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    Cafe Malabar

    4.6 (17 reviews)
    ModerateIndian, Cafes
    Open 12:00 pm - 8:30 PM

    Order Cafe Malabar Takeout or Delivery

    Cafe Malabar Photos

    CAFE MALABAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Malabar

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    Coconut chicken

    This is on the pricier side, but service and the food truly make up for it. It tastes so good and fresh. They also give you a really nice rose tea with the meal which is so good.

    Coconut creme caramel (modified to be gluten free)

    This was a really great dining experience. Most North American Indian restaurants focus on north Indian food, and the only South Indian food I've previously tried were dosas. The waitstaff was incredibly kind and helpful. I'm vegetarian and my friend who was dining with me is gluten and dairy free. There were several vegetarian appetizers and curries available. Most of the menu was dairy free and about half of it was gluten free. Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable about the food ingredients and cooking method, and was immediately able to tell my friend which items met their dietary restrictions, including which items had the risk of cross contamination with gluten, such as through being placed in a frier that was also used for items with gluten. I believe half the appetizers and all the curries were gluten free. I had the chaya (contains dairy) and it was some of the best chai I had throughout my whole vacation in British Columbia. It was very well spiced, rich, and not overly sweet. You could tell they make it in house. We got an egg hopper to start. It was very simple - an egg cooked in an appam, but very tasty. I had the vegetable ishtu with parottas for dinner. The curry had a coconut milk base and was very tasty. My friend had the fish pollichathu and appams. She said it was incredible. It had a bit of a spicy kick to it. For dessert, my friend had the coconut creme caramel, which they modified to be gluten free by not putting the crispy top layer on it. It was so good they ordered a second one to have as breakfast the next morning.

    Katherine C.

    We've had a lot of Indian food but mostly North Indian. Cafe Malabar specializes in South Indian cuisine and the flavors were so powerful but well balanced. We ordered an assortment including the egg puff, tofu cutlet, chicken and spicy fish curries, both rice options, and some parathas. Oh, and a banana smoothie. What a treat. And the chef was so nice even though he was busy filling orders. Nice find inside Victoria Public Market.

    Dosa

    This spot was perfection. The wait staff and host were super attentive and helpful with the menu. Was the best meal we've had our trip to Victoria. We had the rock fish in banana leaf with dosa and poratta. 10/10. The curry for the fish was very well made and spice level was perfect for us. The poratta are must tries. We ended the meal with masala chai in the cutest tea cups. The decor of the restaurant is modern and simple. Works really well! Will be coming back if ever in Victoria!

    Puttu + Kadala Curry
    Yojna J.

    I decided to try Cafe Malabar. It serves classic South Indian food at the Victoria Public Market, and it was a fantastic experience! There are a lot of seatings at the public market. I have always enjoyed the ambiance at public food markets. The restaurants/foods are like hidden gems. Thanks to Chef Kiran's recommendation, I tried the Puttu + Kadala curry, and it exceeded my expectations. The flavours, spices, and textures in the dish were exceptional, especially the black chickpeas. I've never had Puttu before and it was interesting! If you're looking to explore authentic South Indian cuisine, this is the place to be! Chef Kiran's expertise and humbleness added to the overall great service. Highly recommend!

    Kerala gun powder dosa

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    2 years ago

    Delicious food--unexpected find in an unfamiliar town (to me). Friendly and casual service!

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    2 years ago

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    Hey Happy - Nitro cold brew.... I dream of this every morning!

    Hey Happy

    4.5(135 reviews)
    0.2 km
    $$

    Now I'm no coffee drinker, and I'm definitely not a matcha drinker but I wanted to be apart of my…read morefamily's coffee date so I opted for the matcha lemonade! Wow - I didn't realize it was blue lemonade! Soooo good! Halfway through I def got the matcha taste but it was so perfectly refreshing. My mom got a plain coffee with cream and sugar and said for just a coffee, it was good! My sister said her honey latte didn't have much of a honey flavour though - the staff was awesome too!

    hey happy has chill vibes from the moment you walk in. exposed brick, big front windows, and fun…read moretiered wooden seating give it a cosy but open feel. there's a steady rhythm of quiet chatter and keyboard tapping, lots of beanies and toques, plenty of laptops out, and a young hipster crowd settling in for long stretches. i grabbed a table with a little card that read "sanitized," which was a small but appreciated touch. i ordered the apple pie matcha, house apple pie syrup, ceremonial grade matcha, topped with cinnamon sugar dust. honestly, i wasn't a fan of the apple pie syrup. it leaned a bit artificial, sweetened with honey and overpowered the drink for me. that said, the matcha itself tasted good, but subtle, smooth, earthy, and decent quality. temperature wise it was more on the tepid side than properly warm, which didn't help. i'd probably try their strawberry matcha latte next time. i also got the hashbrown with herb mayo and added a soft poached egg. it comes as a tiny square, hard and crunchy on the outside with a solid crisp. when cut into, the yolk was cooked nicely with a soft jammy ooze that coated the hashbrown. the herb mayo added a creamy, savoury boost and brought extra flavour to each bite. overall, hey happy is a solid place to hang or work for a few hours. great seating setup options, relaxed atmosphere, and a crowd that makes it feel effortlessly cool.

    Photos
    Hey Happy - Bacon breakfast sandwich

    Bacon breakfast sandwich

    Hey Happy
    Hey Happy - Italiano

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    Italiano

    Duo Café Bakery

    Duo Café Bakery

    4.8(18 reviews)
    0.7 km

    I was originally hesitant on visiting Duo Cafe Bakery since it's located inside a hotel and I…read morefigured it would be a typical food service-esque bakery. Then I read the reviews - the best croissants (or at least in the top two) in Victoria? Of course I had to give them a try before riding the ferry back out to the US. Bacon Cheddar Chive Scone ($6.50) - Woah so much filling in this scone. Many other scones and biscuits promise big flavor but disappoint with only a smallest imaginable amount of non-carbs added. This one, on the other hand, must have more bacon, cheddar, and chive than flour on the ingredients list. It's literally chock filled, no bite goes through with an entire mouthful of the flavorful combination of cheesy, salty and meaty bacon and fresh chive. It's all evenly distributed throughout, ensuring a consistent flavor with each bite. The cheese are small flecks inside rather than larger pools of cheese. The scone dough itself is also excellent, being extremely moist and fluffy on the interior while developing a great hard crust on the exterior. I believe they also sprinkle grated cheese on the outside of the scone which is caramelized into a speckled pattern while baking to give even more oomph. (5/5) Twice Baked Chocolate Almond Croissant ($7.25) - The chocolate is confined to one side of this excellent twice baked croissant. They spare no expensive, melting an entire layer of valrhona chocolate in a pocket on the bottom, and then slather the entire thing with several layers of an excellent sweet almond frangipane. The double bake gives a shatteringly crisp texture that makes me want more. I normally prefer traditional almond croissants but this one is excellent. I think I actually prefer this one over the more famous one from Bakery Noveau in Seattle. (5/5) It's almost impossible to determine actual croissant lamination technique and quality from a twice baked croissant, but on this visit, we wanted something a bit more decadent to tide us over until we arrived back in Port Angeles for a late lunch. I'll definitely be returning to Duo Café Bakery next time I'm in Victoria to give their regular croissants a try!

    Duo is a small coffee shop tucked into the Inn at Laurel Point. On the first morning of my stay I…read moreopened yelp to find a good coffee shop nearby as I always assume hotel coffee shops are a little lackluster. But, since the next closes thing was a ways away and duo got great reviews, I decided to give it a shot. I'm very glad I did because it is excellent. I especially want to mention the beautiful (and delicious) pastries and deserts offered here. Everything baked in house daily. We tried (over a few days!) the savory danish, breakfast sandwich, the pan au chocolate, and the almond croissant, and all were delightful. The coffee and tea options we tried were also delicious. I noticed several local regulars come in here too, which is always a good sign.

    Photos
    Duo Café Bakery - Interior of Duo Café Bakery

    Interior of Duo Café Bakery

    Duo Café Bakery - Croissant - fresh, buttery, flaky

    Croissant - fresh, buttery, flaky

    Duo Café Bakery

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    Piggy & Paisley - Pineapple and zucchini loaf

    Piggy & Paisley

    5.0(4 reviews)
    1.6 km

    I brought my husband here for his first time ever having a traditional tea experience…read more Unfortunately, at the time we had a bit of a crisis that was happening at home and it was hard for us to sit and just enjoy our meal because we were dealing with a crisis, however, the server was so sweet and genuine and understanding about us being somewhat distracted. Despite our side quest, my husband still told me he enjoyed every second of that tea lunch and had a great time. They do a really good job about decorating it making it feel very authentic, and the tea was delicious and they really went above and beyond to explain everything that we were receiving. I would definitely go back!

    What a delightful gem in James Bay! Piggy and Paisley instantly caught our eye with its adorable…read moreflying pig décor and modern British charm -- it's cozy, stylish, and full of personality. The space feels warm and welcoming, clearly a local favorite. We were greeted by the lovely owner herself, a friendly local woman who took the time to chat with us, which made our visit feel all the more personal. There's also a small boutique inside that's thoughtfully curated -- don't miss their fun fidget collection. And the coffee? Excellent. Smooth, rich, and brewed just right. Whether you're grabbing a drink or browsing the boutique, the whole vibe is relaxed and inviting. We'll definitely be back. If you find yourself in James Bay, this place is a must-visit!

    Photos
    Piggy & Paisley - Decor

    Decor

    Piggy & Paisley - 3 tier plate

    3 tier plate

    Piggy & Paisley - Inside decor

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    Inside decor

    Little June - Baked eggs

    Little June

    5.0(5 reviews)
    1.9 km

    Fernwood is quickly becoming my favorite neighborhood in Victoria--it's so charming with vintage…read morevibes. Little June is the cutest corner coffee shop, offering a great selection of pastries and sandwiches (which I'll definitely come back to try!). The lattes and coffees are also noticeably cheaper than many other cafes around here, which was such a pleasant surprise. The space is modern, bright, and perfect for a casual date or even getting some work done. Definitely check out this adorable cafe and explore the nearby shops!

    Little June has been on my list of cafes for a long time, and I'm so pleased I finally got to…read moreexperience it! We were passing by and decided to take a break before getting back on our bikes. Little June is a charming coffee shop serving breakfast, brunch, and pastries/baked goods. Fernwood coffee is also available here. We ordered an iced latte and an iced London fog. My particular favourite was the iced latte. I believe they utilize Earl Grey powder for their London fog, and I was pleasantly pleased by how wonderful it tasted. It was unusual because I was not used to the powder but rather the tea bags. The host at the cashier was really kind and provided wonderful service. They have tons of seatings. I loved how open and airy the space was! I'll have to try their brunch the next time I visit. I highly recommend this cute little spot!

    Photos
    Little June - Cosy vibes

    Cosy vibes

    Little June - Pretzel cookie

    Pretzel cookie

    Little June - Classic location

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    Classic location

    Cafe Malabar - indpak - Updated May 2026

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