Panoor Al Wakra, Qatar – Honest Kerala Food Review or Just Hype?

Best Kerala Food Spot in Al Wakra, Qatar? Let’s Break It Down – One Appam at a Time.

തിന്നു കഴിഞ്ഞാൽ സമാധാനത്തോടെ ഇടില്ലേ മാഷേ… എങ്ങനെ തിരക്ക് പിടിച്ചു Review ഇടീപ്പിക്കണോ?…

അത് മാത്രമല്ല താല്പര്യം ഉണ്ടെങ്കിൽ അല്ലേ ഇടാ. നിർബന്തിക്കണോ

Another Thursday, another adventure. And in Doha, that means one thing: chasing the weekend one dinner plate at a time.

So, this Thursday, our gang of 10 hungry humans decided to check out the much-talked-about Panoor Restaurant in Al Wakra. Known for its Kerala-style cooking, cozy family chaos, and crispy porotas, it felt like the right time to finally give it a shot.

But was it really worth the drive, the crowd, and the 188 QAR bill? Let’s break it down. You’ll laugh, you’ll vote in polls, and you might just crave an appam by the end.

Poll 1:

First Impression: Melon, Mayhem & Minimal Salad

The moment we entered (after surviving the chaotic parking roulette), we were offered a sweet melon welcome drink—and when I say sweet, I mean sugar level: dangerously dessert. Along with that came a single small plate of salad. For our group of 10. We passed it around like it was holy basil water.

Still, points for effort. They tried. We were amused.

Poll 2:

The Vibe Inside: Kerala Family Festival

Walking in felt like stepping into a family wedding hall back in Kochi. The place was buzzing—two packed floors, kids hyped on candy, aunties whisper-shouting over curry, and a tea/snack counter at the entrance that made it feel like you’d walked into someone’s dream pantry.

There was salted mango, cucumber slices, Kerala candies—the full nostalgic starter pack. It was chaotic in the best way.

Poll 3:

The Upstairs: Featuring Art & Appetite

We climbed the stairs (extra points for burning calories before eating), and were greeted by a beautifully hand-drawn peacock on a whiteboard. Like, who did this? Picasso with a masala twist?

It made us pause, admire, and then get hungry all over again.

Poll 4:

The Food Parade: Kerala Hits & Real Talk

Here’s what our table (read: mini banquet) looked like:

7 Appams
7 Porotas
Paal Kappa Beef
Coconut Mango Fish Curry
Puttu Biriyani
Chemeen Masala
Panoor Special Chicken Fry
6 Chai

Appam & Porota

Appams were soft, fresh, and could win awards.
Porotas were flaky and crisp—like layers of golden regret.

Puttu Biriyani

Unique, delicious, but left us wanting more in terms of portion size.

Panoor Special Chicken Fry

Highlight of the evening. Crunchy, spicy, juicy, unforgettable. If you visit and don’t order this—you’ve made a mistake.

Coconut Mango Fish Curry

Okay, technically this is seafood—but it’s part of a Kerala-style meal, not the core theme of the restaurant. It was thick, tangy, and honestly, we’d drink the gravy with a straw.

Paal Kappa Beef

Creamy tapioca (kappa) was on point. But the beef? Sparse and hard to spot. Where’s Waldo, beef edition.

Chemeen Masala

Nice, but didn’t blow our minds. We wanted fireworks, got sparklers.

Poll 5:

Chai Game: Stronger Than Your Ex’s Excuses

We wrapped it up with tea from the samavar, and this wasn’t your average karak. This was earthy, deep, and had that old-school taste your grandpa would respect. Even if the food wasn’t memorable (it was), we’d come back just for this.

Poll 6:

The Restrooms: Unexpected Gold Star

Immaculate. Gender-separated. Clean hand-wash zone. No water all over the floor. If Michelin gave stars for toilets, Panoor would get one.

Poll 7:

But… Let’s Talk About the Google Review Guy

As we prepared to leave, we were intercepted by the “Please review us now” guy near the stairs. We get it—reviews matter. But don’t make me rate my meal with a stranger watching my screen.

Let me digest first. Both the biriyani and the experience.

Poll 8:

The Final Bill: 188 QAR for 10 People

Honestly? Not bad for a table of ten, though portion sizes didn’t always match the price tags. Still, with the quality of cooking, overall vibe, and unforgettable chicken fry—we felt it was a fair deal.

You’re not just paying for food. You’re paying for:

The vibe
The family chaos
The sweet melon sugar bomb
The samavar tea
And the glorious peacock staring at your soul

Poll 9:

Poll 10:

The Verdict: Is Panoor Al Wakra Worth It?

✅ Food: Mostly amazing
✅ Vibe: Loud but loveable
✅ Service: Friendly, review-hungry
✅ Price: Moderate
✅ Tea: Phenomenal
✅ Bathrooms: Chef’s kiss

If you’re in Qatar and craving authentic Kerala flavors with a side of controlled chaos and charming service, Panoor Al Wakra is worth checking out.