Every state has its own cooking culture and Kerala’s street food is no exception. You can find meals, snacks, and cold drinks on the street. The street foods are usually spicy, and oily but always tasty. People of various backgrounds come to the shops & enjoy the foods. In this article, I have tried a little to highlight the top 12 street food items of Kochi, the “Gateway to Kerala”. Try a variety of dishes like Appam, Nadan Kozhi, Pazham Pori, Erachi pidi, Puttu, and other items in this article. So let’s find out the top 12 street food items of Kochi.
1.Puttu Kadala {Traditional Breakfast}:
Puttu is a familiar dish for breakfast in every family in Kerala. Puttu is a nutritious and healthy breakfast that is composed of boiled cylinders of powdered rice flour covered with a healthy portion of coconut shavings and offers an excellent nutrient profile and health benefits.
Ingredients Required: Crushed Rice, Coconut Shavings, Bananas, chicken keema, dark chickpeas
Price: INR 120 – 130
Timings: Morning 7.30 am to 12.30 pm
Locations: Malabar Cafe, Lobby Level, Grand Hyatt Kochi, Mulavukad, Bolgatty, Kochi, Kerala 682504
2. Nadan kozhi varuthathu {Spicy Chicken Fry}:
Nadan kozhi varuthathu is a simple chicken fry made with dried red chili, ginger, garlic, and vinegar that is one of Kerala’s most popular chicken dishes. Spicy chicken fry is a popular name for this meal, which can be served as a side dish or a snack.
Ingredients Required: Chicken, dried red chilies, gingers, garlic, vinegar
Pricing: INR 130- 150
Timing: 12.30 pm to 8.30 pm
Locations: Thakkaaram Restaurant,Opp Gold Souk Grandé Mall, Vyttila, Service Rd, Chalikkavattom, Vennala, Kochi, Kerala 682036
3.Kulukki Sharbat:
Kochi people can pride themselves that Kulukki Sharbat as their gift to the world. People enjoy the drink to beat the heat, despite its messy preparation. ALAPPUZHA: With the growing summer temperatures, a new hazard to people’s health has emerged in the form of ‘Kulukki sarbath,’ which is made with crushed ice to the brim of the glass, sarbath, and lemon.
Ingredients Required: Lemon, Crushed ice, khuskhus seeds,
Timings: 11.00 am to 9.00 pm
Pricing: INR 140-150
Locations:Kulukki Thakka,44/700, LFC Rd, Kaloor, Kochi, Kerala 682017
4. Kappa Boti:
Kappa and Botti are one of Kerala’s most popular meal combinations. Botti is a roast dish that is mostly spicy. This combination is most popular among teenagers. It is also a traditional cuisine in Kerala, and it is also widely available in late-night fast-food huts. Eating this combination in the rainy season with a glass of sulaimani (black tea) provides an experience that words cannot describe.
Ingredients Required: Tapioca, beef intestine, coconut pieces, curry leaves, chili, mustard oil
Timings:6.00 pm to 11.00pm
Pricing: INR 130-150
Locations:57/59, Ponneth Temple Rd, Indira Nagar, Kadavanthra, Kochi, Kerala 68202
5. Parotta and Beef Fry
The Malabar or Kerala parotta, a flaky, layered bread consisting of refined wheat flour or maida, is usually referred to as parotta. It’s a popular street and restaurant dish throughout the state, and it’s frequently served with beef fries (egg curry and chicken curry are other popular accompaniments).
Ingredients Required: Frozen Kerala parotta, egg, curried beef, onion, ginger garlic paste, lemon juice,garam masala, beef, coriander powder, turmeric powder, coconut oil, meat masala
Timings:12.00pm to 10.00pm
Pricing: INR 200-220
Locations: Rahath foods, Star complex, Desabhimani Rd, Karukappilly Jn., Mamangalam, Kaloor, Kochi, Kerala 682017
6. Erachi Pidi:
In Malayalam, ‘erachi’ denotes meat, which can vary from mutton to beef, and ‘pidi’ denotes a savory type of Malabar rice dumplings. Erachi Pidi is a delicacy that consists of rice dumplings soaked in a spicy and juicy roasted coconut stew.
Ingredients Required: Rice flour, boiling water, shallots, coconut oil, grated coconuts, beef, onion, tomato, red chilly powder, garam masala, turmeric powder, ginger garlic paste
Timings: dinner, lunch
Pricing: INR 150- 180
Locations: Hype Restaurant, Broad Bean, Service Road, NH Bypass, opp. KSEB Office, Vyttila, Kochi, Kerala 682019
Hope you are enjoying the article. Also read- Top 13 Street foods in Kolkata you must try
7. Fish Molly
Fish Molly, also named fish molee, is another native Kochi specialty that has worldwide popularity. The variety of this meal lies in its mild flavors, which vary from the spicy flavors of other fish curries in Kerala.
Ingredients Required: Fish, coconut milk, green chilies, black pepper, curry leaves, red chilies powder, turmeric powder, mustard seeds,
Timing:12.30pm to 9.00pm
Pricing: INR15-17 per piece
Locations: Vanitha Homely Meals, Plot no, 112, Muttathil Ln, Elamkulam, Kochi, Kerala 682020
8. Appam & Stew
Whether you’re wondering why I didn’t mention this earlier, it’s because appam and stew are popular not just in Kerala, but all over the country. This simple recipe, like Puttu and Kadala, is a household staple across the state, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian variations.
Ingredients Required: JBS poppy Seeds,1/4 cup cashews, 1-inch piece cinnamons, cardamom, green chilies, clove, onion,
Timings: 7 am to 10 pm
Pricings: INR 120- 130
Locations: Calicut Paragon Restaurant, Aster Medcity – 1st Floor – Annex Building, Kochi, Kerala 682027
9. Naadan Biriyani:
Whenever it comes to the best foods in Kochi, one cannot ignore Biriyani—the naadan, or traditional variety.
While there are other outlets in the city that will fulfill your Biriyani cravings, we have one modest yet famous café in Matta cherry named Kayees Rahmathulla Hotel, whose simple, wood-fired preparation is one you must never miss.
Ingredients Required: Basmati Rice, Clove, cardamom, cinnamon stick, chicken, turmeric powder, red chili powder, yogurt, salt
Timings: Afternoon and Dinner
Pricing: INR 250-300
Location: Kayees Rahmathulla Cafe, Gujarati Rd, Near Gujarati Temple, Mattancherry, Kochi, Kerala 682002
10. Karimeen pollichathu ( fish fry recipe)
Kerala style Meen Pollichathu Vazhayila – Meen Pollichathu in coconut oil with banana leaves. Traditionally, karimeen – pearl spot fish – is used. Karimeen is a nutritionally meal. It’s low in fat, full of protein and rich in omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and riboflavin, as well as calcium and phosphorus. Fish consumption is heart-healthy because it lowers blood pressure.
Ingredients Required: pearl spot fish, chopped garlic, chopped onion, green chili, black pepper, salt, coconut oil, tomato, curry leaves, vinegar, lime juice, lemon
Timings: 11.00 am – 10.00 pm
Pricing: INR 140-160
Location: Grand Pavilion, X7CP+64W, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, Ernakulam South, Kochi, Kerala 682011
11. Pazham Pori
Pazham Pori, also known as ethakka appam, is a popular food found across Kerala. Pazham Pori is a snack that can be served with tea or chai. This fritter cake is sometimes served with beef curry, which is an unusual combination. This dish is even cooked with meat in some restaurants.
Ingredients required: flour, sugar( optional), turmeric powder, baking soda, and rice flour for some crispiness.
Timings: 5.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Pricing: INR 20- 30
Locations: Sree Muruga Cafe, Mini Bypass Tripunithura Rd, Poonithura, Thrippunithura, Kochi, Kerala 682038
12. Masala Dosa:
Masala dosa is a variant of the popular South Indian dosa, which originated in Karnataka’s Tuluva Udupi cuisine. Rice, lentils, potato, fenugreek, ghee, and curry leaves are used to make this dish, which is eaten with chutneys and sambar. It is popular in South India, but it can also be found in other parts of India and beyond. Masala dosa preparation differs from city to city in South India. The masala dosa comes in a variety of flavors, including Mysore masala dosa, Rava masala dosa, Onion masala dosa, Paper masala dosa, and Cheese masala dosa.
Ingredients Required: parboiled rice, husked black gram, poha, chana dal, mustard seeds, salt, vegetable oil, ghee, potato, onions, green chilies, curry leaf, turmeric powder
Timings: 4.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Pricing: INR 60- 100
Locations: Pai Brothers Fast Food, Pai Brothers Fast Food lane, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, Padma Junction, Shenoys, Kochi, Kerala 682035
A trip to Kerala would be meaningless without a stay in Kochi. Kochi’s distinct culture and food combine to make for a memorable vacation. You will love exploring all of Kochi’s attractions, including cafes. If you get hungry, try a few of the street dishes from our top 12 street foods of Kochi. I hope you like my article; it may have helped you to find the top street foods. So if you have any suggestions, please leave a comment for me. Thank you.
Credits: Wikipedia
