10 Famous Food in Alleppey (Alappuzha): Street & Local Dishes to Try

When you visit Alleppey, you are not just signing up for serene backwaters and lush green landscapes but rather entering a delicious world of spices, coconut and unforgettable culinary experiences. Known as the “Venice of the East,” this town in Kerala offers a plate full of surprises for every foodie. If you are wondering what to eat in Alleppey, you will find everything from spicy seafood curries to comforting vegetarian thalis and crunchy street snacks that you will love. 

Let’s take a tasty ride through the famous food in Alleppey, a must try experience that will make your trip even more unforgettable. 

Top 10 Famous Food to Try in Alleppey – Pick Your Favourite

Alleppey has a variety of food that you must try and would definitely love it as the taste is different and surprising. Here is a list of the top 10 famous food in Alleppey to try from which you can choose:

1. Alleppey Filter Coffee with Snacks

This does not include a proper meal, but this combo of a hot filter coffee with the local Kerala snacks like banana chips, Avalose podi and Murukku is a simple but yummy combo that feels very like Alleppey. Sipping coffee with a snack while watching the backwaters drift is by far the most relaxing part of the trip. This casual setup defines what to eat in Alleppey when you are just wanting to unwind and watch the time pass slow. 

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2. Banana chips and Sharkara Varatti

Banana chips and Sharkara Varatti are sweet and savory snacks. Alleppey is not just about full meals. It is a land of snacks, and nothing says Street food in Alleppey more than crispy banana chips and Sharkara Varatti, sprinkled with jaggery.

Available almost everywhere and anywhere from beach stalls to spice shops, they make great travel snacks or souvenirs. Their lovely crunch is so addictive with that sweet-salty balance.

3. Karimeen Pollichathu – Sizzling Hot

Among the very famous dishes in Alleppey, Karimeen Pollichathu refers to the pearl spot fish marinated with Kerala-style spices and wrapped in banana leaf before it is grilled or fried. The smoky scent drifting over to your nose simultaneously with that tangy and spicy explosion of flavors in your mouth just sells this dish as a must-have.

If you love seafood or are looking for something unique from the Alleppey region, a dealer that should be top on your list of Alleppey famous food. Just opening the banana leaf and breathing in that fragrance is an experience.

4. Chemmeen Curry: Spicy Prawn Goodness

You will never forget this prawn curry. Made with coconut milk, shallots, and a little tamarind, every spoonful carries that typical Kerala flavor. It is the ultimate food in Alleppey for a person who loves its spicy seafood.

Hot with rice or appam, Chemmeen Curry is soothing comfort food and the one that truly captures the spirit of Alleppey cuisine. It is an amazing mouth feel of spicy, rich taste with a bit of kick that will keep you licking your plate clean. 

Why try it? It is not just a meal; it is fun and every bite has a different taste and in pure Kerala style, when eaten with the bare hands, it actually connects you with culture. This Alleppey cuisine is a must to procure if you ever catch the town during some festival.

5. Kerala Sadya- Bananas Leaf Full Diet

The other local product people cannot miss in the food lineup of Alleppey is Sadya. It is a traditional vegetarian meal that consists of more than 20 dishes arranged on a banana leaf. It consists of rice, vegetable curries, pickles, papadams, different types of chutney, and dessert. 

Why should a traveler attempt this? Because it is so much more than simply food. Every bite has a different taste, and eating with your bare hands, the Kerala style, provides an immersive cultural experience. If there’s a festival in town, then that is where you find this welcomed Alleppey delicacy.

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6. Appam with Stew – Soft Meets Spicy

Appam is a rice pancake that is soft in the middle and crisp around the edges and is an absolute treat when paired with vegetable or chicken stew. It is fairly light, yet quite filling, so it makes for great breakfast or dinner and is certainly one of the famous dishes in Alappuzha.

Its uniqueness lies in the contrast; the creamy coconut stew is just perfect for the spongy appam, so with every bite, you are hit by contrasting flavors and textures. If you feel the urge for some comfort food in your stay, then this is your dish.

7. Thalassery Biryani – Aromatic and Perfectly Balanced

Hailing originally from North Kerala, Thalassery Biryani is readily found in Alleppey and is one of the famous local dishes to try in Alleppey. It is distinguished by the use of the small-grain Kaima rice, tasty masalas, and tender meat.

Why try it in Alleppey? Local restaurants apply their own unique backwater twist, often combining it with seafood or duck. What better way to retire after a whole day of sightseeing than to have a sumptuous meal?

8. Tapioca with Fish Curry – Rustic Treat

A simple yet wholesome meal of mashed tapioca and a side of spicy red fish curry. It is the kind of meal that locals eat daily, making it one of the best local food in Alleppey for travelers who want to eat like the natives.

Not fancy, but loaded with hearty flavors and gorgeous with the tropical setup. One will get to have it in homestays or at local eateries dishing out authentic Alleppey cuisine.

9. Nadan Kozhi Curry – Kerala-Style Chicken Curry

The secret to the beauty of this spicy hot chicken Nadan Kozhi Curry is the roasting of coconut, curry leaves, and a blend of spices that give that hot touch to the real soul comfort curry. 

This is the perfect representation of the famous food line at Alleppey with a rich aroma and unforgettable taste. It is typically enjoyed with boiled rice, roti, or Kerala-style parotta and serves as a wonderful introduction to local flavors that are not very exotic. 

10. Parotta with Beef Fry – Spicy and Big on Satisfaction

The layered Kerala Parotta is flaky and buttery and superbly delicious. Combine that with a spicy beef fry, and you have an ample supper in Alleppey.

Parottas are fried until crisp outside and soft inside, making a wonderful pairing with the subtly fried beef, liberally smeared with black pepper and curry leaves. You’ll find this in small dhabas all the way to limelight restaurants across Alleppey.

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Where to Find the Best Food in Alleppey?

Alleppey is an interesting blend of local eateries, houseboat meals, homestay kitchens, and street vendors. If you really want to sample best food in Alleppey cuisine, here is what you should consider:

• Harbour Restaurant – For Karimeen Pollichathu and Chemmeen Curry
• Cassia Restaurant – For Sadya and vegetarian meals
• Toddy Shops – For spicy meats and a taste of local liquor
• Street Stalls near the beach and markets – For banana fritters, vada, and dosas
• Houseboats – Try meals prepared on board using local, fresh ingredients

While searching for all the famous food in Alappuzha, don’t miss visiting some Places to Visit in Alleppey, like the backwaters, Alleppey Beach, and Alappuzha Lighthouse, to round off the experience.

FAQs on Famous Food in Alleppey

Final Words:

The food in Alleppey is more than just fulfilling hunger-the very act of eating is a cultural experience in Kerala. Roaring fish curries, soothing stews, crispy banana chips, and silky smooth desserts: The Alleppey cuisine is an elaborate palate and a beautiful memory to cherish.

Be it downing toddy shops fare or gluttonous Sadya on the banana leaf during a houseboat ride, Alleppey food is an evocative memory in itself. Therefore, on your next trip, try the Alleppey local food instead of just seeing it.