Photo: Cafe Malabar's Fish Pollichathu - Aromatic-spiced fish fillet wrapped in banana leaf is a favourite among regular diners
Tucked away on Swift Street, just down the road from Victoria’s historic Chinatown, sits a bold little waterfront café serving unforgettable South Indian cuisine with a distinct West Coast twist. It’s Café Malabar; and inside you’ll find a space that feels both deeply traditional and refreshingly original - a culinary gem quietly earning its place in Victoria’s vibrant food scene.
Café Malabar is the vision of co-owners and chefs Kiran Kolathodan and Karma Tenpa, who began the restaurant as a pop-up-style kitchen inside the Victoria Public Market before settling into their current digs at 407 Swift Street. Their concept was simple but ambitious: mix the vibrant flavours of Kerala’s Malabar Coast with a southwestern flair, all while using only the best local ingredients available.
There’s no denying their skill-sets: Tenpa is a veteran of renowned hotel kitchens who trained Japanese fine dining chef, and Kolathodan is a classically trained French cuisine expert, and together they fuse their expertise to create a dining experience unlike any other. Their menu pays homage to their Keralan roots, infused with local ingredients, including fresh island-grown vegetables and sustainably caught seafood, blending authenticity and innovation in every dish they create.
Every dish tells a story—of place, heritage, and culinary exploration—and diners taste that connection in every bite. Signature dishes include the Alleppey Fish Curry, made with tangy green mango and turmeric; the beautifully spiced Chicken Malabar Dum Biryani; and flaky parottas served with chutneys and stewed lentils.
Their hard work and creativity has not gone unnoticed. In 2025, YAM Magazine named Café Malabar “Best South or Southeast Asia Restaurant”—for the second year in a row. It’s well-earned recognition that clearly reflects these two chefs’ passion and precision for their art, and their customers.
Guests often describe their meals here as not just dinner, but an experience. One diner wrote, “The flavours are bold, deep, and transportive—and you can feel the heart that goes into every dish.” Another added, “There’s a confidence in the cooking here, but also warmth and humility. It’s rare.”
The restaurant itself is small, warm, and inviting. From either the large open dining room, or the big, sunny waterfront patio, diners can watch harbour taxis come and go, or perhaps even spot a sea otter scampering on the adjacent dock.
Café Malabar’s waterfront location gives it that perfect “hidden gem” energy—off the main drag, yet—along with its neighbour, CRAFT Brew Pub—close enough to feel a part of Victoria’s innovative culinary scene.
HIDDEN VICTORIA is proud to include Café Malabar on some of our popular “Bites & Sites” tour routes. For more information on Café Malabar, click HERE; or, to book one of our Bites & Sites tours, click HERE.
Due to tour volumes, not all of our groups stop at Café Malabar. If you'd like to be on one that does, please enquire specifically when booking.