Mullapandhal, Udayamperoor, Eranakulam

Toddy shops are famous in Kerala mainly for their food rather than the toddy. Food served are spicy and fresh and mainly exotic foods like frog legs, crane, turtle, etc depending on the availability. In Cochin there are many famous toddy shops famous for their food, Mullapandhal is one of them, they do have their own web site. One will have to travel 6 Km from Eranakulam town to Udayamperoor and ask anyone they will guide you to the Mullapandhal. The delicies served there are fish head curry, prawns, duck, mussels, rabbit, crab, beef, etc. One thing about this toddy shop is that the food they make are made in traditional Kerala style and the food is limited, it is open from 7.30 am to 9.00 pm. The best time to visit will be before 2 pm so that you will get most the dishes they prepare. My advise for families visiting the place would be do visit Mullapanthal on weekdays, cos weekend will be crowded with youngsters. There are many more famous toddy shops in Eranakulam, will keep you posted.

Street Food in Kochi (Thattukada)

Street food joints can be found in every junction in Cochin and they are called thattukada. One of my favorite is diagonally opposite to Medical Trust hospital. The parota, beef, and quail fry are my favorites. Their menu has many more mouth smacking foods. This street joint is famous, it has been visited by Anthony Bourdain a traveller, writer, and chef, who has tried the food and has given a very good remark about the food. Even though most of its customers are labourers, I would recommend trying out the food it is fresh and tasty. So for a different experience in dineing I would recommend visiting one of the street food joints in Kochi. They are only open at night, so if you feel like having a bite after a late night movie or after late night work you can just try it out. 

Best Biryani in Kochi

There are many restaurants in Cochin where they serve biryani and there are restaurants exclusive for biryani. Ask anyone in Cochin were you can best biryani and the answer will be Kayees Biryani. They basically started in Mattancherry 60 years ago, they also have a branch opposite Durbar Hall Ground. Articles have been written about this restaurant in many magazines and papers. Many celebrities have been to this restaurant like M. F. Hussain and has drawn a picture for the owner of the restaurant.

Ceylon Bake House Cochin is another restaurant were you get really good biryani  in Calicut style, Idiappam and Chilli Chicken are their specialties.

Malabar Biriyani House opposite Saritha Savitha Sangeetha theaters, it is a small joint where they only serve Dum Biryani in Malabari style and is my choice for the best biryani.   

Indian Coffee House Kochi

Indian Coffee House, give me a nostalgic feeling every time I go there. It reminds me hanging out with friends, having the juicy masala dosa, keema omelet, cutlets, etc foods that still makes my mouth water. A place where people come to spend some time with friends and gives one a feeling that you have traveled back in time, where waiters wear turbans and the ancient feel of the whole place. Even today it is a good place to hangout with friends, a place to have a quick bite or a coffee. There are many branches in Cochin, one in Jose Junction, one in Boat Jetty Junction, etc are some branches in Cochin. Indian Coffee House has branches all over India and the food tastes same in all restaurants. Because it is a co-operative society the prices are also normal. Even through there are modern coffee shops like Coffee Day, Barista, Indian Coffee House has its own place among coffee shops.

Pai Brothrs Dosa in Kochi

One can find many dosa joints in Kochi, but the famous and well known is 36 Pai Brothers Fast Food, it is close to Padma Theater in MG road Cochin. The specialty about this restaurant is that it they started with 36 types of dosa, but now they have more than 185 types of dosa. Their menu includes dosa with eggs on it, chicken, duck, quails eggs etc. They have many combinations and names of dosa we would not find in any other restaurants in Kochi and they keep on inventing new combinations. The best dosa according to them is 4 in 1 dosa, which contains vegetables, quail's egg, masala, cashew nuts, etc. The place is only open from 5 pm to 1.30 am, but you can find the place crowded with family and youngsters. They even have many varieties for vegetarians. Anyone visiting Eranakulam, I would recommend to visit 36 Pai Brothers Fast Food, cos I am sure you would enjoy it. 

Seafood in Kochi

Cochin or Kochi is famous for its spices and food from the times it was discovered by Vasco da Gama. Fort Cochin is also known as old Kochi and is well known to everyone, but other than the Chinese nets one see, the local food joints are my favorite. When the sun goes down there is a different world that comes to life, street food.  While you walk through the beach and small shops one will not miss the shops selling fresh seafood adjacent to the Chinese nets. One can buy fish, shrimps, mussels, etc from fish stall and opposite to these there are small stalls where they cook it the way you want it, while you relax on the candle light table arranged on the beach. Even though illegal, they even serve a cold beer or a drink of your choice at request and special price. One can enjoy the extraordinary five star experience of fresh seafood, drink, and ambiance at a low cost.