Kerala, one of the South Indian States, has a diverse cuisine. It is funny that Keralites who visit places other than Kerala look for Kerala restaurants first. Malayalis (An alternative name for People from Kerala) will be delighted if they get the Porotta and beef curry combo when they are far from home.
Christchurch is a fast-growing community for Malayali people in New Zealand and due to this reason, the demand for authentic Kerala food also increased these days. There are not many food spots in Christchurch that serve Kerala dishes however, there is always a place to grab coconut curries, crispy dosas, and even the most popular Kerala Porotta.
The bad news is that there is only one Kerala restaurant in Christchurch that offers a dine-in experience and others are only providing takeaways. Please have a look at these food spots and what varieties of foods they are offering.
Top 3 Food Spots in Christchurch where you can get Authentic South Indian Kerala Food
#1:- Pothichor Restaurant Riccarton
As far as we know, Pothichor is the one and only Kerala restaurant in Christchurch City, that offers dine-in service of authentic Kerala dishes. The name “Pothichor” means “wrapped meal” in Malayalam (Kerala language), which is usually a traditional Kerala-style lunch packed in banana leaves. Usually, a pothichor meal includes rice and Kerala curries.
True to its name, Pothichor restaurant provides an experience that brings its customers a nostalgic feel. Kerala food served in this restaurant with a modern dining atmosphere gives you a homely feel.
Commitment to authenticity is what makes this restaurant unique. Within the limited availability of resources, they provide classic Kerala dishes such as Appam, Puttu, Dosa, Idli, and Kallappam mixed with curries such as fish, chicken, beef, egg and other vegetarian curries.
Of course, Pothichor is their signature dish. They provide different pothichor meals such as normal pothichor, Egg Pothichor and seafood pothichor which comes with not less than 7 curries. Due to the limitation of banana leaves in New Zealand, pothichor at this restaurant is not wrapped up in banana leaves.
They also add special items to their menu to make the customers even more surprised. Dum Porotta, Chatti Choru, Thalassery Chicken Biriyani, etc are some of their specials.
Whether you want to enjoy the taste of homely food or explore Kerala cuisine for the first time, Pothichor provides you with an unforgettable dining experience. The restaurant’s warm ambience reflects Kerala’s culture, friendly staff, and authentic food, making it a favourite spot for Malayalies.
#2:- Adipoli South Indian Kerala Cuisine
Adipoli South Indian Kerala Cuisine is a popular takeaway restaurant in Christchurch, located in the Phillipstown suburb. Unlike the Pothichor restaurant, there is no dine-in option available here but the takeaway orders bring the authentic flavours of Kerala.
The restaurant itself is popular for its delicious Kerala dishes and catering service and has become a favourite spot for people who love South Indian Kerala Cuisine. Whether you are looking for spicy Kerala curries, South Indian dosas, or Kerala-style biryanis, Adipoli restaurant has something for you.
One important highlight of this takeaway restaurant is its menu, which is full of traditional Kerala dishes made with Indian spices. From starter dishes like Chicken 65, Gobi 65, prawns fry, Beef dry fry, etc to main dishes like Chattichor, Chatti Biriyani etc., there are so many options to try.
Vegetarians will also find many options, such as green pea curry, potato pea curry, veg istu, channa masala, paneer butter masala, etc. So If you’re in Christchurch and want to try the real taste of Kerala, Adipoli restaurant is worth a try.
They also offer catering service from any small size number to any large number. So if you are also looking to serve South Indian dishes for your parties, try to contact them in advance.
As we said above, there is no dine-in facility in this restaurant as they operate from a cloud kitchen located at 466 Tuam Street, Phillipstown. You can order food by calling them and collect it from the lounge of this building. Alternatively, their services are available on Uber Eats and Deliver Easy.
#3:- Goldenspoon Catering Christchurch
Another great option for trying Kerala food in Christchurch is Golden Spoon Catering. This takeaway and catering service is well popular for serving tasty and fresh Kerala-style food for any occasion. However, compared to Pothichor and Adipoli restaurants, they don’t provide a wide variety of traditional dishes daily. Their daily takeaway service is limited to 5-10 items.
Even if their daily serving is limited, they can offer you any type of Kerala dish for your pre-booked parties. Whether it’s a birthday party, anniversary event, or a Kerala association meeting, they have a collection of Kerala-style food. Recently, they have organized an Onam Sadya event and an unlimited buffet event (including non-vegetarian items) which received great appreciation from the participants.
Different varieties of Biriyani, Chicken 65, Beef with coconut fry, Beef with parotta combo, Chicken with parotta combo, Appam with beef combo, and Appam with chicken combo are included in their daily menu. They also served Alfaham Mandhi (not a traditional Kerala dish) which is very popular in Kerala these days.
Their restaurant operates from the Rugby Club building of Burnside Park. You can order the food by calling their contact number and collect it from the car parking area of the building. You can use Uber Eats or Delivereasy if you want the food delivered to your doorstep.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you are looking for Kerala-style food for your lunch or dinner, try any of the above-listed restaurants. From traditional-style curries to crunchy snacks, they bring a slice of Kerala’s food heritage to the garden city. Keep in mind that only Pothichor restaurant offers dine-in facilities and the other two restaurants only offer takeaway service. So, the next time you want to try something hot and spicy, have a visit to any of these restaurants and enjoy the real taste of Kerala Cuisine.
Last modified: December 5, 2024
