Why you should try Liverpool’s newest Indian and Sri Lankan restaurant

Myrtle Street’s newest addition to Liverpool’s restaurant scene, Kishkinda, provides an authentic and stylish space to enjoy food rich enough to make you think you’ve crossed continents.

Standing on Myrtle Street, Kishkinda has taken over the site next to the Arts Centre and completely redeveloped it, including installing an imported chandelier from Delhi, India.

Kishkinda has spared no expense in its attempt to make its food as authentic as possible, employing a chef who specialises in each corner of its menu, from its Chinese and Arabic offerings to its North and South Indian. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try the Arabic or Chinese, though it was nice to know there were options. 

Kishkinda’s tagline, ‘Each meal feels like royalty,’ is reflected in the regal crimson carpets throughout the restaurant’s upper and lower floors. Formerly Baa Bar, the sheer amount of space inside helps Kishkinda achieve the illusion of a palace. The bar stretches through over half of the restaurant, they’ve decked the walls out in gorgeous trinkets, look up and you’ll spot something new every time. We even got a sneak peak at the function area upstairs that can be hired out for events!

A must-try for anyone visiting is the Gobi Manchurian. This starter is crispy roasted cauliflower tossed in tomato gravy, think salt & pepper chicken with a veggie twist. Alongside it, we tried their Paneer Cheese Balls, which had a delicious texture and a peppery aftertaste. Given Kishkinda’s plethora of excellent starter dishes, a case can be made for going ‘tapas style’ and ordering a few starters between your group and sharing everything.

Kishkinda have been thoughtful towards their veggie customers by separating the menu into veg and non-veg options. The menu was easy to understand and the dishes were well described. You can pick the menu up and browse for ten minutes or flip to exactly what you’re after as everything is labeled well. You need to order rice separately, but the portions are so big you can easily split one between two people.

We tried the Prawn Mango Curry and Veg Kadai next. The Kadai reminded us of Scouse because of just how hearty it was. It was packed to the brim with vegetables and spices that will be a perfect option by the time we reach Autumn/Winter. The Prawn Mango was full of scotch bonnet and some angry looking chillies, so if you’re a seafood lover and you can handle your spice this is the one to go for.

In terms of drinks options, they do serve Cobra, the perfect beer to pair with your curry, they have a solid range of wines and spirits and even a dedicated milkshake bar which served shakes with all the trimmings.

Kishkinda celebrated its grand opening whilst we were there, though they have been operating on Uber Eats for about a month prior, which explains the number of overwhelmingly positive reviews when you search for the restaurant on Google. They’re still finding their feet, but the first night seemed to have most tables full at all times, which is a really promising sign. The authenticity wasn’t wasted on us, this isn’t an example of quickly trying to turn around a space to match the food. We were told they’ve been working on the building since March, which is evident in how detailed the menu and environment is. If you’re after your usual Indian order, or you want to branch out and try something new, Kishkinda has something for everyone.

Find out more about Kishkinda here.

Find more great restaurants across Liverpool on our website.

Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide. 

From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.