This has got to be the best Indian cuisine I've ever had .You really can't go wrong with whatever you would choose on their menu , we've been going for 8 years now, and Malis have never failed to serve the highest quality of food I've ever had . Their drink options are a bit standard but they provide to the general expectation of a restaurant. Definitely my favourite place for a fancy dinner .
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
R 200–250
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Chicken Vindaloo, Dosa with Side Dishes, Garlic Naan, Breyani, Chicken 65, Mushroom Munchurian, Chicken Tikka Masala
Vegetarian options
They have a wide variety of vegetarian options that may even surprise you , i guess you'll have to try it yourself.
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot
Parking
There's around 10 spots.
Kid-friendliness
Not a restaurant for children but they are accepted provided they are well-behaved .
Wheelchair accessibility
Unless you're good with a step down to get in the gate and a step up into the restaurant then no , no ramps for wheelchair accessibility.

We tried Malis for the first time on Mothers day, and I was really nervous as to whether my family would enjoy it. We were pleasantly surprised by how delicious everything we ordered was. The waiter was very friendly and gave very good advise on each dish. My mum specifically does not like very spicy food and most Indian restaurants still bring very spicy or terribly bland food to the table. This was totally different. The waiter was mindful of what she wanted and brought the tastiest, most flavourful chops to her. She absolutely enjoyed them. They were full of flavor without being too spicy. My dad had the same and he doesn't even like Mutton, but he couldn't stop talking about how delicious the chops were. My husband tried the prawn chettinad and all I can say is Wow...it was just divine. I had the paper dosa, which was crispy and delicious and huge . It was served with potatoes and a dhall, as well as 2 chutneys. The garlic Naan was also amazing. We will definitely be returning here for another meal. I would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant. If you would like to have fish, one needs to call the restaurant beforehand to let them know, so that they can purchase it freshly for you.

Finally got a chance to get a bite here. I heard such good reviews of the place from my friends. The restaurant feels homely, the staff are friendly and there’s great service. This restaurant offers both north and South Indian foods. And there are quite a few vegetarian and vegan options available. We had the masala tea to start off with- this was really good. Then we had the chefs recommendation for the starter which was the mushroom manchurian. This was an interesting starter, the manchurian is deep fried and has a crispy texture while the mushroom is soft. And then it tastes like Both the manchurian and the mushroom are added to a spicy tomato chutney. Then we got the paneer butter masala and the aloo mattar gobi. These were excellent. They clearly use fresh vegetables. The food itself didn’t taste too rich like most other Indian restaurants- it actually tasted like home food. We also the garden salad which is just cut up carrot cucumbers, onions, chili and some lettuce. This offers a refreshing cool down opportunity for your tongue. The restaurant has got a great vibe, there were a lot of foreign tourists the night we ate there. Alcohol is available.

Malis, I chose to go to this place because my friend recommended this place and she couldn't stop bragging about this place, I thought what else could be a better place for a food lover like me. To my and everyone else's surprise that accompanied me, the food and the attitude of the people serving was awful, I literally want to ask what kind of an Indian place says they don't serve water in Jugs, where as water should be the first thing to be brought to the table. Coming to quantity none of the dishes we ordered were sufficient in quantity according to the price they were on the menu. Not to say that I am good at counting but there were literally 5 pieces each in pepper chicken fry and chili chicken we ordered which was not worth what it was priced at. I would definitely not recommend this place to anyone that I know and I don't. #Didn't feel Jolly Mali I wish google had allowed to post 0 rating as well PS: Google, Backlog item for you ;)
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
R 100–150

What a lovely evening, exceptional service from the moment that we arrived. The food suggestions were exceptional, none of us could pick a favourite! Our waiter was mindful of heat preferences, which varied greatly, he ensured that we were able to taste a bit of everything. what a treat! If you want fish you need to let them know in advance so that they can order in 100% fresh for you. This restaurant is a hidden gem, unfortunately during these times they are not being supported properly, I hope this changes soon as Durban needs to keep restaurants of this quality. Will definitely go back soon as there are so many more things that we want to try.

This is the worst restaurant I have went... This is not the Indian restaurant... Food was not fresh I have ordered chilly chicken for starters and that chicken Smelling bad & not fully cooked.. Then I have ordered chicken curry which is same and chicken was not fresh and cooked then again same for veg I have ordered chana mashala which is also seems restaurants keeping in freezer for week its smelling very badly even I have informed Manger but he ignored... I have food department have to go this restaurant and check... Very very bad restaurant...
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
R 400–450

Poor attitude from waiters and it is difficult to get their attention,restuarant is poorly lit, it's dark beyond normal visibility levels. The chefs that make certain menu items are always "not in". For the High Prices one would assume one would recieve extraordinary service and food to the standards of a fine dining experience, however it is far from that. I won't be going back. I'll give them an extra star for the tasty naan but other curry's just don't do justice to the original South Indian cuisine taste . Good potential but Seems like it's lacking the owners guidance or presence.

Unassuming place. The food was great. It’s Indian food that’s more of the authentic Indian style but influenced by local tastebuds (imo). The chicken biryani did the things. It’s actually something I crave to have now. It’s much simpler than a traditional Durban biryani but with a deeper flavour. Portion size was decent and came with Sambar and raita. Decor could be updated and building needs a bit of attention but I guess it adds a bit of charm. Can recommend confidently.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
R 100–150

Disappointing. Our veg briyani had some green beans and a few peas. No other veggies. The person who served us (think Trevor-'who was the cashier) was not too hospitable. He was in a haste to clear our table whilst my wife was still eating. He asked her to put her used paper seviets on the plate although she had not finished. We were disappointed as we are used to better treatment. We will not return to Malis.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
R 100–150
Food: 3
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 4

I have never been so badly treated. After I called to say that I had just ordered lamb Rogan gosh and was not what I expected. Owner was defensive and rude. For the price I only got a container of mainly soup. R115 with R15 tip for the driver and delivery charge fee of R15. Why not mention rice saparate. When I called the owner , the most rude repsonse and blamed Uber Eats. No responsibility. So yes I will never again support small business in the time of corona virus and here we are doing our best to support then this treatment.

Wow! Amazing authentic Indian food - great vegan and non-vegan options! The manager (Trevor) is also the waiter and handles the phone bookings - truly a one-man band, but this does not deter from the service at all. The service was fast and professional, the food amazingly flavourful and the ambiance will remind you of trips abroad. For anyone who hasn't dined at Malis, I highly recommend it! I would recommend the mushroom or cauliflower starter and the dosa to share in a group!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner

Best Indian Curry and Indian dishes. Very reasonably priced. Chefs are from India.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
R 50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Chicken Vindaloo, Dosa with Side Dishes, Garlic Naan, Curry
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot
Parking
Undercover, Safe and away from street
Wheelchair accessibility
Everything is at ground level

Felt that the overall food experience was rather mild as compared to traditional Durban Indian cuisine- we had the butter paneer. The aloo paratha was rather bland and under filled. However the portions were generous and the naan was light and crispy. The staff were attentive, even on a busy day. Just a heads up, sides are sold separately from the mains and it's R100 minimum per head even if you reserve a seat and that person cannot make it. Great for those that like mildly spicy food.

Butter chicken was great- naan was delicious - mushroom Manchurian portion was smaller than when I last ordered it a dew months ago- broken pieces of mushrrom.were ised rather than full mushrooms. The waiter was friendly but the manager was not hospitable at all. Aircons need to be fixed and the table settings need to be revamped.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
R 500+
Food: 3
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 1

The PnP food is fresh but since there collaborations with Kara nichas, the karanicha food is not fresh at all...I bought special sandwiches and the fried chips were brown and stale
Service
Take out
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
R 50–100
Food: 3
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot
Parking
There is anyone undercover as well as the top one.

Had a fantastic meal here. There is some off-street parking, and the hospitality was great from the greeting from security outside through to the table service. Food was tasty. The decor is similar to what you'd get in restaurant in Delhi or Jaipur, so feels authentic and comes across as smart without being pretentious. Air conditioned and with only a few other tables occupied for lunch on a week day, this was a quiet haven out of the December heat.

Highly recommended. Brilliantly presented, tasty food. Friendly service, they welcomed us in from a rainy, wind swept Durban afternoon. One of the best curries I've had in a restaurant setting. There is an interesting fusion of Indian cuisine and dishes from further afield in Indochina region. Even the sides were particularly thoughtful, a plethora of herbs and spices used in their rice and Kulcha bread. Go for it. You won't be disappointed.

BEST Indian Restaurant. but in fact one of the best restaurants Durban has to offer. We dined with 2 small kiddies and we were made to feel welcome and given a great table. The food was so delicious and cooked to perfection. Staff were so professional and attentive. This is the type of place you can go to at least once a week. They offer take away aswell so if you can't dine there. Grab a bite for home. It's a must for everyone to try.

We celebrated our golden wedding anniversary at Mali's last month, nearly 40 people. The food was superlative! Trevor and his team went above and beyond what we expected in terms of service and we are still receiving positive feedback from our guests (who were mostly family and don't pull their punches)! I think Mali's gained some new fans after that dinner. Thank you again for making our day special. We'll be back!!

Good Indian food. Fast service. Parking ok... But be careful: A VW Polo was stolen from there parking lot during there previous visit.. Almost Wheel chair accessible,but a step or 2. Dosa was good and family enjoyed their meals too.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
R 100–150
Recommended dishes
Masala Dosa
Vegetarian options
Many vegetarian and a few vegan options

Best Indian food ever! All the food we’ve tried is exceptional, and the curries, especially the butter chicken, is sinfully delicious! Management and staff are extremely friendly and professional. We’ve tried Indian food in many restaurants, in many cities, and this, THIS, is something else! Best Indian food we’ve ever had, hands down. Not to be missed if you are in Durban.

Highly recommended. The spices and flavours are perfectly balanced. All of the food is served in authentic traditional copper bowls which retain the heat. The portion sizes are big and every meal looks mouthwatering as you see them pass by. The space is small and intimate. Don’t be fooled by the appearance, this place is a hidden gem. The staff are warm and welcoming.

The best, most authentic Indian food you will find in the country! Everything we ate was amazing, including the home made ice-cream. Spent the whole meal talking about the food lol. The restaurant is small and cosy, yet was fully booked... People clearly come here for the food. Compliments and thanks to the very skilled chefs and knowledgeable waiters at Malis :)

Have to try! It is known to be one of the best curry spots in Durban. Quite a small restaurant so we were a bit squashed but it honestly added to the vibe. Food was delicious, definitely in my top 3 curries so far. Pricing is reasonable, not cheap but reasonable. Service was good. They have a liquor license but wine was quite expensive and they do charge corkage.

Had a wonderful time with my friends the staff are very professional and courteous. Delicious food very tasty with authentic Indian spices for the tingling taste buds.Had a treat having the pepper chicken and prawn pepper dry which was very delicious. Brilliant ambience with a very homely feel. Thanks Mali's for being such a wonderful and friendly host.

On a short visit to Durban from Cape Town, one must have curry! Malis was an excellent choice: superb food, great service and typical Indian dinging room ambiance! Safe parking inside the premises. We had Chicken Vindaloo, Lamb Rogan Ghosh and Lamb Breyani - all tasty and delicious! We'll be back!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

The food is outstanding. Service efficient. Decor, ambiance, menu, drinks selection, parking etc all quite unique. A ‘cakeage’ fee is in place should you wish to bring your own cake . Paneer 65, mushroom manchurian, prawn chili, chicken 65, Lamb chettinad, Lamb pepper fry, dal makhani were all highlights. Plenty of vegetarian options available.

Definitely one of my most favourite restaurants in Durban!! Service is of an extremely high quality and the meals are absolutely delicious! You won't be disappointed with any choice, also South Indian Cuisine. My winning dish is the Veg Mushroom manchurian! I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys a bit of crush, spice and all things nice! :D

Hospitality towards customers can be improved. Looking at the prices one gets the impression that they will offer a fine dine experience but this is not what you will experience. Seems to be understaffed and has poor lighting. The quality of food is very good and if it was only food to which the rating must go then it would have been 5.

Excellent service. Great food. Staff and management of the establishment always go the extra mile to attend to our culinary requests. Vivek and Suren need a special mention for their exemplary customer service. Thank you for your gracious hospitality and long may it continue. Cheers.
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 3

Starters were great, however the mains and service was quite disappointing, asked for something while ordering and the owner literally rolled his eyes at us. As someone who lived in India for 6 years, I can tell you the food is not authentic Indian cuisine.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
R 100–150

Sheri Vithal We went today (mothers day) , the service was prompt, the food delicious, high standard of food, we ate vegetarian and meat dishes. Shout out to Kavi our waiter, many thanks to Trevor for suggestions on the menu as 2 of us are vegetarian. Thank you , i believe Kavi is a new waiter. Thank you for an amazing experience.

Hands down... de BEST Indian restaurant (North Indian cuisine) in Durban (without a doubt). It's a bit hard to find. We actually missed it the first time and almost missed it the second time (glad we didn't). Visited a few times and tried different dishes each time and... it has NEVER failed to satisfy our cravings.

I've eaten here twice again recently and very disappointed. I spent over R300 here on take away and got stew instead of the curry I ordered! Flavorless stew. The waiter also told me previously that their curries are better than Durban curries. That's quite a statement. Neither is better. They are just different.

We went to this restaurant after reading all the great reviews and I am so glad we did. The food was exceptional, service was very good and the bill very fair. The decor is dreadful and needs to be improved, however we went for the food and not the decor and the food was the best Indian food I have had in years.

Wow, such a good dining experience. My wife and I had such a good meal. We had starters, ordered just one main and still we had too much food. Malis exercises a lot of effort to make sure their guests are having a good dining experience. The food is of a really good standard too. Clearly a Durban institution.

Not a place you go to for the decor or location, but the food is absolutely immaculate. Great, efficient service, and easily some of the best North and South Indian cuisine you'll have in South Africa, at very reasonable prices. Will definitely be back!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 3

Good food, good service. Take away order wasn't hot, so that was a bit disappointing. Still tasty food. With the price of food these days it's important to check all the boxes and get what you are paying for. This establishment is moderately expensive, but still a good spot with authentic Indian food.

loved every minute of it...Food is authentic Indian cuisine, with absolutely fabulous flavours. The chef is clearly passionate about cooking and makes his own spice mixes, yoghurt, cottage cheese and the most yummy traditional ice cream. Definitely a must if you looking for more than a bunny chow.

Taste experience reminiscent of my stays in India - Curries were top class - authentic to the true connoisseur of fine spicy foods - the sweat running down your spine while your mouth is entertained in a thousand ways is the feeling you will get when devouring the cuisine here. Go Hungry .....

Food was okay, service was absolutely awful. The waiter was curt and unfriendly to my family and I. I used to enjoy going here, I won’t ever do so again.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
R 150–200
Food: 3
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1

Awesome place for all time and all season authentic indian eats. Ambience is very good with ready to help staff and even the owner too. Delightful and yummy truly indian delicacy freshly prepared from pan to plate and appealing to the palate. Mr Vivek & his team keep up the good work.

I just purchased a chicken biryani from Malis Indian Restaurant. When I ordered it they did not ask whether I wanted the meal mild, hot or extra hot. The food was unbearably HOT and spicy. I could not manage to eat it. I wasted R105. Will not purchase food from this restaurant again

Not that cheap but really worth it. Some of the best curry I have ever had coupled with very friendly service make this a place worth saving for... Finally after a year I got back to Durban and as always I went to Mali's and if anything it is better than I remember. Stunning food!

Wonderful experience. Great food. Great hospitality. We had Indian vegetarian dinner along with Malaysian taste starter and warm gulab jamuns in dessert. One thing to be kept in mind that if ur going for dinner then kindly do the booking in advance. Or else it is usually full.

This is very nice Restorent Tasty food But Only One problem Google time Please don't follow Google Time because when I was following Google time table and went there they Said closed but Google time was showing its open
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner

Been there twice before. The seats are dirty and untidy. The manager was not friendly.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
R 100–150
Food: 3
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1
Recommended dishes
Dosa with Side Dishes

Honestly the best food I have had in Durban both times I have been here.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
R 250–300
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Garlic Naan, Prawn Masala, Curry

Probably one of the best Indian Restaurants I’ve ever been too! Wide selection of meat and vegetarian options to choose from. The food is out of this world. There is safe and secure off road parking. Just drive to the gate and the guard will open for you.

Weird little place outside, but WOW when you get your food. The presentation of each bowl put in front of you is beautiful. Your mouth starts to water as soon as the food arrive. Service is magnificent. So glad we found this small little restaurant

Easily the best Indian restaurant in Durban. The food is excellent and the staff are top notch. The Masala Dosa, Mushroom Manchurian and Chicken 65 starters are must tries, and the mains will blow you away. I cannot recommend them more highly.

It's was a horrible experience at Malis Restaurant, the gentleman that serviced us was so rude arrogant and no respect. It was like the 7 of us that booked for lunch, Sunday, 10 Dec 2023,@12h30 was eating there for free. It was as if he was

What a feast of flavors. Our waiter was very attentive, we gave him the opportunity to guide us through the perfect meal and he did not disappoint. The star of the show was the Manchurian Mushrooms starter. Do yourself a favor and try it..

Malis speciality is South Indian food, really loved this place. Lenny went out of his way to ensure Im ordering the right dish for my tastebuds. I started with Gobi 65, deep fried cauliflower dusted with spices and a spicy mint sauce. Ask

Fantastic food. Good service. The crab signature dish was not what we expected and was a bit dissapointing. Very messy to eat. Must provide a bib and a water bowel to clean your hands with, as serviettes and wet wipes are not sufficient.

You discriminated against people with disabilities and that is shocking. Your responses were horrible and rude. You turned away a family who booked at your restaurant for Fathers Day and they had a trained, certified legal guide dog for

Great food, really nice authentic Indian cuisine and the host Trevor is really accommodating. Definitely coming back.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
R 300–350
Recommended dishes
Garlic Naan

Truly a wonderful restaurant. The food is amazing. So varied and all so delicious. The starters are a taste sensation and the mains were all absolutely delicious. Lamb, chicken and veg dishes were all wonderful. Highly recommended.

Food was good. Waitress was abit slow considering we where the only people in the restaurant.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
R 100–150
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4

Never disappoints! Hands down the tastiest curry in Durban. Always worth the drive from Umhlanga for the treat. Delicious Aloo Gobi Masala, Chicken Tikka Masala. Best butter Naan too. Decent portions. Highly recommend a visit!

You can easily miss the please because signage is not visible. Even when we eventually got to the place We couldn't find parking so we just parked at the tenant/staff parking. Food was absolutely divine. But service was a 3/5.

Amazing food!! Hands down the best Indian food I have ever eaten in my entire life! The staff are so welcoming and had great knowledge of the menu. Everytime I go to Durban, I make sure this is on the interary. Guests love it!

Absolutely loved this restaurant, the food is amazing, the ambiance is lovely, it is a bit small but that just makes it cosy. The food was a bit pricey but worth it in terms of taste and quality. Highly recommend it.

Food was decent taste wise. Felt as if there wasn't enough chicken or lamb in the curries. Service was great but it was really quiet so that could be the reason.
Food: 3
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4

If you enjoy Indian cuisine, this place is a must whilst visiting Durban. The curries here were perfectly spiced, accompanied with fresh rice and naan. For the food quality on offer, Malis is very reasonably priced.

Spectacular. Living in London I've been to many good Indian restaurants, this blows all of them out of the water. Best Indian meal I've ever had in a restaurant. If you go to one place in Durban this has to be it

Delicious Indian food, exquisitely spiced. South-Indian food options and great chef's recommendations. The Parathas were also a favourite. The service was very friendly and efficient. Looking forward to go back.

Food was delicious. Definitely going back
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
R 100–150
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Curry

Food is good..if you want to taste a masala dosa, idly, etc, this is the place to go. The standard nans , briyanis, curries are all also available. No kids play area, have some parking available inside.

What an amazing experience!! Definitely a must go again for me. Food quality is superb. Staff is great. Can’t get better. Try the mushroom starters when you’re there. Butter chicken....magnificent.

What a hidden gem! I ate here last night and the food was absolutely delicious. The tastiest meal i've had in a long time! Friendly staff and a warm, comfortable setting. I will be back for sure

The paper dosa was a lot of fun to order. The food was good and needed to be just a bit spicier. The heat must be turned down. The service was great. A good stop for some South Indian flavor.

I am sharing my experience that dal and Naan was awesome but for especially dosa is nice but sambhar is not upto the mark and Chinese food is not good
Price per person
R 100–150

Cosy atmosphere, good food, good service and secure parking. I don't reccomend the biryanis, it generally lacks flavour and masala. Otherwise most of the curries on offer, are tasty.

Consistently excellent Indian food. Always great service. Decor somewhat left-of-centre. My family and I eat there a couple of times a month (since 2016) always good. Recommended.

Awesome food. Great service. Staff are so helpful in selecting what to eat. Chicken tikka masala was our favourite and the paper masala dorsai for starters was out of this world.

Absolutely brilliant. Cosy and well lit. The food was incredible well spiced and tasty. The service was world class, friendly waiter and honestly an all round good experience.

Absolutely gorgeous, authentic and incredibly tasty Indian cuisine. Brilliant service. Trevor is the best waiter!!! 5 out of 5 every time we go. Highly recommended.

Great food and service. It was a great find for us on an evening hunting for good Indian fare. And you can't go wrong with the chef's specialties. Thanks indeed

Simply wonderful. I came with a vegan that can't stand chilli and they did everything to make us both happy. What wonderful personal caring service. And food!

A favourite of mine for guests to Durban and special occasions, butter chicken lacked the main ingredient compared to lamb Rogan ghosh. Gravy was exceptional!

The best Indian restaurant I've been to. The food is so delicious. The service is impeccable. Everything was tasty and well-cooked. Try this place out.

Authentic India food...service is good.. they must definitely try to expand it as this place is quite small and many times you don’t get the table

Visited for lunch. Tables were all laid and promptly seated. Service was very good and the food dis not take long to prepare at all.

Food was flavourful and well presented. Definitely skilled in preparing a variety of Indian dishes. Service needs improvement. More

Overpriced! Really just pre-cooked meat & curry sauce. Poor wine list and have a R50 per bottle corkage fee not good place sorry

Food are good and customer recommended, so it good to visit authentic food
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 1

Absolutely amazing food and great service. Fried mushroom starter is a must try! Also have safe parking behind the restaurant.

Great place to go eat out . Great staff and great service
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Amazing food must be one of the best traditional Indian restaurants around and the service is outstanding

Best butter chicken in town always Delicious Lots of tasty bites …

Their meals are exquisite. No more needs to be said. Try it and you will never be dissappointed.

A warm welcoming atmosphere, South Indian cuisine was good, especially Dosa & Kerala Parata

Taste is good a little spicy. Does is delicious. Nan always not enough.

One of the best indian food restaurants in Durban

Best Indian restaurant in Africa. Just delicious!

Best uthentic Indian food in South Africa

Food is flavourful with helpful waiters.

Great Indian food! Highly recommended.

Enjoyed all the curries!