Cafe and restaurant in Malayalam
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen. Play the ten Malayalam words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Malayalam phrases in this lesson
- രണ്ട് പേർക്ക് ഒരു മേശRAN-du PEHR-kku o-RU MEH-sha
- A table for two
- മെനുME-nu
- The menu, please
- എന്താണ് നല്ലത്?EN-thaa-nu NAL-la-thu
- What do you recommend?
- ഞാൻ ... കഴിക്കില്ലnjaan ... ka-zhik-KIL-la
- I don't eat...
- എനിക്ക് ... അലർജി ആണ്e-NIK-ku ... a-LAR-ji AA-nu
- I'm allergic to...
- ഇറച്ചിi-RACH-chi
- Meat
- കോഴിKOH-zhi
- Chicken
- മീൻMEEN
- Fish
- ഇത് വളരെ രുചിയാണ്ith va-LA-re ru-CHI-yahn
- It's delicious
- ചിയേഴ്സ്chi-YERS
- Cheers
Use this when entering a restaurant. Staff in Kerala hotels (which is what locals call restaurants) are generally attentive and will seat you quickly.
The English word is used universally. In small local hotels a handwritten board on the wall serves as the menu. Just point.
Literally "what is good?".
Beef fry is a Kerala classic.
Seafood is central to Kerala cuisine. Kerala is a coastal state and fish curry (meen curry) is eaten daily in most households. The fish market (meen chantha) is a social hub.
Saying this to a cook or host is deeply appreciated. Keralites take pride in their cuisine and a genuine compliment creates lasting warmth.
Borrowed from English; there is no traditional toast.