What to eat in Fort Kochi? This is the first time I am ever doing a listicle of sorts, but most questions that seem to come to me during travel or otherwise are about food or where to find good food. I thought it will be interesting to share the top three culinary experiences I had in Fort Kochi, that has been an experience anyone visiting Kerala should not miss. Now the first time I was there, I ate in random places and loved all of it. This time, though I was on a tight schedule I had so many lovely Malayali friends who tipped me off to eat some delish things at lesser-known places. Thank God for them! I braved the heat until I found those places and ate the heck off them! 😀 So here goes, the three most satisfying meals I had at Fort Kochi.
1) Pineapples & spices – Chicken Biriyani at Kayees Rahmathulla Cafe
The last time I was in Kerala , I had an ‘on the road’ version of a Malabar biriyani which I truly detested. But this little shop, with its crowded community tables, away from the posh areas of Fort Kochi, came recommended by a good friend and I am so thankful I made the trip to this place to try it out.
So, I am not here to review this delicacy here. I feel it is a wonderful blend of mild spices and some unusual ingredients like pineapple, and I loved every bit of it. That is the thing about appreciating a cuisine, your taste buds are in for a world of exploration so different from what you are used to. If you are a non-veg foodie or a biriyani explorer like I am, you must not miss this if you are in Fort Kochi. Also, if you are travelling solo, be prepared to sit across strangers and listen to their stories.
2) The unusual suspect – Prawn Mango curry at Talk of the town restaurant
If I could go back in time and have only one dish again from my trip, it would hands-down be this unbelievable, fresh, tangy, silky prawn mango curry from a small hole in the wall restaurant called “Talk of the town”. From the looks of it, it was an old dilapidated house converted to a food joint with the addition of a few plastic tables and chairs. Literally, it is not equipped to serve more than ten people at a time. When I arrived, I was the only one there. There were two little kids who came running, from their homework books and took my order, followed by a woman with a warm smile who confirmed the order. The seating area and the kitchen was separated by a large courtyard where the kids had their homework sprawled across the floor. To me, all this was just too endearing. I had no idea what to expect from this place. I merely chose it because it was getting late, and I did not want to be very far from my hotel. And then the wait began, I guess I waited for a good 45 mins, and the hunger in me was giving way to frustration on what could possibly take so long to serve the only customer in the restaurant. Meanwhile, an old lady from the UK came in and annoyed me to bits. More on her, on a separate blog. – let’s keep this one positive. To top it all, there was a sudden electricity cut and I found myself sitting alone in the dark, waiting for my food, stuck with an obnoxious lady for company. The woman who I am assuming is the mother of the children, and the chef of this set up swiftly arrived with an emergency light and said she is bringing the food right away. And there I was, sitting in a room with no fan in Kochi summers, under an emergency light, bitten by mosquitoes, being served a meal after 55 minutes of an order.
Would you believe if I said it was one of the best meals I have ever had in my life! One of the best places to eat at Fort Kochi, hands down. The prawn mango curry was like a Beatles song, effortless and unforgettable. The tanginess from the mangoes, the sweetness from the fresh prawns, the bite from the vegetables, the thin strips of ginger, everything about it makes me go back in time as I am writing this down. I do not know what sorcery it was. Maybe she prepared the whole thing fresh, maybe it was the earthenware she used, or maybe it was just eh simplicity of it all. The dish was just other-worldly. I am telling you it was just worth it. I love that woman, and I love her food. I am ready to go through all of it once again just to have the first spoon of her curry for the first time.
3) Fancy lunch by the sea – Girl at Fort House
Do not be fooled by this picture, and believe me when I say it was a meal for one. When I am travelling, sometimes, I like to take myself out to fancy lunches and dinners, and feel good about spending all that money we are always running after. Moments like these are when I feel ok (not completely though) about having to go to work and go through this cycle of earning and spending. Having said all of this, very few things in life come close to the feeling of being a solo traveller having a fancy lunch by the sea, and truly enjoying it. If there is sea food involved, the happiness just doubles, I say. 🙂
Fort house Kochi is a beautiful restaurant by the beach, and a gorgeous place to have a delicious meal with yourself or your travel companions. Yes, it is a little heavy on the pocket, but look at the size of that fish, and the colour of that prawn curry. These are no-filter pics, and look at this view.
Food while travelling
I usually just go with the flow when it comes to eating while travel. Sometimes I read up about places/dishes I should not miss, and sometimes I stop at random places just because I get curious, and I have had some crazy times eating local food. I say, follow the crowd, eat like the locals do, that is the only way to truly taste any region’s flavour. Here are some notable mentions for you to try while you are at Fort Kochi.
These days. I try to follow a daily writing practice in the mornings, and sometimes a relaxed breakfast setting like Happy Camper is a gift from God. You can sip your coffee in peace, have a large sized breakfast Fort Kochi style, and get all the thinking and writing you want done in a place that is so full of life.
Try visiting them for their European breakfast, I do not know how their hostel is, because I did not stay here. Dorms are NOT my thing!
So, these were the food highlights of my trip to Fort Kochi. Would love to hear if I have missed anything phenomenal so I can add it to the agenda for my next trip when I think of what to eat in Fort Kochi! Keep travelling and keep eating! Bye for now.
