Over the years, we have returned time and again for Kapoochka Cape Town’s flavourful curries, creative chaats and beautifully presented dishes. In the past year alone, the restaurant has celebrated several major milestones, including opening a restaurant space at Riverlands Mall and, more recently, achieving halaal certification after operating as a halaal-friendly establishment for many years.
To celebrate the occasion, Kapoochka invited us back to try a selection of dishes from their menu. We started with two of their popular street food-inspired options: the ulta vada pav and the samosa chaat. Want to watch instead? Click here.
The ulta vada pav is Kapoochka’s take on the classic Indian street food favourite, featuring a deconstructed potato patty dish with all the familiar flavours presented in a different way. The samosa chaat was equally enjoyable, bringing together a combination of sauces and textures that balanced sweet, tangy and spicy notes in every bite.
Kapoochka Cape Town
For mains, we enjoyed the butter chicken, aloo mattar curry, and masala prawns. The butter chicken is already a favourite of ours and one we find ourselves ordering regularly. Paired with their fresh butter naan, it is one of those dishes that keeps us coming back. The naan arrives warm, soft and generously buttered, making it difficult to stop at one piece.
This was our first time trying the aloo mattar curry and masala prawns. Both dishes were packed with flavour and showcased the restaurant’s ability to work with spices in a way that feels distinctive to Kapoochka.
Beyond this visit, we have sampled several other dishes over the years. The lamb biryani stands out for its tender, flavourful meat, while the pani puri remains one of our favourite snacks on the menu (we only wish there were more pani puris in the serving haha). We are also still thinking about the gulab jamun cheesecake, a dessert we approached with some skepticism, but ended up thoroughly enjoying.
One thing that consistently sets Kapoochka apart is its presentation. Every dish arrives looking like it belongs in a food magazine. The kitchen team puts an incredible amount of care into plating, and there have been occasions where we almost felt guilty disturbing the arrangement to start eating.
Presentation alone is not enough to make a restaurant memorable, though. What keeps us returning is the flavour. There is something distinctive about the way Kapoochka uses spices across its menu. Each dish has its own character while still carrying a flavour profile that feels uniquely theirs.
The service also deserves a mention. Every visit has been warm and welcoming, helping create an experience that matches the quality of the food. We do recommend booking a table, as it can get quite busy, and in the winter, we’re sure you’d want the inside seating. Don’t worry though, even if you can’t get that, they’ll turn on some gas heaters for you.
If you are visiting Kapoochka for the first time, we would recommend starting with one of their chaats, followed by the butter chicken and butter naan. From there, it is difficult to go wrong. This is a truly family run business, and it makes us even more glad to be able to support them.
Kapoochka has become one of our favourite Indian restaurants in Cape Town for good reason, and judging by their continued growth, it seems many others feel the same way. If you’re in the V&A Waterfront area, you can also check out their Makers Landing location, which has a smaller menu but still as delicious.
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