Want to know one of the best things about South Goa? Delicious, diverse and budget food options down every street and tucked away corner. But, due to shear the number of options available, it can be all too easy to get caught up in the tourist spots where you’ll get less for your money. I’ve put together this guide for the true foodies out there looking to make the most of their trip. In this guide, you’ll find the best restaurants in South Goa suited to every budget.
After 3-months of living in the luscious green and blue surroundings of Goa last year, I had a moment or two to sample Goa’s vibrant food scene. Rooted by Hindu origins, Portuguese colonisation and Muslim rule, Goa’s diverse history is reflected in its fresh seafood, Indian flavours and spicy cuisine. You can really have it all in Goa!
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A Foodie’s Guide to South Goa: The Best Restaurants for Every Budget
So, in the spirit of research (of course) and with more time on my hands due to the coronavirus, I set out to discover amazing dishes for all budgets and combine the best here. My personal foodie’s guide here shares my top restaurants for every budget in South Goa, and specific dishes you must try!
£££- Top-end restaurants (that won’t break the bank)
Let’s start at the top. A heads up, my best restaurant recommendations with the three ‘£££’ signs in South Goa really means anything between 800-1200 rupees (£8-£12) per head! With this budget, you can easily fill your stomach with a generous 2-course meal and a drink.
1. Avocado Garden, Palolem/Patnem
With a peaceful vibe away from the main road, you’ll find lovely seafood and fresh dishes at Avocado Garden. Attached to a hotel, service is fast and the food is nothing short of quality! Fresh and seasoned fish is a must-try, but you will also find a range of delicious healthy salads and thalis for a little more than average prices.
*Top recommendation- a fresh tuna steak with chips and greens*
2. Ciaran’s, Palolem beachfront
Ciaran’s restaurant brings sunset views on the beach, authentic Goan flavours and generous banana milkshakes! Primarily a guesthouse, its jungle huts and leafy settings surround a stunning sea-facing restaurant. They offer live music nights and an exquisite menu dedicated to authentic Goan flavours.
For a light lunch, I enjoyed my favourite, a delightful fresh tuna and mayonnaise sandwich (which tastes- um, so good!) But their speciality being a light and aromatic Goan prawn curry will cost you just 320 rupees. The service can be a little slow here at times, however, the sea views and lovely banana milkshakes make up for it while you wait!
3. Magic Italy, Palolem
For the best Italian in India!
Need I say more, Magic Italy is well known for its authentic Italian flavours and thin-crust pizzas. With meats and cheeses imported from Italy, this authentic family-run restaurant quickly became my go-to treat.
Alongside the delicious beef ragu and creative daily specials, my solid favourite here was the Salame Milano with added green chilli (of course). I’m a pizza foodie any day, but this place easily won the top spot for the best pizza I had in India. To be honest, it probably stands in my top-five pizzas ever.
4. Cow Corner, Patnem
One word… Quality.
Cow Corner is a long-running firm favourite amongst travellers and locals alike. With weekly live music at their luscious green indoor and outdoor dining spaces, you will enjoy a fusion of lively and peaceful vibes.
Here you will find nothing but a quality mixture of cuisines from across the world. Prices are higher, but my delicious calamari spaghetti was well worth it. My top tip is to check out their Facebook to keep up with live events to enjoy. And delve into a truly great evening.
££- Mid-range spots for everyone
My best restaurants in the mid-range category in South Goa will cost you anything between 4-800 rupees per person (£4-8) for 2 dishes and a beer. Go with the flow and enjoy each one of these exciting dining options on your next trip to Goa.
Mollu’s, Palolem
A local delight, just a stone’s throw from the beachfront! A 20-minute stroll or 3-minute scooter ride from Palolem’s centre will take you to one of Goa’s most authentic restaurants. Full of local South Indians, Mollu’s serves a banquet of sensational Goan flavours at sweet prices.
My TOP recommendation (although everything is delicious) would be their spicy full tandoori chicken, daal fry and paneer butter masala dish to share between two. I regularly ate here during my 3 months stay in Goa, and pretty much got this selection every time! Accompanied by white rice and chapatis it hits the spot perfectly!
2. Cherry Olive, Palolem
A firm favourite, I enjoyed a mixture of genuinely good Indian and Western food at Cherry Olive. Funnily enough, after 7 months of strong and flavour-filled Indian dishes, I was missing that little bit of home. To which Cherry Olive filled that void with their lovely steak and onion pie (which I couldn’t believe was actually so good).
I also became a big fan of their fish thalis serving a different variety of flavour every day. I can also highly recommend their generous puri bhaji in the mornings and cheaper (than Magic Italy) but still quality pizzas!
3. Palolem Beach Resort’s Restaurant, Palolem
Biriyani, beach and a beer, what more could you ask for?
Located at the forefront of the main Palolem strip, you’ll find this popular spot on the immediate right facing the beach. Honestly, this was my go-to for a fragrant, spicy and generous chicken biriyani. With lively vibes and a beer for <500 rupees, you’ll enjoy an authentic and budget-friendly meal with a view!
Tip: I would not recommend their fish dishes. We found ours to be small and overpriced. Much better at my next recommendation!
4. Baba’s Little Italy, Palolem
Located on the main Palolem strip, Baba’s Little Italian offers great vibes in their energy and customer service. I loved this vibrant spot. Each time we visited they aimed to please, even going to the lengths of contacting their local fisherman when we were craving tuna!
We enjoyed this generous whole tandoori lemon and garlic seabass, chips and salad over a candlelit dinner. And, paid less than 1000rupees for the 2 of us! However, I was less impressed by their pizzas due to the deep pan style, but they also offer great Indian dishes for average prices.
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£- Budget-Friendly Authenticity
For the budget-keepers! My recommendations in this category will easily fill you up on 200rs per person for a selection of dishes and a drink! Keeping in my daily budget of 500rs, I attended most of these spots daily. And enjoyed ridiculously good food at a ridiculously low price! See below for my best:
1. Sari Krupa, Palolem
A breakfast must-have on your list! Sai Krupa became my favourite for a quick and tasty breakfast dosa. Run by a local family on Palolem’s main road, mama serves up authentic and homestyle Goan cooking with a smile. My top recommendation is 100 percent a spicy masala dosa (80rs) with a chai or banana milkshake. But their thalis are also quality and reasonably priced.
2. Hotel Purvi, Chaudi
After a day trip out on scooters, we stumbled across Hotel Purvi on our way back through Chaudi. Not expecting much, we just wanted to fill our stomachs. But wow, were we impressed- this had to be added to the best restaurants in South Goa list!
Due to its location away from the beach, Hotel Purvi offers authentic Goan dishes at rock bottom prices. Best to catch a tuk-tuk or hitchhike a scooter into Chaudi, and enjoy the home-style cooking by the lovely local family here. A personal favourite for me: Kadai Paneer with white rice and chapati! Per person, you’ll pay roughly 200rs (£2) for a full stomach!
3. Vithal’s Tasty Food Corner, Agonda
One of my favourite budget food stops when I ventured away from Palolem. Vithal’s Food Corner a short stroll from the beach., offering generous and delicious food with quirky decor.
The vegetable thalis offer spicy flavours including the most delicious pumpkin thali. Run by a Nepalese man, here you can also enjoy quality momos and thupka, this place became a go-to whenever I was in Agonda.
You may struggle to find Vithals tasty food corner as it is not clearly on Google Maps. So, if you’re in Agonda lookout for it close to Cupid heaven guesthouse and opposite Romya bakery on Agonda high street.
4. Ceasars, Patnem
Ceasars in Patnem is a cosy spot for a fusion of yummy Italian and Goan food. With floor-seated dining and friendly customer service, their bohemian vibes are perfect for a quiet meal.
It’s hard to find good north Indian food in South India, so I was happy to stop by this place one morning and find this filling aloo paratha (which resembled a pizza). Also satisfying is the creamy spinach and ricotta ravioli with a fresh and tasty rose sauce. But, maybe a little too much sauce!
And Finally, The Best Dessert in South Goa:
As I struggled to find a good dessert in Goa- I had to share the banoffee pie at Tide Exotic. Stumbling across this cute and chilled spot on the seafront was a blessing as their banoffee pie for 220rs did not let me down!
Planning a trip to Goa? I would love if you utilised this guide to try some of the best dishes I found in Goa and share any specials you discover!
To summarise…
My best restaurants in South Goa are diverse and exciting, I really recommend you try all! You will find that a lot the food can be very same samey at slightly different prices. Hence why I really wanted to share some of the best food I discovered in South Goa and add specific dishes in this genuine foodies guide. Personally, I found the most authentic restaurants were the cheaper spots away from the beach. But, for me as a long term traveller in South Goa, I was so happy to have the option of all different cuisines on my doorstep!