Kerala, “God’s own country” is well known for its Beef recipes and its preparation. Beef has been one of the main attractions of Kerala cuisine which comes with a magical blend of spices. Coconut pieces in the mix tend to have a massive say in the taste. The traditional spicy beef dishes of Kerala, when met with your taste buds would really feel awesome with boiled rice, kappa (tapioca), Porotta and so on. Beef Ularthu (Sauteed Beef), Beef curry and Beef roast are some of the prominently loved recipes which are available throughout the state. The Keralite’s passion for beef recipes is very evident in the way we could locate restaurants on every street in Kerala which serves traditional beef dishes. Here is a list of the 7 best beef restaurants in Kerala, which are purely based on my opinion.
It’s been quite amazing how Keralites enjoy different varieties of Beef preparations. Beef curry with Porotta and Beef Ularthu (sauteed beef) with rice are the two main combinations which are most popular. I was fortunate enough to visit numerous restaurants across the state. It’s been a pleasant journey in having a feel of a variety of beef preparations all throughout Kerala. Let’s check out the list of seven restaurants serving the most delicious beef recipes in Kerala.
7. Dharmettan’s Beef Curry And Parotta Restaurant in Thrissur
The seventh one on the list is Dharmettan’s shop in Thrissur which is quite famous for Parotta and beef. Apart from this yummy dish, the shop also offers us a unique combination of Ullivada (onion fritters) and Beef curry. Crispy fried Ullivada mixed with delicious and spicy beef curry would prove to be an amazing combo. The beef pieces were cooked soft and the taste was simply awesome. I was in the company of friends and it was Nishad who took us to the food spot as he is a native of Thrissur.
It’s an old and small restaurant which has a long history to lean on. Apparently cooking is being done traditionally using firewood and all of us really liked the taste of this village food. All of these spots would not come under the fine dining category, in fact, these are all eateries for the common man. Dharmettan is the main guy who takes care of the cooking. Beef is cooked in a big Uruli and that also has a say in the taste of this traditional beef curry dish.
6. Kappi Kada in Wayanad for Pazhampori and Beef
One day on our way back from Mysore, we came across a tea shop by the name of Kappi Kada in Wayanad by the side of the main road. It’s run by a group of youngsters and it was quite a refreshing experience. In fact, we haven’t had any plans in trying out this food spot. Instead, we stopped in front of the shop merely by accident.
Beef, Pazhampori (banana fritters) and Kappa (tapioca) were the food items ordered from this food spot. It tasted really good and as a result, we came back the next evening to learn more about its dishes and the preparation method. Unfortunately, by the time when we reached the restaurant, the cooking was almost over. They have several other snack varieties available for us. Amid the cold climate of Wayanad, having a hot and crispy Pazhampory with delicious beef curry would prove to be a spectacular experience. Pazhampori and beef combination from Kappi kada would be the one I would place in the 6th spot.
5. Bijuvettante Kada in Vaikom for delicious Parotta and Beef curry
One of my food and travel friend took me to Vaikom and introduced me to a traditional village restaurant by the name Bijuvettante Kada for having delicious Beef curry and Parotta. The traditional style beef curry rich in gravy melts in with soft and crispy Parotta. It has a light spicy flavour and it’s what gives the beef its real taste. Back in the day, when we had lots of village tea shops across the state, we would have come across this beautiful beef curry flavour.
Upon having our Patotta and beef combo, a cup of hot tea would surely be another attraction of this food spot. I have gone for a light tea while my friend Ullas had gone for a strong one. Bijuvettan is in charge of this food spot and he is the one who is managing the cooking. The restaurant is also known by the name of his father, Vijayettante Kada as his father was the one who took care of the shop in his early days. It’s because of the traditional flavour of the beef recipe and the way it combines with the Parotta made me keep this restaurant in the 5th spot.
4. KM Mess House (Majeedhikkante Kada) in Wayanad
The restaurant which comes in fourth position is Majeedhikkante kada in Wayanad famous for its delicious Beef fry and Parotta. Beef fry is made in a big Uruli or traditional cookware using firewood. In fact, most of the places I have described is using firewood for cooking. This shows that firewood has some kind of influence in imparting a delicious flavour to beef recipes. Beef is cooked and sauteed for long hours along with a chunk of spices to get the tasty beef fry.
Curry leaves are used in plenty and as it gets sauteed for a long time, ends up combining really well with the meat pieces giving it a natural flavour. Majeed ikka is the one who takes care of beef fry preparation and his son handles the process of making Parotta. Parotta is quite big than the normal size and it’s served with yummy beef fry. They also serve mouth-watering fish curry which is quite good to have with Parotta. Kappa (tapioca) and fish curry is also available which is yet another famous recipe combination in Kerala.
3. Edele Kada in Calicut for early morning Beef and Uppumavu
Edele Kada in Calicut is quite famous for Beef and Uppumavu. The shop opens early morning at 5.00 am and the food spot is filled with customers even before sunrise. We reached the restaurant by 5.30 in the morning and we saw the way the beef gets cooked to the yummy dish. The initial cooking is done inside the kitchen and the sauteeing part is attempted within the restaurant where it gets the final touch. Many of my friends recommended this restaurant to me and Edele Kada was truly amazing for its beef preparations.
Beef curry, Upma and Potato fritters are the signature recipe combination of Edele Kada and unfortunately, I came to know this after having Puttu, Beef curry and Pazhampori. Although I haven’t tried Upma, the one that I had ordered Puttu, Beef curry and Pazhampori (Banana fritters) were very tasty. Finely chopped beef pieces were cooked really well and the taste was awesome, combines really well with Puttu and Pazhampori. The taste of pepper could be felt in the beef recipes and that’s what gives the recipe the real flavour. We can also have different snack varieties and other breakfast dishes like soft and crispy Parotta. All this made me put Edele Kada from Calicut in 3rd place.
2. Vahabikkade Kada, Ambalappuzha for Beef curry and Parotta
Parotta and beef curry from Vahabikkade Kada in Ambalappuzha is the second one on my list. The taste of the beef recipe was so good and it combined really well with the small parottas. The quantity of beef curry served is slightly less when compared to other restaurants, but they really make up for it by the taste. That was the time when I had some allergy to beef and I was taking medicines to counter the effect.
Initially, I had egg curry and that’s when they gave me beef curry to have a taste, it was nothing less than spectacular. The taste was quite similar to the one we had back in the day when small village food restaurants were common in Kerala. Vahab ikka is the one who is in charge of the restaurant and he takes care of everything in the restaurant. He is leading the cooking, makes the tea and even stands at the counter to collect the cash. He is been helped by his friends in running this village food spot and it was quite an amazing experience. Vahabikkade kada would come in as the second spot in my favourite 7 Best Beef Restaurants in Kerala.
1. Good morning hotel, Karamana, Trivandrum for spicy Beef curry and Parotta
Of all these restaurants which serve delicious beef recipes, a small food spot at Trivandrum, Good morning hotel in Karamana, is the one which comes in the prime position in my favourite 7 Best Beef Restaurants in Kerala. Among all these food spots I have mentioned, this one might be the smallest. We can have soft, crispy and hot parottas with yummy beef curry, starting from early morning 5.00 am. They have slightly tweaked the timings at the time of Covid and it started at 6.00 am in the morning. Since Covid has all but finished, the timings might have been restored like in the past. It was quite astonishing to know that even at this early hour of the day, the shop is crowded with customers. People would be waiting to get the food packed.
The beef curry is very spicy and it’s this spicy nature that gives the dish its fabulous taste. It combines really well with Parotta and of all the beef recipes I have had, this was the one I liked the most. The shop also offers you mint lime tea towards the end. Having a glass of hot mint lime tea after spicy beef curry gives you an awesome feeling. We have been given the chance to see the beef curry preparation. Beef pieces were cooked and mixed into the sauteed masala to get the tasty dish. Firewood is used in cooking and it’s their speciality.
