The Foodie’s Guide to Thiruvananthapuram: All that you need and more

From rich history to beautiful landscapes, the capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, is not behind in possessing mouth-watering food. Be it traditionally prepared Kerala food items, street food, or some fusion flavors-the city has all that can make a food lover go crazy. Whether you like spicy curries, fresh seafood, or sweet delights, Thiruvananthapuram has something in store for every kind of eater. Here’s your ultimate guide to exploring the best of Thiruvananthapuram’s food scene.

1. Have Traditional Kerala Breakfast

Kerala has many types of healthy breakfast, and Thiruvananthapuram is the perfect destination to savor all of these. Begin your day with the following local cuisines:

• Puttu and Kadala Curry: A traditional preparation made of steamed rice flour and coconut, served with black chickpea curry.
• Appam with Stew: Soft and fluffy rice pancakes are usually served with a mildly spiced vegetable or meat stew prepared in coconut milk.
• Idiyappam with Egg Curry: These rice flour string hoppers really go well with this spicy egg curry.

You can have all these tasty breakfast foods from Mother’s Veg Plaza to Ariya Nivaas.

2. Chalai Bazaar Street Food

No food trip to Thiruvananthapuram can be called complete without trying street food in the Chalai Bazaar-the one of the oldest markets of the city. Amidst the hustle in the shops, some delectable snacks will keep you tripping over:

• Parippu Vada: Crispy deep-fried lentil fritters with hot chutney.
• Banana Fritters or Pazham Pori: Sweet, crispy fritters of ripe bananas; too tempting, it is excellent for a quick snacking.
• Kappa (Tapioca) and Meen Curry: A regional favorite, it consists of boiled tapioca with a spicy fish curry combined together.

Chalai Bazaar boasts extremely traditional Kerala street food with affordable prices.

3. Enjoy Fresh Seafood Delights of Kerala

Lying close to the Arabian Sea, Thiruvananthapuram is a seafood haven. You will find all kinds of fresh fish and shellfish in a wide array of traditional Kerala preparations:

• Karimeen Pollichathu: Pearl spot fish marinated in spices and grill-wrap in banana leaves to perfection.
• Fish Molee: Mild coconut-based preparation of fish especially tasty with appam or rice.
• Prawn Ularthiyathu: Stir-fried prawns in aromatic spices, curry leaves, and coconut oil.

The above-mentioned seafood delicacies can be savored at Villa Maya and Theeram Restaurant.

4. Traditional Kerala Feast (Sadhya)

Sadhya is the usual Kerala vegetarian meal on a banana leaf. During festivals like Onam, a visit without having at least one Sadhya meal during the festivals is not considered appropriate. Sadhya has an array of dishes that comprises:

• Avial – mixed vegetable with coconut and yogurt
• Olan – basically a white pumpkin and cowpeas in coconut milk, rather a simple and bland-looking dish but full of taste
• Sambar, Rasam, and Kalan – these are spicy curries, which helped to balance out the sweet and sour taste of the food
• Payasam: sweet preparation with rice, jaggery, and coconut milk, generally served at the end of the feast

You may savor an age-old traditional Sadhya at Hotel Krishna Vilas or Sri Ananda Bhavan, especially during festival seasons.

5. Savor International Cuisines with a Kerala Touch

There are a few international cuisines you can try in the menu in Thiruvananthapuram with a regional touch. Some of the unique fusion delicacies to be tried include:

• Kerala Pizza: Pizzas loaded with Kerala ingredients such as prawns, beef, and banana chips, are in vogue at cafes like Zam Zam.
• Arabian shawarma is a popular street food with a touch of Kerala in it with regard to local spices being used in them.
• Churros, waffles, continental snacks with an Indian touch-are the trendy fusion desserts and snacks served at Cafe Jade.

6. Sweet Treats of Kerala

If you are a sweet-toothed guy, Thiruvananthapuram will not disappoint. Try some traditional sweets of Kerala:

• Unniyappam: Sweet rice cakes fried in oil mixed with jaggery and banana.
• Ada Pradhaman: Rice flakes cooked in coconut milk mixed with jaggery gives this preparation an excellent taste.
• Palada Payasam is a traditional rice pudding made with milk, sugar, and rice flakes. It is mainly offered during special festivals.

Some of the local sweet parlors like Sree Padmanabha Sweets and Mahachandran Sweets will help you get these above-mentioned Kerala traditional desserts.

7. Savor Gourmet Cuisine Using Local Flavors

For something classier, visit Villa Maya, a beautifully restored 18th-century mansion offering Kerala, Indian, and international cuisine in classic surroundings. Another good option is The Leela Kovalam, where you will be served a meal using local coastal flavors and with a view of the Arabian Sea.

8. Renowned Tea and Coffee Culture of Kerala

You are not allowed to leave Thiruvananthapuram without a glass of fresh tea or a cup of coffee. For coffee, Indian Coffee House is the place for Kerala-style filter coffee with snacks like masala dosa or vada. For the tea lovers, “sulaimani” is a black tea flavored with cardamom and lemon that you can get from many tea stalls on every nook and corner of the city.

Conclusion

Thiruvananthapuram has turned out to be foodie utopia that includes traditional Kerala food, popular street food, seafood, and a tad of international fusion. From pungent curries to sweet delights, every meal in this city draws you further into the rich culinary history of Kerala. Whether you dine in the plushest restaurant or nibble on quick bites, Thiruvananthapuram promises to give each foodie a memorable food voyage.