Vadivelu

I was craving home-cooked spicy food and landed on Vadivelu for just that! The coconut shrimp curry was scrumptious. Customer service was top-notch even though I did not have a reservation. The friendly staff and owner Jason's story behind Vadivelu made the experience even more memorable. If you're looking for an authentic Indian cuisine with a South African swag, this is the place to go. A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED EXPERIENCE :)

Visited in June 2025. South Africa. Cape Town 🇿🇦 Vadivelu is a small Indian restaurant tucked away at the end of one of the busiest streets. The interior is decorated in pleasing colors, creating a cozy atmosphere. There aren't many tables, but we easily found a great spot inside. FOOD: As an Indian restaurant, Vadivelu offers a wide array of traditional dishes. We ordered several appetizers to get a sense of the place. The Dosa with lamb – a traditional Indian crepe served with sauces and filling on the side – was one of the appetizers we tried. The lamb was tender and well-cooked, if a bit fatty. However, the crepe itself was a little bland. The Tandoori Shrimp were quite juicy and flavorful; we really enjoyed that dish. The potato cakes were also a hit - slightly crispy, thin, and served with an herby sauce. We also chose the Butter Chicken - the sauce was smooth, buttery, and mild. I loved the flavor, but my husband felt it could have used more spice. The chicken itself was tender, but it felt a bit disconnected from the sauce, almost like the flavors weren't fully integrated. SERVICE: The service was good and welcoming; the waiters, the manager - everyone seemed like part of a team. The dishes were brought out quickly. VERDICT: A solid little Indian restaurant in Cape Town. Having traveled through India, we found the flavors to be quite authentic – if you're looking to experience Indian cuisine, this place is a great choice.

We are used to great Indian food in Glasgow, Scotland. We came here and to he honest we were surprised by how good and amazing the whole experience. The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming. The food was mouthwatering. The bhajii was tatsy Fried spinach leaves were amazingly tasty and unique. The dosa was also great Mains Be Both lamb khadi curry and panier khadi were absolutely perfect. Chicken Bryani was also good. I highly recommend this restaurant. I think it is the best in capetown.

Tucked away in the heart of Gardens, Cape Town, Vadivelu is a gem of an Indian restaurant that offers a truly authentic South African-Indian dining experience. From the moment you step in, you’re greeted with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, thanks in no small part to Jason, the incredibly attentive and hands-on owner. His presence adds a personal touch to the dining experience that is hard to come by. The menu boasts a variety of flavorful dishes, but the real standouts for me were the sag paneer and the lamb curry. The sag paneer had the perfect blend of spices with fresh spinach and creamy paneer, delivering a delightful balance of textures and flavors. The lamb curry was tender, rich, and perfectly spiced, showcasing the restaurant’s ability to honor traditional Indian cooking while making it approachable to local palates. One of the highlights of the evening was the fun, slick service provided by the staff, who made sure the experience was as enjoyable as the food. There’s a casual, laid-back vibe, but the quality and attentiveness remain top-notch, making it a place where you feel comfortable to relax and enjoy your meal. If you're looking for authentic Indian cuisine with a South African twist, Vadivelu is a must-visit. With standout dishes, great service, and a welcoming owner, it’s a place I’ll definitely be coming back to.

We had the little set menu experience - oh boy, was it a lot of food! And when they say their hot is hot, believe them! Honestly such a great place to get a curry, and not to mention the service is beyond amazing. We were regularly tended to, and our server had great recommendations for us. Will definitely be back with some friends for lunch/dinner!

I love Indian food & saw this new restaurant that opened in Kloof Street. We decided to try it & we were blown away by the entire experience. As we walked in we were greated by Kevin one of the owners & he made us feel welcome immediately & later Jason the other owner joined us as well. Thank you guys for such a great welcome. We were taken to our table & this guy with a killer smile, Emmanuel served us. What an absolute pleasure, he knew the menu & was on point with all his suggestions. Thank you your exceptional service & attention to detail. The interior of this establishment is on point & welcomes you as you enter this venue. We placed our orders & we were so impressed by the presentation of the cuisine. I've eaten a lot of Indian food & must say this was on of the best we've had in a long time. The taste of every dish was amasing & you could taste the love in each morsel, well done. Kevin even organised a small tasting portion before we placed our main order. This venue has a well appointed menu with a good selection of dishes to suite the most discerning pallet. If you're in this area of Cape Town & looking for a good Indian Restaurant with amasing cuisine, look no further, this is the place for you. To the management and staff thank you for a great experience & you will be seeing us again. Kind regards Ferdie Liebenberg We went again tonight the 14th June 2025 & once again we were blown away by the entire experience. The food was once again exceptionally good as was the service. We even got to see a Indian happy Birthday being sung to a patron with dancing and amasing vibes in the venue. Than you guys, you made our evening. Kind regards Ferdie Liebenberg

Wow! Amazing amazing amazing! If you are looking to try top-tier Indian cuisine, come to this restaurant. The owner came to our table with warm greetings checking in on us. Our water, Tash, was phenomenal. She went the extra mile. Their house wine is fantastic. The flavours are so extremely amazing I wanted to cry! And the total bill at the end was at least 50% less than I expected! So affordable for such an authentic experience in Cape Town. Will definitely be referring my family and friends!

Indian is never my first choice for dining out but my curiosity got the better of me after seeing all the pics and reviews. In short, we had an amazing time. We chose the Chef Jai’s showcase for 2 and it was a taste of everything on the menu. Will definitely be back to the other dishes. Give their cocktails a try as well. Shout out to our waiter Khalil for impeccable service. He was extremely knowledgeable and guided us well through our the journey.