Food on a Kerala Houseboat: What You’ll Eat

On an overnight Kerala houseboat, all meals are cooked fresh on board: a welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and breakfast. Expect rice with fish or chicken curry and several vegetable dishes, Kerala snacks with tea, and appam, puttu or idiyappam for breakfast.

How meals work

Every houseboat has a small kitchen at the back and a cook in the crew. Meals follow a set Kerala menu, served at the dining table in the lounge. Our rates page lists what an overnight includes: welcome drink, lunch, evening snacks and tea, dinner and breakfast. A day cruise includes the welcome drink, lunch and evening tea.

Lunch

Lunch is the biggest meal and usually the most traditional. A typical spread includes Kerala red rice or white rice, sambar or a dal, a fish curry or fried fish, a vegetable thoran (stir-fried with coconut), avial (mixed vegetables in coconut and curd), pickle, pappadam and curd. Payasam may appear as dessert.

Karimeen

The pearl spot fish, karimeen, is the backwaters’ signature fish. It is often fried, or cooked as pollichathu: marinated, wrapped in banana leaf and pan-roasted. It is not always part of the set menu, so ask if you want it.

Evening tea

Around 4 PM, tea or coffee arrives with a snack such as banana fritters (pazham pori), onion bajji or a plate of fresh fruit.

Dinner

Dinner is lighter: chapati or rice, a chicken or fish curry, and vegetable dishes. Some boats serve a mild soup. Dinner is served after the boat has moored for the night.

Breakfast

Kerala breakfasts are a highlight: appam with vegetable or egg curry, puttu with kadala curry, idiyappam, or simple bread, eggs and fruit. Tea and coffee come first.

Vegetarian and special diets

Vegetarian meals are easy, since Kerala cooking has many vegetable dishes. Jain, vegan and allergy-friendly meals are possible if you tell us when booking. The cook can also reduce spice for children.

Buying fresh fish or prawns

Some boats stop at fishing points or village shops where you can buy fresh fish, prawns or crab to be cooked for dinner. This is paid separately at the shop’s price.

Drinks

Bottled water, tea and coffee are provided. Soft drinks and alcohol are not included; you can usually bring your own on a private boat, but drink responsibly on deck.

See the menu

Our food menu page shows typical dishes. To try more local food on land, visit a toddy shop; see things to do in Alleppey.

A typical menu through the day

• On boarding — Meal: Welcome drink; Typical dishes: Fresh lime juice or tender coconut
• About 1 PM — Meal: Lunch; Typical dishes: Rice, sambar, fish curry or fry, thoran, avial, pickle, pappadam, curd
• About 4 PM — Meal: Evening tea; Typical dishes: Tea or coffee with pazham pori or bajji
• About 8 PM — Meal: Dinner; Typical dishes: Chapati or rice, chicken or fish curry, vegetables
• About 8 AM — Meal: Breakfast; Typical dishes: Appam, puttu or idiyappam with curry, eggs, fruit, tea

Exact dishes vary by boat, cook and category; Luxury and Ultra Luxury boats usually offer a broader menu.

Eating etiquette

Meals are served family-style at the table. Kerala food is traditionally eaten with the right hand, but cutlery is always available. Let the cook know if you enjoyed a dish; crews take pride in their cooking.

Food on a shared houseboat

On a shared houseboat, meals are served to all guests together from the same menu. Mention dietary needs at booking so the cook can prepare a separate dish.

Eating on land

Alleppey’s toddy shops serve some of the best local food in Kerala, including duck roast, tapioca with fish curry and karimeen. Go at midday and be prepared for a simple setting.

Spice levels

Kerala cooking uses black pepper, green chilli, red chilli and coconut, and fish curries can be sour and hot from kudampuli (Malabar tamarind). If you prefer milder food, tell the cook at the start; dishes can be toned down without losing their flavour.

Food hygiene

Meals are cooked fresh on board for each sitting. Drink bottled water, and if you buy seafood at a stop, ask for it to be cooked through.

Key points

• All meals on an overnight are cooked fresh on board.
• Lunch is the main traditional meal.
• Vegetarian and special diets are possible if you tell us in advance.
• Karimeen and fresh seafood can be requested or bought on the way.

Plan it with us

We run houseboats in Alleppey and plan Kerala trips around them, so we can help with your houseboat menu. Send us your dates, the number of guests and anything special you have in mind, and we will reply with boats and options that are actually available. You can browse all houseboats, compare Kerala tour packages, check the rates page, or contact us directly.

Frequently asked questions

Is food included on an Alleppey houseboat?

Yes. An overnight includes lunch, evening tea and snacks, dinner and breakfast.

Can I get vegetarian food on a houseboat?

Yes. Tell us when booking.

Is karimeen included?

Not always. Ask if you want it on the menu.

Can we bring our own drinks?

Usually yes on a private boat, but soft drinks and alcohol are not included in the rate.

What is served for breakfast on a houseboat?

Usually appam, puttu or idiyappam with curry, or bread and eggs, with tea, coffee and fruit.

Can the menu be changed?

Within reason. The set menu can be adapted for diets and spice levels if you ask in advance.

Is the food on a shared houseboat the same?

It follows the same style, served to all guests together.

Photo: P.K.Niyogi, “Kerala Houseboat Breakfast.JPG”, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.