Eat in Munnar

What to Eat in Munnar Today?

Q: What food is Munnar famous for?

Munnar is known for Kerala dishes like appam with stew, puttu and kadala, Kerala parotta with curry and pazham pori, and above all for fresh local tea.

Search Munnar dishes by craving — appam with stew, kerala parotta with curry, munnar tea and more.

Food in Munnar mixes Kerala home cooking with the Tamil flavours brought by the families who came to work the tea estates. Breakfast is the big meal to try: soft appams, steamed puttu and spicy curries, usually with a glass of strong estate tea.

If you are wondering what to eat in Munnar, start with the dishes below. Most are simple, filling and made for cool mornings in the hills.

Popular cravings

Diet

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5 Munnar dishes found

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Mild

Appam with Stew

Veg

Lacy fermented-rice appams with a gentle coconut-milk vegetable stew — a cosy Kerala hill breakfast.

₹80–200

Best around: Munnar Bazaar and Munnar Town

Medium spice

Kerala Parotta with Curry

Non-veg

Layered, flaky Malabar parotta with a spicy beef or vegetable curry — the hearty hill-country dinner.

₹80–250

Best around: Munnar Bazaar

Munnar Tea

Veg

Fresh high-grown black tea straight from the estate — brisk, aromatic, and best with the mountain view.

₹20–150

Pazham Pori

Veg

Ripe plantain slices in a crisp golden batter — the perfect tea-time fritter for a misty afternoon.

₹20–60

Best around: Munnar Town

Mild

Puttu & Kadala

Veg

Steamed rice-and-coconut puttu with a spiced black-chickpea curry — a filling start to a hill day.

₹60–150

Best around: Munnar Town

Famous Food to Eat in Munnar

Munnar's food is Kerala comfort food with a hill-country twist. These are the dishes to look out for.

Appam with Stew

Appam is a bowl-shaped pancake made from fermented rice batter, with lacy edges and a soft centre. It is served with a mild stew of vegetables, or sometimes meat, cooked in coconut milk. It is a classic Kerala breakfast.

Puttu and Kadala

Puttu is steamed rice flour layered with grated coconut and shaped into a cylinder. It comes with kadala curry, made from black chickpeas in a spiced coconut gravy. It is filling and a good start to a day of sightseeing.

Kerala Parotta with Curry

A soft, flaky layered flatbread, torn up and eaten with a spicy curry. Beef, chicken and vegetable curries are all common, and it is a popular dinner in Munnar's town restaurants.

Pazham Pori

Slices of ripe plantain dipped in batter and fried until golden. It is Kerala's favourite tea-time snack, sold at tea stalls and small bakeries around town.

Munnar Tea

Munnar grows tea on almost every slope, so drink it fresh. Local tea is usually strong black tea, served sweet with milk at tea stalls or plain at estate shops.

Tea Stalls and Snacks in Munnar

Small tea stalls and bakeries in Munnar Bazaar and along the main roads sell hot tea, pazham pori and other fried snacks through the day. Stopping for tea and a fritter on a misty afternoon is part of the Munnar routine. Estate outlets sell packets of local tea if you want to take some home.

Food Tips for Travellers in Munnar

Eat breakfast early: appam and puttu are morning dishes and can run out by mid-morning.
Vegetarians will find plenty to eat, with South Indian vegetarian restaurants in town.
Beef is common in Kerala, so check the curry if you do not eat it.
Ask for less spice if you prefer mild food, as Tamil-style curries can be hot.
Carry snacks and water on day trips, as food options are limited near Top Station and Eravikulam.
Restaurants in town fill up at dinner on weekends and holidays, so eat a little early.

Questions

Munnar — FAQ

What food is Munnar famous for?

Munnar is known for Kerala dishes like appam with stew, puttu and kadala, Kerala parotta with curry and pazham pori, and above all for fresh local tea.

What is a typical breakfast in Munnar?

A typical breakfast is appam with stew or puttu with kadala curry, served with a glass of hot, sweet tea. Idli and dosa are also easy to find.

Can I buy tea in Munnar?

Yes. Estate outlets and shops in town sell packets of local tea, including black tea and flavoured blends. Buying from an estate or factory outlet is the easiest way to get fresh tea.

Is Munnar food spicy?

It depends on the dish. Appam with stew is mild and coconut-based, while parotta curries and Tamil-style dishes can be spicy. Most places will make it milder if you ask.