Kerala's food is built on coconut, curry leaf, tamarind, and the day's catch from the Arabian Sea, and nowhere is it more fun to eat than Fort Kochi. Between the heritage cafés, street snacks by the nets, and a homemade breakfast at your homestay, you can eat your way through the coast in a long weekend.
Start With Breakfast (the Reds Residency Way)
A stay at Reds Residency Homestay comes with a homemade Kerala breakfast prepared by host Maryann D'Souza. Guests consistently call it a highlight — fresh, local, and far from the buffet routine. Expect staples like:
- Puttu (steamed rice-coconut cylinders) with kadala (black chickpea) curry
- Appam with vegetable stew or egg roast
- Idiyappam (string hoppers) with coconut milk
- Fresh fruit and South Indian filter coffee
It's the kind of meal that sets the pace for a slow, flavour-first day.
Must-Try Dishes in Fort Kochi
- Karimeen Pollichathu - Pearl spot fish marinated in spices, wrapped in banana leaf, and grilled. A Kerala signature — best ordered fresh near the water.
- Kerala Prawn Curry - Coconut-milk based, gently spiced, with a sour note from kodampuli (Malabar tamarind).
- Beef Fry & Parotta - A local favourite (for non-vegetarians) — slow-roasted beef with flaky layered parotta.
- Sadya - A vegetarian feast on a banana leaf: rice, sambar, rasam, thoran, pickles, and payasam. Look for it at lunch spots around Jew Town.
Where to Eat
By the Chinese fishing nets: Small stalls grill the day's catch to order at sunset. Bargain gently.
- Jew Town & Princess Street : Cafés serving fusion Kerala-Western plates, fresh juices, and baked treats.
- Local toddy shops (on the outskirts): For the adventurous — toddy (fermented coconut sap) with spicy tapioca and fish curry
- Sweet Endings - Don't skip payasam (warm, cardamom-scented pudding) or a plate of banana fritters from a street vendor. Pair with a glass of tender coconut water on a warm afternoon.
Plan Your Foodie Trip
Base yourself where the hosts cook — and can point you to the best neighbourhood eats.
Reds Residency Homestay · Door No. 11/372, K.J. Herschel Road, Fort Cochin, Kochi, Kerala 682001
📞 +91-9388643747 · ✉️ [email protected] · Book your stay