List of best restaurants in Kochi - Ernakulam
Here is my list of top restaurants in Kochi - Ernakulam area. Being a foodie, I have personally enjoyed the food in all these restaurants and this review is based on my own experience.
Before I start writing on the list of best restaurants in Kochi, let me make this clear - I'm a foodie and love going around hunting for tasty food. I don't trust any reviews but would recommend a restaurant only after I experience it myself. I have personally visited and experienced the food in every restaurant mentioned here.
Here is the catch. This list may not be 100% accurate for 2 reasons: First of all, my taste buds may not be like yours and what is best for me may not be the best for you. Second, I haven't visited every restaurant in Kochi, even though my list is pretty big and comprehensive. If you think I missed a great restaurant in Kochi, please let me know and I will be happy to visit the same in the same week and add to my list if it qualifies as per my criteria.1. Alibaba & 41 Dishes 2. Paragon 3. Sardarji Ka Dhaba 4. Hotel Yuvarani 5. Hotel ibis Kochi 6. Wok & Grill Alibaba & 41 Dishes, Panampilly Nagar
Alibaba & 41 Dishes is our favourite weekend hangout place. We are so familiar with their menu that we don't need to even look at it. In fact, even the waiters over there are familiar with us (especially because of the noise my 3 boys create over there!) and they even know we don't need to see the menu card. Our favourite dishes in Alibaba are Triple Chicken Fried rice (a combination of rice, noodles and egg omelette), Dragon Chicken (dry chicken in finger shape with dragon sauce), Kung Pao chicken (Chinese Chicken gravy with peanut sauce), Ginger Chicken, Gopi Manchurian and Wheat Parotta.
They have started a new branch in Edappally but we prefer to visit their parent branch in Panampilly Nagar just because it is far (we love driving around in the night) and they have a special item (dry fruit pudding, which is the favourite of my wife). The Edappally branch, located adjacent to Lulul Mall is very close to our house and is convenient for a quick dinner.
There is another reason we keep going back - Our children really love this place. The paper table mats they use have some activity worksheets for the children, which keep our children occupied until the food arrives. The Alibaba Face Mask they give to the kids are really funny and our kids love wearing them and showing off to their friends. They have a lot of Alibaba related sketch paintings on the wall. We have fun in making up stories based on the sketches they have on the wall. Every time we choose a different table so that we can make a different story based on the sketch drawings near each table.
Address of the restaurant (Panampilly Nagar Branch): Main Avenue, MIG Housing Society, Panampilly Nagar, MIG Housing Society, Panampilly Nagar, Ernakulam, Kerala 682036
Website: alibaba41dishes.com
Phone: 0484 403 5555
Hours: 11:30AM–11:30PM
Location map:
Location of Alibaba & 41 Dishes, Panampilly NagarParagon Kochi
Paragon is one of the most popular restaurants in Calicut. They have opened a premium branch in Lulu mall at Edappally in Kochi. Paragon Kochi is considered as on of the finest restaurants in town with traditional Kozhikkodan recipes, blended with Arabian cuisine. My favourite in Paragon are their traditional dum biriyani and the "Meshwiyath Mushakal", which is a combination of beef, mutton and chicken kababs, served with salads.
If you are visiting Lulu mall, don't leave the place without making a visit to Paragon. During lunch and dinner hours, it is pretty crowded and you may need to wait in line for some time but it is worth the wait.
Due to the crowd, Paragon Kochi may not be an ideal place for a hangout with friends but if you are looking for authentic Kozhikkodan food, there is no better place to go in Kochi.
Address: Lulu Mall, Edappally, Kochi, Kerala 682024
Hours: 11AM–11PM
Phone: 0484 401 1000
Location map of Paragon KochiSardarji Ka Dhaba
I recently published a review of Sardarji Ka Dhaba in this website itself. This is a well known restaurant in Ernakulam area for North India dishes. If you are looking for some North Indian delicacies, look no further. Sardarji Ka Dhaba has a lot of choices for you. But one word of caution though. If you are a South Indian and love the Biriyani in the south, don't order any Biriyani items there. Sardarji Ka Dhaba is well known for its Rotis and other north Indian type of food. I wasn't very impressed with their South Indian dishes.
They are located diagonally opposite to Seematty and is facing the Banerjee Road in Ernakulam. One challenge would be the parking. They have very limited parking space in front of the restaurant.
Sardarji Ka Dhaba recently opened their new branch in Kalamassery, which is located at walking distance from my home. They have excellent reviews but I haven't visited the new branch yet. As I said earlier, we love driving around in the week-ends and having a dinner in a restaurant so close to my home doesn't really amuse my family. But so far, Sardarji Ka Dhaba is rated as one of the best restaurants in Kalamassery area.
Address of Sardarji Ka Dhaba: Near Canara Bank, Banerji Rd, Ernakulam, Kerala 682018
Phone: 098954 49836
Hours: 11AM–11PM
Website: https://www.facebook.com/sardarjikadhabakochi
Location of Sardarji Ka Dhaba, ErnakulamHotel Yuvarani
Yuvarani was the first restaurant I visited with my wife. In fact, it was just before our marriage in the year 2002. We were in Ernakulam with our families for our wedding shopping and we chose Yuvarani since it was one of the best choices in MG Road close to the shops we were at. During those days, Yuvarani had buffet lunch with a lot of choices. I think they no longer offer the buffet lunch but I'm sure they still do maintain the same authentic food choices. We have been regular at Yuvarani for a few years after our wedding and even during the times we visit India for the holidays. Eventually, a lot of new restaurants came up in Kochi and now we have more options to choose from.
If there is one thing that stopped us from going to Yuvarani often is the ambiance. Being attached with a hotel and close to the busy MG Road, the ambiance in Yuvarani is not really a hangout-type. You can go there when you are hungry and eat some really tasty food. But if you want a great evening hangout place, I would suggest you explore the other restaurants I mentioned here.
Address of Hotel Yuvarani: Jos Junction, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, Ernakulam South, Ernakulam, Kerala 682011
Website: yuvaraniresidency.com
Phone: 0484 237 7040
Location of Hotel YuvaraniHotel ibis Kochi
ibis Kochi Hotel got a surprise entry into my list of best restaurants in Kochi area. It is a business hotel in MG Road in the heart of Ernakulam. We do conduct workshops and seminars here and that is how we got to know about their restaurant. While I admin this is not a typical multi-cuisine restaurant in town, but they do cook and serve excellent food. If you are here just for a coffee or a juice, you may find this place expensive and it is truely a great place for business meetings or a leisure lunch without much crowd around. Being located in the first floor of a business hotel, you won't find much crowd here except when they have meetings or seminars going on. If you are looking for a calm and quite place for a dinner with your loved ones, drive into ibis Hotel in the MG Road and enjoy a great evening dinner.
They do offer buffet lunch with a lot of choices including a greart salad bar and dessert station. Don't miss their choices of ice creams which is sort of hidden behind other desserts.
Address: Mahatma Gandhi Rd, Padma Junction, Shenoys, Ernakulam, Kerala 682035
Phone: 0484 713 7137
Website: https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-7928-ibis-kochi-city-centre-/index.shtml
Location map of ibis KochiWok & Grill
Next in my list is a Chinese restaurant, just 50 metres from the National Highway between Vyttila and Edappilly. Excellent ambiance for an evening hangout is the main attraction of Wok & Grill. As the name suggests, they do offer yummy authentic Chienese food with a lot of choices. Just check for the chef's choice of the day and you feel glad you asked. They have ample space in front of the restaurant, so parking is not a concern. Restaurant is very spacious and even if you come with large groups, you don't have to wait for long to find space for the groups.
Address: 38/3001 B & B1, Ayesha road,N.H. Bypass, Vyttila, Kochi, Ernakulam, Kerala 682019
Hours: 12–3:30PM, 7–11PM
Website: (No website)
Location mapBest Restaurants in Kochi
Hope you went through the list of my favourite restaurants in Kochi. Each one is unique in its own space and offer many choices. I have compiled this list from about 40+ upscale restaurants I have visited in Kakkanad, Ernakulam, Vyttila, Kochi, Edappally region. If you know any fine restaurants that is worth mentioning here, just let me know the name and I will visit in the next few days and add it here if I feel it qualifies to be in my list.
Thanks for such wonderful information.