The Malabar Cafe

Our Full Menu

Authentic Malabar flavors — snacks, breads, biriyanis, curries and more. Pre-orders welcome Tue – Sat, 9 am – 2 pm | 5 – 9 pm.

1/151 Martyn Street, Cairns  ·  +61 423 347 001  ·  info@themalabars.com.au

SnacksBreakfast ComboBreads & RiceBiriyaniCurriesHeritage ComboDesserts
Allergy Notice: May contain Egg, dairy products, wheat, seafood, soy & nuts. Please notify us of any allergies.

Snacks

Savoury bites and flaky pastries

All snacks subject to availability. Price range $3–$7.

Egg Puffs

Hard-boiled egg nestled in a spicy onion masala filling, all encased in flaky, golden-brown puff pastry.

$4.50

Chicken Puffs

Easy puff pastry appetizers filled with South Indian creamy chicken filling.

$5.00

Beef Puffs

Savoury flaky pastries filled with South Indian seasoned ground or shredded beef.

$6.00

Paneer Puffs

A popular Indian savoury snack featuring a spiced filling of paneer (Indian cottage cheese).

$5.00

Banana Fritters

A popular snack or dessert made from bananas coated in batter and deep-fried until golden and crispy.

$3.00

Breakfast Combo

Morning classics — fluffy, hot, and comforting

Available in the morning only.

2 Plain Ghee Dosa + Sambar + Chutney

Thin, crispy, and golden-brown dosa made from fermented rice-and-lentil batter on a griddle with a generous topping of ghee (clarified butter).

$14.99

3 Idli + Sambar + Chutney

Steamed cakes made from a fermented batter of rice and lentils.

$14.99

Breads & Rice

From flaky parottas to fragrant ghee rice

Appam (Hoppers)

A bowl-shaped pancake made from fermented rice and coconut milk batter.

3 pcs — $8
$3.00

Idiyappam (String Hoppers)

South Indian / Sri Lankan breakfast dish made from steamed rice flour dough pressed into thin, noodle-like strands.

3 pcs — $8
$3.00

Parotta (Layered Flatbread)

A popular, flaky, and layered flatbread from South India.

$4.00

Noolparotta (Layered String Flatbread)

A popular South Indian flaky bread characterized by its numerous fine, string-like layers.

$4.50

Malabar Ghee Rice

A rich, aromatic South Indian rice dish from Kerala, made by sautéing small-grain Kaima/Jeerakasala rice in ghee with whole spices.

$9.99500ml Box

Plain Basmati Rice

Fluffy, fragrant basmati rice — the perfect base.

$6.99500ml Box

Biriyani

Cafe's signature dum-cooked rice bowls

Either chicken or beef biriyani available daily — not both.

Malabar Chicken Dum Biriyani

Cafe's signature Malabar dish — marinated chicken cooked in a spicy onion-tomato gravy, layered with fragrant ghee-roasted rice and steamed (dum method).

$22.99650ml Box
— OR —

Malabar Beef Dum Biriyani

A fragrant Kerala specialty — tenderized beef slow-cooked (dum) with spicy masala, layered with aromatic ghee-fried Kaima (Jeerakasala) rice.

$25.99650ml Box

Curries

Slow-cooked, spice-forward, deeply Malabar

Kerala Veg Stew / Curry

An aromatic South Indian dish made by cooking mixed veg in a spiced gravy base and coconut milk.

250ml Box — $9.99500ml Box — $16.99

Malabar Chicken Curry

A delicious traditional chicken curry made with roasted coconut and ground spices.

250ml Box — $13.99500ml Box — $23.99

Kerala Beef Roast

Slow-roasted, tender beef cubes coated in a thick, spicy mix of coconut oil, fried coconut slices, curry leaves, shallots, onion, ginger and garlic.

250ml Box — $15.99500ml Box — $26.99

Chef's Butter Chicken

Marinated chicken in a rich, creamy, spiced tomato-based sauce with butter and cream.

250ml Box — $14.99500ml Box — $24.99

Chef's Butter Paneer

Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) in a rich gravy made with butter, tomatoes and cashews.

250ml Box — $13.99500ml Box — $23.99

Egg Roast

A zesty fare in which eggs are cooked and coated in a spicy, caramelized onion-tomato gravy.

$10.99250ml Box (1 egg)

Kerala Fish Curry

Traditional style Kerala fish curry made with spices, coconut milk and Malabar tamarind.

250ml Box — $16.99500ml Box — $26.99

Heritage Combo

Comfort plates from the Kerala kitchen

Kappa

Mashed tapioca mixed with grated coconut and tempering.

$9.99500ml Box

Kappa + Fish Curry

Mashed tapioca with grated coconut and tempering, paired with Kerala fish curry.

$24.99

Kappa + Beef Roast

Mashed tapioca with grated coconut and tempering, paired with Kerala beef roast.

$24.99

Desserts

Sweet endings — house-made and indulgent

Peach Dessert

Peach salad with fresh cream, condensed milk, custard and chia seeds.

$12.90

Apples Dessert

Baked apples with fresh cream, cake sponge and Nutella.

$12.90

Berry Dessert

Berries with whipped cream, cake sponge and Nutella.

$12.90

Marble Cake

Traditional marble cake with fruit and ice cream.

$12.90

Mango Dessert

Mango purée with vanilla cake and whipped cream.

$12.90