Food & Shopping

Food & Shopping

Malappuram is a foodie’s delight and a shopper’s treasure chest, especially if you’re into authentic Malabar cuisine, handmade snacks, ethnic wear, Ayurvedic products, and traditional arts. The district’s unique cultural blend — especially its strong Muslim heritage — is reflected in both its culinary richness and market charm.

 Must-Try Food in Malappuram

1. Malabar Biryani

✅ Aromatic rice and meat dish, cooked with short-grain rice, mild spices, and ghee – different from Hyderabadi biryani!
 Best Places:

• Sagar Restaurant (Malappuram Town)
• Rahmath Hotel (Kottakkal)
• Paragon (Manjeri)
• Hotel Ajwa (Perinthalmanna)

 Tip: Chicken and mutton versions are most common. Ask for sulaimani (black tea) afterward – it’s the local way!

 2. Thalassery Snacks & Iftar Treats

✅ A wide variety of Malabar Muslim snacks, especially during evening hours or Ramadan

 Must-Try Items:

• Kozhi Ada – crispy pocket filled with spicy chicken
• Unnakkaya – mashed banana roll stuffed with coconut and dry fruits
• Muttamala & Pinjanathappam – egg yolk threads served with steamed white pudding
• Pathiri – soft rice flour flatbread
• Chatti Pathiri – sweet/savory layered pastry

 Best Places:

• Local bakeries in Tirur, Valanchery, and Kottakkal
• Haneefa Bakery (Malappuram)
• Ibrahim Bhai Snacks stalls (pop up in the evenings)

 Tip: Visit around 5–6 PM when the snack trays are freshly displayed.

 3. Traditional Malabar Meals

✅ Steamed Kerala rice with fish curry, beef roast, chicken mulakittathu, avial, and chammanthi
 Where to Eat:

• Hotel Delicia (Manjeri)
• Hotel Chandrika (Down Hill)
• Hotel Taj (Edappal)

 Tip: Ask for Matta rice with meen curry for the local lunch experience.

 Shopping in Malappuram – What to Buy & Where

 1. Kasavu Sarees & Muslim Bridal Wear

✅ Beautiful off-white sarees with golden borders (Kasavu) and intricately embroidered Muslim bridal outfits
 Best Shops:

• Kalyan Silks, Seematti, Jayalakshmi (Malappuram Town & Perinthalmanna)
• Popular Fashions (Valanchery) for Muslim bridal wear

 Tip: Ideal gifts and souvenirs. Try local boutiques for better rates than big showrooms.

 2. Traditional Brassware & Home Decor

✅ Buy Nilavilakku (oil lamps), Uruli (cooking bowls), and pooja items
 Best Stores:

• Sreemuruga Metal Works (Malappuram town)
• Palace Road shops, Kottakkal

 Tip: Authentic brass is heavy and expensive – test with a magnet or get from reputed stores.

 3. Ayurvedic Products from Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala

 Kottakkal (12 km from Malappuram Town)

✅ Original Ayurvedic medicines, oils, balms, herbal cosmetics, and dietary supplements
✅ Their in-house shop also sells books, wellness kits, and health foods

 Top Picks: Kunkumadi Oil, Dhanwantaram Thailam, Dasamoolarishtam

 4. Banana Chips, Halwa & Local Sweets

✅ Fresh banana chips fried in coconut oil, black halwa, jackfruit chips, and jaggery sweets
 Best Shops:

• Mambilly’s Bakery (Tirur & Malappuram)
• Sankaran Bakery
• Local market stalls near bus stands & railway stations

 Tip: Ask for banana leaf wrapping for halwa – it keeps it fresh and aromatic.

 5. Islamic Books, Caps, and Perfumes (Attar)

 Found in Ponnani, Kondotty, and near major mosques

✅ Buy religious books (in Malayalam, Arabic, and Urdu), prayer mats, attar oils, tasbih (rosary beads)
✅ Great for unique cultural souvenirs

 Tip: Fridays see a lot of street vendors near mosques – good time for local browsing.

 6. Handmade Crafts & Cultural Items

✅ Duff Muttu drums, Kathakali masks, mural art-inspired souvenirs
 Available in local emporiums and roadside shops during festivals

 Top Shopping Areas in Malappuram

 Foodie Trail Combo Ideas

✔️ Evening is the best time for snacks & shopping
✔️ Bargain gently in local markets, especially during festivals
✔️ Carry cash + UPI apps – most shops now accept QR payments
✔️ For food, always ask for freshly fried snacks and buy halwa in sealed packs or banana leaf wraps
✔️ Many bakeries stay open late, especially near bus stands

Malappuram is a place where flavor meets faith, and tradition meets taste. Whether you're shopping for heritage sarees or herbal oils, or sampling biryani and banana chips, you're in for a wholesome and authentic Kerala experience.