MildAppam & Stew
VegSoft lacy fermented-rice appams with a mildly spiced coconut-milk vegetable stew — Kerala's classic breakfast.
₹80–250
Eat in Wayanad
What to Eat in Wayanad Today?
Search Wayanad dishes by craving — appam & stew, bamboo rice dishes, kappa & meen curry and more.
Wayanad eats like the rest of north Kerala, with a strong Malabar influence: rice, coconut, spices grown on the local estates and plenty of meat and fish. On top of that it has something few places do — dishes made with bamboo rice, a grain collected from the forests.
Most restaurants are in the main towns, Kalpetta and Sultan Bathery, so plan meals around where you are sightseeing.
Popular cravings
Diet
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5 Wayanad dishes found
Mild
MildBamboo Rice Dishes
VegForaged wild bamboo-seed rice (mulayari) cooked into puttu, payasam or kheer — a prized Wayanad tribal ingredient.
₹100–300
HotKappa & Meen Curry
Non-vegSteamed tapioca (kappa) mashed with coconut, paired with a fiery red fish curry — hearty Kerala comfort food.
₹120–320
MildKerala Sadya
VegThe grand vegetarian banana-leaf feast — rice with sambar, avial, thoran, olan, pickles, pappadam and payasam.
₹150–400
Medium spiceMalabar Biryani
Non-vegA fragrant short-grain (kaima/jeerakasala) rice biryani layered with spiced chicken or mutton — the Malabar coast's celebrated version.
₹150–350
Famous Food to Eat in Wayanad
Food in Wayanad is filling and full of flavour, with pepper, cardamom and ginger from the estates around you. These are the dishes to look for.
Malabar Biryani
A biryani made with short-grain kaima (jeerakasala) rice, layered with spiced chicken or mutton. It is lighter on chilli than many biryanis and fragrant with whole spices. Look for it at lunch in Kalpetta and Sultan Bathery.
Kappa and Meen Curry
Steamed tapioca, often mashed with coconut, served with a hot red fish curry. It is everyday Kerala comfort food and one of the spicier dishes you will eat here.
Appam and Stew
Soft rice pancakes with lacy edges and a spongy centre, served with a mild coconut milk stew. It is a breakfast dish and often runs out by mid-morning.
Kerala Sadya
A vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf, with rice, sambar, avial, thoran, olan, pickles, pappadam and payasam. It is the classic festival meal, especially at Onam, and some restaurants serve a version at lunch.
Bamboo Rice Dishes
Bamboo rice (mulayari) is the seed of the bamboo plant, gathered by tribal communities when the bamboo flowers. It is cooked into payasam, puttu and other dishes, and has a slightly nutty, chewy texture. Supplies are limited, so ask if it is available.
Snacks, Tea and Coffee in Wayanad
Wayanad grows coffee, tea and spices, and you will see them sold everywhere. Stop at a local tea shop for strong tea or filter coffee with a fried snack such as a banana fritter (pazham pori). Spice stalls, like the ones at the entrance to Pookode Lake, sell pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, coffee and honey.
Food Tips for Travellers in Wayanad
- Eat in the main towns when you can; there are few restaurants near most sights.
- Carry water and snacks for the Chembra trek and the Edakkal climb.
- Go early for appam and stew, as breakfast dishes sell out.
- Kerala meals come with rice by default; ask for chapati or porotta if you prefer.
- Ask for less spice if you want it — kappa with fish curry can be very hot.
- Carry some cash for small tea shops and spice stalls.
Questions
Wayanad — FAQ
What food is Wayanad famous for?
Wayanad is known for Malabar biryani, kappa with fish curry, appam and stew, Kerala sadya and bamboo rice dishes. It is also a major grower of coffee, pepper and cardamom.
What is bamboo rice?
Bamboo rice is the seed of the bamboo plant, collected when bamboo flowers. In Wayanad, tribal communities gather it from the forest, and it is cooked into payasam, puttu and other dishes. It is not always available, so ask.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Wayanad?
Yes. Kerala sadya, appam with vegetable stew and most breakfast dishes are vegetarian, and the main towns have pure vegetarian restaurants. Non-vegetarian food is very common too, so check if you are unsure.
What can I buy to take home from Wayanad?
Coffee, pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, tea and honey are the usual buys. You will find them at spice shops in the towns and at stalls near sights such as Pookode Lake.