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Kidilum: professional shot of kitchen staff Kidilum: professional interior design photography Kidilum: professional, high-quality food photography Kidilum: professional, high-quality cocktail photo
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Kidilum

★ 4.8 · 217 reviews New York Opened 2026

Kerala's coast, cooked with a Dubai edge

Skip the butter chicken belt. Kidilum is Flatiron's rare Kerala kitchen, run by a chef who came from Carnival by Trèsind in Dubai, and it cooks the Malabar coast rather than the northern Indian repertoire most menus nearby default to.

The kitchen names its own flavor base flat out: lemongrass, galangal, chilli and makrut lime. That's a Southeast Asian-leaning pantry stacked onto South Indian technique, and it tastes like nothing else on West 21st Street.

What guests say

Reviews by Google
  • Malobika Paul 14 reviews · Local Guide 2 July 2026

    Celebrated our 2-year anniversary at Kidilum and it was top-notch all around — food, service, and ambiance. Authentic Kerala flavors, beautifully executed. Highly recommend!!! Our server Robin made the night truly special — crafted thoughtful recommendations for our dinner that made all the difference. Genuinely great service. We’ll definitely be back!

  • Jesmi Varughese 2 reviews 5 June 2026

    What an incredible experience! Chef Kumar has truly brought Kerala to NYC with his own brilliant take on traditional dishes. The drinks were uniquely crafted, and the vibes were absolutely amazing. You can really tell they were intentional about bringing every little detail of Kerala to Kidilum—from the coconut hull decor and banana leaf plants to the beautiful lighting. Really captured the essence of Kerala, India. Service was beyond attentive!! And to top it all off, the jaw-dropping presentation of the food was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before!

  • Namrata D 118 reviews · Local Guide June 2026

    We had a phenomenal dining experience at Kidilum. The ambience was fantastic—elegant yet welcoming—and the presentation of each dish was incredibly thoughtful. Every bite boasted deep, complex layers of flavor, and I loved how the vibrant taste and texture of fresh curry leaves shone through the meal. We started with a brilliant, complimentary amuse-bouche: a tiny idli in chutney. For appetizers, the Thayir Vada was a revelation with yogurt whipped into a light, airy foam, and my husband loved the robust Curry Leaf Chicken. For the main course, the mixed Vegetables Poriyal was seasoned to perfection and paired beautifully with the flaky Malabar Paratha and soft Kallu Dosa. What truly stole our hearts was how welcoming they are to families. It can feel daunting to bring a young child to a fancy restaurant, but the staff was incredibly friendly. The manager came up to speak so sweetly to our 4-year-old daughter and even surprised her with a complimentary vanilla ice cream, which made her night! She also thoroughly enjoyed the dosa, paratha, and the rich Payasam we had for dessert. It is rare to find an upscale restaurant that delivers such high-level culinary execution while remaining so genuinely warm and accommodating to little ones. Highly recommend!

  • Ravi Jeyaraman 39 reviews · Local Guide June 2026

    Kidilum is a gem for anyone who appreciates authentic Kerala cuisine. The food was exceptional, packed with flavor, and beautifully executed while staying true to its roots. The hospitality was equally impressive, making the entire experience warm and memorable. New York has no shortage of great restaurants, but Kidilum stands out for its authenticity, quality, and passion. Highly recommended.

  • Angelin Varughese 2 reviews 29 May 2026

    My husband and I went to Kidilum for the first time yesterday for my 40th birthday. From the moment we entered to the moment we left, we were in awe of everything. The decorations, ambience, the presentation and taste of each food dish, and most of all the raw and genuine hospitality of each staff member. From the waitress to the servers in the kitchen to management, we were given the opportunity to learn alot about Kidilum. Our waitress was so awesome and explained every dish to us in detail. We were also given a tour of ‘behind the scenes’ to their spices and even had the chance to speak to Chef Vinu. His passion and creativity for cooking translates into every dish. Being South Indians ourselves, it was great to see how creative he could make a traditional dish and spin in into his own. He put his heart and soul into each item. And it shows! We would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting to try South Indian food!

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