The elephants in the room...

We get the confusion, we're a bit of an unusual South Indian restaurant! ...  Our story, our food, our locations and our love of community!

Where is Kerala and how is your food different to other Indian restaurants?

The state of Kerala is a little patch of India in the South. It's tropical, abounding with nature, mountains, river and 'backwaters'. Our food is quite different to the butter chicken and rogan josh's that many Indian restaurants are known for. It's 'lighter', often coconut infused, lentil based and includes stir frys, pachadis, daals and 'frys'.

What's the story of Babajis?

Our unusual story begins in a humble fisherman's village on the coast of Kerala, South India. It's 2008 and an Aussie girl from the Dandenong Ranges, Billy, meets an Indian boy Max (Mohammed) running his own restaurant. Together, they ran his beach side restaurant in Varkala, serving fresh fish and Kerala favourites to guests from across the globe.

Leaving this little spot of paradise was hard, but Billy's mountain home was calling... and so they started a new life in Australia. And like so many new immigrants, Max found himself in new jobs, not being paid legal wages and his skills ignored. And boy, did he miss 'his' cuisine which was so hard to find in Australia!

To survive early life in Australia - Babaji's Kerala Kitchen began.  At first, with just $100 to our name, cooking dosa at small markets in the mountains. Until we were eventually able to open our first restaurant in Belgrave and then our second in Warburton in the Yarra Valley. 

We are not a franchise and are run by the same team.

Why is Babajis in such unusual but picturesque spots?

We love how much the mountains feel like our Kerala 'home'... imagine Munnar in the Western Ghats with its mist, forests and rivers.  We know you visit us for the food but our picturesque locations are as much a part of the Babaji's experience. 

Ask us for the best spots for a forest walk after your feast or where to find the best view of the 'flatlands' (otherwise known to us as 'the city'!).

Why are there white folk serving us and ummmm .... who's cooking?

There you go, we just 'said' what you were shy to ask! 

Because at the heart of Babajis is two cultures coming together.  Australia and South India. 

Babajis is a beautiful mish mash of a clash... we love it that way!

And who do you support at the cricket?

Sigh, that's something our Aussie / Indian team can't agree on!