UNNI's

I'd read about this new place in the Whidbey Times, and am glad I did because it's extra special. I'm a longtime fan of Indian cuisine, but have never had food from the far south, in Kerala (actually, I hadn't heard of Kerala until tonight). Delicious. It's tiny and takeout only, but good things come in small packages, and this is proof. The owner/chef, "Unni," went out of his way to explain the ingredients, history, and culture, while providing tasty samples of everything. He clearly takes pride in what he does, and I'll be coming back a LOT.I don't know if they're there all the time, but his two delightful children were playing while I waited, and once they got over their shyness, they couldn't have been more entertaining. They insisted on pasting stickers on their dad's face, which he wore proudly. Lots of fun.Fortunately for me, Unni serves many meat dishes (beef, pork, chicken) in addition to vegetarian fare, so there's something for everyone. They even offer three kinds of rice!I see some complaints about the food being bland, but that wasn't my experience...quite the opposite. Lots of intriguing spices! Check it out yourself. Oak Harbor needs places like this!

We went here to give this new place a try. It wasn't the type of Indian food we were expecting. The food wasn't bad but just wasn't where we can say it was excellent. They have a 'burrowed' dining area which is a little awkward to have a meal in....seating is limited as well for tables of only 4. The owner was extremely nice and accommodating to our requests. I just don't think it is where it needs to be to be successful...but that is ONLY my opinion. Give this place a try...we did. It might be for you. Sadly - We won't be back.

First time trying UNNI's and it was delicious. I had the Chicken Fry and the Beef Curry and they both had a lot of flavor and the perfect amount of heat. The service was great! I was given a sample of the beef fry while I waited for my order and it will definitely be on my next order. I like a little spicy so be careful of the items on the menu that have spice. It may be a little too hot for you if you don't prefer too much heat in your dishes.

Highly recommend! The food is super tasty and the owner is a great ambassador for Kerala (a southern state in India) food. I grew up eating Kerala food and he serves it home style just like I'm used to- it almost felt like my uncle was making me dinner! Unlike all the mainstream Indian restaurants in the area, his food is flavoured by spices and not huge quantities of cream, butter and salt. The flavours are nuanced and you can get your dishes mild or spicy depending on taste. There are both meat and veg options so something for everyone. It's mostly takeout (only a few stools) with reasonable portions and good prices. Lots of explanatory pictures of Kerala food for ambiance and to initiate you into the cuisine.

It's take out only so can't say 5 stars but the food is delicious and special. I was camping on the island and a little tired of camping food so i went for a vegetarian platter and took it to a park as takeout. As per the descriptions I read of this, the spices are subtle and mild unless you ask for extra heat. Which suites my taste. The vegetarian curry had a variety of vegetables and spices + choice of 3 vegetable dishes. My carrot, broccoli and beet choices were each special subtle and full flavors. Came with a mango yogurt and chutney and a crunchy garnish too. I upgraded my rice to Chamba which has a more interesting flavor and texture and I also ordered Raita extra because I love this tangy veggie-herb yogurt side. It all hit the spot and I would go back again next time I'm in the area. The container has to be handled carefully since two of the dishes were quite soupy but you could also order a sturdier cup in a larger serving.The owner was super friendly and also offered me little tastes of a couple other dishes while I decided. (It was a non busy early afternoon time) These include a couple meat options also available and were very good also. Easy parking, on north end of the town.

First of all, the food was delicious, and just as important, it was legitimately healthy from the first bite to the last. We ordered some vegetarian dishes and watched as Chef Unni prepped them in front of us while taking the time to explain each item. He was incredibly friendly and genuine with us. Sometimes, you meet someone who you can tell is just a good person through and through. His two small kids were there (he's a single dad), and it felt good to see the grace he showed in settling their disputes. There is a lot of love in this small space, and it seems to work its way into the food. Manu is offering something you won't find in other restaurants, and it is more than a unique, delicious, and healthy meal. We will be back, and we will be telling others about it. Chef Unni is also a US Navy veteran. You will feel good about supporting him, his small family, and his fledgling restaurant.

MUST TRY!!!!I never had Indian food before & a friend was telling me I need to find a good place and give it a try. Well, while on a date night with the wife at another restaurant, I brought up I wanted to find an Indian restaurant. She said she knew one that's kinda hidden. After our meal we decided to see where it was at. We were already full, but went in to get a coffee. We ordered our coffee & explained to the worker we've never had tried Indian food. His face lite up & started giving us samples, he was very knowledgeable & matched our samples with things we liked. OMG WHAT HAVE I'VE BEEN MISSING OUT ON ALL MY LIFE!!!! The flavors, the heat, the spice were all perfect! Not too much, not too little. It was so good we ordered a large entree to go & ate it later that night for a midnight snack & will eat the rest for lunch for today. We will definitely be back and gonna start spreading the word!!!

This is a fairly new restaurant in Oak Harbor. At this point it is takeout only and serves Kerala (a geographical area of the southwestern subcontinent) Indian cuisine which is different from the usual Indian food with which most of us are familiar. Flavors and textures are excellent. Not terribly spicy. More menu items will be added as the restaurant becomes more popular. The proprietor is very friendly and informative. He answered all our questions with patience and humor. It was so good we will be back even though we live 30miles away.

The food was terrible. Very bland, little flavor. The owner was very nice and welcoming but he is unfortunately under delivering.

The owner is awesome! It was awesome talking to him and looking at the pictures on his wall while waiting for the food. The food was really good, don't come here expecting the more western approach of Indian food. The food feels authentic to the chef's origin and he explained every dish and it's cultural significance. The only downside was the wait time, but as he explained, as traffic increases he will be able to increase his prep and therefore lowering the wait times. It was a pleasure speaking with you Sunni, and i look forward to visiting again soon!