Kochi’s 25-Year Culinary Evolution: From Biryani to Modern Cafes

Rapid Summary

• Kochi’s culinary landscape has considerably evolved over the past 25 years, reflecting cultural changes and diverse influences.
• Twenty years ago, Chinese cuisine was considered “exotic,” while today, menus feature a broad range of international options.
• Malabari biryani gained popularity, replacing Kochi’s traditional variant in many areas. Biryani styles from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka (Donne), and Hyderabad added variety to the food scene.
• Arabic cuisine made a strong foothold with dishes like mandi, shawaya, al-fahm, and shawarma becoming ubiquitous.
• Cafe culture grew with establishments like Kashi Art Cafe blending gourmet food with artsy aesthetics and independent cafes offering experimental menus alongside artisanal pizzas. Japanese and Korean ramen also emerged as trendy staples due to global entertainment influences.
• The rise of restobars over the last two years provided spaces for families and younger audiences alike featuring diverse beverage options along with food offerings.
• Vegan dishes and sustainability-focused platters became prominent due to shifting consumer attitudes spearheaded by food bloggers/content creators facilitated by aggregator platforms.
• Despite modernization trends, traditional Kerala foods like fish curry meals remain cherished alongside classic porotta-beef combos.

Images Included: Pizza | Kashi Art Cafe | Shawarma | Vegan Food

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