People of all ages throng to Ammachi's kada (Ammachi's shop) at Kalarcode in Alappuzha to savour tasty food served with love. It is not Pizza or Burger or other fast food served here but truly traditional fish-curry meals. This shop is famous all around and has left a lot of digital footprints in the social media.

Meals with fish curry and fish fry here are wholesome as vouched by regular customers, that too at Rs 30. Is not that exciting? At lunch break, many of the students from the S D College head directly to Ammachi's shop. Most often they have to rush to the shop to get the fast filling seats. People from far and wide come to the shop because of its popularity. It was the students of S D College who made Ammachi a star.

Sarasamma, a motherly figure is the superstar at Ammachi’s shop. Sardine fry, fish curry, stir-fried vegetables, pickles, pulissery, sambar, rasam etc. are served with the meal. All these for just Rs 30. Sarasamma is running this business for the past 13 years. Upon asking her why she is not charging higher, she says, “all these students of the college are like my own children. They are students and so they may not have a lot of money. My wish is to serve them as much tasty food as they need”.

'Ammachikada' in Alappuzha serves delicious fish curry meals for just Rs 30
Photo: Basil Paulo

Thanks to her knack with the cooking of these dishes and the loving way the meals are served, they have a special taste. Many of the students who frequent the shop do not even know Ammachi’s name. Nandan, the General Secretary of the college union says, “She is a motherly figure to all of us. So we all call her ‘Ammachi’. The college students have full freedom here. Ammachi serves us before serving to other customers.

'Ammachikada' in Alappuzha serves delicious fish curry meals for just Rs 30
Photo: Basil Paulo