MildAppam & Stew
VegSoft lacy appams with a mild coconut-milk vegetable stew — a soothing highland breakfast.
₹80–250
Best around: Kumily
Eat in Thekkady
What to Eat in Thekkady Today?
Search Thekkady dishes by craving — appam & stew, cardamom spice tea, kappa & meen curry and more.
Thekkady sits in the heart of Kerala's spice country, and you can taste it in the food. Cardamom, black pepper, ginger and cinnamon grow on the hills around the town, and they turn up in everything from the morning tea to the fish curry.
If you are wondering what to eat in Thekkady, start with Kerala classics like appam and stew, kappa with fish curry and a vegetarian sadya, and finish with a cup of cardamom tea made with local spices.
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5 Thekkady dishes found
Mild
Cardamom Spice Tea
VegHot tea infused with the estate's own cardamom, pepper and ginger — a fragrant warm-up in the Cardamom Hills.
₹15–80
Best around: Kumily
HotKappa & Meen Curry
Non-vegSteamed tapioca (kappa) with a fiery fish curry — hearty highland comfort food, spiced with local pepper.
₹120–320
HotKerala Fish Curry
Non-vegFish in a tangy coconut-and-kokum gravy — a spice-country favourite, made vivid by fresh local pepper and spices.
₹150–350
Best around: Thekkady Road
MildKerala Sadya
VegThe grand vegetarian banana-leaf feast of rice, sambar, avial, thoran, olan, pickles and payasam.
₹150–400
Famous Food to Eat in Thekkady
Food in Thekkady is Kerala home cooking, made with coconut, rice and plenty of local spices. These are the dishes to try.
Appam & Stew
Soft rice-flour pancakes with a lacy edge and a spongy centre, served with a mild vegetable stew cooked in coconut milk and whole spices. It is a gentle, filling breakfast and is often finished by mid-morning.
Kappa & Meen Curry
Steamed and mashed tapioca served with a hot, red fish curry. It is one of the most loved everyday meals in the Kerala hills and is peppery and filling.
Kerala Fish Curry
Fish cooked in a tangy gravy of coconut and kodampuli, a sour dried fruit also called Malabar tamarind. Every kitchen makes it a little differently, so it is worth trying more than once.
Kerala Sadya
A vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf, with rice, sambar, avial, thoran, olan, pickles, papadam and payasam for dessert. It is the traditional meal for Onam and festivals, and many restaurants serve it at lunchtime.
Spice Tea and Snacks in Thekkady
Tea here is made with the region's own cardamom, ginger and sometimes pepper, and small tea stalls in Kumily serve it all day. It goes well with Kerala snacks such as banana fritters. Kumily's spice shops also sell cardamom, pepper, cloves, tea and coffee, which make good things to take home.
Food Tips for Travellers in Thekkady
- Have appam and stew for breakfast, as it often sells out by mid-morning.
- Ask for a sadya at lunchtime, as it is rarely served in the evening.
- Kerala food is often cooked in coconut oil, so ask if you prefer a lighter dish.
- Ask for less spice if you are not used to peppery curries.
- Buy spices from shops that let you see and smell the goods, and check the packing date.
- Drink bottled or filtered water, especially during the monsoon.
Questions
Thekkady — FAQ
What food is Thekkady famous for?
Thekkady is known for Kerala dishes such as appam and stew, kappa with fish curry, Kerala fish curry and the vegetarian sadya, as well as tea made with local cardamom and ginger.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Thekkady?
Yes. Appam and stew, the sadya and many rice and vegetable dishes are vegetarian, and most restaurants in Kumily have plenty of vegetarian options.
Can I buy spices in Thekkady?
Yes. Kumily's main street is lined with shops selling cardamom, pepper, cloves, cinnamon, tea and coffee. Many spice plantation tours also have a shop at the end.
Is the food in Thekkady spicy?
Some dishes are. Kappa with fish curry and many meat curries are hot and peppery, while appam and stew and most sadya dishes are mild. Most kitchens will reduce the spice if you ask.