with a nice balance of dishes. Everything came out fast, which I always appreciate. The ghee rice was especially flavorful and paired perfectly with the curries. The fish curry stood out it had deep, rich flavor with a really nice charred taste that added something extra. The shrimp curry was very good as well, nicely seasoned and cooked just right. Overall, a solid spot if you're looking for flavorful Indian food that comes out quickly and is clearly prepared with care. I'd definitely come back.

The dosa was spectacular, I loved it so much I preferred two!! The waiter was wonderful but I want to also give a special shout out to the host because she was such a sweetheart! She did a great job. I loved the chicken curry dish but the fried chicken was not as memorable, I’d say you can skip it. I also loved the vegetable stew but warning it is spicy! I also liked the creativity of the shrimp idli. Great drinks - loved the lassi

Absolutely loved our experience here! The food was delicious, especially the fish dishes—so flavorful and perfectly prepared. Every bite felt thoughtful and authentic to South Indian cuisine. Our waiter Sunny was amazing—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely made the experience even better. The atmosphere was everything: vibrant, welcoming, and beautifully done. Already can’t wait to go back. Highly recommend!

Great tribute to Kerala cuisine. To begin with the staff is really good. Sara got us a table in a min even though we had no booking. They immediately got the baby chair setup and gave a complimentary dosa for kid. The welcome drink rasam is great and makes u salivate. Limited options for vegetarians but each one is looks great. We ordere a vada pav. Kochi stew and malabar parotta. Taste is absolute on point, kochi stew comes in generous quantity good to share between 3 pax. Overall great experience and would definitely visit again next time !

Kanyakumari was honestly incredible. NYC’s Indian food scene is booming, but this really stood out. Everything was beautifully cooked, bold, and comforting. Our server, Mrinal S, made the night seamless and warm. It genuinely felt like quality family time over an amazing meal. As someone with celiac (gluten), eating here was very easy. I only had about four dishes to avoid, which is rare and appreciated. I do try to avoid dairy as well, and that was trickier. While most dishes don’t use heavy dairy, they are cooked with ghee and can’t really modify that. It worked for me this time, but worth flagging for anyone strictly dairy-free. Must-orders: • Guruprasad dosa • Malabar beef (juicy, peppery, unreal) • Mangalore shrimp (perfectly cooked, incredible sauce) Skip: • From kanyakumari (fried chicken - overall consensus was just okay) Biggest stamp of approval: my dad, who grew up in India and is a very tough critic, absolutely loved it. I’d 100% go back

As an Indian, I can confidently say that Kanyakumari is hands down one of the best Indian restaurants in NYC. The food is simply outstanding. The Malabar appetizer was easily the highlight to start—flavorful, perfectly spiced, and unforgettable. The slow cooked beef was tender, juicy, and packed with deep, rich flavor. The chicken curry quickly became a table favorite—remarkably creamy with perfectly tender chicken that melted in every bite. On top of the amazing food, the service was equally impressive. Our waiter went above and beyond, offering thoughtful recommendations that made our meal even better. We couldn’t have been happier with the entire dining experience. If you’re looking for authentic Indian cuisine with unforgettable flavors and great hospitality, this place is a must-visit. Due to the popularity, reservations are required. We were able to utilize the Amex platinum team to coordinate.

Exceptional food and service! We tried the Malvani chicken, neer dosa, and bisibele bath, and everything was delicious. The curry leaf cocktail was outstanding — easily a highlight of the meal. We especially loved seeing Maharashtrian dishes on the menu alongside such a great variety of other offerings. The service was excellent as well. Highly recommend!

What a fabulous, causal, buzzy Indian restaurant!! Food: artfully presented with a bold, fiery kick. Services: Warm, thoughtful services (they even gave us "rice" drinks in case the food is too spicy for us.). And, the wonderful, warm and inviting ambiance!! I love the design of the space and the variation of the lighting here - it creates a perfect balance: the brighter areas feel lively and energizing, while the dimmer spots are cozy and intimate. I wish I lived in NYC so I can come here every day!! P.S. A special thanks to Jane (the host/manager?). She is incredible. The way she took the time to talk to us as my friend and I were leaving truly stood out -- it made us feel valued and appreciated. It's rare to experience such genuine warmth and thoughtfulness, and it left a wonderful lasting impression.

Beautiful South Indian restaurant with some very good classics. I highly recommend Guruprasad dosa . Tons of Andra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka dishes . Loved seeing a dish named bangalore, classics like Donne biryani, beer dose . I highly recommend this place Service is legendary. They excluded shrimp chips in papadam basket because I am vegetarian. The drink are excellent

I'll start by saying we had a difficult time choosing what to get as there were a LOT of things we wanted to try! Ultimately, I think we made the right decisions and were mostly happy with what we got. Came for Christmas dinner. After being seated, you're greeted with a complimentary house "soup" in a sippy cup, which was delicious. Good omen of things to come. We started with three apps: "from Chef's Special", "from Calicut", and "from Kanyakumari". We were warned about the squid ("Calicut") being super spicy and at first I didn't think much of it, but wow it really does sneak up on you. Didn't think the dosa added much to it. Delicious nevertheless. The fried chicken ("Kanyakumari") was my favorite of the three, super juicy and perfectly crispy pieces of fried chicken. I will always assert that such a dish needs a dipping sauce, however. The steamed prawn dish ("Chef's special") was aesthetically beautiful but by far our least favorite. I didn't totally understand it and felt like it wasn't super flavorful. Also, for a dish with a prawn for the picture, it didn't feel like it had much prawn. The texture just ended up being like a foam cake. We got the "from Banglore" goat biryani. This was maybe the most disappointing as I was super excited for this. It was a ton of food, which is a plus. But I did feel like it was pretty dry. It comes with two dipping sauces but even these couldn't really get the dish to a texture I cared for. Wouldn't really recommend. Overall, service was stellar. The space is SUPER cramped (the back of my head would probably be touching the back of the table behind us) and the line for the bathroom can be a bit of a hindrance. Overall, worth trying but not necessarily a place I'd go back.

NYC has a lot of great Indian options and South Indian food in particular is having a moment (see Semma). In the midst of all this intense competition, Kanyakumari tends to fly under the radar and people miss out but they really shouldn't be sleeping on this. Their South Indian fare is top notch. The dosa was perfection as was the seafood curry that we dipped into with our appam. The shrimp idli served in a seashell was really cool and went together really well (I've never thought of combining the humble idli with seafood before! Very innovative). Can't wait to be back to try more!

My friend brought me to Kanyakumari recently to celebrate my birthday and it was an amazing time. Service here was top notch and the space is quite intimate and nicely set for a cozy dining experience. I was excited to experience South Indian food and this restaurant did not fall short. I especially loved the fried chicken, this dish was a textural dream and so crunchy and flavorful!! The beef rib was also absolutely outstanding and fall off the bone. I loved the dry pepper rub on it and the fattiness that the meat was at was perfect. The chicken curry was also very very good but I did not care for the oil drizzle on it. Spicy oil usually makes me sick and that's exactly what did happen after this meal. The curry was delicious though but not as spicy as I was hoping. This paired really well with the lacha paratha and was a well sized serving for two. The biryani left a little to be desired, it tasted more on the pulao side which is to be expected from South Indian biryani but the flavors were a bit muted. I very much prefer the biryani at Semma over this one. We did also order a coconut drink that was strong but something in that drink (possibly fermented coconut) did not suit me too well. Apart from these few things I think this is a wonderful South Indian restaurant with a versatile menu and delicious food options. I will be back to try more stuff of their menu.

Went to this place after booking in advance in weekday. Firstly table was not available for the booking time and we had to wait even after the booking . Glad the front desk women allowed to sit inside as it was cold. We waited for more the. 30 mins to get table after we had booked the table. Ambience is nice but too noisy and it's very small place just like 10-14 tables. Food is just average nothing special , I had much better food in Seattle at lesser price . Won't recommended the place as it's just hyped and very expensive. I would have given 2 star it's just the front desk lady was too nice and she understood that my kid is tired and hungry so she gave free small dosa for my kid to eat while we waited for 30 minutes so choosing for 3 star.

If you love Semma, get ready to love another incredible South Indian restaurant - Kanyakumari. I came here for my sister's birthday as a group of 5 and our server was excellent, recommended the right number of dishes for our size group and everything he recommended was AMAZING. Our favorite cocktail was the Koko. It's mezcal based and it did not have the typical smokiness flavor, it was very subtle which I loved. They brought us complimentary rasam shots to start. They were absolutely incredible and the perfect spice level. To start we got the fried chicken, crab, slow cooked beef, guntur idli and duck. Crab was THE BEST and everything else we devoured so quickly. The sauces and spicing on everything is so satisfying and rich. For mains we got the biryani and the chicken and the pumpkin. I can honestly say I've never craved pumpkin before but WOW THAT PUMPKIN WAS LIT. Incredible sauce I'm obsessed. To finish we had the coconut payasum dessert. Do not skip on that!! They also brought a squad and a sparkler for my sisters birthday!!! AND we got these incredible key lime pie shots as a surprise. We LOVED them.It was so hype so definitely come here for a birthday.

Kanyakumari is an awesome addition to the Indian food scene in New York. The menu is refreshingly different than your run-of-the-mill Indian restaurant in the US, which makes it all the more exciting to try out. There are much more dishes from South India and Maharashtra that will be fun for people to explore. The amuse-bouche was a small cup of rasam (a light South Indian tamarind-based soup), and it was delightfully spicy, warming, and had just the right amount of kick to it. For my appetizer, I had the mussels Koliwada- delicious! It was one of my favorite new appetizers I've tried in a long time. The mussels were coated with a spicy besan (chickpea flour) batter and fried, and had a crispy, pakoda-esque texture that was so unique. I'd highly recommend it. For my main course, I had the pumpkin curry- it was a creamy, unctuous, flavor-packed curry with nutty, sweet kabocha squash. I cleaned up every last drop of it. It paired so well with the Malabar paratha, which was prepared with the right amount of buttery layering you'd expect to see. For dessert, I had the coconut payasam. I'm a big payasam/kheer fan, and the dish did a great job of being familiar enough to someone who is a fan of the classic preparation, while still offering some unique, tasty twists to keep things interesting (there was some tender coconut, caramelized pineapple, and guava jelly which added some tasty complexity). Overall, I loved it- I would offer just one suggestion, and that is to serve it in a bowl rather than a shallow plate. It was a bit awkward to scrape the payasam from the plate rather than being able to enjoy spoonfuls of it from a bowl. Not sure there needed to be innovation in the dinnerware. I really enjoyed Kanyakumari- the menu offered some new, less-commonly-available items that are often hard to find in the US, and the food was absolutely delicious. I'll definitely be back, and I'd highly recommend anyone who's a fan of Indian cuisine to check it out.

This place was EVERYTHING. Food. Drinks. Vibes. Great for a dinner with your bestie (what I did) or a date night (all the people sitting around us). I love how the menu is organized by region. Saw things I've never seen or even imagined on an Indian food menu. For drinks I had the Kokum. Delish. For dinner we got the from malabar (slow cooker beef), malabar parotha, and the kochi style vegetable stew. The malabar was beyond tender, straight up melted in our mouths. The parotha was flaky deliciousness. And that stew was unexpected in the best way possible! If I lived in New York I would've gone multiple times by now.

This restaurant has really interesting dishes. Not very authentic but that's ok. My favorite item is definitely the prawn curry. The pumpkin curry is also great and a pretty interesting dish overall. I like the vada pav a low too. I do think the yogurt rice arancini appetizer is just ok though. The service was great we sat at the bar without a res and had a great time.

Went to Kanyakumari with my friend and we had a great time. The menu has some really interesting options that you don't see at your typical Indian restaurant here in the city. My friend and I shared a few dishes including the fried chicken, fish curry, slow cooked beef, and goat biryani. Everything was very good, but our favorites were probably the slow cooked beef and goat biryani which were both so flavorful. My friend, who is South Indian, approved of everything and said that the food tasted authentic. The service was friendly and efficient. The restaurant was a bit more casual than I expected but had a great energetic vibe. Please note that the tables are quite close to each other. The food was a bit more expensive than I would have liked, but overall I will definitely be back to try some more of the unique food at this restaurant.

Loved the food. We called and they accomodated us in a short notice of 15 minutes even when they were packed .. vadapao is most flavorful i have ever had in NJ/NY and i have tried so many places .. but the flavors here were most authentic, got a starter that was presented as birds nest, crispy outside and soft inside.. loved it and the fried chicken, awesome flavors and spicy! Bisi bele bhath, I haven't had it before but it was comfort on a plate.. will definitely be back. The hostess was really serving as well as hosting, they seemed bit tight on staff and service definitely has scope of improvement

Kanyakumari has become my favorite upscale Indian restaurant in the city so far! Let me start with the one negative for me, and that's the price. The food was a bit expensive for the portion sizes, and it's not like the food is served or executed in some unique way compared to places like Junoon. However, the taste and flavors of Kanyakumari were unparalleled for me. The idli appetizer was possibly my favorite thing, and I don't normally enjoy idli. You can't go wrong with any item on the menu. Aside from the food, the restaurant feels a bit crowded based on how it is set up, but the music is banger. They were playing only amazing songs that made me want to get up and dance. I'd love to come back and try different things!

It's a rare find for me to find a place that was not only amazing once but consistently amazing. And that's what I had at Kanyakumari, blown away with the amazing flavors that are rare and hard to find on NYC. A delicious journey from Mumbai to kanyakymari indeed. We went on magical journey of food. Service was incredibly friendly, the bartender provided amazing recs and the ambiance here is truly beautiful! Must haves: dosa, fried chicken and they truly deserve the title of king of vada pav as it was the best I've ever had!

Both the food and the service at Kanyakumari were phenomenal. Our server was very attentive and paced the food perfectly. I loved the welcome shots of rasam, which warmed me up on a cold evening. My favorite dish of the evening was the vada pav. I would've ordered another vada pav had I not been so full. I can't speak to their desserts, only that I have a great excuse to go back and try them.

I had high hopes from this place and it did live up to all the hype!! Here is the list of all the items we had- Guruprasad dosa ( did not try but friend said masala wasnt too spicy - looked nice crispy though) Guntur idli ( great- i will go back for this) Vada pao ( did not try but friend from Mumbai loved it) Prawn idli ( seemed sticky from ends) bhisabelle bhaath ( nice light on tummy) goat biryani ( yummm- glad I picked this one for myself) malvani chicken ( yumm- paired will with Malabar parantha) vegetable stew ( did not try but friend liked it) payassam ( not good at all) Definitely a place I would come back again, but I do hope they improve the dessert section.

Excellent food and service. We had a reservation that they weren't able to accommodate on time due to it being someone's birthday on the table that was reserved for us, and that group was taking longer to vacate. To compensate for this, they ensured the kitchen would be kept open for the duration of our meal, gave us a main + 2 desserts on the house. Service was quick and efficient, with the staff being incredibly nice. The vegetable stew was amazing. We also tried the malvani chicken, neer dosa, hopper, paratha, Vada pav, fried chicken appetizer, rasam. None of the dishes disappointed at all. Hard to pick a favourite! For desserts, we tried the curry leaf ice cream and the pineapple coconut dessert. I would probably skip the ice cream since I'm not a big fan of the curry leaf taste but was pleasantly surprised by the coconut dessert, the guava jelly was such a nice addition. All in all, Kanyakumari is a very good quality and authentic south Indian food restaurant that was just incredible to find here. Would highly recommend!

This place is absolutely top notch. A very creative menu, and food is just absolutely excellent. Chef Dipesh absolutely nails it with some of the finest coastal flavors, thanks to his childhood spent in a small coastal village in Maharashtra. You cannot go wrong with any of the Maharashtrian curries. The Malvani Chicken ($26) is a must try, and so is the Samrat Vada Pav ($16). The Guntur Idli ($14) is also very interesting and so is the Steamed Prawns Idly ($17). When you order the Pappadum Platter ($15) you'll be surprised to be served with Tisrya Sukka - a very interesting clams masala/chutney with a flavor blast! Their menu keeps changing, so when we visited, they also had a very tasty Babygoat Domne Biryani ($28) which disappeared from our table within a few minutes. For Vegetarians, you cannot go wrong with the Kochi Style Vegetables Stew ($26) - not too coconut forward, and a perfectly balanced spice level. Neer Dosa ($9) portion sizes are very small, but they go extremely well with the Veggie stew. The Hoppers ($8) were great too! Space was a little tight, and noise levels were on the average end. The window side large table seats up to 7 people comfortably and is the one you should get if you are going there as a large group! Service was excellent, and Chef Dipesh dropped by to say hello when we wanted to thank him for an excellent food journey that reminded us of coastal Maharashtra!

Great food all around but the AC game here was WEAK so the experience was a little uncomfortable. There are fans blowing but only towards certain areas and if you're not sitting there, good luck dealing with that summer heat! Came here on a weekday evening resy as a group of 4 and ordered these: Malabar Parotha - flaky and great for dipping in curry. Hira Anna Fried Chicken - the favorite for some of my friends. Came out crispy and piping hot. Mussels Koliwada - good but the fried chicken is better. Malvani Chicken - the meat was so tender and the curry had some heat (you can see the chili oil in the pic). One of my favorite orders. Neer Dosa - I didn't get this one tbh. No flavor and the stickiness was off-putting. Amma Mess Fish Curry - I really liked this one as well. Not as spicy as the malvani chicken and a little sweeter. The fish was fall-apart texture and had no bones from what I could tell. Samrat Vada Pav - a good starter Ghee Rice - I liked the buttery flavor the ghee added. It's a pretty sizable serving as well, good for sharing. Service on the whole was good and dishes came out at an even pace. But to reiterate, it was so hot in our corner of the room that we couldn't stick around for long. Do give Kanyakumari a try, when it's cooler out!

SERVICE - located in Flatiron near Union Square - entrance is not pronounced so look for the name of the restaurant on the door - good for small or large groups - interior decoration is nicer but not super formal - very good servers who thoroughly explain the menu and are careful about dietary preferences - food served quickly once ordered - compliementary rasam as a welcome drink MENU - upscale south indian dishes from various regions - vegetarian and limited vegan options - slightly pricey ($26 per entree) FOOD - hopper (9/10): crispy bowl shaped rice and coconut pancake. I ordered this as a side dish for the vegetable stew as it would be a good way to soak up all the coconut gravy. It comes with sides of chili chutney, coconut chutney, and sambar. I liked how the edges were crispy but the center was still soft and spongy. There was not an overpowering coconut taste, making it a good accompaniment to any creamy dish. The only downside was that it started to stick to the plate towards the end. - kochii vegetable stew (10/10): broccoli, carrots, beans, and asparagus simmered in a spicy and rich coconut broth. This was the only vegan main dish on the menu. It comes in a cute clay pot to keep it piping hot. I liked how the vegetables kept their crunch and did not become mushy in the gravy. There was also a good balance of gravy to vegetables. The gravy was thick and filled with warming spices with just a hint of chili. WOULD I GO BACK? Yes! The food was fantastic and the service was really good. I would give it a 5 if they can add more vegan main dish options.

A breath of fresh air--this restaurant truly deserves more attention. The flavors are simple yet fresh, and everything, from the appetizers to the entrees, was absolutely delicious. The fried chicken stood out with its unique umami and subtle coconut flavor. The mutton biryani was a standout: the meat was tender, succulent, and full of flavor, while the rice was perfectly aromatic. The Malvani chicken with neer dosa was remarkably close to the authentic version. I would definitely return

Super delicious South Indian spot near Union Square! I've had my eye on this place since it opened and finally got the chance to go for dinner over the weekend. We ordered the Kokum Coconut drink to start, and it was super refreshing - lightly sweet and not too strong on the mint. For starters we got the Samrat Vada Pav (kind of sliders with a spiced potato filling), Guntur Idli (steamed rice cake in spicy sauce), Toddy duckroast, and the fried chicken (super crispy and flavorful). I enjoyed everything, though I'd note that the portions are pretty small. The food was definitely spicy but not overwhelming. For mains and sides, we got the Malvani chicken curry, the lentils, goat biryani, parotha, hoppers, and dosa. Again, I enjoyed everything we got, and in particular I was a huge fan of the dosa: it was already crispy and flavorful on its own but came with sauces on the side, and I pleasantly surprised by the aloo wrapped inside of it. We were too full to try out any desserts but this place has become one of my favorite Indian restaurants in Manhattan.

Kanyakumari is easily one of my new favorite Indian spots in the city -- came with friends but will be bringing my parents back when they visit! The menu is straightforward and highlights unique regional dishes. The ambiance is nice and would definitely recommend getting a reservation, since it gets busy. Everything we got was delicious, and definitely want to come back for some of their seafood apps and mains! The Guruprasad Dosa was SO crispy with aloo in the middle. The Andhra Idli was so unique, almost felt like a chili paneer dish. The Parotha was SO flaky and perfect to eat anything with. The Vada Pav was a crowd favorite. I recommend all of the above and definitely suggest splitting everything family style -- special shoutout to the Coconut Curry Leaf ice cream, a super unique flavor!

Came here on a Thursday night with a friend and the place was packed. Would definitely recommend getting reservations if you're planning to come here since it has limited seating. The interiors are cute and they had some really great music playing!!!! In spite of having reservations we were seated 15 mins late. We started off with the mango cocktail and for the price it did not impress me. For these 2 reasons I took away a star. Now coming to the food.. this is where things started looking up. We got the fried chicken, donne biryani, prawn idli and hopper to share. Absolutely delicious!! Every single item was great. We were too full to consider having dessert. Will definitely be back to try more of their dishes!!

Great ambiance and food , some amazing South Indian coastal food , the menu is different and worth exploring. The chef so nice and kind while explaining the inspiration of dishes .. highly recommend this restaurant.

This is one of the gem Indian restaurants. Just few months old but recently got entry to Michelin listening. Small place so make sure you go with reservation. Drinks are good, no complaints. Food is really amazing and unique taste. It is not unnecessarily expensive. We tried dosa, vada-pav, bisibele bhath, coconut ice cream and the sunset dessert . All are very good. My friend visited based on my recommendation and he really loved non-veg and sea food preparation . We met chef Dipesh Shinde. He was very friendly, graciously gave photo with him. He explained concept behind the menu. You must try this place.

It's hard to come by a South Indian restaurant here in Ny so when I heard about Kanyakumari, I immediately added it to my list. I've tried Semma, which I thought was severely overrated and meh. But Kanyakumari is defo better imo. Got the chef's special prawn thing which was presented beautifully. Texture was interesting and kinda sponge like. The dried beef appetizer was bomb. Super tender and flavorful. The squid app was on the spicy side so defo better with some rice or bread. Goat biryani was pretty bomb. Flavorful rice with soft chunks of meat. The fish was also pretty good. The chicken curry dish was spicy but also good. Also got a bunch of carb options- the paratha, the hopper, the plain dosa. All were good. The hopper was my fave but I've always been a sucker for hoppers. Overall, I thought Kanyakumari was good. Defo worth trying to get a taste of different South Indian dishes.

Went here to celebrate a birthday.Great drinks.Loved the Aam panna mocktail. Tried a few different small plates.Favorites were the fried chicken,duck and clams.Loved the goat biryani. Friendly and attentive service. The place is small and t can feel crowded.And on a Thursday evening at 7pm,it was full and very noisy.

We really liked the two appetizers we got. Both the potato sandwich and fried chicken were very good though I do think the chicken would have been great with a sauce. I was not a huge fan of the seafood curry we got for our entree.

My husband, son, sister and I came here on a Sunday evening and were absolutely blown away by the food! The restaurant has a great ambiance and even lovelier staff. We started off with the hira anna fried chicken, vada pav, dosa, Calicut squid, prawn idli, and followed it up with the kochi veg stew and amma mess fish curry for mains, with a side of rice and Parotta. I also tried the piyush drink (non alcoholic, kind of like lassi but with cardamom and saffron - INCREDIBLE!) Every bite was literally better than the last - I was admittedly a little nervous about the prawn idli but it was cooked perfectly and the dollops of chutney on top made the dish! I don't have enough good things to say about the food here, I can't wait to come back! Also bonus points for a clean and large bathroom!

Cutesy place. But tables VERY close to each other. It's not a cheap place per se but I didn't feel like it wasn't reasonable for what we got. Great service, great food and decent drinks! Last tip before reviews: it's a meat and seafood heavy menu so if you're vegetarian or vegan please check the menu before you go I had their version of Negroni - the bitter coconut. I'll be honest it was too much campari for me but after a while when the drink got diluted it was fine I did enjoy the kokum though - quite refreshing and goes if you order spicy plates We ordered conservatively (by our standards) and had the: From malabar + hoppers: spicy curry with appams? Sigh me up. Appams came smelling of ghee and soft like a warm hug and went perfectly with the aromatic spicy curry of the squid. Squid wasn't rubbery and had the perfect chew. Highly recommend if you can eat spicy From calicut + Kerala porotta: beef was SO friggin tender it literally fell off the bone. Again, it went so nicely with the flaky AF porotta. I did not care much about the big black pepper I found (I get it was meant to be coarsely ground but it may have been a tad much :(). Highly recommend! Donne biryani: I am a biryani snob and will only eat a particular type of biryani (not Donne). But now I have added donne to my list. Subtly spicy with tender pieces of goat. Comes in a leaf thing - very dramatic. I don't care for salan but pls give more raita!!!!! Such a tease ;) Finally, we ordered the sunset dessert and it was so extra (in a good way). It was this gigantic board with a lamp (meant to be a sun) and plants and rocks etc. Anyhooooo, the desserts were a modak, another rice crepe with coconut jaggery filling and then finally a chocolate mousse. Tbh I wasn't blown away. Modak was very good. No complaints at all I did not understand how the chocolate mousse fit Finally, the rice crepe thing smelled a tad of the banana leaf it was steamed in I presume So this dessert wasn't perfect for me but individually the elements were fine

It's 3.7 rounded to 4. Not your typical Indian food for sure, from plating, protein choice to flavor. The highlight for me was the slow cooked black gold beef. It's super tender and full of flavor. However, couple dishes were very heavy on peppercorns that put my mouth on fire. The shrimps in from chefs special was really not that good. Probably been steamed too long that lost texture. Be aware that the Malvani chicken was quite spicy. We had to flush it down with lots of water lol.

Stepping into Kanyakumari NYC is a treat for the senses, as the restaurant boasts an inviting atmosphere with a fantastic vibe. The service is commendable, characterized by speed and attentiveness, ensuring that diners feel well-cared for throughout their experience. The menu, known for its commitment to freshness, does a remarkable job in presenting a variety of enticing dishes. While some lacked the anticipated boldness, there were standout options that left a lasting impression. The slow-cooked Black Gold beef was a masterpiece, delivering succulence and a burst of rich flavors that truly hit the mark. Each bite was a journey of savory delight, making it a must-try for beef enthusiasts. On the other hand, the Hira Anna fried chicken, while not overly assertive in its flavor profile, managed to captivate with a subtle burst of taste and a satisfying crunch. This dish showcased the art of balance, appealing to those who appreciate nuanced and well-textured fried chicken. In short, Kanyakumari NYC offers a delightful dining experience with its welcoming ambiance, prompt service, and a menu that includes gems like the slow-cooked Black Gold beef and the Hira Anna fried chicken. While some dishes may benefit from an extra punch, the overall experience promises a culinary journey worth savoring. P.S : Thank you for doing Jamal Kudu to celebrate my birthday!

Im often quite critical when it comes to Indian food, but this really delivers. The ambiance is fine, it can be a bit noisy and tight. But the food and service make up for it. The server was very knowledgeable about the dishes, and was very accurate with the spice levels. The bonda (from Tamil Nadu) is incredible with a nice, soft center. A guest commented that the vada pav is the best she's had. And I love the re-interpetetion of the idli, slightly pan frying it and tossing it in a tomato chutney. The keeala stew is good and the pumpkin well flavored. The dosa is also delicious and very crisp throughout. The inside is lined with spices. Highly recommend this place as it's become one of my favorite Indian restaurants because of its unique variety, quality of food (it's not overly greasy or heavy either) and service.

Came here for Restaurant Week Summer 2024, which was a $45 deal for an appetizer, main, and dessert. Perhaps the dishes were scaled down for restaurant week, but the portions were very small for what the prices typically are on the regular menu. That said, the food is worth trying. I don't often have seafood curry, and was pleasantly surprised by the delicate execution of the Seafood Gassi. Especially appreciated the beautifully fluffy, flaky fish. (4/5) The Malvani Chicken was a fun offset. The chicken was succulent and had a citrusy lemongrass aroma, complemented by a robust curry with two kinds of nuttiness from the peanut and coconut. (4/5) The Guntur Idli had an Indo-Chinese flavor I found reminiscent of a less tangy and more savory kung pao tofu and with better texture from the soft yet crispy Idli. (3.5/5) The Mussels Koliwada were rather underwhelming and somewhat a shame to drown the showcase ingredient in heavy batter. The spicy paprika-like sauce it comes with is perhaps the redeeming quality. (2/5) Couldn't try any of the desserts because all contain dairy. However, the server was very informative and thorough to accommodate non-dairy needs, and they proactively corrected their mistake in sending ghee rice instead of plain rice before it was even placed on our table. Overall, I had a favorable impression of this restaurant, which has a unique concept and menu offerings that are presented in an elevated, sophisticated way - not just aesthetically, but in a gustatory sense too. Glad I tried but not sure I'd be back at the price point.

Really yummy food and great atmosphere!! the service was also , the waiters came by several times to make sure everything was good, and the chef even came by our table at the end. 90% of the people inside were Indian, which was probably a good sign! We ordered 5 dishes, all of which were quite good. I am not a fan of coconut dishes, but the chicken coconut curry we got did not have too strong of a coconut flavor. It was a bit spicy, but from what I hear, typical of South Indian dishes. Overall great dinenr, would recommend!

Oh my this is easily one of my favorite restaurants in New York, and that's saying something. I have high standards for South Indian food, and this place somehow exceeded them. I absolutely loved the creative spin on these dishes I grew up eating. Not one single thing we ate was even a little bit disappointing, really fantastic meal. We all left feeling so content, because it was such a feel good, hearty, SUPER flavorful meal. The baby goat biryani stands out even more because it was ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. the meat was sooo tender and literally melted in my mouth. The rice was flavored to absolute perfection, I can't even describe it. You just have to come try this biryani - 100/10 recommend. The fried thayir saddam balls were so innovative and SO DELICIOUS. I'd never thought to make curd rice into this, but it worked so well. From the presentation to the garnish, it was so well thought out and so well executed. Honestly, anything on this menu is fantastic. Great vegetarian options as well. I don't just recommend this place, I would urge anyone to come try how good South Indian food can be!! The servers and staff were all so kind and friendly - gave us great recs as well. Super cute vibe and decor too!

They serve a modern take on traditional Indian cuisine. Their menu takes your taste buds to different regions of India.

This place is all about the curries! The Fish Curry (5/5) is an absolute standout dish and the Malvani Chicken Curry (5/5) a close second if not equally enjoyable! The curries are so luscious, flavorful, and elegant. This is what Indian food is all about. Along with it, we ordered a plate of the following: Parotta (5/5) - flaky, very buttery, basically a traditional parotta. I would rather have this plain with a cuppa tea. Good stuff. Appam (3.5/5) - the taste is decent, but it's a little bit of a rip off. They could at least add another piece of appam for the same price point. Then, this would be a 5/5 for me. Note for next time, maybe I'd get a side of rice to go with the curries. The rice would soak up all the deliciousness and would therefore pair better. I love the food I ate here and can absolutely see myself return for more. The Biryani looked very tempting but there's only so much we could stomach on our first visit. There's always next time! Food aside, I think Kanyakumari could have larger tables for the family style food they serve!

It's hiding as a lot of these places do but glad we found it. Been on a hunt for spicy and tasty Indian food and this checks both. The meat dish stole the show for me but there's plenty of options across the dietary landscape. The music in the restaurant was quite good I even Shazam'd a song in the bathroom. The staff were quite quick to get our orders and bring them around. Their drinks were really good and each item we got hit the spot. One half of the menu done the other half to go

Very authentic food, be sure to try it if you are missing quintessential South Indian meat dishes including seafood. Most dishes are spicy for American pallets so make sure to ask what you are signing up for.

Drinks were amazing here and easily the primary selling point. The drink tastes were elegantly presented and easy to drink without any alcohol after taste.

Solid Indian spot specializing in southern Indian dishes not seen in many other NY restaurants. The menu has a lot of depth and I'd love to come back to try more. Of what we ordered on our first visit the From Malabar (black gold beef) and Guraprasad Dosa were standouts. I wanted the malvani chicken to pack more of a flavor punch. My uneducated palette thought the From Tamil Nadu tasted like Indian arancini.

Kanyakumari is hands down my favorite Indian restaurant in NYC. It's criminally underrated and consistently delivers an outstanding dining experience. It's almost disappointing to see other average places like Bungalow getting all the hype, while Kanyakumari quietly excels every time. This was my third visit, and once again, the food lived up to my high expectations. Here's what I've tried so far: 1. Hira Anna Fried Chicken: 5/5 Absolutely phenomenal. The chicken is perfectly crispy with a flavorful coating that lingers in the best way. It's the kind of dish that you think about long after your meal. Bonus tip: If you're also ordering the Malvani Chicken, dip the fried chicken in the Malvani gravy--it's a match made in heaven. 2. Malvani Chicken: 4.5/5 A rich, flavorful gravy that pairs wonderfully with the Malabar Parotta. The chicken-to-gravy ratio was a bit skewed toward the chicken, but the server graciously provided extra gravy at no charge, which was a nice touch. 3. Parotta: 5/5 Light, crispy, and the perfect accompaniment to the Malvani Chicken. An absolute must-try. 4. Thayir Sadam Bonda: 4.5/5 This was a pleasant surprise! Crispy on the outside, soft and flavorful on the inside. The presentation was so beautiful I almost hesitated to dig in. 5. Guntur Idli: 4/5 The flavor was unique and delicious. However, the idli was a bit too crispy for my taste--more like a fried potato in texture, which was still enjoyable but didn't quite feel like a traditional idli. 6. Papadum Platter: 4/5 A delightful platter of papadums with a variety of chutneys, including some unconventional options I haven't seen at other places. A nice twist on a classic dish. 7. Prawn Idli: 4/5 A novel concept that I haven't encountered anywhere else. The presentation was fantastic, but it leaned a bit too shrimpy for my liking. Still, it tasted great with the chutney dollops on top. 8. Dindigul Biryani: 4/5 The biryani had tender meat and a bold, strong flavor. Overall, it was quite good, though I found the meat portion a little less than I'd expected. 9. Coconut Payasam: 3.5/5 While the payasam itself was delicious, the addition of guava and pineapple was a bit overpowering and didn't blend as well with the coconut flavor. The presentation was stunning, but the fruit flavors didn't quite hit the mark for me. Final Thoughts: The service here is always exceptional. The staff is attentive, friendly, and provided great recommendations for both drinks and food. One thing I love is that they always serve a complimentary small drink. I've tried the Sol Kadhi and Rasam, and both were amazing! Kanyakumari continues to impress, and I can't wait to return for my next meal. This place truly deserves more recognition!

Really delicious food, awesome service, and lovely ambiance. I have nothing negative to say about this new South Indian restaurant that's in the heart of flatiron. It was popping on a Saturday night and everything from cocktails to entrees were amazing - highly recommend trying as there aren't too many of these dishes around!

TLDR: Run dont walk to this South Indian Restaurant. This restaurant absolutely does justice to different types of South Indian dishes. The biryani was so delicious and flavorful. All the dishes were so unique, beautifully presented and had all the flavors that remind me of home cooking.

We were thrilled to see another South Indian focused restaurant open up in Manhattan. We went for a Thursday dinner and the place was pretty full so definitely get a reservation. We had the chef special idly, the duck curry, masala dosa, and whole fish curry. All the food was phenomenal, a bit pricey but pretty solid portion sizes. The drinks however were very underwhelming and I would not recommend. The ambiance was also a bit underwhelming and definitely impacted our experience given the fine dining prices.

Great South Indian food. I will 100% come back again. I thought the ambiance was good, not amazing but it was cute nonetheless. Food was quality.

Amazing food and wonderful service, everything was delicious and presentation was lovely!