Malabar Restaurant

Lizzy

Got the Peanut Boda, Gobi Manchurian, and Vegetable Curry, all were amazing and full of flavor. The service was very good too. Highly recommend and we will be coming back to try many more dishes!

Taylor Shin

I am not exaggerating when I say that eating at Malabar was life changing. I will never forget the first time I took a bite out of the Gobi Manchurian. I thought I was eating a delicious Indian/Malaysian version of orange chicken but something felt slightly “off”. As I was chewing I realized that what I was eating was not chicken. The only possible explanation to this mystery was that it was potato. But upon closer inspection I found out that the divine, scrumptious object in my mouth was cauliflower! Somehow the edges of the cauliflower were crispy while the inside was soft and chewy. And to top it off, the sauce was heavenly as it had a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and savory. The Gobi Manchurian was without a doubt a 10/10. The group I was part of ordered food family style so I got to try many different dishes. My personal highlights aside from the Gobi Manchurian were the Mango Lassi, Egg Roti, and Kofta India. On top of the delicious food, the service was fantastic! Definitely check out Malabar if you can, you will not regret it!

joanna sellers

Amazing experience! The food was above and beyond what I remembered and I’ve been coming back to Santa Cruz with the craving for this food since I first had it 20 years ago. This is a hidden gem and should have a line out the door! Make sure to get a mango lassi.

Taylor Peissner

We absolutely love Malabar! It's rich and exciting in flavor and so surprised to find it not at the top of every food list in Santa Cruz. This is truly a hidden gem! I'd argue a top 5 for flavor and uniqueneas in Santa Cruz area. Service was absolutely fantastic! They throw in free items often and are very attentive!