Kari Apla

Kari Appla, Bandra – A Hidden Gem of Flavours What an absolute delight this place turned out to be! Kari Appla is a small, intimate restaurant that beautifully blends the cuisines of Maharashtra and Kerala. The concept is special—the husband hails from Kerala, and the wife from Maharashtra—and you can feel that personal touch in every dish. I was attended to by Parth and later by Suresh, both of whom were warm, attentive, and made the experience even better. Even though the owners weren’t around that evening, their passion clearly shines through the food and the space. The highlight of my visit was the Angamalai Pork Roast with Ghee Rice. Simply phenomenal! Perfectly spiced, rich, tender pork with that punch of Kerala-style masala, balanced by the subtle fragrance of ghee rice. It’s an absolute must-try if you’re here. The restaurant itself is small but thoughtfully designed. There’s a see-through kitchen, which is neat, spotless, and such a joy to watch while the chefs work their magic. They also have a live counter setup where you can sit at the bar-style stools and enjoy your meal right in front of the action—it’s rare to find such transparency and energy in a kitchen. The walls are lined with photos that give you a sense of warmth and homeliness, almost like walking into a family album. Combined with the intimate seating and the friendly staff, the whole vibe feels cozy yet modern. Overall, Kari Appla is a hidden treasure in Bandra—it’s not just about food but about heart, culture, and soul on a plate. If you love exploring regional Indian flavors, this is a place you cannot miss.

The service was wonderful. They suggested what we should order based on our preferences and even made certain adjustments to accommodate our request. The food was homely, flavourful and balanced and the ambiance was great too. Enjoyed watching the chefs prepare our meal. The desserts were my favourite part of the meal. The coffee was not the best but the rest of the experience made up for it.

Can't believe this place isn't more popular/ discovered by now. The best Goan and mallu food I've had in Bombay. The goan pork dishes, avo thecha, banana leaf fish and moilee are my faves. Also don't miss the tender coconut pudding. Just excellent, no-fuss food. It's not a fancy place, but it always delivers!

The food here is made with so much love. I could go on about the pepper chicken rasam or the Angamaly pork — easily the best meal I’ve had in a long time — but it’s the care in every detail that stays with you. The fried onions in the rice, the lightness of the broth, the open kitchen with the friendliest yet shy cooks you want to adopt and take home… it’s all proof of that love. It took me a while to step out of my comfort zone and come to Kari Apla. When I did, I found comfort of the best kind. Thank you Ibani and Mathew for this and to anyone’s who’s reading this. GO!

Overpriced and underwhelming. We were looking forward to visiting this newish kerala/ Maharashtran restaurant in Khar. Had seen some good reviews online. However, this place did not excite us at all. Firstly the menu was confusing, it had to be explained, however if the food was great this wouldn't have really been an issue. We ordered Avocado Thecha with Batata papad and jackfruit cutlets followed by Banana leaf roasted kingfish , prawn moilee vattayappam , sukka chickan and appam . We were told the appam was a special bread, it was just the same as a normal sweetish appam, the paratha that came with the fish was the smallest we have ever seen and the fish was small but ok. All the flavours were underwhelming. Nothing really stood out, it wasn't terrible, just disappointing. Although the filter coffee was quite good. There are many other decent places in Mumbai to eat Keralan or Maharashtran food, but we won't bother coming back here.

The food here is simply amazing. Highly recommend this place for good South/coastal fusion cuisine. Personal favourites are the Passion fruit soda, Pork Pepper Roast, Purple Cabage & Avocado Salad, Banana Bread w Filter coffee ice cream and the passion fruit tart!

Getting there can be a bit of a challenge as the road in front of the restaurant is dug up. No valet service available thus park in any of the alleys wherever you can get one. Can be a bit of challenge in peak hours The restaurant is small in size yet the space is optimally utilised. The menu is a single page printed on both side which makes it easier to make a choice. I was alone and I decided to sit at the kitchen counter. Unlike a kitchen it was not hot and was completely air conditioned. Immediately on seating I was served a glass of water , a rarity these days in Mumbai. I appreciated. I spoke to Mathew who runs this place and on his suggestion I ordered “ Banana leaf roasted fish served with scallion chilli paratha”. The fish they used was Ravas. Given that this dish takes some time prepare I ordered an Americano. I was provided a complimentary dish prepared with paste of peanuts, garnished with curry leaves. It was quite tasty. I have a suggestion though. I would like to try this either with burnt garlic or with deep fried crispy onions. Maybe the next time around 😊 The fish was marinated with a green paste which comprises of Coriander mostly. It was soft and succulent and went well with the small paratha. I also had a portion of Kerala friend chicken. A perfect dish to go with a drink. Although the outlet does not serve alcohol. Nevertheless I enjoyed it without it too. I wish there are days where specific Thalis are served dedicated to one of the 5 Southern states. If it happens I will come running. Overall I loved the homely vibe and the hospitality of the owner and staff and I wish they do well and open up other outlets in Mumbai soon

BOOM! Unpretentious fine South Indian eats. Locals and foreigners alike will enjoy their experience and the high-quality meals. Excellent experience - would return 100%!