Must-Try Foods In Kerala (India) For Tourists 2026 - 2027
Kerala Food History
Kerala, often referred to as the "Land of Spices", has a culinary history that traces back to thousands of years of trade and cultural exchange. The diverse range of cuisines in Kerala is a reflection of the various communities and cultures that inhabit the state, including Hindu, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish influences. Kerala's food is characterized by the abundant use of spices such as black pepper, cardamom, clove, ginger, and cinnamon, which were and still are traded extensively from this region.
The geography of the region, with its long coastline, numerous rivers, and a backdrop of rice fields, also influences Kerala’s food habits. Seafood is a staple in the coastal areas, while vegetarian dishes are more common in the interior regions where Hinduism dominates. The use of coconut, rice, and tapioca is prevalent due to the easy availability in the region. Furthermore, the traditional Sadhya, with its array of vegetarian dishes, is a testimony to Kerala's rich gastronomic heritage and the strong influence of cultural and festive practices on its cuisine.
Top 10 Must-Try Food Dishes in Kerala
- Sadhya - A traditional vegetarian banquet served on a banana leaf, featuring an array of dishes like rice, sambar, avial, thoran, and payasam. (Veg)
- Puttu and Kadala Curry - Steamed cylinders of ground rice layered with coconut, served with a curry made from black chickpeas. (Veg)
- Appam with Stew - A pancake made from fermented rice batter and coconut milk, served with a light stew made from coconut milk and vegetables or chicken. (Veg/Non-Veg)
- Idiyappam with Egg Curry - Rice noodle cakes served with a spicy egg curry. (Non-Veg)
- Erissery - A curry made from pumpkins and lentils, topped with roasted coconut. (Veg)
- Kerala Prawn Curry - Spicy and tangy prawn curry flavored with chilli, turmeric, and coriander. (Non-Veg)
- Palada Payasam - A sweet dessert made from rice ada, milk, sugar, and flavored with cardamom. (Veg)
- Karimeen Pollichathu - Pearl spot fish marinated in a blend of spices and wrapped in banana leaves and grilled. (Non-Veg)
- Thalassery Biriyani - Aromatic biryani made with a small-grained rice called kaima, layered with chicken or fish. (Non-Veg)
- Banana Fritters - Ripe bananas coated in sweetened flour and deep-fried till golden brown. (Veg)
Top Famous Restaurants in Kerala
- Paragon Restaurant
- Lulu Mall, 34/1000, NH 47, Edapally, Kochi, Kerala 682024
Famous Food: Thalassery Biriyani (Non-Veg)
- Kethel's Chicken
- Chalai Bazaar, Pazhavangadi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695036
Famous Food: Fried Chicken (Non-Veg)
- Hotel Aryaas
- Multiple locations including M.G. Road, Thiruvananthapuram
Famous Food: Dosa and Vegetarian Thali (Veg)
- Karimpumkala Restaurant
- NH47, Amballur, Pudukkad, Thrissur, Kerala 680301
Famous Food: Fish Molly and Appam (Non-Veg)
- Mezban
- Calicut Trade Centre, Indira Gandhi Rd, Kozhikode, Kerala 673004
Famous Food: Mutton Biriyani (Non-Veg)
Places to Visit in Kerala
View all places to visit in Kerala
Explore 11 Hill Stations to Visit in Kerala
View 11 Hill Stations to visit in Kerala
Munnar
Kerala
Wayanad
Kerala
Vagamon
Kerala
Barren Hills
Vagamon
4.5(141 reviews)
Kurisumala
Vagamon
4.5(98 reviews)
Ramakkalmedu
Thekkady
4.5(115 reviews)
Kumily
Thekkady
Parunthumpara
Thekkady
4.5(123 reviews)
Vythiri
Wayanad
Palakkayam Thattu
Kannur
4.5(66 reviews)
Nelliyampathy Hills
Palakkad
4.5(62 reviews)Explore 30 Beaches to Visit in Kerala
View 30 Beaches to visit in Kerala
Varkala
Kerala
Kovalam
Kerala
Alappuzha Beach
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
3.5(1,527 reviews)
Marari Beach
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
4.5(102 reviews)
Punnapra Beach
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
Lighthouse Beach
Kovalam
4.0(1,629 reviews)
Hawah Beach
Kovalam
4.0(363 reviews)
Samudra Beach
Kovalam
4.0(328 reviews)
Cherai Beach
Kochi (Cochin)
4.0(1,374 reviews)
Andhakaranazhi Beach
Kochi (Cochin)
4.0(55 reviews)
Vypin Island
Kochi (Cochin)
Varkala Beach (Papanasam Beach)
Varkala
4.5(2,483 reviews)
Odayam Beach
Varkala
Edava Beach
Varkala
Kumarakom Beach
Kumarakom
4.0(60 reviews)
Snehatheeram Beach
Thrissur
4.0(153 reviews)
Kozhikode Beach
Kozhikode
3.5(554 reviews)
Beypore Beach
Kozhikode
4.0(249 reviews)
Kappad Beach
Kozhikode
4.0(428 reviews)
Payyambalam Beach
Kannur
4.0(364 reviews)
Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach
Kannur
4.5(730 reviews)
Thottada Beach
Kannur
4.5(201 reviews)
Baby Beach
Kannur
3.5(21 reviews)
Meenkunnu Beach
Kannur
4.0(25 reviews)
Bekal Beach
Bekal
4.0(208 reviews)
Kappil Beach
Bekal
4.0(186 reviews)
Pallikere Beach
Bekal
Shankumugham Beach
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.0(549 reviews)
Kovalam Beach
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.0(1,544 reviews)
Shanghumukham Beach
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.0(549 reviews)Explore 36 Religious Places to Visit in Kerala
View 36 Religious Places to visit in Kerala
Thangal Para
Vagamon
4.5(54 reviews)Kurisumala
Vagamon
4.5(98 reviews)
Murugan Mala
Vagamon
Mangala Devi Temple
Thekkady
4.0(29 reviews)
Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
4.5(390 reviews)
Edathua Church
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
4.5(37 reviews)
Mararikulam Mahadeva Temple
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
4.5(6 reviews)
Arthunkal Church
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
4.5(90 reviews)
Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
4.5(34 reviews)
Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
4.5(52 reviews)
Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple
Kovalam
4.0(56 reviews)
Vellayani Devi Temple
Kovalam
Kovalam Jama Masjid
Kovalam
Aruvikkara Dam
Kovalam
4.0(34 reviews)
Thirunelli Temple
Wayanad
4.5(479 reviews)
Janardanaswamy Temple
Varkala
4.5(324 reviews)
Sivagiri Mutt
Varkala
4.5(127 reviews)Vishnu Temple
Varkala
4.5(41 reviews)
Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple
Kumarakom
4.5(22 reviews)
Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple
Kumarakom
4.5(227 reviews)
Vaikom Mahadeva Temple
Kumarakom
4.5(136 reviews)
Vadakkunnathan Temple
Thrissur
4.5(508 reviews)
Paramekkavu Temple
Thrissur
4.5(141 reviews)
Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple
Thrissur
4.5(83 reviews)
Koodalmanikyam Temple
Thrissur
4.5(54 reviews)
Tali Temple
Kozhikode
4.5(159 reviews)
Thali Shiva Temple
Kozhikode
4.5(159 reviews)
Valayanad Devi Temple
Kozhikode
4.5(12 reviews)
Rajarajeshwara Temple
Kannur
4.5(88 reviews)
Sundareswara Temple
Kannur
4.0(12 reviews)
Anjaneya Temple
Bekal
Nityanandashram Caves
Bekal
4.0(8 reviews)
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.5(2,662 reviews)
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.5(390 reviews)
Jain Temple of Jainimedu
Palakkad
4.5(6 reviews)
Kalpathy Heritage Village and Temple Complex
Palakkad
4.5(49 reviews)Explore 36 Historical Places to Visit in Kerala
View 36 Historical Places to visit in Kerala
Bekal
Kerala
Mangala Devi Temple
Thekkady
4.0(29 reviews)
Krishnapuram Palace
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
4.0(34 reviews)
Alleppey Lighthouse
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
4.0(292 reviews)
Halcyon Castle
Kovalam
Valiyathura Pier
Kovalam
Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave
Kovalam
4.5(8 reviews)
Fort Kochi
Kochi (Cochin)
Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)
Kochi (Cochin)
4.0(1,244 reviews)
Jew Town and Paradesi Synagogue
Kochi (Cochin)
4.0(2,030 reviews)
Francis Church
Kochi (Cochin)
4.0(1,059 reviews)
Chinese Fishing Nets
Kochi (Cochin)
3.5(3,806 reviews)
Edakkal Caves
Wayanad
4.0(1,691 reviews)
Pazhassi Raja Tomb
Wayanad
4.0(59 reviews)
Jain Temple, Sulthan Bathery
Wayanad
3.5(147 reviews)
Chain Tree
Wayanad
3.0(98 reviews)
Varkala Tunnel
Varkala
Anjengo Fort
Varkala
3.5(102 reviews)
Anchuthengu and Anjengo Fort
Varkala
3.5(102 reviews)
Varkala Light House
Varkala
4.5(83 reviews)
Juma Masjid
Kumarakom
Shakthan Thampuran Palace
Thrissur
4.0(80 reviews)
Mishkal Mosque
Kozhikode
4.0(29 reviews)
Kuttichira
Kozhikode
Mother of God Church
Kozhikode
Angelo Fort
Kannur
4.0(453 reviews)
Kannur Lighthouse
Kannur
4.5(59 reviews)
Ezhimala Hill
Kannur
Tellicherry Fort
Kannur
3.5(78 reviews)
Bekal Fort
Bekal
4.5(108 reviews)
Chandragiri Fort
Bekal
3.5(25 reviews)
Malik Deenar Mosque
Bekal
4.5(19 reviews)
Hosdurg Fort
Bekal
3.0(15 reviews)
Kuthira Malika (Puthen Malika) Palace
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.5(227 reviews)
Vizhinjam Lighthouse
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.5(446 reviews)
Palakkad Fort
Palakkad
4.0(204 reviews)Explore 19 Museums to Visit in Kerala
View 19 Museums to visit in Kerala
Tea Museum (Munnar)
Munnar
4.0(2,356 reviews)
Kannan Devan Tea Museum
Munnar
4.0(2,356 reviews)
Revi Karunakaran Museum
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
4.0(240 reviews)Thakazhi Sankaracharya Smarakam
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
Hill Palace Museum
Kochi (Cochin)
4.0(27 reviews)
Indo-Portuguese Museum
Kochi (Cochin)
3.5(104 reviews)
Kerala Folklore Museum
Kochi (Cochin)
4.5(1,148 reviews)
Museum of Kerala History
Kochi (Cochin)
4.5(95 reviews)
Bay Island Driftwood Museum
Kumarakom
4.5(74 reviews)
Kumarakom Craft Museum
Kumarakom
4.5(16 reviews)Shakthan Thampuran Palace
Thrissur
4.0(80 reviews)
Thrissur Zoo & Museum
Thrissur
3.5(130 reviews)
State Museum Complex, Thrissur
Thrissur
Appan Thampuran Smarakam
Thrissur
4.0(2 reviews)
Pazhassi Raja Archaeological Museum
Kozhikode
4.0(24 reviews)
Arakkal Museum
Kannur
3.5(72 reviews)
Napier Museum
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.0(389 reviews)
Science and Technology Museum
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.0(23 reviews)
Kollengode Palace
Palakkad
3.5(6 reviews)Explore 12 Wildlife Sanctuaries to Visit in Kerala
View 12 Wildlife Sanctuaries to visit in Kerala
Thekkady
Kerala
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Munnar
4.0(230 reviews)
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Thekkady
3.5(946 reviews)
Neyyar Dam
Kovalam
4.0(199 reviews)
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Wayanad
3.5(605 reviews)
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Wayanad
3.5(605 reviews)
Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary
Wayanad
Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary
Wayanad
3.0(44 reviews)
Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary
Thrissur
4.0(18 reviews)
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
Kannur
4.0(25 reviews)
Neyyar Dam and Wildlife Sanctuary
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.0(199 reviews)
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Palakkad
4.0(224 reviews)Explore 2 National Parks to Visit in Kerala
View 2 National Parks to visit in Kerala
Explore 4 Villages to Visit in Kerala
View 4 Villages to visit in Kerala
Explore 3 Zoos to Visit in Kerala
View 3 Zoos to visit in KeralaExplore 3 Mountains to Visit in Kerala
View 3 Mountains to visit in Kerala
Explore 6 Island to Visit in Kerala
View 6 Island to visit in Kerala
Pathiramanal Island
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
3.5(32 reviews)
Bolgatty Palace and Island
Kochi (Cochin)
4.0(73 reviews)Vypin Island
Kochi (Cochin)
Kuruva Island
Wayanad
3.5(565 reviews)
Ponnumthuruthu Island
Varkala
4.0(83 reviews)
Poovar Island
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.5(1,323 reviews)Explore 6 Gardens to Visit in Kerala
View 6 Gardens to visit in Kerala
Rose Garden
Munnar
4.0(1,156 reviews)
Abraham's Spice Garden
Thekkady
5.0(522 reviews)
Deepa World Spice and Ayurvedic Garden
Thekkady
4.0(126 reviews)
Heritage Garden
Thrissur
4.0(9 reviews)
Thiruvananthapuram Zoo
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
4.0(1,071 reviews)
Malampuzha Garden and Dam
Palakkad
4.0(332 reviews)Other Places to Visit in India
View all places to visit in India
Kashmir
Sikkim
Himachal Pradesh
Andaman and Nicobar
Uttarakhand
Meghalaya
Gujarat
Rajasthan
Assam
Arunachal Pradesh
Tamil Nadu
West Bengal
Karnataka
Ladakh
Goa
Maharashtra
Delhi
Madhya Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Telangana
Odisha
Punjab
Haryana
Bihar
Jharkhand
Lakshadweep
Mizoram
Tripura
Manipur
Nagaland
Pondicherry
Chhattisgarh
Daman
Popular Packages in Kerala
View all packages in Kerala
10 Nights 11 Days Packages
10 Nights & 11 Days
8 Nights 9 Days Package (510)
8 Nights & 9 Days
5 Nights 6 Days (508)
5 Nights & 6 Days
2 Nights 3 Days(503)
2 Nights & 3 Days
3nights 4 Packge
3 Nights & 4 Days
6 Nights 7 Days Trip (503)
6 Nights & 7 Days
7 Nights 8 Days ( 508)
7 Nights & 8 Days
501 ( 4 Nights 5 Days)
4 Nights & 5 Days
Munnar Romantic Tree House With Houseboat
3 Nights & 4 Days
Alleppey Short Honeymoon Tour
2 Nights & 3 Days