Road trips are never successful without some delicious food on the way! Especially with the onset of rainy season, what better way than setting out to try some delicious hot food or some chai coffee! The four States starting from Maharashtra, past Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and all the way to Tamil Nadu make up the Malabar Coast. If you ever go on a road trip, a journey blessed with nature and food, you will have to go through a lot of pit stops on the way. And what better way that having some delicious hot meals on the highway during the rainy season!
In this article we will take you through six restaurants, which are old, not fancy, but their food will impress you. A touch of simplicity and authentic taste goes all the way, and this will only make your road trip a little better!
1. Ratna Sagar - NH66/ Panvel-Kanyakumari National Highway
If you are driving down south from Goa on NH 66, Ratna Sagar is located only a 10 minute drive from Karwar.
Serving freshly-made crispy medu vadas, fluffy idlis and delicious sambar, made with real vegetables, you will find your belly full with fresh food! For fun indulge in some old-school candies displayed in jars at the billing counter.
Tip: Once done with your meal, have some hot chai
Location: 99 kms from Mapusa, Goa. R4MJ+X4W, Tariwada, Kodibag, Karwar, Karnataka 581303. Ph: 083822 25017. Timings: 7am to 11.30pm
2. Hotel Pallavi, Padubidri
Once you reach Hotel Pallavi, you may think twice from a deceptive appearance of very dodgy bar like bar and restaurant. Delve in their chicken chilli where Mangalorean ghee-roast meets Chindian flavours.
Don't forget to try the kori rotti, a Tulu-Mangalorean-Udupi dish made of kori (chicken in a spicy coconut gravy) and rotti which is a thin crispy dosa.
Tip: If it's not too hot sit in the general cubicle where the service is faster.
Location: 25 kms from Udupi city center. 4QRC+3PW, Padubidri Main Road, Padubidri, Karnataka 574111. Ph: 0820 255 5484. Timings: 11am to 11.30pm
3. Hotel Karthik, Mangaluru
Hotel Karthik is located around 5 kms away from the main city of Mangalore. Try their tuppa masala dosa, an extra crisp tuppa dosa with sugar, kadle bhaji (a spiced chana curry topped with sweet and spicy crispy poha), pundi gassi (steamed rice dumplings served with a spicy onion gravy). To top it all end it with a KT (Kalladka Tea) style coffee.
The coffee at Hotel Karthik is a string and sweet coffee with the coffee concentrate at the bottom layered with hot milk and milk foam.
Tip: Ask for a demo of the 'KT coffee', they’ll be happy to give you a demo.
Location: 4 kms from Mangalore city centre. WR2P+X4M, Kulur Ferry Rd, Urwa Store, Kottara, Mangaluru, Karnataka. Timings: 7.30am to 12.30pm, 3.30pm to 6.30pm
4. Hotel Soft, Kannur
Hotel Soft will take you back to Hotel Decent from Jab We Met. A simple decor of white tiles in the basement of the hotel is where the dining is.
Indulge in their spicy 'Naadan chilli chicken' is paired with a porotta and the chicken biryani topped with a spicy gravy. If you love spicy food, you will love this place!
Tip: If you don't speak Malayalam, keep Google translate handy as the staff only speaks Malayalam.
Location: 2kms off NH66 and 5 mins from the KSRTC Bus Stand, Kannur. V998+RVR, Fort Rd, Kannur, Kerala. Ph: 0497 270 8153. Timings: 8am to 9pm
5. Indian Coffee House, Thalassery
Indian Coffee House has over 50 outlets in India. Started by the India Coffee Board Workers Co-Op Society based out of Thrissur, it is an institution.
Have the freshly-fried medu vadas and a vegetable upma for breakfast with a steaming cup of coffee. For meals later in the day try their nool puttu (idiyappam) and kadala curry.
Tip: This place serves breakfast starting 6am!
Location: 22 kms from the Kannur city centre. PFXQ+X7J, MG Rd, Palissery, Thalassery, Kerala. Ph: 0490 232 5574. Timings: 6am to 11pm
6. Safa Restaurant, Ponnani
Safa restaurant is located at a busy junction but can’t be missed. The spicy beef roast, slow-cooked with spices into a juicy gravy and is served with a hot, flaky, Kerala porotta.
Safa is open 24x7, so perfect for a pit stop any time of the day or night.
Tip: Safa is also popular for its unique tea. Be sure to try it while you’re there.
Location: 65 kms from Kozhikode city centre. QWMW+G6X, Chavakkad road, CV junction, Ponnani. Timings: Open 24X7.
So which restaurant are you going to try on your next trip? Why not just plan a road trip and go on a food journey!
Also read: Eat, Drink And Chill At These 15 New Restaurants in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune and Goa!
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