Malaka Spice, Koregaon Park, Pune

We heard a lot about this restaurant so decided to visit on 2nd July. The ambiance and location are good.

When it comes to food it is not as expected, taste wise nothing great, very small portions.

Moreover too much pricey.

I seriously doubt about Google reviews people praising the food, either they don't know the flavors or they are paid to write such reviews.

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Why Visit:

Malaka Spice at Koregaon Park has been dishing out the best of authentic Malaysian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian and Korean soul food since 1997.

Our Scores .

Location: 5

Taste: 4.5

Quantity: 4.5

Presentation: 4.5

Ambience: 4.8

Hygiene: 4.5

Service: 4.5

Cost: 4.5

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Our Review: 4.5 / 5

Started by Praful and Cheeru Chandawarkar, Malaka Spice is perhaps one of the most iconic South-East Asian restaurants in Pune. Located in Lane No.5 in Koregaon Park, this charming restaurant is just about perfect for a weekend brunch with the gang or a quiet date night with the beloved. The food here is made from produce of local organic farms. Coconut milk, we were told was extracted from fresh coconuts, no packaged coconut milk. Similarly they do not use bottled vinegar but use fresh souring agents. Malaka Spice boasts of a gorgeous al fresco setting under a canopy of colourful hanging umbrellas and Chinese lanterns. The space is airy and full of potted plants at various corners. The indoor setting too is all about fun hues and cosy feels. The walls adorn beautiful artwork, that we hear, are also up for sale.

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Beautifully crafted place in the heart of Koregaon park. Surrounded by bamboo trees and dense foliage is a spacious and pleasant seating at Malaka spice. Amazing dishes on offer and a treat for non-vegetarians. Dishes are well cooked with good presentation and well priced.

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Well, In simple words, It's a must visit place if you like soothing and classy restaurants. You have a date this weekend? Book a table, NOW! The outside sitting is really good. The inner one was full when I went over.

The place is classy. Plus, The best thai food in town! We were two people and we started with Martini and Margarita. Well, They're always good. Ain't they?

Food -

1) Tom yum soup was fantastic.

2) Teriyaki chicken was very well marinated.

3) Malaka thai red curry was soothing.

4) Burnt garlic rice had that amazing garlic freshness leaving you craving for more.

5) Finished the meal with Chocolate mousse and tbh, It was amazing!

The main reason I like this place is because it's in the heart of Koregaon park. The place is so beautiful. Ambience is top class! Staff is courteous and service is very efficient.

Totally in love with this place. Strongly recommended!

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Having had a pleasant experience with MS, it wasn't a tough choice to please and show-off a couple of guests with our mehmaan-nawazi.

A new winter menu is the latest addition to their already extensive menu. Liked the sea-food(prawns and fish: don't really remember the names) from their winter menu apart from the Nasi Goreng. Again when asked for suggestions for light sauteed veggies(for the lil baby), the server promptly suggested for their stir fried veggies.Had the same wonderful experience. B

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I have visited so many restaurants but  Malaka Spice is truly one of my favourite restaurants because of some uniqueness in this. It is an Asian cuisine restaurant. I always free myself for some time to have at least a meal in this restaurant.

The Chinese lantern lighting and for the monsoon effect the string of umbrellas. The food was so tasty and  service also very good.

The chicken fried  and special prawns,  Malay grilled chicken and a few other good dishes. It has a A/C dining too but outside was beautiful with decor and lighting. On a selective items the rates are less at 4-7pm. The restaurant was always full with customers. Best place to have a romance dinner with reservation.

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Malaka Spice is truly one of my favourite restaurants when I visit Pune. I always make time for one meal in Malaka Spice.

The ambience, the water mist not forgetting the Chinese lantern lighting and for the monsoon effect the string of umbrellas.

The food is consistent and service also very efficient. A pan Asian cuisine restaurant. The chicken satay,  tempura battered fried prawns, nasigoreng, Malay grilled chicken, duck dumplings, somtam salad and a few Indian dishes. 4 a 7 pm is happy hour time, when the rates are slashed but on a selective menu. Draught beer is available. the ladies get a free glass of wine. Malaka Spice has A/c dining area too, but the outdoor is much more fun. On weekend it's advised to reserve your table.

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From visiting this place for the first time to the next time, every time it has maintained its consistency in terms of food and making us happy.

I have tried quite a few dishes here and The Thai Mutton Chops were definitely the best and on the top of my list for it's flavours and tenderness. Also, to name a few others, the top hats, the Chicken Dumplings, Murtabaks and momos were just so flavoursome.

The concluding dish of the meal was the Honey Noodles with ice-cream and I would say that was the best one I've tried.

With perfect flavours and the ambience, this place is a must try.

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Malaka Spice is one of the popular joints of Koregaon Park. It offers brilliant food, with home brewed beer that tastes so great, that a regular lunch got extended well into the evening.

Among the food, we tried the Chicken in Pandanu and Randang Fish in starters, and Kari Kapitan and Vietnamese Chicken Red Curry with Roti's for main course. The starters didn't taste all that great by themselves, and we're only good because of the incredible Peanut Sauce that is part of every dish at Malaka Spice.

The main course on the other hand, was over the top. The rotis are made in a unique manner that I didn't even know existed in South East Asia, and went brilliantly with the Gravies. South Asian cuisine just doesn't get better than at Malaka Spice and the only word of caution is to ensure you have sufficient time and space in the stomach before making the visit here.

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Ambiance: here you will have two options whether to have common AC rooms or outside. I prefer for outside food.and it was almost the right choice.almost because outside the Restaurant you will enjoy the water mist and a candle light dinner but the mosquitoes will not let you to eat peacefully. different collection of photographs will attract your attention.

Food: You will have enough quantity of food for a person. Starters are average. Being salad lover I start with a salad but the spicy salad didn't give me any happiness. If you love plain fried noodles this is the place you can choose for you but if you like some spices with your noodles you will you will have to compromises you spices as you will not have any type of sauces on your table. these starters didn't let me do order further for the main course   menu.

price: If you worry about your monthly budget, this Restaurant will disturb your budget for sure. For me just starters and salads reach a bill above Rs.1000.

customer service: No body was there to serve again. The captain there was unable to suggest the food of our taste.

Presentation: Good

Conclusion: I will not suggest the place but Can visit the place for a change.

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I cannot believe a restaturant recommended by the Times Food Guide has sunk so low. The service was terrible(on a Wednesday night). Extremely slow service, no response, had to call stewards multiple times to get at least some food on the table. And the food! Here's what we had:

1. Tom Yum Soup - standard right? Wrong - hot as hell. Full of finely chopped green and red chillies, impossible to remove. We consumed more water than soup.

   
   




2. Irish coffee - cold, served in the wrong glass. Steward insists its supposed to be cold. We ask for 4 more, hot coffee, and they come to the table luke warm. Very less coffee - mostly Bailey's and whipped cream. Bartender - please check up your recipes!

   
   




3. Lotus stem starter - HOT. tasty, but HOT

   
   




4. Spring rolls - Oily and greasy. Had to be wiped with napkins

   
   

. various other starters which were passable.

1. Entree - hakka noodles - served cold, bland. No amount of sauces could help this dish.

   
   




2. Pad Thai - if you cannot get this standard dish right, stop calling yourselves a Thai restaurant! This one was SOUR! Steward informed us that this is the correct way - its tossed in imli sauce! Sent it back.

   
   




3. Fruit salad with ice cream - looked tempting, served in a green coconut shell, with ice cream on top. Nice! After eating the ice cream, discovered that the only fruits in the salad were apples! Yes - a fruit salad of only green and red apples. nothing else. I have never seen a fruit salad with only 1 type of fruit, not even at a thela / tapri.

   
   

After a lot of complaints from our 12 member group, the head steward(?) apologized profusely, and brough a cake to our table, on the house(we were there to celebrate sister's b'day.).

The real cherry on the cake was when I discovered that Valet parking attendants had helped themselves to diesel from my Vento. and drained almost half the tank. When I started it to leave, the fill fuel light came on and it showed only 55 kms to empty. This was the absolute last straw, and Mallaka Spice is now blacklisted by my and family and all my friends as well. We will take our business elsewhere.

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I visited Malaka Spice yesterday about 10:30 pm and gave my car(WagonR Black) for valet parking.(My ticket number was 511). I didnt checked the car completely which receiving it at the valet parking lot. Later, I discovered there is a deep scratch in one of the door(about 3-4" long scratch). Thats a very fresh scratch and happened during the parking time itself.

I called Malaka Spice and spoke with Mr. Abhilash. He said that they do only valet parking but cant take care of the car. They only provide valet parking service but cant take responsibilty in case of car damages. They completely refused that the damage happen during the parking. Looking at the type and nature of the sctarch, I am 200% sure that it has happened during the parking only. My question is if they cant take the  responsibility then its not the'service' but a'harassment' they provide.

If they dont have parking space inside, they should not do the valet parking. Valet Parking in Malaka Spice is just a harassment. Instead, they should ask us to park by our own, so that we can park in a safe place, where the chances of car damage is less.

My humble request to all food lovers who visits Malaka Spice, is to be very cautious during valet parking.

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I think the people taking the order should suggest the dishes and describe how they look and taste. Things I ordered were pathetic :( I also think the quantity is less compared to the price and few other restaurant nearby.

Rest all things were good. I hope next time I'll get a better suggestion from them for order.

Fortunately they have good parking space. I think that is a plus.

I have nothing more to say but if you go next time do make sure that you are taking good suggestion from waiter and you know what you are ordering else you will be in similar to my condition.

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Malaka spice at Koregaon Park is one of the best restaurants I have visited. Food is very authentic. The Thai curry Rice is lip smacking. The chicken pandalu are good too. With a very realxing ambience one can spend a lot of time chilling n relaxing there. Try the sauces too good to taste.

One can sit for hours sipping beer and chatting with your friends. Almost all dishes are too die for. Must visit place. I know a few people who visit this place all the way from Mumbai too.

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If you love eating Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai food then this is the place for you. The hotel decor and ambiance is nice.

This place has a plenty of variety and each food item is explained with the ingredients that are included in it. This description helps you to decide whether you want to go for the dish or no.

The taste of the food is rocking. It offers veg and non veg variety with equally good taste and sometimes they are ready to customize a bit for your taste and likes.

They do serve drinks like different types of mocktails, cocktails, beers and all. The service is a little slow specially if its crowded. It is a little expensive but definitely recommendable if you are wanting to relish some good food.

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We went for lunch to Malaka Spice this weekend. Resturant was not too full at that time. The hostess was not too friendly. We were served soup after waiting for 20 minutes or so. We ordered starters and soup. To our utter surprise, there was a COCKROACHin the soup.

I brought it to the attention of the manager. He said sorry but was not too concerned. He replaced the soup. He did not offer anything extra for this aweful mistake until I told him that he needs to compensate us in some way. He offered 2 deserts for 8 people. That shows that he was not too concered.

When we left, someone approached me and offered me a free drink coupon to come back again. Overall, I am not happy with the service.

We went for lunch to Malaka Spice this weekend. Resturant was not too full at that time. The hostess was not too friendly. We were served soup after waiting for 20 minutes or so. We ordered starters and soup. To our utter surprise, there was a COCKROACHin the soup.

I brought it to the attention of the manager. He said sorry but was not too concerned. He replaced the soup. He did not offer anything extra for this aweful mistake until I told him that he needs to compensate us in some way. He offered 2 deserts for 8 people. That shows that he was not too concered.

When we left, someone approached me and offered me a free drink coupon to come back again. Overall, I am not happy with the service.

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After so many previous posts on claiming Malaka Spice to be one of my most favorite restaurants, I write this one with a heavy heart. I visited Malaka after a looong time a few weeks ago.

A lot has changed since it has moved to the new location. Lets start with the few Ah!s I had as soon as I went there, and then I’ll move to the Aagh!s.

The first enormously pleasing sight was in-property parking. And very prompt valet service to add. What a delight that is, after the many a time you had to forego a lunch @ Malaka or Arthurs because of the paucity of parking in the old lane.

Then we were met by a very pleasant hostess who immediately seated us at a table with no wait time whatsoever. And the décor of the new property is fairly spartan yet very classic and pleasing.

Here was where the Ah!s ended and the Arrrgh!s started. We notice that the table we were seated at had used covers of freshener served to previous customer littering the table. Hardly the sign of a classy restaurant. But hey, what the heck, lets give them a long leash here, it is after all one of my top favorites.

Next, I read a nice card introducing our host for the afternoon, Dennis. Makes him sound like a dream guy. Lets check out the specials menu…. Very interesting looking stuff… mmmm!, waiting to start… until I hear someone behind my back asking if mineral or regular water was the choice. Thinking the table behind me is being served, I continued reading the menu card, until my lunch partner informs me that the host is asking me for my choice. I turn around and voila…

No other table there, but the host’s station. Wow, I didn’t know they’d started long distance service here. He doesn’t even bother to come to the table. Just asks me over the shoulder what I want. But no, why should I complain? The card says Dennis is a charming host.

Some suggestions on good starters please (the card also says he is Great at recommendations)? The pride the host has with everything on the list is apparent. He recommends some starters distractedly (he’s still not reached our table, still muttering over my shoulder). When we choose the fried rice dumplings he is encouraging and says it goes great with duck meat. Ok, Duck meat it is! And would we like it spicy or medium? No, we don’t like it too spicy, can you please go really easy on the spice? And can we have the satay on the sugarcane stick pieces? Mmm… that sounds good.

Cant wait to start. Here are the dumplings. They look Delicious! The first bite….. Awesome, but Outrageously BURNING spicy. Whoa, if this is medium, wonder what the full spice blast is. Anyway, we somehow get hold of Dennis, and he has it promptly replaced by a not so spicy but extremely OILY version. But it was gobsmacking delicious. Hey Dennis, can you share with us the secret of how the smoked flavour is gotten. Response: It is duck meat!!!

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To taste the most authentic of the SE Asian dishes this joint is an absolute must!!

Even better, they keep upgrading their menu with more and more variety to typically suit the Indian tongue without destroying the authenticity of the flavours.With the slightest of twist in spices they are amazing in creating dishes to perfection as desired by customers:)

They surprised us recently with ice tea with a difference- a must try -thai ice tea. Another must try here are the soups- each one has a distinct flavour to remember and yearn for. This is the best place to recommend if you are looking forward to something different.One also has the chance to be sketched or to get your loved one sketched-picture perfect for remembrance sake..

The menu book is really detailed and provokes you to indulge and explore each taste and makes you already planning on the next menu in the next trip to this "spice land".

Though a little heavy on the purse...it is the best treat one can look forward to..

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I have visited this place few times, they serve good food. But the service is not upto the mark, there is a management gap between the food preparation and serving the same. This may happen that the food you order has been prepared but the ppl serving it do not know.  You may have to chase the waiters to check with the kitchen, it is taking abnormal time.

Finally you dont get value for money in totality - like service and the decor is pretty ordinary, but again the food is good. :-)

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Dear All,

I'm a regular visitor to this place. The Food is great and unique in Pune. The rating is based on my recent experiance and the embarasement I had to face.

I used to talk a lot about this restaurant, So my Boss invited me to this restaurant  for a Lunch. What could be better than sitting with Boss on the first sunny day of the year 2007 at the restaurant that I liked.

So we entered the restaurant at 1500 hrs. We were offered the Menu card and we ordered for a soup at 1505 hrs. Boss was impressed with the research which was done and displayed in the menu card. Time went by and I got curious about the soup getting delayed and called the waiter by 1530 hrs. Getting a reply that he would check for it we continued our read in the menu card.  Surprisingly even past 1545 hrs water was not served which ticked me off - "The very basics of Hospitality" - water should have been served immediately before taking any orders.

Very embarasing moment the time my Boss looked at the watch. We left the restaurant cancelling the order with no consolation being offered by any Steward / Captain / Manager.

We dind'nt want any VIP treatment but just good service and quick redresal.

I just want to open the eyes of the restaurant Management that this is what is happening in their restaurant.

Thanks

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