Places to Eat in Kochi

Chinese, Keralite, and South Indian cuisines collide on Kochi’s plates. All of these styles are popular here.

Local Flavours & Specialties

Keralite cuisine is heavily flavoured by coconut, mustard seeds, onions, curry leaves, and sliced fried chillies. Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, and ginger spice up Cochin food. Most main dishes are made from tapioca and rice, two staples of the Cochin diet. Kochi locals love their spicy food.

A typical breakfast in Kochi is puttu, which is a mix of grated coconut and rice that is steamed in bamboo and drizzled with gravy made from garbanzo beans. A popular choice for lunch and dinner is sadya, a vegetarian mix of boiled rice and curry that is served on a banana leaf.

Cochins prepare vegetables that are not popular in the rest of India, like plantains, yams, bitter gourds, and colocasia. Sadya also typically come with plantain chips, papadam, or plain curd and buttermilk. We have a sweet tooth so we love that three or more rice puddings, also known as payasam, are served for dessert.

Cheapies

Fast food is available all around Kochi. The bustling hot spot Dal Roti is a fantastic place featuring a menu overflowing with cheap, North Indian food. People go crazy for their kaathi roll, masala paneer, butter chicken, and chicken curry. No alcohol is served here. Meals range in price from INR150-250. Find them in Lilly Street/Elephanstone Road, Fort Kochi. Open 12pm-3pm & 6.30pm-10pm.

Traditional Food

Frys Village Restaurant is the place to go to sample authentic Keralan flavours. Bright colours adorn this family-friendly eatery. Locals can’t get enough of their beef fry, roast chicken, mutton fry, and chicken fry. We highly recommend their roast beef. Main dishes cost between INR90-180. Located in 40/9646, Chittoor Rd, Ernakulam, Kerala; open 12pm-3.30pm & 7pm-10pm.

Seafood

Kochi is a port city and its seafood is mouth-watering. Fusion Bay is famous for its Keralan fish delicacies that are grilled in banana leaves and spiced with masala. You can’t go wrong with their fish in mango curry. Mains are between INR250-400. It is in KB Jacob Road, Kochi. Hours: 12pm-10.30pm.

Cafe Crafters is another delicious option that serves seafood Keralan style. Mains range from INR100-350. 6/40, Mattancherry Cochin, Jew Town Rd, Ernakulam, Kochi. 9am-6pm.

Dining with a View

For a unique and scenic dining experience, try the waterfront restaurant Ginger House, which dubs itself as India’s only “museum restaurant.” To get to the restaurant, you pass through the remarkable Heritage Arts showroom, which showcases sculptural and antique Indian treasures. Check out the giant snake-boat canoe that spans the length of the restaurant. Meals cost from INR200-720. Jew Town, Mattancherry, Kochi. 8am-9.30pm.

The chic restaurant Malabar Junction has romantic ambiance and a European-style menu built around seafood. Get the tasty seafood platter or the kati rolls. Your taste buds will thank you. Mains are between INR420-750, 5-course degustation INR2000. 1/268-269, Parade Road, Kochi. Open 12.30-3pm & 7-11pm.

Fast Food Chains

Among the many fast food choices, you will recognize Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, and Burger King. All range in price from INR500-600 for two people. All are located on the third floor of Lulu Mall, NH-17, Edappally, Kochi. All are open from 11am-11pm.

Cafes and Coffee Houses

Kochi is home to a number of fantastic cafes. For chill ambiance, check out Kashi Art Cafe, which is filled with natural light bouncing off of solid wood tables that sprawl into the courtyard. Its small gallery highlights the works of local artists. We enjoyed this lovely place for its strong coffee, yummy Western breakfast, and scrumptious seafood wrap. Their chocolate cake will change your life. Prices range from INR160-280. Dist. Ernakulam, Burgar Street, Fort Nagar, Fort Kochi, Near PS, Kochi. 8.30am-10pm.

Take your high tea at the swanky cafe Teapot, which serves up 16 kinds of tea, sandwiches, cakes, and meals in style. You need more of their Masala Chai and blueberry cheesecake in your life. Tea INR50-120, mains INR200-300. Peter Celli Street, Fort Nagar, Fort Kochi, Kochi. 8.30am-9pm.