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We were visiting Edinburgh from Canada, where we have been living for more than 10 years, and I can honestly say that in all my years in Canada, I have never had Kerala cuisine as authentic and satisfying as what we experienced at Awaafi.
From the moment we arrived, everything was excellent—food quality, portion sizes, and customer service. The staff were welcoming, attentive, and made us feel right at home.
We started with the BDF (Beef Dry Fry), and the very first bite took me straight back to Kerala. It had the exact authentic taste I remember from my days back home. Perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection.
We also tried the Mangal Chor, which came with neychor, BDF, chicken fry, and beef. Every component was delicious, and the combination of flavors was outstanding.
Another highlight was the Chicken Dum Biryani. Made with kaima rice, it had the authentic taste and aroma of a traditional Thalassery biryani. Absolutely delicious and beautifully prepared.
The star of the meal for us was the Beef Rib Mandi. While the mandi rice is just regular mandi rice which we get everywhere, the beef rib completely stole the show. The portion was incredibly generous, and the meat was soft, tender, and perfectly cooked. It was one of the best beef dishes I have had in a long time. We were genuinely overwhelmed by both the quality and quantity.
We enjoyed the experience so much that we returned the very next day. Unfortunately, after a long trip to the Scottish Highlands, we were short on time and couldn’t dine in. We called ahead and ordered a pothichor for takeaway. Even as a takeaway meal, it was fantastic and maintained the same authenticity and quality.
Awaafi is a true gem for anyone looking for authentic Kerala and Arabic cuisine. If you are in Edinburgh, this place is a must-visit. We will definitely return whenever we visit Scotland again. Highly recommended!
What delicious food! This was my first ever visit and I was a bit skeptical about the food initially because it's hard to find authentic South Indian restaurants in Scotland. But honestly, this one took me by surprise. Had ordered Awaafi Special Beef Fry and Porota and the beef fry tasted almost similar to what mom cooks. Really tasty with the right blend of spices. Friends had ordered Chicken biryani and Pazhampori-beef... These were really good as well. I will definitely recommend you this restaurant if you're looking for South Indian dishes, especially non-veg, in the assumption that all their other items are also as authentic and tasty as the ones we tried.
Well done, chef.
