HotChemmeen (Prawn) Curry
Non-vegPrawns simmered in a tangy coconut-and-kokum gravy — a backwater-coast classic with rice or appam.
₹250–500
Eat in Kollam
What to Eat in Kollam Today?
Search Kollam dishes by craving — chemmeen (prawn) curry, kappa & meen curry, kerala sadya and more.
Kollam sits between the sea and the backwaters, so seafood is at the heart of its cooking. Prawns, pearl spot and other fresh catch are cooked with coconut, curry leaves and kudampuli, a sour fruit that gives Kollam's fish curries their deep red colour and tangy taste.
The city is also known across India for cashews. If you are wondering what to eat in Kollam, start with a fish curry and rice, try kappa with meen curry, and take a packet of roasted cashews home.
Popular cravings
Diet
Best for
5 Kollam dishes found
Hot
HotKappa & Meen Curry
Non-vegSteamed tapioca (kappa) mashed with coconut, paired with a fiery fish curry — hearty backwater comfort food.
₹120–320
MildKerala Sadya
VegThe grand vegetarian banana-leaf feast of rice, sambar, avial, thoran, olan, pickles and payasam.
₹150–400
Kollam Cashew Treats
VegRoasted cashews and cashew sweets from Kollam — India's cashew capital — a nutty local specialty.
₹100–500
HotKollam Fish Curry
Non-vegA tangy Kollam-style fish curry with coconut and kudampuli (kokum) — best with rice or kappa, from the backwater catch.
₹150–350
Famous Food to Eat in Kollam
Kollam food is coastal Kerala cooking: coconut, seafood, rice and bold, sour-spicy curries.
Kollam Fish Curry
Fish simmered in a red, tangy gravy made with chilli, coconut and kudampuli. It is traditionally cooked in a clay pot and tastes even better the next day. Eat it with rice or kappa.
Chemmeen (Prawn) Curry
Prawns from the backwaters and the sea, cooked in a coconut and kudampuli gravy. It goes well with rice or appam and is one of the dishes most visitors order first.
Kappa and Meen Curry
Steamed tapioca mashed with coconut and spices, served with a hot fish curry. It is simple, filling everyday food across Kerala and a favourite lunch in Kollam.
Kerala Sadya
A vegetarian feast of rice with sambar, avial, thoran, olan, pickles, papadam and payasam, served on a banana leaf. It is eaten at festivals and weddings, and especially at Onam, but many restaurants serve a sadya-style meal at lunchtime.
Kollam Cashews
Kollam has been a centre of cashew processing for generations. Look for roasted, salted and spiced cashews and cashew sweets in shops around the city centre.
Snacks and Tea in Kollam
Tea shops across the city serve strong, sweet chai with fried snacks such as banana fritters (pazham pori) in the afternoon. Around the Chinnakada area in the centre you will find bakeries and small eateries for a quick bite between sights.
Food Tips for Travellers in Kollam
- Order the fish curry of the day, as the catch changes with the season.
- Ask for the spice level to be reduced if you are not used to chilli.
- Lunch is the main meal, and many local places serve rice meals only at midday.
- Vegetarians should look for a sadya or a vegetarian meals restaurant.
- Buy cashews in sealed packs from established shops so they stay fresh on the journey home.
Questions
Kollam — FAQ
What food is Kollam famous for?
Kollam is known for Kollam fish curry, chemmeen (prawn) curry, kappa with meen curry and its cashews. The Kerala sadya is the classic vegetarian meal.
What is kudampuli?
Kudampuli is a dried, sour fruit (Malabar tamarind) used in Kerala fish curries. It gives Kollam's fish curry its tangy flavour and dark red colour, and it also helps the curry keep well.
Is Kollam good for vegetarians?
Yes, although the city is best known for seafood. Look for a Kerala sadya or a vegetarian meals restaurant, and try dishes such as avial, thoran, sambar and appam with vegetable stew.
Are Kollam cashews a good souvenir?
Yes. Kollam has long been one of India's main cashew-processing centres, and roasted or spiced cashews are an easy, popular gift. Buy sealed packs from established shops.