Karikku Cafe

This place feels like a little slice of Kerala in the Bay Area. We make it a point to eat here every single time we visit, and it never disappoints. The flavors are so familiar and comforting — the kind that instantly bring back memories of home. Don’t miss the prawns tawa fry, beef cutlet, pothichoru, Thalassery biriyani, beef kappa biriyani, meen vattichathu, and the chicken roast with appam. Even the porotta is quite good. If you’re craving real Kerala food and that home-style taste, this spot is absolutely worth it.

Some of the best South Indian food I've ever had, full of tasty spices and delicious powerful flavor. We ordered enough for double our party and loved every dish. Brought back memories for my partner living in India. Wonderful food and friendly staff. We especially liked their Porotta, Gobi Manchurian, Mutton Pepper Curry, and of course their special Mango Lassi. Can't wait to go back!

Delicious and authentic I like the chunky fish dish, it was pretty spicy The appam was like enjira it was really good. The fluffy roti swirl was also pretty solid but the appam tasted better with the entrees. I also liked the yogurt they served with the chicken biryani. The chicken was also really spicy I’d get the gobi (tempura cauliflower) again, it was fantastic altho it had maybe a little too much sauce The prawn coconut curry was ok I didn’t like how sweet it was. It tasted like sweet tomato sauce Stewed beef curry was pretty good as well but I prefer the cauliflower, fish curry, and appam more Lots of Indian American families with their young kids

First time trying the restaurant. It was a weekday night so not busy at all. We instantly got seated. You have the option of ordering via the QR code from the table or you can order via a server. There was only one person at the counter though who was doing everything. Since it was not busy so it didn’t matter or delay anything. We ordered a bunch of dishes. Butter chicken - it was surprisingly good. I did not have much hopes since this was a South Indian restaurant. Perfect dish for the little ones. Beef curry (forgot the actual name of the dish). That was also very tasty. Although I would have preferred more meat. For the bread, I ordered the porota’s (the layered bread). They were also cooked nice and not from the frozen. We also tried Appam which was also lovely. Food is served in small bowls, like the ones you use at home. So my first impression was that the food is not going to be enough. But actually it was the right amount. Would prefer to have more meat. All in all a good experience. Would highly recommend

Fantastic spot for Kerali food. My table got the fish cutlet, meen vattichathu, and Malabar fish curry with appam and rice. Everything was super fresh, flavourful, and well portioned. The spice level of the meen vattichathu was just right and not so overpowering that I couldn't enjoy the taste of the fish. Also one small thing I liked is that they give plenty of rice in a single order — enough for 2 people. In terms of service, the staff are all polite but the service is pretty slow. We had to wait nearly 30 minutes for our order while other people who came in after us had already started receiving their food. The restaurant itself is spacious, clean, and well-kept. Overall, I'd definitely recommend checking this place out.

If you’re looking to savor authentic Kerala cuisine, Karikku Cafe in Fremont is a must-visit. We tried the Kerala parotta, which was perfectly soft, fluffy, and not overly oily, alongside Appam that paired beautifully with the rich Chicken Varuthara gravy. The highlight was the Karimeen masala, which was packed with flavor and complemented the other dishes wonderfully. The service was quick and efficient, making the overall dining experience delightful. Highly recommend this place for anyone craving traditional Kerala flavors!

Has the ownership or chef changed? Yesterday, the beef peralan was a huge disappointment. It used to be dry with coconut pieces so yummy but yesterday, it was just like a regular beef masala, completely overwhelmed by the gravy. No consistency, why does this happen so often with Indian restaurants in the Bay Area?

If you're craving authentic Kerala cuisine, this place is a must-visit. We tried their pothichor, a rarity outside Kerala homes these days. Each serving has plenty of rice for two people, though the curries are slightly less in portion. The thalassery biryani was also amazing and a must try for all biriyani lovers. I highly recommend this spot—it truly brought the taste of home back to me. Thank you for such a delicious reminder of Kerala!