Unique and rich culinary heritage is what makes Kochi a foodie's paradise. From the local chicken curry, flaky porotta, and schezwan dishes to the Arabic delicacies like Alfaham and flatbreads like pathiri, naan, and khuboos, the incredible and elaborate platter that Kochi offers is mind blowing.
This interest in food and unique gastronomic experience has made this vibrant city a haven of restaurants and eateries where the food business thrives like nowhere else in Kerala.
Even when Malayali food lovers refuse to give up their all time favourites of porotta and beef or puttu and kattan (black tea), they are ready to experiment with flavours and dishes that appeal to their taste buds.
Food business has become one of the rapidly growing businesses in Kochi with lots of restaurants and hotels cropping up at many prime spots. Though the number of hotels has significantly gone up in the recent years, eateries wouldn't be able to find a foothold if they don't serve delicious and clean food.
Local dishes
Rice and curries is a staple of Keralites without which they cannot survive. Dishes like puttu, idli, dosa and puri, too, find a place in our regular diet. So, restaurants that serve authentic Kerala dishes keep growing, drawing huge crowds.
The increased popularity of sulaimani (spiced black tea) and other local dishes play a vital role in encouraging entrepreneurs to open more eateries that serve traditional or local cuisine.
Fusion flavours
When the spiciness of Kerala dishes merge with the sophisticated flavours of continental cuisine it becomes a celebration of cultures. Fusion hotels which serve interesting flavours, without losing the soul of the traditional cuisine, have become the favourites among those who are up to try out unique dishes.
Arabic and Chinese
The Arabic and Chinese dishes enjoy incredible demand, with lots of restaurants including such dishes in their menus. These eateries have become a favourite hub of those who wish to try the unique flavours of these cuisines.
Besides, the fact that a variety of meat dishes are served in huge quantities too attract foodies to these hotels. Many new hotels make sure that they have Arabic and Chinese dishes on their menus.
Great ambience
Gone are the times when people were looking for hotels that served good food for cheap rates. Not just delicious food or reasonable pricing, but people now prefer eating at a place which is clean, boasts of great ambience, and have friendly staff too.
There are even people who choose hotels based on the kind of songs that are played there. A hotel or an eatery has to consider all these factors to survive in the ever growing restaurant business in Kochi.
Family time
Until a few years ago, the nights were taken over by the youngsters who had their favourite hangout spots in the city. However, now even families like enjoying a cozy dinner at an amazing restaurant, with great ambience, that serves mouthwatering food.
The hotels that used to close down at midnight now open till 2 am, to host such families who enjoy the night life. The employees at these hotels say that after the lunch hour rush, the eateries then buzz with customers at night.
The number of new customers trying out the dishes at a restaurant is almost same as their regular customers. The hotel industry in Kochi is indeed growing at a faster pace to cater to the unique flavour profiles and preferences of Malayali food lovers.
