Vaikom PWD Canteen offers a variety of delicious seafood dishes and other non-vegetarian options. The canteen is part of the PWD Resthouse in Vaikom. It is located near the Vaikom ferry and boat jetty. If you are in this historic town in Kerala and are looking for a non-vegetarian Kerala-style lunch, this canteen is a good choice.
Vaikom is a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is known for its historical significance and cultural heritage. One of the notable landmarks in Vaikom is the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, which is one of the oldest and most important Shiva temples in Kerala.
We were in Vaikom as Mr. Vishnu spoke to us about the Vaikom PWD Resthouse canteen. In the canteen I preferred to go for Kerala’s famous banana leaf meal with seafood varieties and some beef fry.
What to try at the Vaikom PWD Canteen?
While the canteen has a wide selection of delicacies on its menu like seafood meals, chattichoru, chattiparotta, parotta and beef, and others, if you are there during the lunch hours, I would recommend the banana leaf meal. For seafood lovers, the canteen offers anchovy, mackerel, tilapia, prawns, sardines, and pearlspot (karimeen) in different formats. However, the chef commented that their karimeen pollichathu is among the favorites.
In the Vaikom PWD canteen, I enjoyed karimeen pollichathu, but also the vegetarian curries that came with the banana leaf meal. On the other hand, my friend Vishnu was happy with chattichoru. While some find chattichoru less satisfying due to many sides filling one earthen plate not letting the consumers enjoy independent flavors, some others find it a better option to try multiple flavors on one plate.
Food N Travel Ratings
Food: 😊😊😊😊😑 (4.1/5)
Service: 😊😊😊😊😑 (4.1/5)
Ambiance: 😊😊😊😊 (4.0/5)
Accessibility: 😊😊😊😑 (3.9/5)
Parking facility: Yes
Price for the items we tried here
1. Meals: Rs. 70.00
2. Chattichoru: Rs. 250.00
3. Karimeen pollichathu: Rs. 250.00 (Seasonal)
4. Chemmeen roast: Rs. 150.00
5. Beef fry: Rs. 140. 00
To conclude, amidst the rain and lush scenery, the meal turned to be a delightful experience for us. The highlight is the karimeen pollichath, praised for its freshness and unique flavor. The beef fry also receives special mention for its taste. The ferry ride across the backwaters is not only affordable but adds to the overall charm of dining in Vaikom, making it a perfect destination for food and travel enthusiasts.
Location of this Food Spot
Physical Address: Near Vaikom Boat Jetty, KTDC Rd, Vaikom, Kerala-686141
If you are looking for more restaurants around Vaikom (across the backwaters – just a few minutes away by boat), you can try Madhu Seafood Restaurant or Dileepettans Hotel in Cherthala for delicious seafood dishes.
What are the attractions in Vaikom? If you have this question in your mind, maybe you can go through Kerala Tourism’s article about Vaikom.