Date of Visit: 30/1/26 (Friday) With my wife and grandchildren (2). Bill: Pre-Snack Meal (poppadoms - and tray) Quite a different selection of "Pops" - £5.89 - Realy enjoyed. 3 x Kozhi Kurumulagu - £15.89 each - £47.67 Boneless chicken, cooked in a black pepper based sauce with onion, ginger, garlic and turmeric. Everyone enjoyed. 1 x Seafood Biriyani - £19.95 Rice, prawns (only 3), king fish (2 small pieces), Mussels (none) and Squid (none). Really tasty sauce with a bit of spicy kick. This had been recommended to me by a work colleague. I didn't mention the missing items at the time as I was with my grandchildren. In hindsight, I should have done. 1 x bottle Viognier - £31.75 - Good wine and well chilled, with a proper ice bucket. Bill Total - £113.51 All the staff were very friendly and attentive. Nice ambiance. There evening service starts at 18:00, but we arrived just before that time and they were open and other customers were already eating. I would return, but I'd mention the missing items about the seafood biriyani. Apart from that I'd order it again as I loved the flavours. read more

Kayal - Mixed Seafood Biriyani - Indian Near Me - Leicester, LCE

Very satisfied with my visit to Kayal. The food was delicious, service was excellent, and the atmosphere was lovely. Special thanks to Ebin for his polite and caring service. Highly recommended food place in Leicester! One of the best restaurant in Leicester. read more

Absolutely fantastic restaurant! Coming from Glasgow, I do know a good curry when I taste one, and the Kayal far exceeded everyone's expectations in my group of 10 people. Keralan cuisine is not terribly common in the Indian restaurants that we usually see here, but do not hesitate to get yourself along here and try it out as the emphasis is very much on the taste of the food, not how spicy it is. Beautifully presented dishes, friendly and informative staff who made us feel right at home. I was sad to leave and wanted to come back again the next night! Do not miss this gem in Leicester's eating scene! read more

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Took my 8 and 18 year old and we all loved it. Fabulous Keralan fish and vegetarian food - Masala Dosa everyone's favourite. The staff were also incredibly helpful. Wish we had somewhere as good as this close to home! read more

Excellent South Indian curry house , one of the two reasons to visit Leicester. You can the other one . Taster menu, fish curry and dosa recommended read more

It's a very nice restaurant! All the waiters are nice and they can recommend you a food that you will enjoy. I had a very good curry with bread! It was a awesome experience! read more

Kayal - Indian Near Me - Leicester, LCE

Different region in India, had medium spicy chicken with plain rice and bread, i asked what he could recommend or what he sold many of? Was good, but maybe i didnt get the best from the meny card, my expertations was higher, so 3 stars for the food! Nice staff! read more

Kayal - Chicken medium spicy, plain rice and bread! - Indian Near Me - Leicester, LCE

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Quite simply an amazing curry experience. Had the Naranga Choru rice, Kozhi Kurumulagu chicken and delicious Chapathi (first time I have had this) and they combined to produce the best curry I can remember having in many many a year. Highly recommended......essential really. Just.....Wow! read more

Been here twice for take out since I've been on business in Leicester. The staff is very friendly and efficient. I found the restaurant is pretty warm inside - granted I've only come in for take out, but something to keep in mind if you dine in. Prices seem reasonable. Food was good - one time I got a dosa and an okra side dish, the other time I got a vegetable curry. Both were good. I was a little surprised the curry didn't come with naan as I didn't see a separate place on the menu for naan, but it is possible I missed it or they don't have it. I also thought the dish might come with rice, but it did not. Not a big deal as it filled me up, but I think being from the US I just thought rice would come with it... maybe the set up is different here. Overall, would definitely recommend checking this place out. read more

Visited this place on Sunday evening. Great service and incredible food! This place is fantastic. I'm not a hug fan of "indian restaurants" as they are all pretty much of a muchness. The same old curries, tandoori's and Bhuna's, but this place is different. It's Suthern Indian food. Plenty of coconut and fish. I had Kappayum Meenum, a sort of fish curry served with cassava, a kind of mashed root vegetable. It was seriously one of the best things I have eaten for a very long time. We weren't really sure of what to eat, but the waiter explained everything and made a few suggestions based on what we liked. He even warned us about the 'standard' heat of some of the dishes and asked us if we wanted it made with more or less chilli. All in all it was a great meal and I will definitely be back. Excellent! read more

Was surprised to see so many vegan options. The atmosphere is very nice and the prices are affordable for the amount of food you get.

Wow. Visited tonight for a quick curry, and didn't realize it was south indian cuisine until I got to the door. I was in Kerala earlier this year, and loved the food, so I scanned the menu with anticipation. I was close to going for the fish but opted for the thali instead. The fish soup starter was really tasty, as was the main thali with a good selection of flavors. The desert was an interesting surprise which reminded me of some of the deserts I'd had in India, but I didn't recognize it... Certainly a good place to try of you're tired of the usual... Awesome 5* from me... read more

Amazing Restaurant! Me and my family have been to Kayal many times, mostly at the branch in Nottingham. The food is great, I really love Indian traditional food. The flavours of Kerala can really be tasted through each dish that is served at Kayal. I don't think Kerala cuisine is that well known here in the UK, however its very nice and I guarantee, if you have never tried it, that you'll love it. The atmosphere is great, full of traditional art and interior, its very calm and quiet. The staff are great, their really helpful and polite towards customers. Please do visit, it'll be an great experience! read more

i saw a cockroach behind the till and when i notified the staff i was met with a cold stare and one of the workers asked me if i was an "inspector" i told him no i'm not and he just walked away... i was baffled but emaciated so i ignored the roach and ordered anyway, and that was when the true horrors began... the lady who took my order was a mean and almost antediluvian looking she asked me what i would like to have and i ordered a salad and some pressed juice she looked me up and down and said "you could do with more than a salad, how much do you weigh?".... i was absolutely astonished... (i've been trying to put on some weight after battling bulimia for almost half a decade and i've recently been making some progress) i ran from the store crying my eyes out and locked myself in my house for 17 days only now have i mustered enough courage to share my experience i hope you all stay away from this place it's filthy and the lady is so mean read more

I'm from Chicago and was visiting Leicester for work and had heard Leicester had quite a few really good Indian restaurants. My colleague and I came here after work one day and ordered: Chicken Puffs Cheera Erachi Curry Chicken Biriyani Paratha bread For drinks: A couple Kingfisher brews Mango Lassi Masala Chai Everything we tried was really good especially the curry. There were a lot of menu options so it was difficult decide. The waiter was helpful in guiding us through the menu and providing recommendations. I would absolutely go back and explore more of their menu options here! Kayal was the third Indian restaurant I've hit up while in the UK. Indian food generally is way better here than what I've been able to get back home! read more

This is the best Indian restaurant I've ever been to. The food is delicious just by looking at your mouth will start to water. The aroma charms you as soon as you enter. This is the most authentic Indian restaurant I've ever been to. I would recommend this to everybody. read more

Granby Street doesn't initially strike you as a hub of high quality cuisine. And you'd be right. With seemingly every other establishment in this neck of the woods being either a post-booze-up grease refectory, or indeed, a boozer itself, imagine my surprise as I ambled towards Kayal at the very bottom of the road. I'd heard great things about this place, but was concerned that its' location among 75% of Leicester's takeaways would unfairly make it stand out amongst the inundation of kebabs, pizzas and burgers. The decor and atmosphere of Kayal in general was a world away from the obscenely bright interiors of the surrounding takeaways, literally saturated with the stench congealed fat. Beautifully lit with lanterns suspended from the ceiling and the walls decorated with what look like bonafide artefacts from the south of India, it felt genuinely welcoming, a sentiment further enhanced by the enthusiastic and incredibly polite staff. The restaurant prides itself in the "backwater cuisine" of Southern India. I for one would not usually associate the term "backwater" with anything of notable quality. I was however, to be proved spectacularly wrong. Before I get into the nitty gritty of the review, I would like to give the pappodoms a special mention as I have never seen nor tasted anything like them. Ever. There were regular pappodoms, brown whole-wheat pappodoms, orange pappodoms; heck, there were even star-shaped pappodoms! The pickles were majestic as well; a zingy lime chutney was complemented perfectly by a subtle mint raita along with crisp fresh salad. Arguably, the finest pre curry nosh I have ever had the pleasure of eating. I ordered the chicken puffs to start which were basically finely chopped chicken pieces cooked with a variety of herbs and spices and wrapped in beautifully light puff pastry. They were perfectly cooked and presented with even more of the delicious pickles and salad aforementioned and I enjoyed these morsels immensely. As a restaurant that takes inspiration for its menu from the southern Indian state of Kerala it's no surprise that they specialise in seafood. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of eating marine dwelling creatures. My accomplice on the night however, was and he couldn't get enough of the seafood curry he ordered for the main course. He lavished praise on the sauce, saying it was the best he had ever tasted and equal admiration was bestowed on the abundance of whopping crustaceans it contained. It featured kingfish, mussels, squid and countless king prawns cooked with Kerala spices, onion, mango, ginger, garlic and mustard seeds. Seriously, if you love your shellfish, he assured me that you would probably have to go to India to find a better seafood curry. I had a Cheera Erachi Curry which was essentially pieces of delicious, melt-in-the-mouth lamb cooked in fresh spinach, turmeric, red chillies and onions in an impossibly creamy sauce. I'm not joking, this dish got better and better the more I ate and I was decidedly upset when I had finished it, such was the quality of the dish. As a side, we shared a bowl of spicy potatoes with peppers, peas and stir fried in onions and tomatoes. The standard Anglicized dish of Bombay potatoes has never truly been my favourite of sides but the much needed makeover meant that I wouldn't have swapped this one for the world. We were also given bread on the house - a rare and unexpected gesture. These were stunning Bathuras, a kind of thin, bubbly, fried Naan, but with a focus on texture for mopping up sauce, rather than fillings or spices etc. After this deed, we realised the pride that the staff take in the food being served at the Kayal. To show us just how good the food really is there, there were prepared to offer it to us for nothing, if only to enhance the overall experience of the meal. It certainly did that, as the sauce in my main was just crying out to be mopped up at the conclusion of the feast, and thankfully, I was able to! Now you might think that all this quality comes at a hefty price. In fact, the sheer value of the place very nearly outshone the quality of the cuisine. Frankly, I was flabbergasted as we paid around £35 for two, which included pappodoms, a starter, two mains, a side, a dessert and two drinks each. The worst part of the night by far, was leaving this diamond in the rough and heading back out onto grotty Granby Street. As one homeless person in the immediate vicinity attempted to ignite a bin, we realised that we had criminally forgotten to leave a tip. Neither of us had any change and neither were we prepared to leave a £10 gratuity. We explained our embarrassing predicament to the Kayal's generous host and promised to double his tip next time we returned. He said not to worry - displaying genuine humility. However, I will definitely be back many a time before I leave this city, such was the enjoyment and I will be sure to be as generous with my tip as they were with their hospitality! read more

I was more than pleasantly surprise to see this once veggie eatery has now meat on the menu and what great value for money it is too. I had a lovely mutton stew with a side serving of some lovely pancake type bread and a banana desert to follow. Each dish was faultless in every way and a wonder to the taste buds in every mouthful. It was a pure joy to eat there with friends, family or work colleges any weekday or weekend night. read more

Kayal - Indian Near Me - Leicester, LCE

I ate here when it was Halli, and vegetarian. The food was excellent, the dessert was spectacular. I don't remember what it was called, but it was a thickened and sweetened yogurt with lemon and saffron. Heavenly. read more

The best South Indian restaurant I've been to in the UK. Every dish was delicious and beautifully presented; everything featuring eggs was a particular highlight. The dhosas are wonderfully gigantic. I had the crab curry, including shell-smashing implements, which was enormous fun but also insanely messy. Fantastic evening. read more

I liked this place a lot for lunch. Fair price, courteous service and delicious food. South Indian.

This is the Halli as was - same owners, but they now serve fish and some meat dishes as well as vegetarian. The comparatively short but interesting menu is based on Kerala specialities. The food is delicious - my meal was perhaps the best Indian I have ever eaten. A million miles from the standard curry. It's a simply but attractively decorated restaurant, and the staff are helpful and friendly. The prices are very reasonable. Highly recommended. read more

I was more than pleasantly surprise to see this once veggie eatery has now meat on the menu and what great value for money it is too. I had a lovely mutton stew with a side serving of some lovely pancake type bread and a banana desert to follow. Each dish was faultless in every way and a wonder to the taste buds in every mouthful. It was a pure joy to eat there with friends, family or work colleges any weekday or weekend night. read more

Husband and I in UK and needed some great Indian Food, well Kayal was wonderful. Since we can't get great Inidan in Detroit, MI we aren't experts so our waiter Manu helped us order the 3 course meal. You had to roll us out of there but we enjoyed the meal and will now what to order. Our favorites, Mutler paneer, Malabar Kozhi and my husband favorite Cherra erachi. Top of the list for me was the Aloogade soppu and the bread and pancake were to die for-not just a way to get the food into your mouth but tastie on their own! We will go back to Kayal next time we are in Leicester!!!! read more

Absolutely delicious south Indian cooking from Kerala, not your average Indian cuisine. Even the chutneys (I know) and juices (I think) were freshly made, plus the staff were charming and informed. Kayal's signature fish soup was gorgeous and is somewhat unique to Indian restaurants in the UK. In sum, I cannot recommend Kayal enough. read more

I love kayal! One of my favourite restaurants in Leicester. Love the dosa, seafood curry and tilapia fish.

Have been several times over the last couple of years. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Leicester. The food is amazing, lot's of fresh fish, and you will come across stuff you've not found in other Indians. That's fine because the staff are knowledgeable and will let you know what works well together and amazingly they also tell you if you've ordered too much which is great because portions are generous. Go and try it you won't regret. read more

Great food, great desert, Manu the waiter was really nice and helpful, we ll sure come again

Very tasty, very helpful and warm servers. I am living in Leicester for work for 5 months, and had this for dinner after the train. Delicious, very flavorful food. Will definitely come back. The menu was complex and we were lost, so asked for recommendations. We were not let down, very good! read more

South Indian food that really is very different from your average curry house. Everyone who likes curry should try this place and everyone who doesn't should too. The flavours in the food are much more subtle and in some cases unexpected. It's all good though and the staff are very helpful. Not quite as much food on the plate as a typical Indian but there's still enough. The whole experience is great and good value for money. I'm told the sister restaurant in Nottingham is just as good too. read more

Kayal is a fantastic Indian restaurant in Leicester. It was my first time trying a South Indian restaurant in UK. I think it is great and it is a very premium restaurant with its food qualiy but it is a bargain. The adipoli adu and sesonal fried fish for starters, kayal fish curry and avoli pollichathu with kallapam and parata for mains. Excellent taste, service and the ambience. We will be back soon. read more

A few times I have tried to book a table at KAYAL, but it was always fully booked. We decided to take a chance and turn up without a reservation. We arrived just after 8 pm, and we were asked to wait for 15 mins, but we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The staff were very attentive, the food beautifully cooked and perfectly spiced. I strongly recommend trying it! read more