Keralam South India Restaurant in Southend-on-Sea

I would give this zero stars if there was an option! The restaurant may serve better food but I doubt it, we had a takeaway and it was awful. I’ve never seen a runny korma in my life but this one was. My dhansak was no better, or the side dishes. There were no saving graces and we wished we hadn’t wasted our money on what was quite an expensive take away. Bombay potatoes were the wrong type of potato - floury and disintegrating. No fresh flavour to anything . Couldn’t have been more disappointed

Haven’t been here for a while and forgot how nice it is to have more authentic Indian food that the standard dishes in other restaurants. Midweek visit so not busy, staff attentive and good service. Will definitely not leave it so long until I visit again.

Initial impressions of decor and furniture didn't impress. BUT, the attention to customers and quality of food was incredible! I will certainly return, staff were enthusiastic to ensure the food was well presented and to your liking - 11 out of 10 Loved it!

Absolutely awful. The food war horrific, 80% of the food was left untouched. The only good thing about it was the poppadoms. To top it off the restaurant was empty and the waiting time for food was ridiculous. In all honesty I wish the food never came.

Been probably around ten times with friends and family. Every meal there has been incredible, and the service is fantastic. Caters well for vegetarians and has a great variety of south Indian seafood dishes. The chilli fish is my default order, but everything I've tried has been delicious. Also have to shout out the Tarka Dhal, always thought this was quite bland in other restaurants, but it's among my favourites here, so creamy and packed full of flavour.

Keralam never fail to impress with their food and service. It was not our 1st visit but was for a member in our group who was also very impressed with it being his 1st exposure to genuine South Indian food! Certainly will return and just getting my order together for Keralam to cater for a family event soon.

Having been looking for an authentic Indian, we booked Keralam for dinner on a Saturday and walked into a quiet restaurant. It quickly became very busy with just one waiter serving the whole restaurant which was not ideal. Give him credit, he did alright! Our biggest problem was waiting such a long time for our mains, after the large party had came and gone, we were still waiting and a table who ordered after us got theirs before we did. Nearly 1 and a half hours from order to eventually getting our dinner after being told "it's on the way" several times. We were minutes from waling out which is not something I have ever done. We did stay and had a good meal in the end, but left a bad taste (not literally) at the long wait. The waiter offered us a discount for the inconvenience. I would likely not come back especially on a weekend as this experience was not nice, yes the food is pretty good, but not worth the waiting if this a regular thing that happens with just one waiter working.

Friendly,good food,loved the masala dosa,only thing was I expected really tempered mix,like mustard seeds,curry leaves ,tumeric, drumsticks.cherry chillis ,in the mix for the potato.and dosa..as in desi style s Indian,,very friendly owner explained,English don’t like drumstick plant/myringa..or black spots/mustard seeds..don’t recgnise it..that’s so sad..don’t order pickle pot,unless you are a party that will eat it all.daughter sent back.none left for me..liked place,and would revisit.if in area..

The food is truly amazing each time I order from Keralam. Used to go to the restaurant, mostly in summer, but after I ordered it to have it delivered, it's even better. The great things is that they are always happy to answer all the questions. If anyone asks I will always say that this is one off the best places for Indian food in Southend, if not in the whole Essex!!!!

I have just had the pleasure to visit this absolutely fantastic restaurant and boy what a knock out it was!!! Driven and walked past it many times but because it is down a road with yellow lines and not with a terrific outlook I have passed it by…. But not from now on because some of the best dishes ever and I even gave up my Peshwari Nan for a Valleypum and that was a great move too!! The chutneys for the puppadoms were sensational and so different!!!!! Enough said but come and try it…. YOU will LOVE it trust me!!!! Oh the drinks prices are better than any pubs!!!!

I went to Keralam with a friend yesterday evening, she wanted to go somewhere a bit different from other Indian restaurants. We weren’t disappointed, the food was amazing, we both ate food we had not had before, the owner patiently answered our questions. We will both be shouting out about this wonderful restaurant.

Have always leaned towards ambiance over culinary delights so I was trepidatious as the reveiws I had read said the decor was very traditional, and it was, but the food for me was outstanding so all other details were irrelevant (a first for me). The most refreshing thing was the lack of food colourings, something that has bothered me at other restaurants. Food was fantasic, service great, and so reasonably priced. Will definitely return.

We popped in for a quick meal just before we left Southend. the staff were friendly and helpful as there are some different items on the menu.

Poor service, food very sweetie It took an hour for delivery of order.quantity low. Service not upto level

This is my go-to restaurant for delicious Indian food at a very reasonable price! Always such lovely staff with very quick service! I leave here with a full belly and a big smile every time! I can’t wait to come back!

South Indian dishes including dosa. Very tasty. Staff friendly. Busy on a weekend. Decor very dated. Prices lower than London.

South Indian food here is sooooo good. The dosa are really tasty, and we love the biryani, the malabar chilli chicken and the spinach dhall. The prices are very good, and the service is great too. Our favourite Indian restaurant by a mile.

Very welcoming staff and food very good and competitively priced. My only criticism is the decor is a tad basic and austere.

You have to try this restaurant the food is amazing so authentic . The owners are so lovely they really care about the quality of the food they cook food is so fresh dont be put of by the decor of the restaurant it could...

Been here several times and had consistently great food. Not many places offer south Indian food, and we especially like the dosa, biryani, and malabar chicken. Prices are great too, especially for drinks.

Always a good meal at Keralam. The menu isn’t your “traditional” English curry house, although they have a few favourites. If you want english curry house this isn’t for you. The dishes are so full of flavour, with a range of really lovely fish and...

My wife,7 year kid and I visited this restaurant after seeing many good review about this restaurant . Food was served nearly 1 hour after placing the order, this is not a much concern but at least they should inform customer if it is going...

Warm welcome, helpful staff, fabulous food and great value for money. Would definitely return and highly recommended.

Delicious home cooked, tasty South Indian food. Excellent service and great value. Highly recommend the dosa. Will visit again.

This amazing little restaurant never ceases to blow my mind away every time I visit , I’ve frequent this lovely place for nearly 5 years , the food has a clean cut fresh taste unlike any other restaurant of its kind !! My normal order...

Best Indian meal ever!! So fresh and light! No unnecessary colourings etc. We have eaten a lot of Indian food but this was the best by far. A very unassuming but well run family restaurant. Our waiter (sorry he did give us his name but...

Although a little basic inside with slightly out dated decor, this little family run restaurant is very clean and they cannot do enough for you. But let’s talk about the food! Delicious, authentic South Indian Food. The dosas are perfect and both our mains were...

We stumbled across this place as hungry travellers and were not disappointed. The food and service was awesome. Lots of choice on the menu, especially for vegetarians and vegans as well as carnivores alike. Highly recommend and will definitely visit again on a future road...

I drive over from Coggeshall when ever I can as its worth the drive. Best South Indian food I have had outside India. Service is good too. Glad the place is still open after lockdown. Much more interesting than the usual ubiquitous Bangladeshi fare,

The best authentic Indian food I have eaten recently, seriously fantastic food great price staff very welcoming Highly recommend

Great taste. Original recipe and spices. No compromise with the taste and quality. They serve real taste of South India. The best I ever had out of India.

Delicious takeaway meal. The Dosa starters were nearly as good as those I’ve eaten at Cyrus Todiwala’s restaurants. The fish biriani was both generously portioned and tasty. Hot, but not so hot it smothered the fish. My wife enjoyed her Fish Moli too and we...

This place is good - delicious authentic south Indian food, so a very good and welcome change from the standard Indian restaurants that all do the same things. Service is prompt and polite and prices very reasonable. I had an excellent takeaway from there this...

Wanted to try some Indian visited this place. Food was really nice and the sever was excellent had a good chat with him. Even though they closed for lunch 14:30 he waited me to finish my food. Really had a good time definitely visited again.

After reading the reviews we were really looking forward to our meal here. The good was bland and the service incredibly slow. 2.5 hours for 5 meals. People came in after us, we served, ate and left before we even had our starter. Two dishes...

Authentic, fresh, absolutely delicious food! Recommended by a friend we went as a big group and they looked after us so well. We were really welcomed and the food all came out at once. I am also vegan and they have an amazing vegan menu....

Authentic indian restaurant in the heart of southend. These guys are from Kerela as the name suggests. Ive been earing here for at least 5 years and have always had a fantastic food. Dont expect the standard bangladeshi/indian food (although it is available) try a...

This is the only place in Southend where you can have authentic Indian cuisine. The food is amazing. The staff are really attentive and the location is so convenient when you want some food after going to see some music

Booked based on previous reviews and not disappointed. Service was attentive, knowledgeable and warm; the food really wonderful. Stupendous dosa, the best we have had. It’s difficult to find a South Indian restaurant anywhere - Keralam proved an absolute gem.

Great- starters and mains were lovely (jeera chicken, samosas, chilli chicken and chilli prawn) and good value too. Dosas looked lovely too, we will try those next time! Great service here

Stuck for what to do after wandering around a cold damp Southend o n Sea. Plenty of suitable restaurants to wander into but chose the Keralam. Needed a bit of spice to warm.me up and it didn't fail to deliver. A quiet Wednesday night and...

Went there with family recently. The service is very bad. Children are not given preference. Waiting time is very long. We would not recommend any family to visit this place.

Excellent food. I’m a regular to Keralam and they deliver quality food every time. This is a family owned business who take real pride in their food. If you are looking for authentic southern Indian food this is the place to go.

The place does not look much from the outside but do not let that put you off - it is absolutely amazing. The menu is extensive and varied, with many dishes I have never seen before. The food was truly wonderful and the staff very...

We had a lovely meal including the Dhosa and Malabar Chicken which were excellent. The waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. A relaxed atmosphere with tasty food.

The decor was very dated and the place felt cold however the place on entry the place was full which is always a good sign. I went for the dhall and poratha which reminded me of home cooked food which was really encouraging. Wife went...

Simple decor but the food is truly authentic. Dosa are large and perfect. The fish moli amongst the best I ve tasted, even in Kerala. Should not be missed. Staff attentive and humorous without being imposing.

Brought here by my girlfriend. Told me the food was excellent.We had a fabulous starter Masala Dosa The mains were as good as any top restaurant. The waiters were very knowledgeable and can help you order, we noticed children here and they were catered for as well. There are many India restaurant in this area,and if you want South India cuisine this is it.

This is a genuine Indian restaurant with the normal meals you get at a lot of restaurants however it also has dishes from the south of India which I have not seen elsewhere. The ones I tried were all delicious.

We visited this place as a leaving do for one of the colleagues, the arrangement by the staff was good, excellent service, good food taste, I had a vegetarian option and the taste was excellent. South indian food is excellent as well. staff was friendly good to interact with.

Looks a bit shabby but I’ll rate it on the food and service and that was spot on. Best tasting pickles to start, very interesting. Lots of flavour in all of the food as opposed to just heat. A little different from a standard UK Indian as these people are from Kerala, Southern India. As someone else said here don’t go in expecting the normal UK stuff, it’s really a nice change anyway. I got the waiter to pick my food and it was spot on.

We visited this restaurant before going to a concert nearby so wanted somewhere near to the Cliffs Pavillion. The staff were very friendly and recommended dishes to us and talked about places to visit in India. I chose an unusual dish which was a kerala pancake - filled with potato and wonderful spices. The accompanying side dishes were very tasty and the pilau rice fluffy.

South Indian - do not confuse with UK Indian food - please do not come here and expect a normal Indian Phal or Vindaloo - this is proper South India cusines

Arrived on doorstep at 8.00pm and asked if the6 could accompany party of 6, one of whom needed a gluten free meal. No problem said the waiter.

Staying overnight at the nearby Wetherspoon’s we decided to “eat out”. One of the group is celiac and therefore needs to be careful what he eats and with curry being a safe option and restaurant being close to the hotel on Clifftown Rd - it was “decision made”. Interior is quite small but it didn’t feel cramped (although only a couple of other tables were occupied when we visited). We all had a curry main plus accompaniments of popadoms/naans/rice. I chose Chicken Jalfrezi and was offered either warm or hot version - decided on the latter and was not disappointed with it’s taste/flavour. Overall with tip it averaged £14 each for the six of us which I thought reasonable for what we had. Service was attentive from the personable staff and afterwards we all said we’d be happy to return.

Working down here so searched through TA a good Indian. Keralam was really nice. The staff were brilliant The food was really nice and a little unique and thank you for tonight The doosra is definitely recommended.

Food was really tasty, quite light for Indian and had so much flavour. Waiter was very friendly, would visit again next time we're in Southend.

Definitely worth a try if you like Indian food. Authentic Keralam food in the heart of Southend. Dishes were delicious and friendly service.

We just had a fundraiser here the restaurant was packed the food fantastic and the staff very helpful

Vegan menu is great, with a large selection of dishes that we've never had anywhere else. The food is always fresh and prepared to a high standard.

Very spicy but super delicious, and the waiter is sooo considerate offering us a glass of special drink for free, which helped to reduce spice and also was refreshing! Nice place!

If you like real Indian food, i recommend this place. Decor a bit shabby but the food is worth it. I use Keralam regularly, both eat in and take away (eating in is better)

The range of dishes and flavours is astounding, I would definitely recommend going for the more unusual choices, rather than simply chicken tikka masala etc. (the "chilli fish" is one such choice!)

Had a meal here 2 nights ago and it was delicious. Chilli fish, rice, dry potato curry, green bean & coconut, rice pancakes, pickles and all was delicious. Friendly young waiter who was rushed of his feet as he was the only waiter on that night but he still had time for a chat and was always smiling. Well worth visiting if you crave a curry but want it with a Keralan twist rather than the standard northern Indian/Bengali dishes offered elsewhere.

The food here is heavenly and extremely delicious.We had amazing fish curry and flavourful biriyani.Fish curry had all the balanced flavours,it’s definitely worth a try.Me and my husband loved it.Chef sadiq is talented.

We dined at the Keralam on an early Wednesday evening and were the first customers in the restaurant. Service was excellent and we ordered the house red which turned out to be a smooth Australian. After ordering starters of vegetable samosa and tandoori chicken, we were served our main course of a variety of vegetable dishes and chicken vindaloo. The garlic naan was excellent. All the food was very tasty and fresh and the portions a good size. Whilst the decor could do with a make over, the food and service made up for it. A definite hit and we would visit again.

Fantastic find opposite Southend central station

Masala dosa was delicious and the starter was interesting in a good way!! Nice to find intriguing dishes on the menu. A lovely evening.

Very nice restaurant, authentic indian taste if you are looking for, good friendly staff, very easily accessible just opposite to the train station.

This is an Indian restaurant, have eaten multiple times and always had a great meal. Good value full marks.

We were the first in for the evening and I wasn’t sure if it was going to get busy. Suffice to say that by the time we left every table was taken.. food was excellent and the waiter gave us some directions of regional specialties that we tried and ended up loving.

Ordered my usual meal that I have in many Indian restaurants, very differently presented but all the better for it. Menu has some unusual items. Well worth a try

Ok place had better food The waiting staff could have looked after you a bit better Cheap and cheerful You can find better i am sure

There is a full vegan menu. Even the chutney's are made fresh and they are delicious. Everything tasted freshly cooked and I've never had Indian food that tasted so good. Would totally recommend it and go back.

Having revisited after a year or so we were really impressed with the food. It has got so much better not that it was bad before. It sticks to its Kerala roots for which we appreciate. Looking forward to out next visit.

Great Taste on all the South Indian dishes and Good hygenic...Customizing spicy level..Good service..

We went here, based on the good reviews. But quality was really really poor. Service was friendly. Staff is helpful. Prices are reasonable. But food quality is questionable. We had chicken tikka (what can go wrong there?), and chicken birjani. Both dishes were tasting exactly the same, looked the same. Also had vegetable curry which were lots of vegetables from a can floating in some greasy sauce. Obviosuly during the night this abundance of grease caused some gastrointestinal reflux.

We come here regularly and this is a great place that serves the most tasty refreshing Indian cuisine. Service is great and food is original and freshly prepared.

Keralam is a real gem for vegans, serving there, as they do, an extensive vegan menu. I have eaten there on a number of occasions and never been disappointed.

We have tried a few south Indian restaurants in our time and this one definitely had a different taste to the norm. We had the Chilli fish and the Chilli chicken and both were really good and had a Indo/chinese taste and were nicely spiced. The pickles were also different including pickled dates which was really good. The mushroom rice wasn't oily like you get in your Bengali Indians and the breads were of a good standard. I don't usually choose fish curry in Punjabi or as we call it proper Indian restaurants as I haven't had very good results in the past, but both myself and my Indian business partner would eat here again for the excellent fish curry's!

I love Indian food and really now days its very hard to find traditional indian , I can confirm this little restaurant managed to keep the taste, We will back.

I like Indian food but am not an expert but the friends I was with are experts having spent a lot of time in India and they think this is one of the best for authentic Indian food so we all recommend it.

We had an early meal in Keralam on Saturday before going to a gig and it was absolutely amazing. We had two vegetarians in our group of four and it was just so lovely to have so much choice. We have travelled in Kerala and...

Come here around 4 times a year with my son, whom introduced me to Keralam, to be honest I probably would have missed it as it looks rather basic & almost cafe like with interior being the same.....but don't let 1st appearances put you off, it has possibly the best Indian food I have had.....all different from the usual with plenty of fish dishes, "Masala Mussels" being my favourite but everything I've had has been exceptional..... it's never really busy which is a surprise so thought I'd share my experience as your missing out if you don't try it here, service is always excellent & very reasonably priced...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Quiet little restaurant near Southend Central Station. Great South Indian food and friendly service. Really enjoyed the meal, thanks.

Excelente comida, muy diferente de la mayoría de los restaurante indio. La Masala Dosa es magnífico! Me he alojado aquí unas cuantas veces y me encanta.

Finalmente, encontramos el restaurante escondido cerca del ferrocarril. Fueron muy amables y serviciales, pero el lugar estaba un poco viejo y necesitaba una renovación.

Me encantó la comida aquí! Todo, desde el de los postres. chutneys Gran cocina casera, Real. No le faltaba sabor! No me puedo quejar de los sabores o el servicio de atención al cliente.

Great vegetarian selection, service can be variable but food consistently good and fresh. Cheap too - poppadums (don't miss that pickle tray!), starter and main meal with wine for 3 less than 60 quid.

I really liked it here and had chicken shashlik. It was a good portion size and I also ordered chips and naan bread and that was really tasty too.Hoping to go back! Lovely Indian in Southend

My wife and I went for a meal there last night (Tuesday). The surroundings are plain but clean. But the food and its quality were exceptional. As has been mentioned about this restaurant before, the menu is quite different with from what you would expect from a normal English Indian. The food was light and really tasty, I went for a Chicken Tikka Biriyani, it wasn't smothered in food colouring, there was plenty of it and it was almost comforting to eat! When the bill came, it wasn't cheap by any means, but really good value. So to summarise, this place is really worth a look and we will definitely return.

I've been here many times in the past and the food and service has always been so amazing. I've not been here for about 10 years until recently, I was worried the food might not be as good as I remember. I'm pleased to say the food is just as good if not better!This is the place for real South Indian dishes, not the usual indian menu. The food all tastes so fresh and full of flavours. The sauces are all amazing and none of the food is greasy at all. Masala dosas are so good and also recommend the chilli lamb. The staff are friendly and helpful and made a great recommendation that I'd never tried before. I've tried several other South Indian places in other areas and none come close!

I have been many an Indian restaurant in my time. This is simply the best. You can taste all the ingredients. So distinctive in flavour. Would really recommend this restaurant and lovely staff.

First visit tonight. Would definitely come back. Not your normal Indian but pleasantly surprised. Reasonably priced and the food was very authentic. Also liked the fact the food was light, and not too filling. The atmosphere was nice and the staff were very attentive. Great first impression.

The fish dishes are superb here, as is the dosa. The presentation of the food is also lovely. Also, try the rice bread. Superb. The Staff are friendly and helpful, plus it's only a few paces from The Railway!

Authentic, delicious food of south india. Warm and good service. One of the best curries i've had in the area.Delighted to have discovered Keralam!

Bloomin lovely. Makes a nice change from the standard English Indian stuff. Ask for his suggestions.

I have never ever got up and left, but the dross they served me I cant put into words. I had a curry that must of been left on a hotplate for a month. I had to read the menu again to check it was made with "tender" pieces. What I got was so crunchy and dry I had no idea when it was alive it was chicken. It was certainly foul.Took over 2 hours so go from popadums to main. Needs to close down. Ill be honest, I dont rate this 1 star.

very nice dishes, good selection of Keralan dishes. Good location near Southend Central station and Southend high street

I was pleasantly surprised to find a restaurant specialising in Keralite cuisine.I've been a couple of times to Kerala and always wanted to eat Appams again. Its a kind of Crêpe (dosa) in the shape of a Wok and sweeter than a Dosa.The prawns were excellent.It is not a restaurant you go to for the ambience. ..but just authentic Malayali cuisine.