Pakka in Cambridge

I ordered the food around 11:45 they accepted my order around 12 its 1:34 pm now and I still don't have my food :(

food delivered at wrong time had to come back from the pub especially to receive it. the Daal was so bland and tasteless, I genuinely think they missed some ingredients. and the chicken tikka was sweet as sugar! honestly, I am not a negative reviewer, but I feel sorry for the next person parting with good money for bad food!

The worst South Indian food I have ever had in my life. The chicken malabar is a joke and I ordered the chilli paneer was the worst thing I have spent my money on. Please don't call this Indian food, I feel I was fooled.

Ordered food on just eat. Got the time completely wrong had to leave the pub early to come back to receive the delivery, or the guy was just going to leave it. Daal is bland. Chicken tikka, tasted almost sweet. Naan was stone cold. Above is factual.

Most unhelpful management. Overpriced food. I am their neighbour. Been there twice. Service was slow and I needed one onion which I was willing to pay over market price and they refused. 1 onion not even 10p. Well Goodluck u lost a customer. Ppl try Banana leaf much better

Ordered the vegetable kootu from here. The description says the dish consists of lentils and mixed vegetables but when I received it I could barely find any vegetables in it. Most of it was just oily gravy. Disappointing for the price.

Meat not cooked properly and curry far from anything any other Indian restaurant serves, food not even a little bit spicy.

Poor quality, not comparable with other Indian restaurants around.

I came with a friend from the USA, as she lives in a part where there isn't much South Indian food available. I ordered Manchurian paneer which I have never eaten before, it was delicious. My friend ordered a coconut chicken dish and thoroughly enjoyed it. The 65 Broccoli was good too. We dined during a heatwave so the restaurant was very warm and when they noticed we were feeling the heat our very sweet waiter put the AC on for us.

I just ordered from the restaurant via Uber Eats because I thought the dishes would resemble Kerala cuisine. However, the chicken Malabar curry I received was just an onion curry with chicken in it..very bad experience. Instead of Kerala paratha, I received some sweet naan and it took one hour to even get the food..not going to order again.

A day out to Cambridge and decide to go for Indian cuisine dinner. There was no much options for authentic ones but ended up in Pakka Restaurant. They served us well. The food was very tasty with true south Indian taste. Staff were so welcoming, and the ambiance was really cozy and worth spending an evening. I would recommend this restaurant without a doubt, if you are looking for a authentic south Indian cuisine, especially Kerala.

Best biryani chicken in my opinion and the restaurant is lovely and has a website where you can easily order for collection

At first we where put off by the decor, however after realising the adjacent Indian restaurant was only vegetarian we came back We were glad we did ! The service and staff where lovely and welcoming, the atmosphere was a bit lagging however it was a Sunday ! The food menu didn't look familiar so I went for a recommendation and it was amazing 😍 honestly the food was so fresh and tasty Then the bill We where very happy with the bill and happy to pay 10% service charge as the food was so reasonable and for what you get I would of tipped more ! The drinks matched our price of food as we like a drink Highly recommend and we will come back

Great food and lovely service. Definitely our favorite Indian restaurant! It would maybe be nice to have some music in the background.

Great food. My friends were impressed by my choice of venue

The worst part is denying entry for a party of 8 when the entire restaurant is empty, simply due to the fact that a mandate minimum spend of £18 per person is to be billed and we were looking for coffee or chai! It's not like the party is going to stop with just coffee but simply denying entry to the restaurant was over the top! Never in all my time in the UK have I experienced such callousness and indifference! Out of the door glimpse of the horrible experience we would have got, had we been able to actually have something over there was more than enough. Anyone planning to visit here be forewarned.

Delicious and speedy, every time!

A Culinary Gem on Castle Street: Pakka Cambridge During a leisurely morning stroll on Castle Street, a savoury aroma wafted through the air, steering my senses to the source of culinary enchantment. There stood Pakka, a resplendent South Indian restaurant that beckoned me inside. It was like stumbling upon the culinary crown jewel of Cambridge—a beacon of traditional, authentic South Indian cuisine shining brightly amid the rustic charm of the downtown strip. The warmth of the welcome by Binu, the steward of this gastronomic treasure, was matched only by the rich, aromatic flavors that define the place. From the moment I walked in, Binu’s hospitality illuminated my visit, ensuring that my experience was as delightful as the food was delicious. The traditional South Indian paratha and Kerala Fried Chicken (KFC) were revelations, transporting me to the heart of Kerala with every bite. Fellow diners, Greg and Rekha, recommended the lamb chops and chicken biryani for next time, which I eagerly anticipate trying. Pakka isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a culinary odyssey that offers the best of South India, right here in Cambridge. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Kerala, Pakka serves as an authentic local haven of South Indian cuisine. I left filled with the light of joy from an incredible meal, promising Binu and his team that I would return soon for another round of heavenly delights.

Nice food and excellent service

So much onion in all gravies ... food taste is not that good need to be upgrade the standards.. Fish malabar curry was not authentic ...chilly chicken full of onion less chicken piece and no capsicum ... so need to be upgrade the standards of taste and quick serving

Had lunch here with a friend while in town for work. Clean and calm atmosphere, kind service, fresh hot naan -- would go back!

Food was so so. Didnt taste authentic, but passable. Service and atmosphere were great though.

Indian dine inn or take out on Castle St, pretty central for the city. Licensed, larger than it looks from the outside. Varied menu with dietary restrictions marked. Some interesting dishes, food & service good. Some on street parking.

Brightly lit inside, food arrived very quickly. Not as well spiced or interesting flavours as many similar restaurant. More expensive than we usually pay AND 12.5% service charge added to the whole bill. That means we paid service charge on the VAT tax part as well.

This is our go to place for South Indian food. Staff are also helpful and kind. We were served complementary iftar, that was a really good gesture.

Horrible place. They don't give all the items when you order and if you want to call them to complain they will not answer the phone. Now I'm waiting since one hour and I don't have my food yet.

Lovely place. We had a few starters and main items - Masala dosa , Onion bhaji ,Erachi ularthiyath & Chicken uluva koottu was the best. Suggest to reserve ahead. And staffs was really friendly

I honestly cannot understand why this place has high ratings because the food is so BLAND unlike any other South Indian restaurant I've been to. The fact that they don't even offer dosa as a main on their menu should have been an indication as to how far from authenticity this place is. On top of that, they charge 12.5% for a very poor service which is optional but they are aware that most customers are unlikely to request removal of it. They even give you back your used cutlery from your starters for your main course! What a place! It's a canteen, not a restaurant. The first and the LAST time we get ripped off in this place!

i was delivered incorrect items i’m unable to eat due to being vegetarian, my order was delivered very late and all my food came cold. i tried calling the restaurant but the phone number doesn’t work. do not recommend at all.

I ordered paneer butter masala, but it has excessive food coloring and lacks spice, tasting mostly sweet instead. Despite attempting to contact the restaurant by phone, there was no answer, leading to a disappointing experience.

Pakka koothara (bad) restaurant. Fish molly was like dal curry. At the least, please provide food that's worth the price you are charging. Do not recommend. It's way too overpriced!

I am not from India so I don’t know the food is authentic or not, but it works for me very much. Like it a lot!

Excellent curry and great value especially for Cambridge , we just dropped in by chance well out of season for holiday or student and had a delightful meal a fresh bottle of French Vermentino. A wonderful full chicken dish and a fresh Prawn dish with butterfly king prawns and some delicious smoked tamarind , Yummy. Pop by for a nice experience and friendly service or order for a home delivery.

What a hidden gem! Definitely try the Keralan specialities. It was delicious.

Food cold by the time it got to us. Delivery driver not bothered about trying to get into the building or contacting us. Even after I made directions very clear!!

We love this little Indian restaurant. It's never very busy, and yet it's probably become one of our favourite Indian restaurants in Cambridge! Be warned that this isn't a traditional "British-Indian restaurant" menu, and you likely won't find your usual favourites as a result (no Jalfrezi or Madras for example, which are our usual go-tos). However, if you like South Indian cuisine or are up for trying something slightly new, then you can't go wrong. I'm a huge fan of the Kerala fish curry, and we've tried several of their lamb dishes (curries and otherwise) and none have disappointed. The dosas and all the other starters we've had have been delicious too. The restaurant decor is nice and colourful and bright, and we've found all members of staff to be super friendly to deal with. A pleasure!

Good food amazing service, highly recommend to mallus…

Delicious food and friendly staff. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit!

We had a great experience with pakka restaurant. We had chicken lolipop and masala dosa as starters and Nan,Irachi ularthu and Paratta, Kozhi curry as main course. Everything was upto our expectations and we got the authentic taste of Kerala. Also the Ambience and the service was beyond words. The staff was very welcoming. I recommend Pakka restaurant for everyone to enjoy tasty food at reasonable price and great atmosphere.

The food tastes fine and was bit expensive. There is no parking available.

Travelling from Godmanchester to London. Stopped off to taste some Kerala food. Hugely disappointed with the shoddy preparation of the food. Left most of the food untouched. Very friendly service though.

This used to be a real treat and favourite. Not sure if ownership or management has changed - used to be a family who ran this and served unusual southern Indian dishes. The food we had last night was very average and dominated by heaps of cooked onions. No subtleties or interesting flavours. Avoid.

"I recently ate at Pakka Restaurant with my friends, and it was amazing. We easily booked a table for 5, and the menu had so many delicious South Indian dishes to choose from. The standout for me was Erachi Ularthiyath, which was bursting with flavors and went perfectly with paratha. The chicken biryani was also excellent with its authentic Malabar taste. The side dishes were a tasty addition. What made our experience even better was the fantastic service. The staff was friendly and made our meal special. If you love South Indian food and great service, don't miss Pakka Restaurant. It's a real gem!

My visit to Restaurant Pakka, boasting of authentic Kerala cuisine, was an unfortunate letdown. I eagerly ordered a variety of dishes, hoping to savor the rich flavors of Kerala. To start, the masala dosa lacked a basic seasoning – it was shockingly saltless, rendering it bland and unappealing. As if that wasn't disappointing enough, the accompanying chutney was served at a frigid temperature, making me wonder if it had been taken straight from the fridge. This chilly condiment further detracted from the dining experience. I also tried the gobi 65, which, to my dismay, was inexplicably tasteless. The spices and flavors that are expected to burst in your mouth were notably absent, leaving me unsatisfied. The most distressing part of the meal was the Kerala fish curry. It not only failed to impress but was also marred by an unpleasant, lingering odor. This issue was an immediate appetite-killer. Even the South Indian coffee, was far from authentic. It was exceptionally thin and lacked the rich, aromatic quality one associates with this beverage. The coffee was indeed a disappointment. In summary, my dining experience at Restaurant Pakka was a far cry from the authentic Kerala food I had hoped for. The absence of basic seasonings, the unappetizing gobi 65, the pungent fish curry, and the thin, tasteless coffee left me with a strong desire to seek out a better representation of Kerala cuisine elsewhere.

One of the best Indian food in Cambridge.

Food was great and good portions, lovely bright and cosy interior and service was attentive and very welcoming. Would recommend.

I think this restaurant is the best Indian food in cambridge , And the waiters are friendly and always smile , Thank you 🌹

Everyone please note, the review I wrote below was written ten years ago, hopefully it has gotten better in the years that passed. Would I good there again? - No. The service was appalling, took 30 mins to be served drinks, that was after reminding them several times. The side plates were delivered around 20 mins after the poppodoms. Then the plates for the main came out, my girlfriends plate was dirty (the waiter seemed confused that I didn't want her to have a dirty plate). The meal came out to us in dribs and drabs. One of the other members of the party was served a very salty meal, it was returned to the kitchen, whereby it had coconut milk added. Throughout the meal it seemed that we were constantly chasing for our drinks. After the first person had finished their meal, the waiter focus seemed to be on collecting our plates one at a time.

Paneer Butter Masala was not properly cooked. When we asked the waiter, we were told "This is how we cook it. You have to pay the complete bill." (We never insisted about non-payment). Then due to this poor service, we wanted to remove the optional Service Charge. Then an argument ensued. The water said this time "In that case, should I also remove the discount we're providing you for booking online?" (The discount was advertised on their website). After several minutes of argument, we were "allowed" the discount. One of the worst experiences I've personally had in a restaurant.

Authentic food, good taste, good portions. Excellent dinner choice with friends if you’re considering some south Indian cuisine.

First time ever eating Indian food. I had the green lamb curry with a side of basmati rice. It was fantastic for someone who’s never tried it before and wasn’t too spicy either. Definitely recommend it if you’ve never had Indian food before and/or want something a bit more on the milder side. 10/10

I went as a group of 5 with not reservations on a Friday night no wait and the best Indian food I’ve ever had definitely recommend

Not halal - staff lied about food being halal and claimed to be Muslims when they weren’t.

Favourite curry restaurant in Cambridge, the staff are very nice and make great recommendations. I've visited +-4 times and always had great food. The restaurant tends to be quiet, not sure why- it's lovely!

5-star service and food! Very reasonable price. This is one of the best Indian Restaurants I have ever tried. All dishes are delicious, especially the sesame vegetable dish. Highly recommend those who visit Cambridge to try this.

The place really knows how to recommend great dishes. Everything on the menu tastes amazing. They offer the flexibility to adjust the spiciness levels of their dishes, and even the spicier ones remain incredibly flavorful. Additionally, they have a selection of Indian beers available to complement your meal. Highly recommended!

Authentic Indian dosa. Perfect taste and crunchy. Sambar was good but chutney may be improved probably two chutneys would be great. Price 7.95£ for Masala Dosa is OK. Worth a visit. 👍🏻

The food was mediocre. I ordered a papadum and got served a pickle tray too. Didn't taste it a bit or didn't even order it but they still charged me 2.5 pounds. Beware of this scammy part and return whatever you didn't order.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at "Pakka" restaurant in Cambridge, and I must say it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. This establishment not only delivered outstanding customer service but also offered a wide variety of mouthwatering South Indian dishes.

Had a great south indian dinner.great customer service and delicious dinner

If you want good Indian food, this is the place. Tasty, cheap and quick. Good service, too.

Very nice food and very nice poeple

Tasty south Indian food and good service. It is near to city area and also open in morning time.

Good south Indian food with friendly service.

Tried ordering online and the food was very good. Portion sizes are large, especially the naan. Received an extra papadam as well.

味道很本地化，只能说算是适合现代人的清淡口味吧。 性价比不高，20镑2人份的烤肉分量只有别的地方一人份的量。不过人均也不贵可以多点几道菜。 装修算是亮点，可能适合来约会吧，总而言之为了食物的话不推荐来。

Sleeping on their laurels. The curry was flooded in oil to the point that it killed my appetite. The lamb was anything but tender, the peshwari naan arrived soggy and had no taste. The mushroom rice was flavourless. Clearly not as good as before, standards going down the hill. Really disappointed. Time for serious internal review.

I had to phone the restaurant to chase my order. And was informed they didnt have a bike yet. I asked for ensurance my food would still be warm and they said the restaurant had been busy, so they had cooked my food a little later to ensure it would be hot when i got it. When EVENTUALLY I got my food, although they said it would be still hot, it was not. I would say it was just warm and the flavour of the food was not good... too much rose and mint. I am NEVER going there again!!!

A bastion of affordability in a sea of expensive restaurants. The food was good and quick at lunchtime.

Tried first time and Dosa and dal is a winner

The quality of the food was way below standards. Chilly chicken seemed not cooked, the meat seemed a paste, awful. Everything was dull, with mixed weird flavours.

I pre-ordered at 5 so that I can be sure to have the food at 7 as my guests had to catch a flight later. Unfortunately, they only managed to have a few bites to eat because the food arrived 20 minutes late despite the fact that I called the restaurant twice. That is unacceptable as we live two blocks away from the restaurant.

Really delicious food. Quick and friendly service. Whenever I eat there and whomever I take to this restaurant, the experience is outstanding.

A wonderful place! Really kind people and amazing tasting food! My mum and I loved our time there.

Wasn’t that hot. Eating in the restaurant was better

Really had a great Indian food so long with wide variety of dishes specially the spiciest tawa chicken and erachi lamb dish.Much recommended.will be back here

Great ambience Delicious food Excellent customer service Affordable price Thank you Pakka team We will come back again for more experience *****

Very good ambience and really tasty food. Didn't get chance to meet all the staff but Tom is very friendly and welcoming.

Biriyani was average as compared to Kerala food and very expensive food prices

Absolutely delicious food!! I’m lucky enough to live next door and go there once a week! Wonderful staff too!!

2023 - an unfortunate reversal. The bread was excellent. Curries were quite poor. Service couldn't be faulted. 2019 - Curries and starters were excellent. Breads less so. Only trainee service staff on the day - service was less than stellar

Beautiful ambience and friendly staff. The service was fast and food was delicious.

Food taste not upto the mark and not tasty.

The food was not fresh and the chicken was too dry

Such an amazing ambience. The staffs were really active and pleasant. The taste was uncomparable. Great experience 🌟🌟🌟

Really happy to taste some genuine kerala food after a long time. The staffs were really kind especially Apsara. Keep up the good work.🤟

Delicious top quality food with a wide varied menu. Atmosphere was heart warming, would recommend for family, friends and dates :)

Top quailty food, good portions, service was lovely and helpful. Recommend it for any occasion.

After spending £70 the previous night in another Indian restaurant, the meal was mediocre at best. We had a very nice meal here and had an extra pint of beer each and was given a bill that was under £50! Will definitely come here again if we are in Cambridge. Very friendly staff that couldn’t do enough for us.

Best South Indian food in Cambridge!

Visited here Friday lunchtime before Christmas with a large group of friends, wasn't sure what to expect as it was our first time here. The manger was very hospital and advised us on the different types of curry, well I was blown away by the tastes of the different spices in each dish. Will definitely vist again.

Very friendly waiters and consistently good food 👍

Absolutely amazing place to eat, we will be making a reservation for our next visit in Christmas! 10 of 10 for every single aspect of this meal, and this is coming from people who know and love great food ✌️

It’s a great experience in pakka Cambridg. The ambiance is very welcoming and charming. Amazing food and service. Staff are extremely knowledgeable and make great recommendations Food really awesome

The food tonight was very tasty. You've done a great job. Thanks very much, you cooked that food to perfection really awesome 🙌🏻

Taste was not good that I expected

Foood was so yummy. The delivery boy was friendly. Much recommended. Loved the service

Very nice restaurant in Cambridge.. With our budget.. Good & lovely place.. With beautiful menu with services.... Option available to choose for a your on level of spicy... Thank you pakka group.. Behind this all.

The Aubergine Fingers are the best! I thought I would update my review. Ate in house for the first time. The starters are so good. The calamari & the spicy potato fingers were great. We love the small intimate feel of the restaurant and the lovely lighting

Love the deco and food is amazing too especially the sticky sesame vegetables. Good portions and value for money. Great service, highly recommend it